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Oru Naal Koothu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yaeli Yaeli

From Oru Naal Koothu · 2016

Lyricist
Sankar Dass
Singers
Sathya Prakash, Swetha Mohan
Music director
Justin Prabhakaran
Movie name
Oru Naal Koothu
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
31 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yeli yeli en kaadhali
Yen siluvayil araindhaal sakhi…
Iniyum neeyum naanum naam illaiyae
Yendraalum kaadhal poi illaiyae…
Iruppadhu ondrai
Izhakkindra varai
Yedhuvum thondruvathu illaiyae
Mazhai athu vandhaal
Unavadhai thaanga
Erumbidam balam illaiyae..
Ohoooo..ohoooo…..
Ohoooo..ohoooo…..
Yela yela en kaadhala
Naam pirindhum innum oor kaadhala..
Eriyum theeyum kaatrum oor kaatilae
Yennagum poovum sol sootilae
Mezhungendru naanum
Neruppendru neeyum
Uruguvadhae murai aanadhae
Marubadi vandhaai
Aruginil nindraai…
Vekkam ketta kaadhal yengudhae…
Ohoooo..ohoooo…..
Ohoooo..ohoooo…..
Eli, Eli, my love,
why did you crucify me, my dear?
You and I are no longer 'us',
yet our love is not a lie...
What we have in our hands,
until the moment we lose it,
we never realize its true value.
When the heavy rains come,
to hold onto its food,
the ant has no strength left...
Oho-oo.. Oho-oo.....
Oho-oo.. Oho-oo.....
Ela, Ela, my love,
though we have parted, is this still love?
In a forest caught between raging fire and wind,
tell me, what will happen to a flower in that heat?
With me as the wax
and you as the flame,
melting away has become my only fate.
You came back once again,
you stood right beside me...
and this shameless love yearns for you again...
Oho-oo.. Oho-oo.....
Oho-oo.. Oho-oo.....
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from Oru Naal Koothu is a poignant reflection on heartbreak, emotional distance, and the enduring nature of true love despite separation. The lovers express the deep agony of parting, comparing their suffering to crucifixion and acknowledging that the true value of love is often realized only after it is lost. Through vivid imagery like an ant helpless against pouring rain, they highlight their vulnerability in the face of fate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Mezhungendru naanum / Neruppendru neeyum

The speaker compares herself to wax and her partner to fire, symbolizing how their proximity inevitably leads to pain and melting away.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Iruppadhu ondrai / Izhakkindra varai

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'I' at the start of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic harmony.

Analogy

Mazhai athu vandhaal... Erumbidam balam illaiyae

Draws a parallel between human helplessness during heartbreak and an ant unable to protect its food when heavy rain hits.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was composed by Justin Prabhakaran for the 2016 film Oru Naal Koothu, featuring lyrics written by Sankar Dass. Justin Prabhakaran received widespread critical acclaim for the soundtrack, which famously includes the blockbuster hit 'Maya Bazar' as well as soulful tracks like this one.

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