Chithirai Nela
From Kadal · 2012
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Vijay Yesudas
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kadal2012
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Chithirai nela | The moon of the Chithirai month, |
| Orae nela..aa.. | A single, lone moon... |
| Parantha vaanam | The vast sky, |
| Padacha kadavulu | The creator God, |
| Yellaamae othaiyilae | Everything stands alone, |
| Nikkuthudae | Standing uniquely on its own. |
| Nee kooda othaiyila | You too stand alone, |
| Nikkuradae | Standing as a solitary soul. |
| Ettu vai makka | Take a step forward, my child, |
| Ettu vachu aagasam | Stride forward and reach the sky, |
| Thottu vai makka | Reach out and touch the sky, my child. |
| Male | |
| Chithirai nela | The moon of Chithirai, |
| Orae nela..aa.. | A single, lone moon... |
| Parantha vaanam | The vast sky, |
| Padacha kadavulu | The creator God, |
| Yellaamae othaiyilae | Everything stands alone, |
| Nikkuthudae | Standing uniquely on its own. |
| Nee kooda othaiyila | You too stand alone, |
| Nikkuradae | Standing as a solitary soul. |
| Ettu vai makka | Take a step forward, my child, |
| Ettu vachu aagasam | Stride forward and reach the sky, |
| Thottu vai makka | Reach out and touch the sky, my child. |
| Male | |
| Manithan ninaithaal | If a human resolves to do so, |
| Vazhi pirakkum | A way forward will open up. |
| Manathil irunthu | From deep within the mind, |
| Oli pirakkum | Light will emanate. |
| Puthaikindra vidhaiyum | Even a buried seed, |
| Muyarchikondal thaan | Only if it makes an effort, |
| Bhoomiyum kooda | Even the earth itself |
| Thaazh thirakkum | Will unlock its latch for it. |
| Ettu vai makka | Take a step forward, my child, |
| Ettu vachu aagasam | Stride forward and reach the sky, |
| Thottu vai makka | Reach out and touch the sky, my child. |
| Male | |
| Kangalil irunthae | Right from the eyes, |
| Kaatchigal thondrum | Visions emerge. |
| Kalangalil irunthae | Right from ships and vessels, |
| Desangal thondrum | New lands and nations are found. |
| Thuyarathil irunthae | Out of sorrow and suffering, |
| Kaaviyam thondrum | Great epics are born. |
| Tholviyil irunthae | Out of failure, |
| Gnyanangal thondrum | Wisdom blossoms. |
| Male | |
| Suriyan marainthaal | When the sun sets, |
| Vilakondru sirikkum | A lamp will smile brightly. |
| Thuligal kavizhnthaal | When rain droplets fall, |
| Kizhai ondru kidaikkum | A new branch will grow. |
| Male | |
| Chithirai nela | The moon of Chithirai, |
| Orae nela..aa.. | A single, lone moon... |
| Ettu vai makka | Take a step forward, my child, |
| Ettu vachu aagasam | Stride forward and reach the sky, |
| Thottu vai makka | Reach out and touch the sky, my child. |
| Male | |
| Chithirai nela orae nela | The moon of Chithirai is a single lone moon, |
| Chithirai nela orae nela | The moon of Chithirai is a single lone moon. |
| Chorus :Naalai thiranthaal | Chorus: When tomorrow opens up, |
| Nammibikkai sirikkum | Hope will smile brightly. |
| Male | |
| Atho atho orae nelaa | Look there, look there, the singular moon! |
சித்திரை நிலா
ஒரே நிலா...ஆ
பரந்த வானம்
படைச்ச கடவுளு
எல்லாமே ஒத்தையில
நிக்குதுடே
நீ கூட ஒத்தையில
நிக்கிறடே
எட்டு வை மக்கா
எட்டுவச்சு ஆகாசம்
தொட்டு வை மக்கா
The moon of the Chithirai month,
A single, lone moon...
The vast sky,
The creator God,
Everything stands alone,
Standing uniquely on its own.
You too stand alone,
Standing as a solitary soul.
Take a step forward, my child,
Stride forward and reach the sky,
Reach out and touch the sky, my child.
