Chithirai Nilavu
From Vandicholai Chinraasu · 1994
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- Jayachandran, Minmini
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Vandicholai Chinraasu1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Chithirai nilavu selayil | The Chithirai moon draped in a saree |
| Vandhathu munnae | Has come before me |
| Un selaiyin punniyam | The virtue and good fortune of your saree |
| Naan pera vendum pennae | I must attain, oh girl |
| Female | |
| Andha mannukkul engae | Where deep inside that earth |
| Neer undu | Water exists |
| Adhu verukku theriyum | Only the root knows that |
| Indha pennukkul engae | Where inside this woman |
| Edhu vundu | What lies within |
| Adhu selaikku theriyum | Only her saree knows that |
| Male | |
| Chithirai nilavu selayil | The Chithirai moon draped in a saree |
| Vandhathu munnae | Has come before me |
| Un selaiyin punniyam | The virtue and good fortune of your saree |
| Naan pera vendum pennae | I must attain, oh girl |
| Female | |
| Andha mannukkul engae | Where deep inside that earth |
| Neer undu | Water exists |
| Adhu verukku theriyum | Only the root knows that |
| Indha pennukkul engae | Where inside this woman |
| Edhu vundu | What lies within |
| Adhu selaikku theriyum | Only her saree knows that |
| Female | |
| Vanna vanna vaanavil ondru.. | When a colorful rainbow.. |
| Vaanil vandhaal oorukku theriyum | Appears in the sky, the whole town knows |
| Kanni ponnu nenjukullae.. | Inside a young maiden's heart.. |
| Kaadhal vandhaal yaarukku theriyum | When love arrives, who can know? |
| Male | |
| Megangalil ethanai thuliyo.. | How many drops are in the clouds.. |
| Minnal pennae yaarukku theriyum | Oh lightning maiden, who knows? |
| Mogam konda pen yaar endru.. | Who the passion-filled woman is.. |
| Mutham tharum saamikku theriyum | Only the kissing deity knows |
| Female | |
| Nilaa ethu vinmeen ethu.. | Which is the moon and which is a star.. |
| Neril nirkkum allikku theriyum | The night lily standing in front knows |
| Male :Naanam ethu oodal ethu.. | Male: What is shyness and what is a lover's quarrel.. |
| Naalum kanda pullikku theriyum | Only the experienced partner knows |
| Male | |
| Chithirai nilavu selayil | The Chithirai moon draped in a saree |
| Vandhathu munnae | Has come before me |
| Un selaiyin punniyam | The virtue and good fortune of your saree |
| Naan pera vendum pennae | I must attain, oh girl |
| Female | |
| Andha mannukkul engae | Where deep inside that earth |
| Neer undu | Water exists |
| Adhu verukku theriyum | Only the root knows that |
| Indha pennukkul engae | Where inside this woman |
| Edhu vundu | What lies within |
| Adhu selaikku theriyum | Only her saree knows that |
| Female | |
| Marangalil ethanai pazhamo.. | How many fruits are on the trees.. |
| Pazham unnum paravaigal ariyum | Only the birds that eat fruits know |
| Pazhangalil ethanai maramo.. | How many trees lie within the fruits.. |
| Ooril ingae yaarukku theriyum | Who here in town knows? |
| Male | |
| Endha urai than urai endru.. | Which sheath is its own sheath.. |
| Ullae sellum vaalukku theriyum | Only the sword entering inside knows |
| Endha idai than idai endru.. | Which waist is truly her waist.. |
| Etti thodum aalukku theriyum | Only the man who reaches out to touch knows |
| Female | |
| Nilaavilae kaatrae illai.. | There is no air on the moon.. |
| Ithu ethanai perukku theriyum | How many people know this? |
