Oru Nimidamaa
From Thithikudhe · 2003
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Tippu, Srivardhini
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Thithikudhe2003
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Oru nimidama oru nimidama | Was it just a minute, just a minute? |
| Oru nimadama thavarivitten} (2) | Did I miss my chance in just a minute? |
| {Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae | An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime, |
| Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten} (2) | Did I lose an entire lifetime? |
| Anbae anbae anbae engae….. | My love, my love, my love, where are you? |
| Male | |
| Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya | My school friend, did you come and go? |
| Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya | Flower in a skirt, did you come and go? |
| Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya | My school friend, did you come and go? |
| Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya | Flower in a skirt, did you come and go? |
| Male | |
| Kaatrellaam un vaasam vandhu ponaaya | Did your fragrance pass through all the breeze? |
| Karaiyellaam un thadangal vandhu ponaaya | Did your footprints pass along all the shores? |
| Nadhiyellaam un kolusu vandhu ponaaya | Did the sound of your anklets pass through all the rivers? |
| Male | |
| Oru nimidama oru nimidama | Was it just a minute, just a minute? |
| Oru nimadama thavarivitten | Did I miss my chance in just a minute? |
| Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae | An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime, |
| Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten | Did I lose an entire lifetime? |
| Anbae anbae anbae anbae engae…engae | My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where? |
| Male | |
| Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya | My school friend, did you come and go? |
| Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya | Flower in a skirt, did you come and go? |
| Male | |
| Nilaa vandhu ponadharku | For the moon's arrival and departure, |
| Vaan veliyil saatchiyillai | There is no witness in the vast sky. |
| Aanaalum bhoomiyilae | Yet, here on earth, |
| Alli ellaam saatchi sollum | All the night lilies will bear witness. |
| Male | |
| : Nee vandhu ponadharku | For your arrival and departure, |
| Saatchi solla yaarumillai | There is no one around to bear witness. |
| Aanaalum alaiyellaam | Yet, all the waves, |
| Asaiyaamal saatchi sollum | Will stand still without moving to bear witness. |
| Male | |
| {Ilam piraiyaaga paarthavalae | Oh one I saw as a young crescent moon, |
| Ippodheppadi iruppaayo | How would you be right now? |
| Angam kulithu thimirum azhagil | Drenched in overflowing beauty, |
| Adayaalangal tholaithaayo (2) | Have you lost your old identity? |
| Male | |
| Udhattil ottiya punnagai mattum | Only the smile glued to your lips, |
| Uraindhu vidaamal iruppaayo | Will it remain without freezing away? |
| Anbae anbae anbae anbae engae….engae | My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where? |
| Male | |
| Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya | My school friend, did you come and go? |
| Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya | Flower in a skirt, did you come and go? |
| Female | |
| Poo pola malarndhu vitten | I bloomed like a flower, |
| Vaazhvil yedhum vaasam illae | Yet there is no fragrance left in my life. |
| Kannaa unnai kandu kondaal | My darling, if I find you, |
| Kangal meendum thevaiyillai | I won't be needing my eyes ever again. |
| Male | |
| {Marumurai ennai paarkayilae | When you look at me the next time, |
| Maarbil pudhaindhu azhuvaayo | Will you bury your face in my chest and cry? |
| Vetkam thadaviya punnagaiyaalae | With a smile brushed with bashfulness, |
| Vivagaarangal seivaayo} (2) | Will you create sweet mischief? |
| Male | |
| Ilaiyil sikkiya mazhaiyai polae | Like rain trapped inside a leaf, |
| Ennai thodaamal thavippaayo | Will you yearn without touching me? |
| Anbae anbae anbae anabe engae…enage | My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where? |
| Male | |
| Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya | My school friend, did you come and go? |
| Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya | Flower in a skirt, did you come and go? |
| Male | |
| Kaatrellaam un vaasam vandhu ponaaya | Did your fragrance pass through all the breeze? |
| Karaiyellaam un thadangal vandhu ponaaya | Did your footprints pass along all the shores? |
| Nadhiyellaam un kolusu vandhu ponaaya | Did the sound of your anklets pass through all the rivers? |
| Male | |
| Oru nimidama oru nimidama | Was it just a minute, just a minute? |
| Oru nimadama thavarivitten | Did I miss my chance in just a minute? |
| Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae | An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime, |
| Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten | Did I lose an entire lifetime? |
{ ஒரு நிமிடமா
ஒரு நிமிடமா ஒரு
நிமிடமா தவறிவிட்டேன் } (2)
{ ஒரு ஜென்மமே ஒரு
ஜென்மமே ஒரு ஜென்மமே
இழந்துவிட்டேன் } (2)
அன்பே அன்பே
அன்பே எங்கே
Was it just a minute, just a minute?
Did I miss my chance in just a minute?