சித்திரை நிலா
ஒரே நிலா...ஆ
பரந்த வானம்
படைச்ச கடவுளு
எல்லாமே ஒத்தையில
நிக்குதுடே
நீ கூட ஒத்தையில
நிக்கிறடே
எட்டு வை மக்கா
எட்டுவச்சு ஆகாசம்
தொட்டு வை மக்கா
The moon of Chithirai,
A single, lone moon...
The vast sky,
The creator God,
Everything stands alone,
Standing uniquely on its own.
You too stand alone,
Standing as a solitary soul.
Take a step forward, my child,
Stride forward and reach the sky,
Reach out and touch the sky, my child.
மனிதன் நினைத்தால்
வழி பிறக்கும்
மனதில் இருந்து
ஒளி பிறக்கும்
புதைக்கின்ற விதையும்
முயற்சிகொண்டால் தான்
பூமியும் கூட
தாழ் திறக்கும்
எட்டு வை மக்கா
எட்டு வச்சு ஆகாசம்
தொட்டு வை மக்கா
If a human resolves to do so,
A way forward will open up.
From deep within the mind,
Light will emanate.
Even a buried seed,
Only if it makes an effort,
Even the earth itself
Will unlock its latch for it.
Take a step forward, my child,
Stride forward and reach the sky,
Reach out and touch the sky, my child.
கண்களில் இருந்தே
காட்சிகள் தோன்றும்
களங்களில் இருந்தே
தேசங்கள் தோன்றும்
துயரத்தில் இருந்தே
காவியம் தோன்றும்
தோல்வியில் இருந்தே
ஞானங்கள் தோன்றும்
Right from the eyes,
Visions emerge.
Right from ships and vessels,
New lands and nations are found.
Out of sorrow and suffering,
Great epics are born.
Out of failure,
Wisdom blossoms.
சூரியன் மறைந்தால்
விளக்கொன்று சிரிக்கும்
துளிகள் கவிழ்ந்தால்
கிளை ஒன்று கிடைக்கும்
When the sun sets,
A lamp will smile brightly.
When rain droplets fall,
A new branch will grow.
சித்திரை நிலா
ஒரே நிலா...ஆ...
எட்டு வை மக்கா
எட்டுவச்சு ஆகாசம்
தொட்டு வை மக்கா
The moon of Chithirai,
A single, lone moon...
Take a step forward, my child,
Stride forward and reach the sky,
Reach out and touch the sky, my child.
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
{மரம் ஒன்று விழுந்தால்
மறுபடி தழைக்கும்
மனம் இன்று விழுந்தால்
யார் சொல்லி நடக்கும்
பூமியை திறந்தால்
புதையலும் இருக்கும்
பூக்களை திறந்தால்
தேன் துளி இருக்கும்} (2)
The moon of Chithirai is a single lone moon,
The moon of Chithirai is a single lone moon.
Chorus: When tomorrow opens up,
Hope will smile brightly.
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
{நதிகளை திறந்தால்
கழனிகள் செழிக்கும்
நாணயம் இருந்தால்
நம்பிகை சிரிக்கும்} (2)
ஒஹ் ஒஹ் ஹோஒ ஓஒ
ஒஹ் ஒஹ் ஹோஒ ஓஒ
Look there, look there, the singular moon!
சித்திரை நிலா ஒரே நிலா
சித்திரை நிலா ஒரே நிலா
குழு :
நாளை திறந்தால்
நம்பிகை சிரிக்கும்
அதோ அதோ ஒரே நிலா
Chithirai nela
The moon of the Chithirai month,
Orae nela..aa..
A single, lone moon...
Parantha vaanam
The vast sky,
Padacha kadavulu
The creator God,
Yellaamae othaiyilae
Everything stands alone,
Nikkuthudae
Standing uniquely on its own.
Nee kooda othaiyila
You too stand alone,
Nikkuradae
Standing as a solitary soul.
Ettu vai makka
Take a step forward, my child,
Ettu vachu aagasam
Stride forward and reach the sky,
Thottu vai makka
Reach out and touch the sky, my child.
