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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Dilruba Dilruba

From Priyam · 1996

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Gopal Rao, Anuradha Sriram
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Priyam1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal nilavae dhilrupaaDilruba, my love, moon of romance, Dilruba!
Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal uravae dhilrupaaDilruba, my love, bond of romance, Dilruba!
Irandu kaiyaal ennai aadhariSupport me with both your hands,
Idhayam thiranthu ennai kadhaliOpen your heart and love me.
Kangal naangum idhayam irandumFour eyes and two hearts,
Kalakka vendum sundhariMust mingle together, beautiful girl!
Male
Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa dhilrubaa dhilrubaaDilruba, Dilruba, Dilruba, Dilruba.
Female
Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal nilavae dhilrupaaDilruba, my love, moon of romance, Dilruba!
Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal uravae dhilrupaaDilruba, my love, bond of romance, Dilruba!
Irandu kaiyaal ennai aadhariSupport me with both your hands,
Idhayam thiranthu ennai kadhaliOpen your heart and love me.
Kangal naangum idhayam irandumFour eyes and two hearts,
Kalakka vendum sundhariMust mingle together, beautiful girl!
Female
Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa dhilrubaa dhilrubaaDilruba, Dilruba, Dilruba, Dilruba.
Male
Kannae en kannam thottuMy darling, touch my cheek,
Kaadhodu kadhal sollu dhilrupaa dhilrupaaWhisper love into my ear, Dilruba, Dilruba.
Female :Kannaa en koondhal thottuFemale: My beloved, touch my hair,
Nenjodu palli kollu dhilrupaa dhilrupaaAnd rest against my heart, Dilruba, Dilruba.
Male
Un paarvai vanthu modhaAs your gaze hits me,
En ullae dhilrupaaInside me plays Dilruba.
Female :Un kaigal engum theendaFemale: As your hands touch me everywhere,
En nenjil dhilrupaaIn my heart plays Dilruba.
Male
Kadhalae mellisai allavaaIsn't love a soft melody?
Female :Kanni maangani kanni poividumFemale: The virgin fruit's freshness will pass,
Kaamadevanae mellavaaOh Lord of Love, be gentle.
Male :Vidiyum varaiyilum udhayam varaiyilumMale: Until dawn arrives, until sunrise,
Vivaram aayiram sollavaaShall I tell you a thousand intimate details?
Female
Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal nilavae dhilrupaaDilruba, my love, moon of romance, Dilruba!
Male :Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal uravae dhilrupaaMale: Dilruba, my love, bond of romance, Dilruba!
Female
Maalai ponnanthi vanthaalWhen the golden evening arrives,
Mannan nee pakkam vanthaal dhilrupaa dhilrupaaWhen you, my king, come close to me, Dilruba, Dilruba.
Male :Poovae en nenjai thottaalaMale: Oh flower, when you touch my heart,
Pennae nee muththamittaal dhilrupaa dhilrupaaOh girl, when you give me a kiss, Dilruba, Dilruba.
Female
En Maeni engum kaettaenAll over my body, I asked for,
Un kadhal dhilrupaaYour love, Dilruba.
Male :Inimaelae engum ketkumMale: Hereafter it will echo everywhere,
Antha kaaman dhilrupaaThat musical refrain of Cupid, Dilruba.
Female
Ilamaiyae thiththikkum allavaaIsn't youth sweet and delicious?
Male :Thunbam enbathu inbam aavathuMale: Where pain turns into pleasure,
Ingu thaanadi dhilrupaaIt is right here, my dear Dilruba.
Female :Mullai pookkalai killi paarkkiraaiFemale: You pluck jasmine blossoms to inspect them,
Thottupparkkanum allavaaYou should touch and feel them gently instead, shouldn't you?
Male
Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal nilavae dhilrupaaDilruba, my love, moon of romance, Dilruba!
Female :Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal uravae dhilrupaaFemale: Dilruba, my love, bond of romance, Dilruba!
Male :Irandu kaiyaal ennai aadhariMale: Support me with both your hands,
Female :Idhayam thiranthu ennai kadhaliFemale: Open your heart and love me.
Male :Kangal naangumMale: Four eyes,
Female :Idhayam irandumFemale: Two hearts,
Male :Kalakka vendum sundhariMale: Must mingle together, beautiful girl!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Dhilrupaa Dhilrubaa is a passionate romantic duet from the 1996 Tamil film Priyam. The song features two lovers expressing their deep longing and affection for each other through poetic metaphors of music, nature, and intimacy. Referring to each other as 'Dilruba' (a traditional string instrument, metaphorically used for a beloved who plays the strings of the heart), the couple sings about the sweet harmony created when four eyes meet and two hearts unite. Throughout the stanzas, the lovers trade evocative lines about gentle touches, evening romance, and the transformative power of love turning pain into joy. Vairamuthu's romantic lyrics portray a deep sensual and emotional harmony between the couple, set against melodic musical phrasing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagamm (Metaphor)

Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa kadhal nilavae dhilrupaa

Addressing the beloved as 'kadhal nilavae' (moon of love) and comparing love to soft music ('Kadhalae mellisai allavaa').

Anaphora / Adukku Thodar (Repetition)

Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa dhilrubaa dhilrubaa

The rhythmic repetition of the term 'Dhilrupaa dhilrubaa' builds musicality and underscores deep affection.

Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)

Kangal naangum idhayam irandum / Kalakka vendum sundhari

Matching initial consonants across words such as 'Kangal', 'Kalakka', creating a flowing rhythmic line.

Iyaibu (Rhyming Couplet)

Irandu kaiyaal ennai aadhari / Idhayam thiranthu ennai kadhali

End-rhyme created by paired line endings like 'aadhari' and 'kadhali'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Dhilrupaa Dhilrubaa was composed by Vidyasagar for the 1996 film Priyam starring Vikram and Anju Aravind. The song features lyrics by Vairamuthu and was performed by legend S. P. Balasubrahmanyam along with Sujatha Mohan. The term 'Dilruba' refers to a bowed musical instrument originating from India, cleverly used here as a term of endearment for one's heartthrob.

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