| Kaadhal vandhaal kannae illai.. | When love arrives, love is blind.. |
| Kaadhal konda yaarukkum theriyum | Everyone who is in love knows |
| Male | |
| {Chithirai nilavu selayil | {The Chithirai moon draped in a saree |
| Vandhathu munnae | Has come before me |
| Un selaiyin punniyam | The virtue and good fortune of your saree |
| Naan pera vendum pennae | I must attain, oh girl |
| Female | |
| Andha mannukkul engae | Where deep inside that earth |
| Neer undu | Water exists |
| Adhu verukku theriyum | Only the root knows that |
| Indha pennukkul engae | Where inside this woman |
| Edhu vundu | What lies within |
| Adhu selaikku theriyum} (2) | Only her saree knows that} (2) |
சித்திரை நிலவு
சேலையில் வந்தது முன்னே
உன் சேலையின் புண்ணியம்
நான் பெற வேண்டும் பெண்ணே
The Chithirai moon draped in a saree
Has come before me
The virtue and good fortune of your saree
I must attain, oh girl
அந்த மண்ணுக்குள் எங்கே
நீர் உண்டு அது வேருக்கு தெரியும்
இந்த பெண்ணுக்குள் எங்கே எதுவுண்டு
அது சேலைக்கு தெரியும்
Where deep inside that earth
Water exists
Only the root knows that
Where inside this woman
What lies within
Only her saree knows that
சித்திரை நிலவு
சேலையில் வந்தது முன்னே
உன் சேலையின் புண்ணியம்
நான் பெற வேண்டும் பெண்ணே
The Chithirai moon draped in a saree
Has come before me
The virtue and good fortune of your saree
I must attain, oh girl
அந்த மண்ணுக்குள் எங்கே
நீர் உண்டு அது வேருக்கு தெரியும்
இந்த பெண்ணுக்குள் எங்கே எதுவுண்டு
அது சேலைக்கு தெரியும்
Where deep inside that earth
Water exists
Only the root knows that
Where inside this woman
What lies within
Only her saree knows that
வண்ண வண்ண வானவில் ஒன்று
வானில் வந்தால் ஊருக்கு தெரியும்
கன்னி பொண்ணு நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
காதல் வந்தால் யாருக்கு தெரியும்
When a colorful rainbow..
Appears in the sky, the whole town knows
Inside a young maiden's heart..
When love arrives, who can know?
மேகங்களில் எத்தனை துளியோ
மின்னல் பெண்னே யாருக்கு தெரியும்
மோகம் கொண்ட பெண் யாரென்று
முத்தம் தரும் சாமிக்கு தெரியும்
How many drops are in the clouds..
Oh lightning maiden, who knows?
Who the passion-filled woman is..
Only the kissing deity knows
நிலா எது விண்மீன் எது
நீரில் நிற்கும் அல்லிக்கு தெரியும்
நாணம் எது ஊடல் எது
நானும் கண்ட புள்ளிக்கு தெரியும்
Which is the moon and which is a star..
The night lily standing in front knows
Male: What is shyness and what is a lover's quarrel..
Only the experienced partner knows
சித்திரை நிலவு
சேலையில் வந்தது முன்னே
உன் சேலையின் புண்ணியம்
நான் பெற வேண்டும் பெண்ணே
The Chithirai moon draped in a saree
Has come before me
The virtue and good fortune of your saree
I must attain, oh girl
அந்த மண்ணுக்குள் எங்கே
நீர் உண்டு அது வேருக்கு தெரியும்
இந்த பெண்ணுக்குள் எங்கே எதுவுண்டு
அது சேலைக்கு தெரியும்
Where deep inside that earth
Water exists
Only the root knows that
Where inside this woman
What lies within
Only her saree knows that
மரங்களில் எத்தனை பழமோ
பழம் உண்ணும் பறவைகள் அறியும்
பழங்களில் எத்தனை மரமோ
ஊரில் இங்கே யாருக்கு தெரியும்
How many fruits are on the trees..
Only the birds that eat fruits know
How many trees lie within the fruits..
Who here in town knows?
எந்த உறை தன் உறை என்று
உள்ளே செல்லும் வாளுக்குத் தெரியும்
எந்த இடை தன் இடையென்று
எட்டி தொடும் ஆளுக்கு தெரியும்
Which sheath is its own sheath..
Only the sword entering inside knows
Which waist is truly her waist..
Only the man who reaches out to touch knows
நிலாவிலே காற்றே இல்லை
இது எத்தனை பேருக்கு தெரியும்
காதல் வந்தால் கண்ணே இல்லை
காதல் கொண்ட யாருக்கு தெரியும்
There is no air on the moon..
How many people know this?
When love arrives, love is blind..
