Thee Illai
From Engeyum Kadhal · 2011
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Naresh Iyer, Mukesh
- Music director
- Harris Jayaraj
- Details
- Engeyum Kadhal2011
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thee illai pugai illai | There is no fire, there is no smoke, |
| Oru velvi seigiraai vizhiyilae | Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes! |
| Nool illai thari illai | There is no thread, there is no loom, |
| Oru kaadhal neigiraai manathilae | Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart! |
| Male | |
| Poo illai madal illai | There is no flower, there is no petal, |
| Pudhu theanai peigiraai uyirilae | Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul! |
| Ennai unnidam izhakkiren | I lose myself to you, |
| Irunthum illayai irukkiren | And yet I remain as non-existence. |
| Munnum pinnum chinnam vaippen | I will imprint little marks before and behind, |
| Chinna chinnadhaai | In tiny, delicate ways. |
| Male | |
| Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. | Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. |
| Vilayaai thanthenae ennai | I gave myself away as the cost, |
| Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. | Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. |
| Vaangi kondenae unnai | And bought you in return! |
| Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. | Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. |
| Aadai kondatho thennai | Has the coconut tree draped itself in garments? |
| Male | |
| Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo | Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo |
| Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo | Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo |
| Ohoo hoooooo…oooooo | Ohoo hoooooo…oooooo |
| Female | |
| Vegu naalai ketten | I asked for it for many days, |
| Vizhi thooral pottai | You showered a drizzle through your glance, |
| Uyir payir pizhaithathu unnalae.. | And the crop of my soul survived because of you... |
| Ohooo… | Ohooo… |
| Female | |
| Vilagaatha kaiyai thottu | Touching the hand that never departs, |
| Vizhi ora maiyai thottu | Touching the kohl at the corner of your eyes, |
| Uyil ondru ezhuthidu | Write down a last will, |
| Udhattaalae | With your lips! |
| Female | |
| Ilakkiya kaniyai vizhungiyathu | It swallowed the literary fruit, |
| Vizhungiya nenjam pozhungiyathu | The heart that swallowed it seethed with passion, |
| Idhu oru satchi podhaatha | Is this evidence not enough? |
| Kangal modhatha kaadhal ooradha | When eyes clash, doesn't love spring forth? |
| Male | |
| Thee illai pugai illai | There is no fire, there is no smoke, |
| Oru velvi seigiraai vizhiyilae | Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes! |
| Nool illai thari illai | There is no thread, there is no loom, |
| Oru kaadhal neigiraai manathilae | Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart! |
| Male | |
| Poo illai madal illai | There is no flower, there is no petal, |
| Pudhu theanai peigiraai uyirilae | Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul! |
| Ennai unnidam izhakkiren | I lose myself to you, |
| Irunthum illayai irukkiren | And yet I remain as non-existence. |
| Munnum pinnum chinnam vaippen | I will imprint little marks before and behind, |
| Chinna chinnadhaai | In tiny, delicate ways. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………………………….. | [Musical Interlude] |
| Female | |
| Ohoo…oooooooooooo…. | Ohoo…oooooooooooo…. |
| Ooo…mmmmmm….. | Ooo…mmmmmm….. |
| Male | |
| Punal melae veetru | Seated atop the waters, |
| Pani vaadai kaatru | With the chilly northern wind blowing, |
| Pudainthathu nammakoru | There was unearthed for us, |
| Pudhu paattu | A brand new song! |
| Female | |
| Kadarkarai naarai koottam | A flock of cranes on the seashore, |
| Karaithingu oorai kottum | Gathering and calling out to the town, |
| Iruvarum nagarvalam | Watching the two of us, |
| Vara paarthu | Go on a procession around the town! |
| Female | |
| Silu silu endru kuliradikka | As the crisp chill strikes, |
| Thodu thodu endru thalir thudikka | As tender shoots quiver pleading 'touch me, touch me', |
| Enakkoru paarvai neethaanae | Aren't you the only vision meant for me? |
| Ennai eduppaaya unnul olippaaya | Will you lift me up or hide me inside you? |
| Male | |
| Thee illai pugai illai | There is no fire, there is no smoke, |
| Oru velvi seigiraai vizhiyilae | Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes! |
| Nool illai thari illai | There is no thread, there is no loom, |
| Oru kaadhal neigiraai manathilae | Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart! |
| Male | |
| Poo illai madal illai | There is no flower, there is no petal, |
| Pudhu theanai peigiraai uyirilae | Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul! |
| Ennai unnidam izhakkiren | I lose myself to you, |
| Irunthum illayai irukkiren | And yet I remain as non-existence. |
| Munnum pinnum chinnam vaippen | I will imprint little marks before and behind, |
| Chinna chinnadhaai | In tiny, delicate ways. |
| Male | |
| Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. | Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. |
| Vilayaai thanthenae ennai | I gave myself away as the cost, |
| Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. | Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. |
| Vaangi kondenae unnai | And bought you in return! |
| Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. | Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo.. |
| Aadai kondatho thennai | Has the coconut tree draped itself in garments? |
தீ இல்லை
புகை இல்லை ஒரு
வேள்வி செய்கிறாய்
விழியிலே நூல் இல்லை
தறி இல்லை ஒரு காதல்
நெய்கிறாய் மனதிலே
There is no fire, there is no smoke,
Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes!
