Alai Alaiyaai
From Naalai Unathu Naal · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Uma Ramanan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Naalai Unathu Naal1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae | Many desires rise like waves upon waves |
| Adi ilamaiyilae intha ilamaiyilae | Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth |
| Iravinil pookkal pookkalaam | Flowers may bloom in the night |
| Vidinthathum vaadi pogalaam | They may wither away as dawn breaks |
| Female | |
| Idaiyinil kaalam maaralaam | Time may change in the interim |
| Ilamaiyum odi pogalaam | Youthfulness too may flee away |
| Piraviyil naanum kooda poovin jaadhithaan | By nature of my birth, I too belong to the flower species |
| Female | |
| Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae | Many desires rise like waves upon waves |
| Adi ilamaiyilae intha ilamaiyilae | Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth |
| Female | |
| Sevaazhai pol irandu kaal nadakka | With two legs walking like slender plantain trees |
| Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa | Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa |
| Semmeenai pol rendu kan sirikka | Two eyes smiling bright like red carp fish |
| Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa | Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa |
| Female | |
| Nadhipol naanum nadaithaan poda | As I walk gracefully like a flowing river |
| Kodi pol maelae kanithaan aada | With fruit swaying above like a delicate vine |
| Ilagiya maalai pozhuthinilae | In the gentle, tender evening hour |
| Vaalipamae vaa naan azhaikka | Oh youthfulness, come as I call out to you |
| Female | |
| Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae | Many desires rise like waves upon waves |
| Adi ilamaiyilae intha ilamaiyilae | Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth |
| Female | |
| Aagaayam neenthugindra poonguruvi | Like a little bird swimming across the sky |
| Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa | Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa |
| Ammaadi naanum oru thenaruvi | Oh my, I too am a flowing stream of honey |
| Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa | Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa |
| Female | |
| Siragai naanum virippaen ingae | I will spread my wings right here |
| Ninaiththaal pothum parappean angae | Just a thought is enough for me to fly over there |
| Pozhuthoru paadal padiththiruppaen | I would sing a song for every passing hour |
| Raaththiriyil vaa nee rasikka… | Come in the night to relish and enjoy... |
| Female | |
| Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae | Many desires rise like waves upon waves |
| Adi ilamaiyilae intha ilamaiyilae | Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth |
| Iravinil pookkal pookkalaam | Flowers may bloom in the night |
| Vidinthathum vaadi pogalaam | They may wither away as dawn breaks |
| Female | |
| Idaiyinil kaalam maaralaam | Time may change in the interim |
| Ilamaiyum odi pogalaam | Youthfulness too may flee away |
| Piraviyil naanum kooda poovin jaadhithaan | By nature of my birth, I too belong to the flower species |
| Female | |
| Lalalaa laa laallala laa | Lalalaa laa laallala laa |
| Lalalaa laa laallala laa | Lalalaa laa laallala laa |
| Laallala laa laa lala laa | Laallala laa laa lala laa |
| Laallala laa laa lala laa | Laallala laa laa lala laa |
கைதட்டல்கள் :
.................................
Many desires rise like waves upon waves
Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth
Flowers may bloom in the night
They may wither away as dawn breaks
அலை அலையாய் பல ஆசைகளே
அடி இளமையிலே இந்த இளமையிலே
இரவினில் பூக்கள் பூக்கலாம்
விடிந்ததும் வாடி போகலாம்
Time may change in the interim
Youthfulness too may flee away
By nature of my birth, I too belong to the flower species
இடையினில் காலம் மாறலாம்
இளமையும் ஓடி போகலாம்
பிறவியில் நானும் கூட பூவின் ஜாதிதான்
Many desires rise like waves upon waves
Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth
அலை அலையாய் பல ஆசைகளே
அடி இளமையிலே இந்த இளமையிலே
With two legs walking like slender plantain trees
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Two eyes smiling bright like red carp fish
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
கைதட்டல்கள் :
.................................
As I walk gracefully like a flowing river
With fruit swaying above like a delicate vine
In the gentle, tender evening hour
Oh youthfulness, come as I call out to you
செவ்வாழை போல் இரண்டு கால் நடக்க
லல்லா லல்லா லல்லா லல்லா
செம்மீனை போல் ரெண்டு கண் சிரிக்க
லல்லா லல்லா லல்லா லல்லா
Many desires rise like waves upon waves
Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth
நதிபோல் நானும் நடைதான் போட
கொடி போல் மேலே கனிதான் ஆட
இளகிய மாலை பொழுதினிலே
வாலிபமே வா நான் அழைக்க.......
Like a little bird swimming across the sky
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Oh my, I too am a flowing stream of honey
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
அலை அலையாய் பல ஆசைகளே
அடி இளமையிலே இந்த இளமையிலே
I will spread my wings right here
Just a thought is enough for me to fly over there
I would sing a song for every passing hour
Come in the night to relish and enjoy...
கைதட்டல்கள் :
.................................
