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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Tell Me Tell Me

From Manamagale Vaa · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Arun Mozhi
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Manamagale Vaa1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………….Hey, tell me, tell me, tell me... oh my love
Male
Hei tell me tell me tell me……oh my loveDo you love me, love me, love me? Please tell me now
Do you love me love me love me please tell me nowHey, tell me, tell me, tell me... oh my love
Hei tell me tell me tell me……oh my loveDo you love me, love me, love me? Please tell me now
Do you love me love me love me please tell me nowHey, tell me, tell me, tell me... oh my love
Male
Hei tell me tell me tell me……oh my loveDo you love me, love me, love me? Please tell me now
Do you love me love me love me please tell me nowThe clouds in the sky will listen to my song
Male
Aagaaya megangal en paattai ketkumJoyful drizzles will shower over me
Anantha thooralgal en meedhu vaarkkumWhenever I call, the gentle flower breeze will blow
Naan koorum neraththil poonthendral veesumTo the tune I sing, golden beetles will sing along
Naan sollum raagaththil pon vandu paadumA young man praised by the whole town, hey
Male
Oor pottrum vaalipan haeiA joyful, carefree singer
Ullaasa paadaganA hero who is celebrated
Poompaavai yaavarum haBy all the beautiful women
Kondaadum naayaganDance away, Kali
Aattam podu kaaliTo the person who gazes at you, oh my love
Nottam podum aalai oh my loveChorus: Lala la la la la la laa ra ra ra ra ra raa
Chorus :Lala la la la la la laa ra ra ra ra ra raaHey, tell me, tell me, tell me... oh my love
Male
Hei tell me tell me tell me……oh my loveDo you love me, love me, love me? Please tell me now
Do you love me love me love me please tell me nowSeven or eight mynah birds dance alongside me
Chorus
…………………….Singing melodies with endless infatuation
Male
Yaezhettu mainaakkal en kooda aadaThe thoughts I held wander off somewhere
Yaethetho mogaththil sangeetham paadaAs I search here wondering who that maiden is
Naan konda ennangal engaeyo odaWill the painting I sketch, hey
Yaar antha penn endru naan ingu thedaTransform into a real woman?
Male
Naan theettum oviyam heiOn a grand stage on an auspicious day, ha
Pennaaga maarumoWill we unite together as one?
Naal paarththu medaiyil haIt is evening time, teaching a lesson on love, oh my love
Ondraaga serumoChorus: Ra ra ra ra ra raa
Neram maalai neram kadhal paadam koorum oh my loveHey, tell me, tell me, tell me... oh my love
Chorus :Ra ra ra ra ra raaDo you love me, love me, love me? Please tell me now
Male
Hei tell me tell me tell me……oh my loveHey, tell me, tell me, tell me... oh my love
Do you love me love me love me please tell me nowDo you love me, love me, love me? Please tell me now
Hei tell me tell me tell me……oh my loveTell me, tell me, tell me... oh my love
Do you love me love me love me please tell me nowDo you love me, love me, love me? Please tell me now
Male
Tell me tell me tell me……oh my love
Do you love me love me love me please tell me now

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Hei Tell Me' from the 1988 film 'Manamagale Vaa' is an upbeat, breezy romantic pop number sung from the perspective of a charismatic young singer. Exuding confidence and charm, the protagonist expresses how nature responds to his music—clouds listen to his tunes, breezes blow on command, and birds dance to his rhythms. Celebrated by everyone around him, he playfully seeks the love of his life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Tharkurippetroani)

Aagaaya megangal en paattai ketkum

Nature is given human attributes, such as clouds listening to songs, breezes blowing on command, and evening time teaching love lessons.

Monai (Initial Rhyme) & Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Yaezhettu mainaakkal en kooda aada / Yaethetho mogaththil sangeetham paada

Traditional Tamil poetic rhyming scheme where initial vowels and second consonants match across consecutive lines (e.g., Yaezhettu / Yaethetho).

Anaphora / Refrain

Hei tell me tell me tell me……oh my love

The English chorus 'Hei tell me tell me... Do you love me...' repeats rhythmically throughout the song as a modern hook.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Naan koorum neraththil poonthendral veesum

Exaggeration of the protagonist's influence over nature to highlight his artistic passion and charisma.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manamagale Vaa' (1988), directed by Panchu Arunachalam and starring Prabhu and Radhika, features this catchy track composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The song is sung by Arunmozhi, a versatile singer and flautist who regularly contributed to Ilaiyaraaja's orchestra and solo tracks. Lyricist Vaali cleverly fused English pop refrains with expressive Tamil verses, capturing the late-1980s trend of Western-influenced Tamil cinema music.

Keep listening

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