Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Vandicholai Chinraasu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chithirai Nilavu

From Vandicholai Chinraasu · 1994

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Jayachandran, Minmini
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Vandicholai Chinraasu
Movie release year
1994
Lyrics added on
5 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chithirai nilavu selayil
Vandhathu munnae
Un selaiyin punniyam
Naan pera vendum pennae
Andha mannukkul engae
Neer undu
Adhu verukku theriyum
Indha pennukkul engae
Edhu vundu
Adhu selaikku theriyum
Chithirai nilavu selayil
Vandhathu munnae
Un selaiyin punniyam
Naan pera vendum pennae
Andha mannukkul engae
Neer undu
Adhu verukku theriyum
Indha pennukkul engae
Edhu vundu
Adhu selaikku theriyum
Vanna vanna vaanavil ondru..
Vaanil vandhaal oorukku theriyum
Kanni ponnu nenjukullae..
Kaadhal vandhaal yaarukku theriyum
Megangalil ethanai thuliyo..
Minnal pennae yaarukku theriyum
Mogam konda pen yaar endru..
Mutham tharum saamikku theriyum
Nilaa ethu vinmeen ethu..
Neril nirkkum allikku theriyum
Male :Naanam ethu oodal ethu..
Naalum kanda pullikku theriyum
Chithirai nilavu selayil
Vandhathu munnae
Un selaiyin punniyam
Naan pera vendum pennae
Andha mannukkul engae
Neer undu
Adhu verukku theriyum
Indha pennukkul engae
Edhu vundu
Adhu selaikku theriyum
Marangalil ethanai pazhamo..
Pazham unnum paravaigal ariyum
Pazhangalil ethanai maramo..
Ooril ingae yaarukku theriyum
Endha urai than urai endru..
Ullae sellum vaalukku theriyum
Endha idai than idai endru..
Etti thodum aalukku theriyum
Nilaavilae kaatrae illai..
Ithu ethanai perukku theriyum
Kaadhal vandhaal kannae illai..
Kaadhal konda yaarukkum theriyum
{Chithirai nilavu selayil
Vandhathu munnae
Un selaiyin punniyam
Naan pera vendum pennae
Andha mannukkul engae
Neer undu
Adhu verukku theriyum
Indha pennukkul engae
Edhu vundu
Adhu selaikku theriyum} (2)
A Chithirai moon draped in a sari
has appeared before me.
The good fortune of your sari,
I wish to have, my girl.
Where inside the soil
water hides,
the root knows well.
Where inside this woman
what secret lies,
only her sari knows.
A Chithirai moon draped in a sari
has appeared before me.
The good fortune of your sari,
I wish to have, my girl.
Where inside the soil
water hides,
the root knows well.
Where inside this woman
what secret lies,
only her sari knows.
When a colorful rainbow
appears in the sky, the whole town knows.
When love enters
a young girl's heart, who would know?
How many raindrops are in the clouds,
my lightning-like girl, who could know?
Who the longing woman yearns for,
the lover who kisses her knows.
Which is the moon and which is a star,
the night-lily facing them knows.
What is shyness and what is lovers' sulking,
the man who sees her every day knows.
A Chithirai moon draped in a sari
has appeared before me.
The good fortune of your sari,
I wish to have, my girl.
Where inside the soil
water hides,
the root knows well.
Where inside this woman
what secret lies,
only her sari knows.
How many fruits grow on the trees,
the birds that eat them know.
How many trees hide inside the fruits,
who in this town could know?
Which sheath belongs to it,
the sword sliding inside knows.
Which slender waist belongs to him,
the man reaching to hold it knows.
There is no air on the moon,
how many people know this?
When love strikes, it has no eyes,
everyone in love knows this.
A Chithirai moon draped in a sari
has appeared before me.
The good fortune of your sari,
I wish to have, my girl.
Where inside the soil
water hides,
the root knows well.
Where inside this woman
what secret lies,
only her sari knows.
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a sensual and poetic duet from the movie 'Vandicholai Chinraasu' (1994). The lyrics compare the heroine to the luminous moon of the Tamil month Chithirai wrapped gracefully in a saree. The protagonist expresses a desire to experience the close intimacy that her saree enjoys, setting a playful and romantic tone built around intimate riddles and observations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor)

“Chithirai nilavu selayil”

Compares the heroine draped in a saree directly to the bright Chithirai full moon.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Vanna vanna vaanavil ondru..”

Rhythmic repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Va' across lines.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Andha mannukkul engae / Indha pennukkul engae”

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' (ன்) across structural lines.

Paradox / Imagery

“Vaanil vandhaal oorukku theriyum / Kanni ponnu nenjukullae..”

Contrasts visible nature (rainbow in sky) with invisible internal emotions (love in a maiden's heart).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Vandicholai Chinraasu' (1994) features music composed by A. R. Rahman, starring Sathyaraj and Sukanya. Lyricist Pulamaipithan is known for integrating traditional Tamil literary tropes and natural metaphors into mainstream film lyrics.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Nedu Naal Aasai Ondru1983
SaranalayamDesireRomantic
Kadalodu Nathikkenna Kobam1981
Arthangal AayiramAttractionRomantic
Maniye Manikuyile1992
Nadodi ThendralAttractionDevotion
Mottugale Mottugale2002
Roja KootamDevotionBeauty
Singara Kanne Un1959
Veerapandiya KattabommanDevotionRomantic Union
Naan Isaikkum Ragam1979
Siri Siri MamaDevotionRomantic Union

From the same album

More songs from Vandicholai Chinraasu

View album
Edhu Sugam Sugam1994
Vandicholai ChinraasuRomantic
Ye Muthu Papa1994
Vandicholai ChinraasuPlayful
Senthamizh Naatu Thamizhachiye1994
Vandicholai ChinraasuPlayful
Barota Barota1994
Vandicholai ChinraasuPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.