There is no thread, there is no loom,
Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart!
பூ இல்லை மடல்
இல்லை புது தேனைப்
பெய்கிறாய் உயிரிலே
என்னை உன்னிடம்
இழக்கிறேன் இருந்தும்
இல்லையாய் இருக்கிறேன்
முன்னும் பின்னும் சின்னம்
வைப்பேன் சின்ன சின்னதாய்
There is no flower, there is no petal,
Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul!
I lose myself to you,
And yet I remain as non-existence.
I will imprint little marks before and behind,
In tiny, delicate ways.
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ
ஓஹோ விலையாய்
தந்தேனே என்னை ஓஹோ
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ வாங்கிக்
கொண்டேனே உன்னை
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ ஓஹோ
ஆடை கொண்டதோ தென்னை
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
I gave myself away as the cost,
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
And bought you in return!
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Has the coconut tree draped itself in garments?
ஓஹோ ஹோ
ஓஹோ ஹோ ஓஹோ
ஹோ ஓஹோ ஹோ
ஓஹோ ஹோ ஓ
Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo
Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo
Ohoo hoooooo…oooooo
வெகு நாளாய்
கேட்டேன் விழித் தூரல்
போட்டாய் உயிர் பயிர்
பிழைத்தது உன்னாலே
ஓஹோ
I asked for it for many days,
You showered a drizzle through your glance,
And the crop of my soul survived because of you...
Ohooo…
விலகாத கையைத்
தொட்டு விழி ஓர மையைத்
தொட்டு உயில் ஒன்று எழுதிடு
உதட்டாலே
Touching the hand that never departs,
Touching the kohl at the corner of your eyes,
Write down a last will,
With your lips!
இலக்கிய கனியை
விழுங்கியது விழுங்கிய
நெஞ்சம் புழுங்கியது இது
ஒரு சாட்சி போதாதா
கண்கள் மோதாதா காதல்
ஊராதா
It swallowed the literary fruit,
The heart that swallowed it seethed with passion,
Is this evidence not enough?
When eyes clash, doesn't love spring forth?
தீ இல்லை
புகை இல்லை ஒரு
வேள்வி செய்கிறாய்
விழியிலே நூல் இல்லை
தறி இல்லை ஒரு காதல்
நெய்கிறாய் மனதிலே
There is no fire, there is no smoke,
Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes!
There is no thread, there is no loom,
Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart!
பூ இல்லை மடல்
இல்லை புது தேனைப்
பெய்கிறாய் உயிரிலே
என்னை உன்னிடம்
இழக்கிறேன் இருந்தும்
இல்லையாய் இருக்கிறேன்
முன்னும் பின்னும் சின்னம்
வைப்பேன் சின்ன சின்னதாய்
There is no flower, there is no petal,
Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul!
I lose myself to you,
And yet I remain as non-existence.
I will imprint little marks before and behind,
In tiny, delicate ways.
..........................................
[Musical Interlude]
ஓஹோ ஓ
ஓ ம்ம்ம்
Ohoo…oooooooooooo….
Ooo…mmmmmm…..
