Alai Alai Alaiyai
From Ladies & Gentlemen · 2013
- Lyricist
- Pa. Vijay
- Singers
- Unnikrishnan, Harini
- Music director
- Bharani
- Details
- Ladies & Gentlemen2013
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | |
| Male | |
| Alai alai alaiyaai | Like wave after wave, |
| Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae | My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower. |
| Kulu kulu nilavaai | Like the pleasant cool moon, |
| Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae | This coaxing youth calls, come here to me. |
| Male | |
| Nee minsaaram pol | Like electricity, |
| Ennul vanthu modhi sendraayae | You struck inside me and went away. |
| Oru paenaa mullaai | Like the nib of a pen, |
| Enthan nenjil ezhuthi ponaayae | You wrote upon my heart and left. |
| Male | |
| Oru sirpam neethaan | You are a sculpture, |
| Sirpi ennai sedhukki paarththaayae | And as a sculptor, you carved me and watched. |
| Female | |
| Alai alai alaiyaai | Like wave after wave, |
| Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae | My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower. |
| Kulu kulu nilavaai | Like the pleasant cool moon, |
| Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae | This coaxing youth calls, come here to me. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………. | |
| Male | |
| Nilavil iruntha padi | When standing on the moon, |
| Naam mannai paakkaiyilae | And looking down at the Earth, |
| China suvarazhagu | The beauty of the Great Wall of China, |
| Oru kodaaga thondrumae… | Appears like a mere single line... |
| Female | |
| Mannil irunthapadi | While standing on Earth, |
| Vaan nilavai paarkkaiyilae | And looking up at the sky's moon, |
| Naamum nadantha thadam | The path we walked upon together, |
| Adhu laesaaga thondrumae | Appears faint and delicate. |
| Male | |
| Anbae un muththangal semikkavae | My love, to deposit your kisses, |
| Arasaanga vangikkul idam ketkkiraen | I am asking for space in a government bank. |
| Female | |
| Kadavulgal en munbu vanthaalumae | Even if gods appear right before me, |
| Unakkaethaan mudhal poojai naan seigiraen | I will offer my very first prayer only to you. |
| Male | |
| Sirapunji mazhai aanaen | I became the Cherrapunji rain, |
| Maegam neethaan… | And you are the cloud... |
| Female | |
| Alai alai alaiyaai | Like wave after wave, |
| Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae | My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower. |
| Kulu kulu nilavaai | Like the pleasant cool moon, |
| Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae | This coaxing youth calls, come here to me. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………. | |
| Female | |
| Enthan aasaigalai | When I sit and count, |
| Naan enni paarkkaiyilae | All of my desires, |
| Vinmeen aththanaiyum | All those stars up in the sky, |
| Oo konjam pol thondruthae… | Oh, seem so few in comparison... |
| Male | |
| Veyyil veesaiyilae | When the hot sun shines, |
| Un vaetkkai pokkidavae | To quench your heat and yearning, |
| Thennang keettrugalaal | With thatched coconut leaves, |
| Naan un veettai pottruvaen | I will roof and cover your home. |
| Female | |
| Adadaa en sevvaayil | Aha, on my red lips, |
| Sevvaai giragam | Lies the planet Mars, |
| Nee vanthu aaraatchchi seithaal sugam | It would be bliss if you came to research it. |
| Male | |
| Anbae nee azhagaanaa | My love, you are a beautiful, |
| Ponnoviyam | Golden painting, |
| Uyirodu uyir saera vaendum varam | I wish for the boon of uniting soul to soul. |
| Female | |
| Pala nooru varudangal | For many hundreds of years, |
| Vaazhkkai vaendum | I desire this life with you. |
| Male | |
| Alai alai alaiyaai | Like wave after wave, |
| Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae | My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower. |
| Kulu kulu nilavaai | Like the pleasant cool moon, |
| Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae | This coaxing youth calls, come here to me. |
| Male | |
| Nee minsaaram pol | Like electricity, |
| Ennul vanthu modhi sendraayae | You struck inside me and went away. |
| Oru paenaa mullaai | Like the nib of a pen, |
| Enthan nenjil ezhuthi ponaayae | You wrote upon my heart and left. |
| Male | |
| Oru sirpam neethaan | You are a sculpture, |
| Sirpi ennai sedhukki paarththaayae | And as a sculptor, you carved me and watched. |
| Female | |
| Alai alai alaiyaai | Like wave after wave, |
| Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae | My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower. |
| Kulu kulu nilavaai | Like the pleasant cool moon, |
| Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae | This coaxing youth calls, come here to me. |
............................