Many desires rise like waves upon waves
Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth
Flowers may bloom in the night
They may wither away as dawn breaks
ஆகாயம் நீந்துகின்ற பூங்குருவி
லல்லா லல்லா லல்லா லல்லா
அம்மாடி நானும் ஒரு தேனருவி
லல்லா லல்லா லல்லா லல்லா
Time may change in the interim
Youthfulness too may flee away
By nature of my birth, I too belong to the flower species
சிறகை நானும் விரிப்பேன் இங்கே
நினைத்தால் போதும் பறப்பேன் அங்கே
பொழுதொரு பாடல் படித்திருப்பேன்
ராத்திரியில் வா நீ ரசிக்க........
Lalalaa laa laallala laa
Lalalaa laa laallala laa
Laallala laa laa lala laa
Laallala laa laa lala laa
அலை அலையாய் பல ஆசைகளே
அடி இளமையிலே இந்த இளமையிலே
இரவினில் பூக்கள் பூக்கலாம்
விடிந்ததும் வாடி போகலாம்
இடையினில் காலம் மாறலாம்
இளமையும் ஓடி போகலாம்
பிறவியில் நானும் கூட பூவின் ஜாதிதான்
லலலா லா லால்லல லா
லலலா லா லால்லல லா
லால்லல லா லா லல லா
லால்லல லா லா லல லா
Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae
Many desires rise like waves upon waves
Adi ilamaiyilae intha ilamaiyilae
Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth
Iravinil pookkal pookkalaam
Flowers may bloom in the night
Vidinthathum vaadi pogalaam
They may wither away as dawn breaks
Idaiyinil kaalam maaralaam
Time may change in the interim
Ilamaiyum odi pogalaam
Youthfulness too may flee away
Piraviyil naanum kooda poovin jaadhithaan
By nature of my birth, I too belong to the flower species
Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae
Many desires rise like waves upon waves
Adi ilamaiyilae intha ilamaiyilae
Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth
Sevaazhai pol irandu kaal nadakka
With two legs walking like slender plantain trees
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Semmeenai pol rendu kan sirikka
Two eyes smiling bright like red carp fish
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Nadhipol naanum nadaithaan poda
As I walk gracefully like a flowing river
Kodi pol maelae kanithaan aada
With fruit swaying above like a delicate vine
Ilagiya maalai pozhuthinilae
In the gentle, tender evening hour
Vaalipamae vaa naan azhaikka
Oh youthfulness, come as I call out to you
Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae
Many desires rise like waves upon waves
Adi ilamaiyilae intha ilamaiyilae
Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth
Aagaayam neenthugindra poonguruvi
Like a little bird swimming across the sky
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Ammaadi naanum oru thenaruvi
Oh my, I too am a flowing stream of honey
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Lallaa lallaa lallaa lallaa
Siragai naanum virippaen ingae
I will spread my wings right here
Ninaiththaal pothum parappean angae
Just a thought is enough for me to fly over there
Pozhuthoru paadal padiththiruppaen
I would sing a song for every passing hour
Raaththiriyil vaa nee rasikka…
Come in the night to relish and enjoy...
Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae
Many desires rise like waves upon waves
Adi ilamaiyilae intha ilamaiyilae
Oh, in this youthfulness, in this very youth
Iravinil pookkal pookkalaam
Flowers may bloom in the night
Vidinthathum vaadi pogalaam
They may wither away as dawn breaks
Idaiyinil kaalam maaralaam
Time may change in the interim
Ilamaiyum odi pogalaam
Youthfulness too may flee away
Piraviyil naanum kooda poovin jaadhithaan
By nature of my birth, I too belong to the flower species
Lalalaa laa laallala laa
Lalalaa laa laallala laa
Lalalaa laa laallala laa
Lalalaa laa laallala laa
Laallala laa laa lala laa
Laallala laa laa lala laa
Laallala laa laa lala laa
Laallala laa laa lala laa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Alai Alaiyaai Pala Aasaigalae' is a vibrant, reflective track expressing the exuberance, beauty, and transient nature of youth. The protagonist compares herself to a flower that blossoms during the night and might fade by dawn, acknowledging that time and youth are fleeting gifts. Through poetic imagery of nature, she embraces her youthful charm and urges the listener to cherish these precious moments before time slips away.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Sevaazhai pol irandu kaal nadakka”
Compares her legs to red plantain trees ('Sevaazhai pol') and eyes to red carp fish ('Semmeenai pol') to highlight beauty.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ammaadi naanum oru thenaruvi”
Directly identifies herself with a stream of honey ('thenaruvi') and the flower species ('poovin jaadhi').
Anaphora / Reduplication (Adukku Thodar)
“Alai alaiyaai pala aasaigalae”
The repetition of 'Alai alaiyaai' emphasizes the continuous, wave-like surging of youthful desires.
Rhyme / Monai & Edhugai
“Iravinil pookkal pookkalaam”
The lines 'Iravinil', 'Vidinthathum', 'Idaiyinil', and 'Ilamaiyum' showcase harmonious initial letter and second letter rhyming patterns across the stanzas.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Naalai Unathu Naal' (1984) is an Indian Tamil-language drama directed by A. Jagannathan, starring Vijayakanth, Nalini, and Major Sundarrajan. The song features lyrics written by the celebrated lyricist Vaali, who vividly captures the transience of youth through delicate floral metaphors.
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