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Lyrics & meaning

Ennarumai Kadhalikku Vennilaave

From Ellorum Innaattu Mannar · 1960

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. G. Lingappa
Details
Ellorum Innaattu Mannar1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
En arumai kaadhalikkuTo my dearest beloved,
Vennilaavae…Oh white moon...
Nee ilaiyavalaa… moothavalaa…Are you younger... or older?
Vennilaavae…Oh white moon...
Male
En arumai kaadhalikku vennilaavaeOh white moon, to my dearest beloved...
En arumai kaadhalikku vennilaavaeOh white moon, to my dearest beloved...
Nee ilaiyavalaa moothavalaaAre you younger or older?
Ilaiyavalaa moothavalaa vennilaavaeAre you younger or older, oh white moon?
Male
En arumai kaadhalikku vennilaavaeOh white moon, to my dearest beloved...
Male
Kan vizhikkum thaaragaiyoo vennilaavaeAre those twinkling stars, oh white moon,
Unnai kaaval kaakkum thozhiyaro vennilaavaeThe female friends guarding you, oh white moon?
Kan vizhikkum thaaragaiyoo vennilaavaeAre those twinkling stars, oh white moon,
Unnai kaaval kaakkum thozhiyaro vennilaavaeThe female friends guarding you, oh white moon?
Kannathil kaayam enna vennilaavaeWhat is that mark on your cheek, oh white moon?
Un kaadhalan thaan killiyadho vennilaavaeDid your lover pinch it, oh white moon?
Male
En arumai kaadhalikku vennilaavaeOh white moon, to my dearest beloved...
Male
Kallamillaa en idhayam vennilaavaeMy innocent, guileless heart, oh white moon,
Oru kalliyidam irukkudhadi vennilaavaeIs now with a deceitful girl, oh white moon!
Andha vanji thanai nee arivaai vennilaavaeYou know that deceitful damsel, oh white moon;
Adhai vaangi vandhu thandhu vidu vennilaavaeRetrieve it and bring it back to me, oh white moon!
Male
En arumai kaadhalikku vennilaavaeOh white moon, to my dearest beloved...
Male
Kenjinaal thara maattaal vennilaavae…She won't return it if begged, oh white moon...
Haee… ae…ae…ae…hae….Haee… ae…ae…ae…hae….
Kenjinaal thara maattaal vennilaavaeShe won't return it if begged, oh white moon;
Nee ketkaamal parithu vidu vennilaavaePluck it back without asking her, oh white moon!
Male
Anjida thaevai illai vennilaavaeThere is no need to fear, oh white moon,
Idhu aval thandha paadamadi vennilaavaeFor this is the lesson she taught me, oh white moon!
Idhu aval thandha paadamadi vennilaavaeFor this is the lesson she taught me, oh white moon!
Male
En arumai kaadhalikku vennilaavaeOh white moon, to my dearest beloved...
Nee ilaiyavalaa moothavalaaAre you younger or older?
Ilaiyavalaa moothavalaa vennilaavaeAre you younger or older, oh white moon?
Male
En arumai kaadhalikku vennilaavaeOh white moon, to my dearest beloved...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil track features a hero speaking directly to the moon, addressing it as a confidante and messenger. He playfully questions whether the moon is younger or older than his beloved, compares the surrounding stars to her protective friends, and humorously asks if the craters on the moon are mark-lines left by its lover's pinch. The core narrative turns to his love life: his innocent heart has been taken away by a sly, charming woman. He asks the moon to retrieve his heart, advising that if asking politely fails, the moon should simply snatch it back—because taking hearts without permission is the very trick she taught him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe / Moon Address

En arumai kaadhalikku vennilaavae

Addressing the inanimate full moon directly as a messenger and confidante throughout the song.

Personification

Unnai kaaval kaakkum thozhiyaro vennilaavae

Personifying stars as human friends guarding the moon.

Muran (Antonymy / Contrast)

Nee ilaiyavalaa moothavalaa

Contrasting 'ilaiyavala' (younger) with 'moothavala' (elder) to create rhythmic and conceptual contrast.

Metaphor

Oru kalliyidam irukkudhadi vennilaavae

Referring to the charming beloved as a 'kalli' (deceitful/sly woman) who stole his heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the renowned poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for the 1960 movie Ellorum Innaattu Mannar (starring Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi), the song is set in a folk-pop idiom, playfully adapting classical Sangam Tamil literary motifs like addressing the moon (Vennila) to modern cinematic romance.

Keep listening

More from Ellorum Innaattu Mannar

Ennarumai Kadhalikku Vennilaave Lyrics | English Translation | Meaning | Isaimozhi