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Lyrics & meaning

Chithirai Maadhathu Nilavu

From Paadu Nilave · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paadu Nilave1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Chiththirai maathathuThe moon of the Chithirai month
Nilavu varuthuIs arriving
Vazhi vidu vazhi viduMake way, make way
Megamae vazhi viduO cloud, make way
Male
Manthira gaanamumA magical song
Mogangal tharuthuBrings forth desires
Vilagidu vilagiduMove away, move away
Naanamae vilagiduO shyness, move away
Female
{Mazhaipol varuvaai{You will come like rain
EnakkaagaFor my sake
Nilampol thavippenI will yearn like the earth
Atharkkaaga} (2)For that reason}
Male
Chiththirai maathathuThe moon of the Chithirai month
Nilavu varuthuIs arriving
Vazhi vidu vazhi viduMake way, make way
Megamae vazhi viduO cloud, make way
Male
Neerodum aaraagaAs a flowing river
Nee aagum pothuWhen you become
Naanthaanae meenpolaI myself like a fish
Neer aaduvenWill bathe in the water
Female
Meenpola nee vanthuComing like a fish
Neer aadum pothuWhen you bathe in the water
Naanthaanae thaalaamalI myself, unable to bear it,
PoraaduvenWill struggle
Male
KaayangalWounds
Yethum aagaamalaeWithout causing any
Kaalodu kaalumLegs with legs
Kaiyodu kaiyyumAnd hands with hands
Pinnaatho….Will they intertwine?...
Female
KaavalthaanWill the restraint
Meeraatho aavalNot be crossed by desire?
Nee ennai konjaWhen you caress me,
Pattum padamalaeIs even silk a match?
Hmm hmm hmmHmm hmm hmm
Thogai maeni vaadumThe peacock-like body wilts
Male
Chiththirai maathathuThe moon of the Chithirai month
Nilavu varuthuIs arriving
Vazhi vidu vazhi viduMake way, make way
Megamae vazhi viduO cloud, make way
Female
Manthira gaanamumA magical song
Mogangal tharuthuBrings forth desires
Vilagidu vilagiduMove away, move away
Naanamae vilagiduO shyness, move away
Chorus
Hae…hae…Hae... hae...
La la la ..lala..laa…La la la ..lala..laa…
La la la ..lala..laa…La la la ..lala..laa…
La la la ..lala..laa…La la la ..lala..laa…
Oh ho…oh hoo….Oh ho…oh hoo….
Female
Oorengum osaigalAcross the town, all sounds
Oigindra neramAt the time they quiet down
Aarambam aagaathoWon't it begin,
AaraathanamThe worship of love?
Male
Naan paadum raagangalThe ragas I sing
Ondralla nooruAre not one, but a hundred
Aanaalum neethaanEven so, you alone are
En aaroganamMy ascending scale (Arohanam)
Female
Thaalangal endrumRhythms forever
MaaraamalaeWithout changing
Baavangal yaavumAll emotions
Paattodu serumWill join the song
NaalthaanoIs it the day?
Male
Aathaaram neethaanoAre you my foundation,
AnbaeMy love?
Aanantham endrumJoy forever
Santham kedaamalaeWithout losing harmony
Hmmm hmmm hmmmHmmm hmmm hmmm
Kaathal geetham paadaTo sing the love song
Female
Chiththirai maathathuThe moon of the Chithirai month
Nilavu varuthuIs arriving
Vazhi vidu vazhi viduMake way, make way
Megamae vazhi viduO cloud, make way
Female
Manthira gaanamumA magical song
Mogangal tharuthuBrings forth desires
Vilagidu vilagiduMove away, move away
Naanamae vilagiduO shyness, move away
Male
{Mazhaipol varuvaai{You will come like rain
EnakkaagaFor my sake
Female :Nilampol thavippenFemale: I will yearn like the earth
Atharkkaaga} (2)For that reason}
Male
Chiththirai maathathuThe moon of the Chithirai month
Nilavu varuthuIs arriving
Vazhi vidu vazhi viduMake way, make way
Megamae vazhi viduO cloud, make way
Female
Manthira gaanamumA magical song
Mogangal tharuthuBrings forth desires
Vilagidu vilagiduMove away, move away
Naanamae vilagiduO shyness, move away

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Chiththirai Maathathu Nilavu' is a romantic duet expressing intense love, intimacy, and longing between two lovers. The lyrics metaphorically equate the arrival of the beloved to the bright spring moon of Chithirai month, asking clouds (obstacles) and shyness to step aside so that their romance can bloom freely. The song draws rich imagery from nature, comparing the lovers to rain and thirsty earth, and to a river and a fish swimming playfully in it. As the night falls and the world goes quiet, their intimate union is described as a sacred act of worship and musical harmony. The lyrics integrate musical terminology like 'Arohanam' (ascending notes), rhythm, and raga to symbolize how the lover completes the melody of life, conveying a deep sensory and emotional bond.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mazhaipol varuvaai / Nilampol thavippen

Compares the lover's arrival to rain quenching the thirsty earth.

Personification

Megamae vazhi vidu / Naanamae vilagidu

Shyness and clouds are spoken to as sentient entities, requested to move away.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Neerodum aaraaga nee aagum pothu / Naanthaanae meenpola neer aaduven

Compares the beloved to a river and the lover to a fish bathing in it.

Musical Metaphor

Aanaalum neethaan en aaroganam

Uses Carnatic music concepts (Arohanam - ascending scale) as a metaphor for the lover being the peak/climax of life's melody.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt context lists music as unknown, 'Paadu Nilave' (1987) features iconic music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The film stars Mohan and Nadhiya in lead roles, and this particular track was rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra with lyrics penned by Vaali.

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