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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rettai Kathire

From Maattrraan · 2012

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Krish, MK Balaji, Mili Nair, Sharmila
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Maattrraan2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Rettai kathire idho ne naan naamTwin rays, here you, me, and us
Pakkam irundhum dhooram yedharku?Why is there distance despite being close?
Ettum varaiyil engum nee naan naamAs far as reach permits, everywhere you, me, and us
Patri padari tholai nimirthuHold on, entwine, and stand tall with pride
Male
Theera theera theera theraUnending, unending, unending, unending
Theera theera theeraa theereeUnending, unending, unending, unending
Vannam veru vannam veruDifferent colors, different colors
Iruvarin kadal veruThe sea of the two is different
Puyal adithum vazhuthaeYet surviving even when the storm strikes
Iru paravai oru kuttilTwo birds in a single nest
Methu methuvaai pookatumLet them bloom slowly
Indha pookal ethir kattrilThese flowers in the headwind
Male
Heyy… rettai kathire idho ne naan naamHey... twin rays, here you, me, and us
Pakkam irundhum dhooram yedharku?Why is there distance despite being close?
Ettum varaiyil engum nee naan naamAs far as reach permits, everywhere you, me, and us
Patri padari tholai nimirthuHold on, entwine, and stand tall with pride
Chorus
Nimmu nimmu nimmu nim ahkhaaScat vocalization (Nimmu nimmu...)
Nimmu nimmu nimmu nim ahkhaaScat vocalization (Nimmu nimmu...)
Nimmu nimmu nimmu nim ahkhaaScat vocalization (Nimmu nimmu...)
Nimmu nimmu nimmu nimScat vocalization (Nimmu nimmu...)
Chorus
You touch me nimmu nimmu nimmu nim ah oh oh huYou touch me (Scat vocalization)
You touch me nimmu nimmu nimmu nim ah oh oh huYou touch me (Scat vocalization)
Male
Karuvaachu udal uruvaachuConceived in the womb, a body was formed
Adhu thavaraachuThat became an anomaly
Iru uyiraachu irandum valarnthaachuIt became two lives, and both grew up
Enakaachu adhu unakaachuIt became mine, it became yours
Ini puviyellamFrom now on, the whole world
Ada puthusaachu varudam urundaachuAha, it became new, years rolled by
Male
Ivan oru pakkam avan marupakkamHe is on one side, he is on the other side
Male
Rettai kathire idho ne naan naamTwin rays, here you, me, and us
Pakkam irundhum dhooram yedharku?Why is there distance despite being close?
Ettum varaiyil engum nee naan naamAs far as reach permits, everywhere you, me, and us
Patri padari tholai nimirthuHold on, entwine, and stand tall with pride
Male
Ivan vaarthai mazhai thuliyaagaHis words are like raindrops
Avan maru vaarthai sara vediyaagaHis other words are like a string of firecrackers
Inaindhum thaniyaagaConnected yet distinct
Nadhi pole ivan manam pogaHis mind flows like a river
Perum puyal polae avan seyal pogaHis actions move like a huge storm
Yaaringae inaiyaaga..heyyWho here is equal to them? Hey
Male
Ivan kannadi avan munnadiHe is the mirror in front of him
Oru uruvamA single form
Idhu pirindhal kuda ondraaiEven if separated, together
Nirkum dhuruvamStanding like poles
Female
Oh oh oh…Oh oh oh...
Yeah yeah…Yeah yeah...
Pa pa pa pa paPa pa pa pa pa
Ohu ohu ohu…Ohu ohu ohu...
Yeah yeah… yeah yeah yeahh…Yeah yeah... yeah yeah yeahh...
Male
Rettai kathire idho ne naan naamTwin rays, here you, me, and us
Pakkam irundhum dhooram yedharku?Why is there distance despite being close?
Ettum varaiyil engum nee naan naamAs far as reach permits, everywhere you, me, and us
Patri padari tholai nimirthuHold on, entwine, and stand tall with pride
Male
Theera theera theera theraUnending, unending, unending, unending
Theera theera theeraa theereeUnending, unending, unending, unending
Female
Come a long way here to stayCome a long way here to stay
We stood united every single dayWe stood united every single day
Come a long way here to stayCome a long way here to stay
We stood united every single dayWe stood united every single day
Female
Come a long way here to stayCome a long way here to stay
We stood united every single dayWe stood united every single day
Come a long way here to stayCome a long way here to stay
We stood united every single dayWe stood united every single day

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Rettai Kathire' from the 2012 Tamil film Maattrraan serves as an energetic theme exploring the deep bond and dynamic duality of conjoined twin brothers, Vimal and Akhilan. Written by Na. Muthu Kumar, the lyricism uses vivid imagery of nature, elements, and contrasting traits to illustrate how two unique minds and temperaments coexist harmoniously within a shared physical existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Iru paravai oru kuttil

Compares the conjoined twins to two birds inhabiting a single nest to emphasize their shared body and separate souls.

Simile (Uvamai)

Ivan vaarthai mazhai thuliyaaga / Avan maru vaarthai sara vediyaaga

Compares one brother's speech to gentle raindrops and the other brother's speech to explosive firecrackers.

Alliteration (Monai)

Patri padari tholai nimirthu

Repetition of the initial letter 'P' in adjacent words creating rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Maattrraan (2012), directed by K. V. Anand, was one of the earliest Indian films to use motion-capture and visual effects extensively to depict conjoined twins played by actor Suriya. The song's composer Harris Jayaraj incorporated high-tempo scat vocals and modern rock arrangements to highlight the energetic brotherhood.

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