Chithirai nela
The moon of Chithirai,
Orae nela..aa..
A single, lone moon...
Parantha vaanam
The vast sky,
Padacha kadavulu
The creator God,
Yellaamae othaiyilae
Everything stands alone,
Nikkuthudae
Standing uniquely on its own.
Nee kooda othaiyila
You too stand alone,
Nikkuradae
Standing as a solitary soul.
Ettu vai makka
Take a step forward, my child,
Ettu vachu aagasam
Stride forward and reach the sky,
Thottu vai makka
Reach out and touch the sky, my child.
Manithan ninaithaal
If a human resolves to do so,
Vazhi pirakkum
A way forward will open up.
Manathil irunthu
From deep within the mind,
Oli pirakkum
Light will emanate.
Puthaikindra vidhaiyum
Even a buried seed,
Muyarchikondal thaan
Only if it makes an effort,
Bhoomiyum kooda
Even the earth itself
Thaazh thirakkum
Will unlock its latch for it.
Ettu vai makka
Take a step forward, my child,
Ettu vachu aagasam
Stride forward and reach the sky,
Thottu vai makka
Reach out and touch the sky, my child.
Kangalil irunthae
Right from the eyes,
Kaatchigal thondrum
Visions emerge.
Kalangalil irunthae
Right from ships and vessels,
Desangal thondrum
New lands and nations are found.
Thuyarathil irunthae
Out of sorrow and suffering,
Kaaviyam thondrum
Great epics are born.
Tholviyil irunthae
Out of failure,
Gnyanangal thondrum
Wisdom blossoms.
Suriyan marainthaal
When the sun sets,
Vilakondru sirikkum
A lamp will smile brightly.
Thuligal kavizhnthaal
When rain droplets fall,
Kizhai ondru kidaikkum
A new branch will grow.
Chithirai nela
The moon of Chithirai,
Orae nela..aa..
A single, lone moon...
Ettu vai makka
Take a step forward, my child,
Ettu vachu aagasam
Stride forward and reach the sky,
Thottu vai makka
Reach out and touch the sky, my child.
Chithirai nela orae nela
The moon of Chithirai is a single lone moon,
Chithirai nela orae nela
The moon of Chithirai is a single lone moon.
Chorus :Naalai thiranthaal
Chorus: When tomorrow opens up,
Nammibikkai sirikkum
Hope will smile brightly.
Atho atho orae nelaa
Look there, look there, the singular moon!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Chithirai Nela is an inspiring motivational song from Mani Ratnam's film Kadal (2012), composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song uses nature's solitary forces—such as the single Chithirai full moon, the solitary sky, and the singular Creator—to reassure the listener that being alone is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of unique purpose and strength. It urges the protagonist to take courageous strides and reach for the heavens despite life's hardships.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (Rhyming Endings / Anaphora)
“Thuyarathil irunthae Kaaviyam thondrum / Tholviyil irunthae Gnyanangal thondrum”
The repetitive structural ending '-irunthae' paired with 'thondrum' across lines creates a rhythmic cadence, emphasizing how adversity gives birth to noble outcomes.
Personification
“Suriyan marainthaal Vilakondru sirikkum”
Giving human emotions such as 'smiling' to inanimate objects like a lamp and hope symbolizes warmth and light in moments of obscurity.
Extended Metaphor
“Puthaikindra vidhaiyum ... Bhoomiyum kooda Thaazh thirakkum”
The buried seed breaking open the latch of the earth serves as a metaphor for human perseverance triumphing over heavy structural burdens.
Monai / Ethugai (Wordplay & Alliteration)
“Ettu vai makka / Ettu vachu aagasam”
The clever repetition of 'Ettu' (step/eight) creates both rhythmic momentum and a powerful call to action.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in Mani Ratnam's 2012 drama Kadal, the song is composed by A. R. Rahman and sung by Vijay Prakash with lyrics by Vairamuthu. It serves as a narrative anchor for the protagonist's growth, encouraging resilience and self-reliance against all odds.
Keep listening
More from Kadal
Kadal
Kadal
Kadal
Kadal
Kadal
Kadal