An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime,
Did I lose an entire lifetime?
My love, my love, my love, where are you?
பள்ளி தோழியே
வந்து போனாயா பாவாடை
பூவே வந்து போனாயா பள்ளி
தோழியே வந்து போனாயா
பாவாடை பூவே வந்து
போனாயா
My school friend, did you come and go?
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
My school friend, did you come and go?
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
காற்றெல்லாம்
உன் வாசம் வந்து
போனாயா கரையெல்லாம்
உன் தடங்கள் வந்து
போனாயா நதியெல்லாம்
உன் கொலுசு வந்து
போனாயா
Did your fragrance pass through all the breeze?
Did your footprints pass along all the shores?
Did the sound of your anklets pass through all the rivers?
ஒரு நிமிடமா
ஒரு நிமிடமா ஒரு
நிமிடமா தவறிவிட்டேன்
ஒரு ஜென்மமே ஒரு
ஜென்மமே ஒரு ஜென்மமே
இழந்துவிட்டேன் அன்பே
அன்பே அன்பே அன்பே
எங்கே எங்கே
Was it just a minute, just a minute?
Did I miss my chance in just a minute?
An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime,
Did I lose an entire lifetime?
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
பள்ளி தோழியே
வந்து போனாயா பாவாடை
பூவே வந்து போனாயா
My school friend, did you come and go?
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
நிலா வந்து
போனதற்கு வான்
வெளியில் சாட்சியில்லை
ஆனாலும் பூமியிலே
அல்லி எல்லாம் சாட்சி
சொல்லும்
For the moon's arrival and departure,
There is no witness in the vast sky.
Yet, here on earth,
All the night lilies will bear witness.
நீ வந்து
போனதற்கு சாட்சி
சொல்ல யாருமில்லை
ஆனாலும் அலையெல்லாம்
அசையாமல் சாட்சி சொல்லும்
For your arrival and departure,
There is no one around to bear witness.
Yet, all the waves,
Will stand still without moving to bear witness.
{ இளம் பிறையாக
பார்த்தவளே இப்போதெப்படி
இருப்பாயோ அங்கம் குளித்து
திமிரும் அழகில் அடையாளங்கள்
தொலைத்தாயோ } (2)
Oh one I saw as a young crescent moon,
How would you be right now?
Drenched in overflowing beauty,
Have you lost your old identity?
உதட்டில் ஒட்டிய
புன்னகை மட்டும் உறைந்து
விடாமல் இருப்பாயோ
அன்பே அன்பே அன்பே
அன்பே எங்கே எங்கே
Only the smile glued to your lips,
Will it remain without freezing away?
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
பள்ளி தோழியே
வந்து போனாயா பாவாடை
பூவே வந்து போனாயா
My school friend, did you come and go?
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
பூ போல மலர்ந்து
விட்டேன் வாழ்வில் ஏதும்
வாசம் இல்லை கண்ணா
உன்னை கண்டு கொண்டால்
கண்கள் மீண்டும்
தேவையில்லை
I bloomed like a flower,
Yet there is no fragrance left in my life.
My darling, if I find you,
I won't be needing my eyes ever again.
{ மறுமுறை என்னை
பார்க்கையிலே மார்பில்
புதைந்து அழுவாயோ
வெட்கம் தடவிய
புன்னகையாலே
விவகாரங்கள்
செய்வாயோ } (2)
When you look at me the next time,
Will you bury your face in my chest and cry?
With a smile brushed with bashfulness,
Will you create sweet mischief?
இலையில் சிக்கிய
மழையை போலே என்னை
தொடாமல் தவிப்பாயோ
அன்பே அன்பே அன்பே
அன்பே எங்கே எங்கே
Like rain trapped inside a leaf,
Will you yearn without touching me?
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
பள்ளி தோழியே
வந்து போனாயா பாவாடை
பூவே வந்து போனாயா
My school friend, did you come and go?
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
காற்றெல்லாம்
உன் வாசம் வந்து
போனாயா கரையெல்லாம்
உன் தடங்கள் வந்து
போனாயா நதியெல்லாம்
உன் கொலுசு வந்து
போனாயா
Did your fragrance pass through all the breeze?
Did your footprints pass along all the shores?
Did the sound of your anklets pass through all the rivers?
ஒரு நிமிடமா
ஒரு நிமிடமா ஒரு
நிமிடமா தவறிவிட்டேன்
ஒரு ஜென்மமே ஒரு
ஜென்மமே ஒரு ஜென்மமே
இழந்துவிட்டேன்
Was it just a minute, just a minute?
Did I miss my chance in just a minute?
An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime,
Did I lose an entire lifetime?
{Oru nimidama oru nimidama
Was it just a minute, just a minute?
Oru nimadama thavarivitten} (2)
Did I miss my chance in just a minute?
{Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae
An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime,
Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten} (2)
Did I lose an entire lifetime?
Anbae anbae anbae engae…..
My love, my love, my love, where are you?
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
My school friend, did you come and go?
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
My school friend, did you come and go?
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
Kaatrellaam un vaasam vandhu ponaaya
Did your fragrance pass through all the breeze?
Karaiyellaam un thadangal vandhu ponaaya
Did your footprints pass along all the shores?
Nadhiyellaam un kolusu vandhu ponaaya
Did the sound of your anklets pass through all the rivers?
Oru nimidama oru nimidama
Was it just a minute, just a minute?
Oru nimadama thavarivitten
Did I miss my chance in just a minute?
Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae
An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime,
Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten
Did I lose an entire lifetime?
Anbae anbae anbae anbae engae…engae
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
My school friend, did you come and go?
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
Nilaa vandhu ponadharku
For the moon's arrival and departure,
Vaan veliyil saatchiyillai
There is no witness in the vast sky.
Aanaalum bhoomiyilae
Yet, here on earth,
Alli ellaam saatchi sollum
All the night lilies will bear witness.
: Nee vandhu ponadharku
For your arrival and departure,
Saatchi solla yaarumillai
There is no one around to bear witness.
Aanaalum alaiyellaam
Yet, all the waves,
Asaiyaamal saatchi sollum
Will stand still without moving to bear witness.
{Ilam piraiyaaga paarthavalae
Oh one I saw as a young crescent moon,
Ippodheppadi iruppaayo
How would you be right now?
Angam kulithu thimirum azhagil
Drenched in overflowing beauty,
Adayaalangal tholaithaayo (2)
Have you lost your old identity?
Udhattil ottiya punnagai mattum
Only the smile glued to your lips,
Uraindhu vidaamal iruppaayo
Will it remain without freezing away?
Anbae anbae anbae anbae engae….engae
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
My school friend, did you come and go?
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
Poo pola malarndhu vitten
I bloomed like a flower,
Vaazhvil yedhum vaasam illae
Yet there is no fragrance left in my life.
Kannaa unnai kandu kondaal
My darling, if I find you,
Kangal meendum thevaiyillai
I won't be needing my eyes ever again.
{Marumurai ennai paarkayilae
When you look at me the next time,
Maarbil pudhaindhu azhuvaayo
Will you bury your face in my chest and cry?
Vetkam thadaviya punnagaiyaalae
With a smile brushed with bashfulness,
Vivagaarangal seivaayo} (2)
Will you create sweet mischief?
Ilaiyil sikkiya mazhaiyai polae
Like rain trapped inside a leaf,
Ennai thodaamal thavippaayo
Will you yearn without touching me?
Anbae anbae anbae anabe engae…enage
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
My school friend, did you come and go?
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
Kaatrellaam un vaasam vandhu ponaaya
Did your fragrance pass through all the breeze?
Karaiyellaam un thadangal vandhu ponaaya
Did your footprints pass along all the shores?
Nadhiyellaam un kolusu vandhu ponaaya
Did the sound of your anklets pass through all the rivers?
Oru nimidama oru nimidama
Was it just a minute, just a minute?
Oru nimadama thavarivitten
Did I miss my chance in just a minute?
Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae
An entire lifetime, an entire lifetime,
Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten
Did I lose an entire lifetime?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
‘Oru Nimidama’ is a deeply emotional song depicting the agony of lost love and nostalgic longing. The protagonist laments how missing a single fleeting minute felt like losing an entire lifetime of happiness. He fondly addresses his childhood companion ('Palli thozhiyae'), wondering if she secretly visited the places they once shared and if her presence left subtle traces in nature. Throughout the track, nature is invoked as a silent witness—the wind holding her scent, the shoreline keeping her steps, and the river carrying the memory of her anklets. He ponders how maturity has changed her over time, hoping that her innocence and smile remain untouched, while expressing a poignant hope for an emotional reunion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya”
'Paavaadai poovae' (Flower in a half-saree/skirt) metaphorically compares the innocent young girl to a fresh flower.
Simile (Upamai)
“Ilaiyil sikkiya mazhaiyai polae”
Uses 'polae' (like/as) to compare the emotional restraint and hesitation in love to raindrops trapped on a leaf, unable to fall freely.
Personification
“Asaiyaamal saatchi sollum”
Attributes human behavior (bearing witness silently) to the ocean waves.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Palli thozhiyae / Paavaadai poovae”
Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pa' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
The music for 'Thithikudhe' (2003) was composed by Vidyasagar, featuring iconic lyrics by Vairamuthu. This soulful track 'Oru Nimidama' was rendered by Srinivas and Sujatha Mohan. The movie stars Jiiva and Sridevi Vijaykumar in leading roles.
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