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Lyrics & meaning

Sorgama Naragama

From Nenjil Oru Mul · 1981

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Movie name
Nenjil Oru Mul
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
13 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sorgamaa naragamaa
Rendum naan kanden
Kallil sorrgam pennil naragam
Unmai nanaum kanden
Sorgamaa naragamaa
Rendum naan kanden
Kallil sorrgam pennil naragam
Unmai nanaum kanden
Hmm mm mm mm
Poda poda endhan kannil
Raajabodhai yerudhu
Poda poda endhan kannil
Raajabodhai yerudhu
Paada paada nenjil ulla
Kaayamellam aarudhu
Sorgamaa naragamaa
Rendum naan kanden
Kallil sorrgam pennil naragam
Unmai nanaum kanden
Hmm mm mm mm
Boomi melae vaanam keezhae
Mari maari thonuthu
Boomi melae vaanam keezhae
Mari maari thonuthu
Bodhai yera bodhai yera
Kaalgal thaana aadudhu
Sorgamaa naragamaa
Rendum naan kanden
Kallil sorrgam pennil naragam
Unmai nanaum kanden
Hmm mm mm mm
Heaven or hell?
I have seen both.
Heaven is in liquor, hell is in a woman—
I found this truth for myself.
Heaven or hell?
I have seen both.
Heaven is in liquor, hell is in a woman—
I found this truth for myself.
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
With each drink that is poured,
A grand high rises in my eyes.
With each drink that is poured,
A grand high rises in my eyes.
And as I sing on and on,
Every wound in my heart heals...
Heaven or hell?
I have seen both.
Heaven is in liquor, hell is in a woman—
I found this truth for myself.
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
The earth above and the sky below,
Everything keeps turning upside down.
The earth above and the sky below,
Everything keeps turning upside down.
As the intoxication climbs higher and higher,
My feet begin to dance on their own...
Heaven or hell?
I have seen both.
Heaven is in liquor, hell is in a woman—
I found this truth for myself.
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song captures the cynical reflections of a heartbroken protagonist seeking solace in alcohol after experiencing emotional betrayal. He contrasts heaven and hell, bitterly claiming that while love/women brought hellish agony to his life, liquor brings him heavenly escape. As his intoxication grows, the physical world turns upside down, symbolizing his disrupted mental state, yet providing a temporary numbness that heals his emotional wounds.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Muran / முரண்)

Boomi melae vaanam keezhae

Contrasting opposing concepts like heaven (Sorgam) vs hell (Naragam), and earth above (Boomi melae) vs sky below (vaanam keezhae) to emphasize inner conflict and distorted perception.

Repetition (Adukku Thodar / அடுக்குத் தொடர்)

Poda poda endhan kannil

Repeated words used for poetic emphasis and rhythm, conveying intensifying emotion or motion.

Metaphor (Uvamai / உருவகம்)

Raajabodhai yerudhu

Describing heavy drunkenness as 'Raajabodhai' (royal intoxication), elevating the sensation of escape.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Nenjil Oru Mul' (1981) starred Pratap Pothen and Poornima Jayaram. Lyricist Pulamaipithan penned this song to reflect the dramatic trope of a troubled protagonist expressing philosophical cynicism through alcohol.

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