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Kannathil Muthamittal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sattena Nenaindhadhu Nenjam

From Kannathil Muthamittal · 2002

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Minmini
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Kannathil Muthamittal
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
7 Nov 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sattena nanaindhadhu nenjam
Sarkarai aanadhu kaneer
Inbam inbam oru thunbam
Thunbam eththanai perinbam
Sattena nanaindhadhu nenjam
Sarkarai aanadhu kaneer
Inbam inbam oru thunbam
Thunbam eththanai perinbam
Udalukkul malligai thooral
En uyirukkul melliya keeral
Sugamaai sugammaai kollai idu
En uyirai mattum vittu vidu
Endha vaasal vazhi
Kaadhal nadandhuvarum
Endru kaathu kidandhen
Adhu vaanil parandhu vandhu
Koorai thirandhu varum
Endru indru thelindhen
Thaavi vandhu enai anaitha podhu
Endhan salli vergal arundhen
Saavin ellai varai sendru meendu
Indru rendu janmam adaidhen
{Thudikkum udhadu kondu
Thudaiththidu vetkaththai
Anaippin aadhikkathaal
Veliyetru achaththai} (2)
Sugamaai sugamaai kollai idu
En uyirai mattum vittu vidu…uuu
Sattena nanaindhadhu nenjam
Suddenly, my heart was drenched.
My tears turned into sugar.
Pleasure, this pleasure is a pain,
And what supreme bliss this pain is!
Suddenly, my heart was drenched.
My tears turned into sugar.
Pleasure, this pleasure is a pain,
And what supreme bliss this pain is!
A drizzle of jasmine inside my body,
A delicate scratch deep within my soul.
Rob me, rob me with sweet delight,
Just spare my life.
Through which doorway
love would walk in,
I lay waiting to see.
That it would fly through the sky
and break through the roof to enter,
I realized only today.
When you leaped and embraced me,
my tender roots were torn away.
Going to the edge of death and returning,
I have gained a second life today.
With your quivering lips,
wipe away my shyness.
With the overwhelming power of your embrace,
drive away all my fear.
Rob me, rob me with sweet delight,
Just spare my life.
Suddenly, my heart was drenched.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses a profound emotional awakening and the overwhelming power of love and intimacy. The narrator describes love not as a gentle visitor entering through expected doors, but as an uncontrollable force crashing in from above, completely altering their existence. The intense emotions create a sensation of sweet surrender, where tears turn to sugar and pain merges seamlessly with bliss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Oxymoron / Paradox)

Inbam inbam oru thunbam / Thunbam eththanai perinbam

Pairs contrasting terms like 'Inbam' (joy) and 'Thunbam' (sorrow) to portray the sweet agony of intense love.

Uruvaagam (Metaphor)

Sarkarai aanadhu kaneer / Udalukkul malligai thooral

Compares emotional relief to tears turning into sugar and internal sensations to a rain of jasmine flowers.

Uyarnavirtchi Ani (Hyperbole)

Saavin ellai varai sendru meendu / Indru rendu janmam adaidhen

Exaggerates the depth of emotional experience as traveling to the edge of death and gaining a rebirth.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the critically acclaimed film 'Kannathil Muthamittal' (2002), directed by Mani Ratnam with music composed by A. R. Rahman and lyricist Vairamuthu.

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