புனல் மேலே
வீற்று பனி வாடை
காற்று புனைந்தது
நமக்கொரு புது பாட்டு
Seated atop the waters,
With the chilly northern wind blowing,
There was unearthed for us,
A brand new song!
கடற்கரை நாரைக்
கூட்டம் கரைந்திங்கு ஊரை
கூட்டும் இருவரும் நகர்வலம்
வர பார்த்து
A flock of cranes on the seashore,
Gathering and calling out to the town,
Watching the two of us,
Go on a procession around the town!
சிலு சிலு
என்று குளிரடிக்க
தொடு தொடு என்று
தளிர் துடிக்க எனக்கொரு
பார்வை நீதானே என்னை
எடுப்பாயா உன்னுள் ஒளிப்பாயா
As the crisp chill strikes,
As tender shoots quiver pleading 'touch me, touch me',
Aren't you the only vision meant for me?
Will you lift me up or hide me inside you?
தீ இல்லை
புகை இல்லை ஒரு
வேள்வி செய்கிறாய்
விழியிலே நூல் இல்லை
தறி இல்லை ஒரு காதல்
நெய்கிறாய் மனதிலே
There is no fire, there is no smoke,
Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes!
There is no thread, there is no loom,
Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart!
பூ இல்லை மடல்
இல்லை புது தேனைப்
பெய்கிறாய் உயிரிலே
என்னை உன்னிடம்
இழக்கிறேன் இருந்தும்
இல்லையாய் இருக்கிறேன்
முன்னும் பின்னும் சின்னம்
வைப்பேன் சின்ன சின்னதாய்
There is no flower, there is no petal,
Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul!
I lose myself to you,
And yet I remain as non-existence.
I will imprint little marks before and behind,
In tiny, delicate ways.
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ
ஓஹோ விலையாய்
தந்தேனே என்னை ஓஹோ
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ வாங்கிக்
கொண்டேனே உன்னை
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ ஓஹோ
ஆடை கொண்டதோ தென்னை
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
I gave myself away as the cost,
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
And bought you in return!
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Has the coconut tree draped itself in garments?
Thee illai pugai illai
There is no fire, there is no smoke,
Oru velvi seigiraai vizhiyilae
Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes!
Nool illai thari illai
There is no thread, there is no loom,
Oru kaadhal neigiraai manathilae
Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart!
Poo illai madal illai
There is no flower, there is no petal,
Pudhu theanai peigiraai uyirilae
Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul!
Ennai unnidam izhakkiren
I lose myself to you,
Irunthum illayai irukkiren
And yet I remain as non-existence.
Munnum pinnum chinnam vaippen
I will imprint little marks before and behind,
Chinna chinnadhaai
In tiny, delicate ways.
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Vilayaai thanthenae ennai
I gave myself away as the cost,
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Vaangi kondenae unnai
And bought you in return!
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Aadai kondatho thennai
Has the coconut tree draped itself in garments?
Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo
Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo
Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo
Ohooo..hooo…ohooo..hooo
Ohoo hoooooo…oooooo
Ohoo hoooooo…oooooo
Vegu naalai ketten
I asked for it for many days,
Vizhi thooral pottai
You showered a drizzle through your glance,
Uyir payir pizhaithathu unnalae..
And the crop of my soul survived because of you...
Ohooo…
Ohooo…
Vilagaatha kaiyai thottu
Touching the hand that never departs,
Vizhi ora maiyai thottu
Touching the kohl at the corner of your eyes,
Uyil ondru ezhuthidu
Write down a last will,
Udhattaalae
With your lips!
Ilakkiya kaniyai vizhungiyathu
It swallowed the literary fruit,
Vizhungiya nenjam pozhungiyathu
The heart that swallowed it seethed with passion,
Idhu oru satchi podhaatha
Is this evidence not enough?
Kangal modhatha kaadhal ooradha
When eyes clash, doesn't love spring forth?
Thee illai pugai illai
There is no fire, there is no smoke,
Oru velvi seigiraai vizhiyilae
Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes!
Nool illai thari illai
There is no thread, there is no loom,
Oru kaadhal neigiraai manathilae
Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart!
Poo illai madal illai
There is no flower, there is no petal,
Pudhu theanai peigiraai uyirilae
Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul!
