Avalum Naanum
From Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada · 2016
- Lyricist
- Bharathidasan
- Singer
- Vijay Yesudas
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada2016
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Amuthum thamizhum | Nectar and Tamil |
| Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Alaiyum kadalum | The wave and the ocean |
| Male | |
| Aalum nizhalum | A person and their shadow |
| Asaivum nadippum | Movement and expression |
| Aniyum panivum | Adornment and humility |
| Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Male | |
| Meenum punalum | A fish and the water |
| Vinnum virivum | The sky and its expanse |
| Verpum thotramum | The mountain and its form |
| Velum koorum | The spear and its sharpness |
| Male | |
| {Naanum avalum | Me and her |
| Uyirum udambum | Life and body |
| Narambum yaazhum | Strings and the harp |
| Poovum manamum} (2) | Flower and fragrance (Repeated) |
| Male | |
| Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Thenum inippum | Honey and sweetness |
| Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Sirippum magizhvum | Laughter and joy |
| Male | |
| Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Amuthum thamizhum | Nectar and Tamil |
| Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Alaiyum kadalum | The wave and the ocean |
| Male | |
| Aalum nizhalum | A person and their shadow |
| Asaivum nadippum | Movement and expression |
| Aniyum panivum | Adornment and humility |
| Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Male | |
| {Avalum naanum | Her and I |
| Amuthum thamizhum} (2) | Nectar and Tamil (Repeated) |
அவளும் நானும்
அமுதும் தமிழும் அவளும்
நானும் அலையும் கடலும்
Her and I
Nectar and Tamil
Her and I
The wave and the ocean
அவளும் நானும்
தவமும் அருளும் அவளும்
நானும் வேரும் மரமும்
A person and their shadow
Movement and expression
Adornment and humility
Her and I
ஆலும் நிழலும்
அசைவும் நடிப்பும்
அணியும் பணிவும்
அவளும் நானும்
A fish and the water
The sky and its expanse
The mountain and its form
The spear and its sharpness
அவையும் துணிவும்
உழைப்பும் தழைப்பும்
அவளும் நானும்
அளித்தலும் புகழும்
Me and her
Life and body
Strings and the harp
Flower and fragrance (Repeated)
மீனும் புனலும்
விண்ணும் விாிவும்
வெற்பும் தோற்றமும்
வேலும் கூரும்
Her and I
Honey and sweetness
Her and I
Laughter and joy
ஆறும் கரையும்
அம்பும் வில்லும் பாட்டும்
உரையும் நானும் அவளும்
Her and I
Nectar and Tamil
Her and I
The wave and the ocean
{ நானும் அவளும்
உயிரும் உடம்பும் நரம்பும்
யாழும் பூவும் மணமும் } (2)
A person and their shadow
Movement and expression
Adornment and humility
Her and I
அவளும் நானும்
தேனும் இனிப்பும் அவளும்
நானும் சிாிப்பும் மகிழ்வும்
Her and I
Nectar and Tamil (Repeated)
அவளும் நானும்
திங்களும் குளிரும் அவளும்
நானும் கதிரும் ஒளியும்
அவளும் நானும்
அமுதும் தமிழும் அவளும்
நானும் அலையும் கடலும்
அவளும் நானும்
தவமும் அருளும் அவளும்
நானும் வேரும் மரமும்
ஆலும் நிழலும்
அசைவும் நடிப்பும்
அணியும் பணிவும்
அவளும் நானும்
அவையும் துணிவும்
உழைப்பும் தழைப்பும்
அவளும் நானும்
அளித்தலும் புகழும்
{ அவளும் நானும்
அமுதும் தமிழும் } (2)
Avalum naanum
Her and I
Amuthum thamizhum
Nectar and Tamil
Avalum naanum
Her and I
Alaiyum kadalum
The wave and the ocean
Aalum nizhalum
A person and their shadow
Asaivum nadippum
Movement and expression
Aniyum panivum
Adornment and humility
Avalum naanum
Her and I
Meenum punalum
A fish and the water
Vinnum virivum
The sky and its expanse
Verpum thotramum
The mountain and its form
Velum koorum
The spear and its sharpness
{Naanum avalum
Me and her
Uyirum udambum
Life and body
Narambum yaazhum
Strings and the harp
Poovum manamum} (2)
Flower and fragrance (Repeated)
Avalum naanum
Her and I
Thenum inippum
Honey and sweetness
Avalum naanum
Her and I
Sirippum magizhvum
Laughter and joy
Avalum naanum
Her and I
Amuthum thamizhum
Nectar and Tamil
Avalum naanum
Her and I
Alaiyum kadalum
The wave and the ocean
Aalum nizhalum
A person and their shadow
Asaivum nadippum
Movement and expression
Aniyum panivum
Adornment and humility
Avalum naanum
Her and I
{Avalum naanum
Her and I
Amuthum thamizhum} (2)
Nectar and Tamil (Repeated)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Avalum Naanum' is a poetic celebration of an inseparable romantic bond, built entirely upon classical Tamil metaphors. The song draws rich analogies from nature, music, and art to show how the protagonist and his beloved are intrinsically linked—comparing them to nectar and Tamil, a body and its soul, a wave and the ocean, and a flower and its fragrance. Through these timeless pair comparisons, the lyricist conveys that neither individual is complete without the other, symbolizing a profound harmony where two distinct entities merge into one essence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaal / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Avalum naanum / Amuthum thamizhum”
Extensive use of initial 'A' (அ) letter repetition across lines ('Avalum', 'Amuthum', 'Alaiyum', 'Aalum', 'Asaivum', 'Aniyum') creating melodic harmony.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Suffix Symmetry)
“Uyirum udambum / Narambum yaazhum”
Consistent use of the conjunctive suffix '-um' (உம்) at the end of almost every noun pair, establishing a hypnotic rhythmic cadence.
Uvamai (Analogy / Metaphor)
“Meenum punalum / Vinnum virivum”
Pairing concepts where one cannot exist without the other (e.g., harp and strings, fish and water) to metaphorically illustrate deep emotional and spiritual unity.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics of 'Avalum Naanum' were not originally written for cinema; they are excerpts from a famous poem by Pavendhar Bharathidasan, one of modern Tamil literature's greatest poets. Composer A.R. Rahman adapted these classical verses into a song for Gautham Vasudev Menon's 2016 film 'Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada', with vocals by Vijay Prakash.
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