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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Venmathi Venmathiye

From Minnale · 2001

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Roop Kumar Rathod, Tippu
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Minnale2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
: {Venmathi venmathiyae nilluOh silver moon, silver moon, wait a moment,
Nee vaanukkaa megathukka solluTell me, do you belong to the sky or to the cloud?
Vaanamthan unnudaiya ishtamIf the sky alone is your desire,
Endral megathukillai oru nashtam} – (2)Then the cloud loses nothing at all.
Male
Unnai indroduFrom today onwards, you...
Naan marapenaeI will forget...
Naan marapenaeI will forget you.
Unnalae nenjil pootha kaadhalThe love that blossomed in my heart because of you,
Meylum meylum thunbam thunbamBrings more and more pain,
Vendaam….I do not want it...
Male
Venmathi venmathiyae nilluOh silver moon, silver moon, wait a moment,
Nee vaanukkaa megathukka solluTell me, do you belong to the sky or to the cloud?
Vaanamthan unnudaiya ishtamIf the sky alone is your desire,
Endral megathukillai oru nashtamThen the cloud loses nothing at all.
Male
Unnai indroduFrom today onwards, you...
Naan marapenaeI will forget...
Naan marapenaeI will forget you.
Unnalae nenjil pootha kaadhalThe love that blossomed in my heart because of you,
Meylum meylum thunbam thunbamBrings more and more pain,
Vendaam….I do not want it...
Male
Jannalin vazhi vanthu vizhunthathuComing through the window, it fell upon me,
Minnalin oliThe light of lightning.
Athil therinthathu azhagu devathaiIn that light appeared a beautiful angel,
Athisaya mugamae aahaahaaa….A miraculous face, ah...
Male
Theepori yenaLike a spark of fire,
Iru vizhigalumHer two eyes,
Theekuchi yenaLike a matchstick,
Enai urasidaRubbed against me;
Kodi pookalaaiLike ten million flowers,
Malarnthathu manamaeMy heart blossomed.
Male
Aval azhagai paadaTo sing of her beauty,
Oru mozhi illaiyaeThere is no language adequate.
Alanthu paarkka palaTo measure and behold her,
Vizhi illaiyaeThere are not enough eyes.
Ena irantha pothumDespite all that happened,
Aval enthillaiyaeShe is not mine.
Maranthu po en manamae…..Forget her, oh my heart...
Male
Ohoo Venmathi venmathiyae nilluOh silver moon, silver moon, wait a moment,
Nee vaanukkaa megathukka solluTell me, do you belong to the sky or to the cloud?
Vaanamthan unnudaiya ishtamIf the sky alone is your desire,
Endral megathukillai oru nashtamThen the cloud loses nothing at all.
Male
Unnai indroduFrom today onwards, you...
Naan marapenaeI will forget...
Naan marapenaeI will forget you.
Unnalae nenjil pootha kaadhalThe love that blossomed in my heart because of you,
Meylum meylum thunbam thunbamBrings more and more pain,
Vendaam….I do not want it...
Male
Anju naal varaiFor five days,
Aval pozhinthathu aasaiyin mazhaiShe showered a rain of desire,
Athil nanainthathuDrenched in that,
Nooru jenmangal ninaivinil irukkumIt will remain in my memory for a hundred lifetimes.
Male
Aathu pol entha naal varumWhen will another day like that ever come?
Uyir urugiya antha naal sugamThe pleasure of that day when my soul melted,
Athai ninaikayil ratha naalangalWhen I remember it, my blood vessels,
Raathiri vedikkumBurst during the night.
Male
Oru nimisham kooda ennai piriyavillaiShe did not part from me even for a minute,
Vivaram ethum aval ariyavillaiYet she did not know any of the truth.
Enna irantha pothumWhatever happened,
Aval enathillaiyaeShe is not mine.
Maranthu po en manamae…Forget her, oh my heart...
Male
{Lalla hi lai lai lai lailaa….lahaeLalla hi lai lai lai lailaa... lahae
Lalla hi lai lai lai lailaa….lahae} (2)Lalla hi lai lai lai lailaa... lahae
Male
Unnai indroduFrom today onwards, you...
Naan marapenaeI will forget...
Naan marapenaeI will forget you.
Unnalae nenjil pootha kaadhalThe love that blossomed in my heart because of you,
Meylum meylum thunbam thunbamBrings more and more pain,
Vendaam….I do not want it...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Venmathi Venmathiye' is a poignant romantic lament from the film Minnale (2001). The protagonist addresses the moon, using a metaphor of the moon choosing between the cloud and the sky to reflect his own tragic heartbreak. He tries to convince himself to forget his love, as the memory now brings unbearable pain rather than joy. He recalls how her beauty captivated him like a flash of lightning and how a brief period of closeness filled his life with immense passion, making memories that feel strong enough to last a hundred lifetimes. Despite the intense emotions and memories that haunt him at night, he comes to terms with the painful reality that she belongs to someone else and was unaware of his true identity/intentions during their brief time together. The song beautifully captures the agony of unrequited love and the struggle between deep affection and forced moving-on.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor

Nee vaanukkaa megathukka sollu

The moon (Venmathi), sky (Vaanam), and cloud (Megam) serve as a metaphor for the beloved, her destined partner, and the protagonist who resigns himself to being left behind like a fleeting cloud.

Simile (Upamai)

Theepori yena / Iru vizhigalum / Theekuchi yena

Her eyes are compared to sparks of fire and matchsticks that strike passion into the speaker's heart.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Athai ninaikayil ratha naalangal / Raathiri vedikkum

Exaggeration used to convey intense romantic agony, describing blood vessels bursting in the night at the recollection of sweet memories.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Venmathi Venmathiye' was composed by Harris Jayaraj for his debut film album Minnale (2001), which went on to become an iconic album in Tamil cinema. Sung by Tippu and Roop Kumar Rathod with lyrics by the legendary Vaali, the track was later adapted into Hindi as 'Zara Zara' in the film Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001).

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