Ennai unnidam izhakkiren
I lose myself to you,
Irunthum illayai irukkiren
And yet I remain as non-existence.
Munnum pinnum chinnam vaippen
I will imprint little marks before and behind,
Chinna chinnadhaai
In tiny, delicate ways.
………………………………………..
[Musical Interlude]
Ohoo…oooooooooooo….
Ohoo…oooooooooooo….
Ooo…mmmmmm…..
Ooo…mmmmmm…..
Punal melae veetru
Seated atop the waters,
Pani vaadai kaatru
With the chilly northern wind blowing,
Pudainthathu nammakoru
There was unearthed for us,
Pudhu paattu
A brand new song!
Kadarkarai naarai koottam
A flock of cranes on the seashore,
Karaithingu oorai kottum
Gathering and calling out to the town,
Iruvarum nagarvalam
Watching the two of us,
Vara paarthu
Go on a procession around the town!
Silu silu endru kuliradikka
As the crisp chill strikes,
Thodu thodu endru thalir thudikka
As tender shoots quiver pleading 'touch me, touch me',
Enakkoru paarvai neethaanae
Aren't you the only vision meant for me?
Ennai eduppaaya unnul olippaaya
Will you lift me up or hide me inside you?
Thee illai pugai illai
There is no fire, there is no smoke,
Oru velvi seigiraai vizhiyilae
Yet you perform a sacred fire ritual in your eyes!
Nool illai thari illai
There is no thread, there is no loom,
Oru kaadhal neigiraai manathilae
Yet you weave a tapestry of love in my heart!
Poo illai madal illai
There is no flower, there is no petal,
Pudhu theanai peigiraai uyirilae
Yet you shower fresh honey into my soul!
Ennai unnidam izhakkiren
I lose myself to you,
Irunthum illayai irukkiren
And yet I remain as non-existence.
Munnum pinnum chinnam vaippen
I will imprint little marks before and behind,
Chinna chinnadhaai
In tiny, delicate ways.
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Vilayaai thanthenae ennai
I gave myself away as the cost,
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Vaangi kondenae unnai
And bought you in return!
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Ohoo..ohoo..ooohoo..
Aadai kondatho thennai
Has the coconut tree draped itself in garments?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Thee Illai' (also known as the title/lead track from Engeyum Kadhal) is a deeply romantic track that captures the mesmerizing experience of falling head over heels in love. The narrator expresses how love creates miraculous transformations without any visible tools—weaving passion without thread, igniting spiritual fire without smoke, and pouring sweetness into the soul without flowers. The lyrics painterly describe intimate moments, sea breezes, soft showers, and the ethereal beauty of love's complete surrender. Written by the legendary lyricist Vaali, the song contrasts physical realities with emotional paradoxes, such as losing oneself completely to another while continuing to exist purely through them. Set against picturesque imagery of nature, ocean shores, and cool winds, the song celebrates love as an all-encompassing force that rewrites one's destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Paradox (Muranthodai)
“Thee illai pugai illai / Oru velvi seigiraai vizhiyilae”
The lyricist creates paradoxes where actions occur without physical instruments ('thee illai pugai illai', 'nool illai thari illai', 'poo illai madal illai'), metaphorically portraying love as a magical, invisible force.
Emoni / Anaphora
“Thee illai pugai illai... Nool illai thari illai... Poo illai madal illai”
Repetition of the negative condition 'illai' at the beginning of alternating phrases to create rhythm and structure.
Personification (Uruvagarn/Uruvagam)
“Thodu thodu endru thalir thudikka”
Giving living qualities to nature, such as tender sprouts quivering and demanding touch ('thalir thudikka') or coconut trees wearing clothes.
Rhyme / Monorhyme (Iyaibu)
“Oru velvi seigiraai vizhiyilae / Oru kaadhal neigiraai manathilae”
Matching end sounds across lines ('vizhiyilae', 'manathilae', 'uyirilae') creating a smooth acoustic rhyme scheme.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thee Illai' (Engeyum Kadhal) was composed by Harris Jayaraj and sung by Aalap Raju. Aalap Raju won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Tamil for his soulful rendition of this track, which marked a major turning point in his playback singing career.
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