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Isaimozhi
Ladies & Gentlemen album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Alai Alai Alaiyai

From Ladies & Gentlemen · 2013

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Unnikrishnan, Harini
Music director
Bharani
Movie name
Ladies & Gentlemen
Movie release year
2013
Lyrics added on
10 Nov 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………….
Alai alai alaiyaai
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
Nee minsaaram pol
Ennul vanthu modhi sendraayae
Oru paenaa mullaai
Enthan nenjil ezhuthi ponaayae
Oru sirpam neethaan
Sirpi ennai sedhukki paarththaayae
Alai alai alaiyaai
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
…………….
Nilavil iruntha padi
Naam mannai paakkaiyilae
China suvarazhagu
Oru kodaaga thondrumae…
Mannil irunthapadi
Vaan nilavai paarkkaiyilae
Naamum nadantha thadam
Adhu laesaaga thondrumae
Anbae un muththangal semikkavae
Arasaanga vangikkul idam ketkkiraen
Kadavulgal en munbu vanthaalumae
Unakkaethaan mudhal poojai naan seigiraen
Sirapunji mazhai aanaen
Maegam neethaan…
Alai alai alaiyaai
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
…………….
Enthan aasaigalai
Naan enni paarkkaiyilae
Vinmeen aththanaiyum
Oo konjam pol thondruthae…
Veyyil veesaiyilae
Un vaetkkai pokkidavae
Thennang keettrugalaal
Naan un veettai pottruvaen
Adadaa en sevvaayil
Sevvaai giragam
Nee vanthu aaraatchchi seithaal sugam
Anbae nee azhagaanaa
Ponnoviyam
Uyirodu uyir saera vaendum varam
Pala nooru varudangal
Vaazhkkai vaendum
Alai alai alaiyaai
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
Nee minsaaram pol
Ennul vanthu modhi sendraayae
Oru paenaa mullaai
Enthan nenjil ezhuthi ponaayae
Oru sirpam neethaan
Sirpi ennai sedhukki paarththaayae
Alai alai alaiyaai
Alaiyuthu manasu poovae sempoovae
Kulu kulu nilavaai
Konjura vayasu vaa vaa nee ingae
...
Like waves upon waves,
my heart wanders, my flower, my red flower!
Like a cool, gentle moon,
this youthful age longs for affection; come, come to me.
Like a flash of electricity,
you struck right through me and passed by.
Like the sharp nib of a pen,
you wrote upon my heart and walked away.
You are a sculpture,
yet you carved me, the sculptor, and admired your work.
Like waves upon waves,
my heart wanders, my flower, my red flower!
Like a cool, gentle moon,
this youthful age longs for affection; come, come to me.
...
Standing high on the moon,
when we look down at the Earth,
the beauty of the Great Wall of China
would appear just like a thin line...
Standing on the Earth,
when we look up at the moon in the sky,
the footprints where we walked together
would appear ever so faint...
My love, just to store your kisses,
I am asking for space in a government bank.
Even if the gods appear before me,
I will offer my very first prayer only to you.
I became the rains of Cherrapunji,
and you are the raincloud...
Like waves upon waves,
my heart wanders, my flower, my red flower!
Like a cool, gentle moon,
this youthful age longs for affection; come, come to me.
...
When I try to count
all the desires of my heart,
all the stars in the sky
seem far too few...
When the hot sun beats down,
to soothe away your heat and thirst,
with thatched coconut fronds,
I will shade and shelter your home...
Oh, upon my red lips
lies the planet Mars—
it would be pure pleasure if you came to explore it!
My love, you are a beautiful
painting of a woman,
and I ask for the boon of our souls uniting as one.
For hundreds of years,
I want to live this life with you...
Like waves upon waves,
my heart wanders, my flower, my red flower!
Like a cool, gentle moon,
this youthful age longs for affection; come, come to me.
Like a flash of electricity,
you struck right through me and passed by.
Like the sharp nib of a pen,
you wrote upon my heart and walked away.
You are a sculpture,
yet you carved me, the sculptor, and admired your work...
Like waves upon waves,
my heart wanders, my flower, my red flower!
Like a cool, gentle moon,
this youthful age longs for affection; come, come to me.
Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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