அலை அலைஅலையாய்
அலையுது மனசு பூவே செம்பூவே
குளு குளு நிலவாய்
கொஞ்சுற வயசு வா வா நீ இங்கே
Like wave after wave,
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Like the pleasant cool moon,
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
நீ மின்சாரம் போல்
என்னுள் வந்து மோதி சென்றாயே
ஒரு பேனா முள்ளாய்
எந்தன் நெஞ்சில் எழுதிப் போனாயே
Like electricity,
You struck inside me and went away.
Like the nib of a pen,
You wrote upon my heart and left.
ஒரு சிற்பம் நீதான்
சிற்பி என்னை செதுக்கி பார்த்தாயே
You are a sculpture,
And as a sculptor, you carved me and watched.
அலை அலை அலையாய்
அலையுது மனசு பூவே செம்பூவே
குளு குளு நிலவாய்
கொஞ்சுற வயசு வா வா நீ இங்கே
Like wave after wave,
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Like the pleasant cool moon,
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
..........................
நிலவில் இருந்த படி
நாம் மண்ணை பார்க்கையிலே
சீன சுவரழகு
ஒரு கோடாக தோன்றுமே.....
When standing on the moon,
And looking down at the Earth,
The beauty of the Great Wall of China,
Appears like a mere single line...
மண்ணில் இருந்த படி
வான் நிலவை பாக்கையிலே
நாமும் நடந்த தடம்
அது லேசாக தோன்றுமே....
While standing on Earth,
And looking up at the sky's moon,
The path we walked upon together,
Appears faint and delicate.
அன்பே உன் முத்தங்கள் சேமிக்கவே
அரசாங்க வங்கிக்குள் இடம் கேக்கிறேன்
My love, to deposit your kisses,
I am asking for space in a government bank.
கடவுள்கள் என் முன்பு வந்தாலுமே
உனக்கேதான் முதல் பூஜை நான் செய்கிறேன்
Even if gods appear right before me,
I will offer my very first prayer only to you.
சிரபுஞ்சி மழை ஆனேன்
மேகம் நீ தான்....
I became the Cherrapunji rain,
And you are the cloud...
அலை அலை அலையாய்
அலையுது மனசு பூவே செம்பூவே
குளு குளு நிலவாய்
கொஞ்சுற வயசு வா வா நீ இங்கே
Like wave after wave,
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Like the pleasant cool moon,
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
..............................
எந்தன் ஆசைகளை
நான் எண்ணி பார்க்கையிலே
விண்மீன் அத்தனையும்
ஓ கொஞ்சம் போல் தோன்றுதே.....
When I sit and count,
All of my desires,
All those stars up in the sky,
Oh, seem so few in comparison...
வெய்யில் வீசையிலே
உன் வேட்கை போக்கிடவே
தென்னங் கீற்றுகளால்
நான் உன் வீட்டை போற்றுவேன்....
When the hot sun shines,
To quench your heat and yearning,
With thatched coconut leaves,
I will roof and cover your home.
அடடா என் செவ்வாயில்
செவ்வாய் கிரகம்
நீ வந்து ஆராய்ச்சி செய்தால் சுகம்
Aha, on my red lips,
Lies the planet Mars,
It would be bliss if you came to research it.
அன்பே நீ அழகான
பெண்ணோவியம்
உயிரோடு உயிர் சேர வேண்டும் வரம்
My love, you are a beautiful,
Golden painting,
I wish for the boon of uniting soul to soul.
பலநூறு வருடங்கள்
வாழ்க்கை வேண்டும்.....
For many hundreds of years,
I desire this life with you.
அலை அலை அலையாய்
அலையுது மனசு பூவே செம்பூவே
குளு குளு நிலவாய்
கொஞ்சுற வயசு வா வா நீ இங்கே
Like wave after wave,
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Like the pleasant cool moon,
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
நீ மின்சாரம் போல்
என்னுள் வந்து மோதி சென்றாயே
ஒரு பேனா முள்ளாய்
எந்தன் நெஞ்சில் எழுதி போனாயே
Like electricity,
You struck inside me and went away.
Like the nib of a pen,
You wrote upon my heart and left.
ஒரு சிற்பம் நீதான்
சிற்பி என்னை செதுக்கி பார்த்தாயே.....
You are a sculpture,
And as a sculptor, you carved me and watched.
அலை அலை அலையாய்
அலையுது மனசு பூவே செம்பூவே
குளு குளு நிலவாய்
கொஞ்சுற வயசு வா வா நீ இங்கே
Like wave after wave,
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Like the pleasant cool moon,
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
……………….
Alai alai alaiyaai
Like wave after wave,
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Like the pleasant cool moon,
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
Nee minsaaram pol
Like electricity,
Ennul vanthu modhi sendraayae
You struck inside me and went away.
Oru paenaa mullaai
Like the nib of a pen,
Enthan nenjil ezhuthi ponaayae
You wrote upon my heart and left.