Everyone who is in love knows
{சித்திரை நிலவு
சேலையில் வந்தது முன்னே
உன் சேலையின் புண்ணியம்
நான் பெற வேண்டும் பெண்ணே
{The Chithirai moon draped in a saree
Has come before me
The virtue and good fortune of your saree
I must attain, oh girl
அந்த மண்ணுக்குள் எங்கே
நீர் உண்டு அது வேருக்கு தெரியும்
இந்த பெண்ணுக்குள் எங்கே எதுவுண்டு
அது சேலைக்கு தெரியும்} (2)
Where deep inside that earth
Water exists
Only the root knows that
Where inside this woman
What lies within
Only her saree knows that} (2)
Chithirai nilavu selayil
The Chithirai moon draped in a saree
Vandhathu munnae
Has come before me
Un selaiyin punniyam
The virtue and good fortune of your saree
Naan pera vendum pennae
I must attain, oh girl
Andha mannukkul engae
Where deep inside that earth
Neer undu
Water exists
Adhu verukku theriyum
Only the root knows that
Indha pennukkul engae
Where inside this woman
Edhu vundu
What lies within
Adhu selaikku theriyum
Only her saree knows that
Chithirai nilavu selayil
The Chithirai moon draped in a saree
Vandhathu munnae
Has come before me
Un selaiyin punniyam
The virtue and good fortune of your saree
Naan pera vendum pennae
I must attain, oh girl
Andha mannukkul engae
Where deep inside that earth
Neer undu
Water exists
Adhu verukku theriyum
Only the root knows that
Indha pennukkul engae
Where inside this woman
Edhu vundu
What lies within
Adhu selaikku theriyum
Only her saree knows that
Vanna vanna vaanavil ondru..
When a colorful rainbow..
Vaanil vandhaal oorukku theriyum
Appears in the sky, the whole town knows
Kanni ponnu nenjukullae..
Inside a young maiden's heart..
Kaadhal vandhaal yaarukku theriyum
When love arrives, who can know?
Megangalil ethanai thuliyo..
How many drops are in the clouds..
Minnal pennae yaarukku theriyum
Oh lightning maiden, who knows?
Mogam konda pen yaar endru..
Who the passion-filled woman is..
Mutham tharum saamikku theriyum
Only the kissing deity knows
Nilaa ethu vinmeen ethu..
Which is the moon and which is a star..
Neril nirkkum allikku theriyum
The night lily standing in front knows
Male :Naanam ethu oodal ethu..
Male: What is shyness and what is a lover's quarrel..
Naalum kanda pullikku theriyum
Only the experienced partner knows
Chithirai nilavu selayil
The Chithirai moon draped in a saree
Vandhathu munnae
Has come before me
Un selaiyin punniyam
The virtue and good fortune of your saree
Naan pera vendum pennae
I must attain, oh girl
Andha mannukkul engae
Where deep inside that earth
Neer undu
Water exists
Adhu verukku theriyum
Only the root knows that
Indha pennukkul engae
Where inside this woman
Edhu vundu
What lies within
Adhu selaikku theriyum
Only her saree knows that
Marangalil ethanai pazhamo..
How many fruits are on the trees..
Pazham unnum paravaigal ariyum
Only the birds that eat fruits know
Pazhangalil ethanai maramo..
How many trees lie within the fruits..
Ooril ingae yaarukku theriyum
Who here in town knows?
Endha urai than urai endru..
Which sheath is its own sheath..
Ullae sellum vaalukku theriyum
Only the sword entering inside knows
Endha idai than idai endru..
Which waist is truly her waist..
Etti thodum aalukku theriyum
Only the man who reaches out to touch knows
Nilaavilae kaatrae illai..
There is no air on the moon..
Ithu ethanai perukku theriyum
How many people know this?
Kaadhal vandhaal kannae illai..
When love arrives, love is blind..
Kaadhal konda yaarukkum theriyum
Everyone who is in love knows
{Chithirai nilavu selayil
{The Chithirai moon draped in a saree
Vandhathu munnae
Has come before me
Un selaiyin punniyam
The virtue and good fortune of your saree
Naan pera vendum pennae
I must attain, oh girl
Andha mannukkul engae
Where deep inside that earth
Neer undu
Water exists
Adhu verukku theriyum
Only the root knows that
Indha pennukkul engae
Where inside this woman
Edhu vundu
What lies within
Adhu selaikku theriyum} (2)
Only her saree knows that} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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