Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Translation of Nee Korinaal from 180

The five-minute wonder!

Nee Korinaal is yet another beauty! Alright, in terms of what this time? A lyrical beauty, a visual beauty, and a musical treat. The format of the song just swept me off my feet: each line standing on its own, with absolutely no connection between its siblings and still making it a great song. The song has the male and female voices repeating a verse, each in a normal pitch and the second time, in a high and longish pitch. Seems like someone reads a secret the first time and the next time, revives it with their vocals. This happens for all the verses, expect the opening verse. A great song structure put in action by the music director, Sharreth. It is a wonder in so many senses--you must listen to appreciate the nuances of the song. In fact, the music arrangement compliments the lyrics as well as the voice, taking the lead only where required.

And Karthik and Swetha Mohan have just made this song scintillate, in terms of the way it has been sung. Especially the brilliant Swetha for the way she emotes, playing it low and high wherever and whenever required. Though Karthik gives a great opening with his endearing questions, Swetha has the last laugh. She is relentless even in places where she has to go on a low but steady and a breathless pitch, and gradually has to flight up for the re-opening verse that she sings after that. A perfect 10, like Nadia Comaneci, I would say.

So here is me gratifying my impulse--I dont know why, I often feel I want to devour the song, everytime I listen to this chirpy song--the translation of Nee Korinal from the movie 180 (Nootrenbadhu).


If you ask for, my sweetheart,
won't the sky change, forever?
won't the clouds patter, incessantly?

You seared my soul, my sunshine,
yet I see no fire around...

Now, don't shut your windows, oh ladylove,
and shy away from me.

You run away, oh poetry in motion,
from me, steadfast yet still...

Am I of the recluse clan to not caress you,
oh beautiful,
even after I set my eyes on you?

You are my reflecting self, oh silken flower,
I pray, do not wither away.

Your intoxicating lips invite me, oh alluring!
Come, let me have a sip of you.

9 comments:

S m i t h a said...

I know! My feelings exactly...

reNUka said...

Hey there!! thanks very much for your comments! :-)
Read it the day you wrote - and wanted to reply as well... but i kept procrastinating!

Unknown said...

hi renuka...thanks a lot for the English translation...u have done a gr8 job,the words tat u wrote conveys the beauty of the song to its full extend......

reNUka said...

Hi Unknown, Thanks very much! It is very encouraging! :-) Just wondering who the unknown is...

Siddhesh said...

Nice. Very nicely described indeed. I am a tamilian myself, but i found myself searching for the english translation for a few words. :P Glad to have found it here.

One suggestion though, perhaps you could intersperse the tamil words in between the english ones, to give a better understanding for those who wish to relate? Great work!

reNUka said...

Thank you very much for your appreciation! :-)

A few others have made the suggestion that you have given. My only reason for not doing so is that, then the translation would like a translation and not stand on its own...

Logarajan said...

Just happened to see ur blog.. One of my favorite songs.. Interesting lyrics from Madhan Karky.. Each verse is a kind of riddle and refers to fountain, oven, clock,
reflective surface, Flowers..

SHOHINI said...

Hi Renuka,

Thanks a lot for translating this one for me. I chanced upon this song after so many years today and kept listening to it for the entire day on repeat. There was something in the flow of the song that kept me hung up on it, even though I do not understand Tamil. Very well narrated too.

Thanks again.

reNUka said...

Thanks Logarajan and Sohini!