Oru sirpam neethaan
You are a sculpture,
Sirpi ennai sedhukki paarththaayae
And as a sculptor, you carved me and watched.
Alai alai alaiyaai
Like wave after wave,
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Like the pleasant cool moon,
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
…………….
Nilavil iruntha padi
When standing on the moon,
Naam mannai paakkaiyilae
And looking down at the Earth,
China suvarazhagu
The beauty of the Great Wall of China,
Oru kodaaga thondrumae…
Appears like a mere single line...
Mannil irunthapadi
While standing on Earth,
Vaan nilavai paarkkaiyilae
And looking up at the sky's moon,
Naamum nadantha thadam
The path we walked upon together,
Adhu laesaaga thondrumae
Appears faint and delicate.
Anbae un muththangal semikkavae
My love, to deposit your kisses,
Arasaanga vangikkul idam ketkkiraen
I am asking for space in a government bank.
Kadavulgal en munbu vanthaalumae
Even if gods appear right before me,
Unakkaethaan mudhal poojai naan seigiraen
I will offer my very first prayer only to you.
Sirapunji mazhai aanaen
I became the Cherrapunji rain,
Maegam neethaan…
And you are the cloud...
Alai alai alaiyaai
Like wave after wave,
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Like the pleasant cool moon,
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
…………….
Enthan aasaigalai
When I sit and count,
Naan enni paarkkaiyilae
All of my desires,
Vinmeen aththanaiyum
All those stars up in the sky,
Oo konjam pol thondruthae…
Oh, seem so few in comparison...
Veyyil veesaiyilae
When the hot sun shines,
Un vaetkkai pokkidavae
To quench your heat and yearning,
Thennang keettrugalaal
With thatched coconut leaves,
Naan un veettai pottruvaen
I will roof and cover your home.
Adadaa en sevvaayil
Aha, on my red lips,
Sevvaai giragam
Lies the planet Mars,
Nee vanthu aaraatchchi seithaal sugam
It would be bliss if you came to research it.
Anbae nee azhagaanaa
My love, you are a beautiful,
Ponnoviyam
Golden painting,
Uyirodu uyir saera vaendum varam
I wish for the boon of uniting soul to soul.
Pala nooru varudangal
For many hundreds of years,
Vaazhkkai vaendum
I desire this life with you.
Alai alai alaiyaai
Like wave after wave,
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Like the pleasant cool moon,
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
Nee minsaaram pol
Like electricity,
Ennul vanthu modhi sendraayae
You struck inside me and went away.
Oru paenaa mullaai
Like the nib of a pen,
Enthan nenjil ezhuthi ponaayae
You wrote upon my heart and left.
Oru sirpam neethaan
You are a sculpture,
Sirpi ennai sedhukki paarththaayae
And as a sculptor, you carved me and watched.
Alai alai alaiyaai
Like wave after wave,
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
My heart wanders, oh flower, beautiful red flower.
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Like the pleasant cool moon,
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
This coaxing youth calls, come here to me.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Alai Alai Alaiyaai' from the film 'Ladies & Gentlemen' (2013) is a passionate romantic track penned by lyricist Pa. Vijay. It expresses the overwhelming and restless feelings of a lover whose mind surges like ocean waves. The protagonist reflects on how deeply the beloved has impacted their soul—striking like electricity, sculpting their personality, and inscribing memories directly onto their heart. Throughout the track, the lyrics utilize contemporary and grand imagery, comparing human passion to global landmarks like the Great Wall of China and natural phenomena like Cherrapunji rains. The protagonist places the beloved on the highest pedestal, declaring that even if divine beings appear, the primary devotion belongs solely to the partner, wishing for a bond that endures across centuries.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Nee minsaaram pol / Ennul vanthu modhi sendraayae”
Compares the beloved's sudden surge of romance to an electric shock.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Alai alai alaiyaai / Kulu kulu nilavaai”
Repetition of words like 'Alai alai' and 'Kulu kulu' to emphasize wave-like rhythm and cool sensation.
Hyperbole (Athi-aayvu / Exaggeration)
“Vinmeen aththanaiyum / Oo konjam pol thondruthae…”
Exaggerates the count of desires to be greater than all the stars in the night sky.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Sirapunji mazhai aanaen / Maegam neethaan…”
Directly identifies the self as Cherrapunji rain and the lover as the cloud.
Wordplay / Puns (Sleidai)
“Adadaa en sevvaayil / Sevvaai giragam”
Plays on the Tamil word 'Sevvaai' meaning both red lips/mouth and the planet Mars (Sevvaai Giragam).
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by National Award-winning lyricist Pa. Vijay, the song showcases his signature style of blending modern scientific and geographical references (such as Mars exploration, the Great Wall of China, Cherrapunji rain, and government banking) into classical Tamil romantic song structures.
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