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Yemaatrathe Yemaarathe album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ila Maalai Nilave Idhu

From Yemaatrathe Yemaarathe · 1985

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Yemaatrathe Yemaarathe
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
30 Sept 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ila malai nilavae
Idhu poovo mugamo
Iru kaalgal radhamo
Adhil kaaman kanavo
Oru raasathi pudhu rosapoo
Aasai kiliyai anaichadhum
Kadhakadhapoo
Ila malai nilavae
Idhu poovo mugamo
Iru kaalgal radhamo
Adhil kaaman kanavo
Oru raasathi pudhu rosapoo
Aasai kiliyai anaichadhum
Kadhakadhapoo
……………..
Darling…lalalalala
Male :Darling azhagiya teenage
Chorus :Baby…lalalalala
Male :Baby dhinam varum college
Chorus :Paavai…lalalalala
Female :Paavai honeymoon theda
Chorus :Naalum…lalalalala
Female :Naalum mudhal iravaaga
{Mayilae aadum
Mannan thozhil varumae
Kuyilae solai
Thendral kaatru pugumae} (2)
Ila malai nilavae
Idhu poovo mugamo
Iru kaalgal radhamo
Adhil kaaman kanavo
Oru raasathi pudhu rosapoo
Aasai kiliyai anaichadhum
Kadhakadhapoo
Maalai ..lalalalala
Male :Maalai sugam tharum velai
Chorus :Dhegam…lalalalala
Male :Dhegam adhisaya porvai
Chorus :Mogam…lalalalala
Female :Mogam ilamaiyin dhegam
Chorus :Kaalam…lalalalala
Female :Kaalam adhil oru jalam
{Argue vaa vaa
Ennai neeyae thodava
Azhagae thaenae
Nenjil aadum kaniyae} (2)
Ila malai nilavae
Idhu poovo mugamo
Iru kaalgal radhamo
Adhil kaaman kanavo
Oru raasathi pudhu rosapoo
Aasai kiliyai anaichadhum
Kadhakadhapoo
O young mountain moon,
Is this a flower or a face?
Are these two legs a chariot,
Carrying the dream of Kama (god of love)?
A princess like a fresh rose,
When she embraces the branch of desire,
There is such sweet warmth!
O young mountain moon,
Is this a flower or a face?
Are these two legs a chariot,
Carrying the dream of Kama (god of love)?
A princess like a fresh rose,
When she embraces the branch of desire,
There is such sweet warmth!
...
Darling... la la la la la
Male: Darling, in her lovely teenage years,
Chorus: Baby... la la la la la
Male: Baby, going to college every day,
Chorus: Young girl... la la la la la
Female: As this young girl searches for a honeymoon,
Chorus: Every day... la la la la la
Female: Wishing every day were their first night together!
The peacock dances
And rests upon her king's shoulders,
O cuckoo of the grove,
The gentle breeze slips right in!
O young mountain moon,
Is this a flower or a face?
Are these two legs a chariot,
Carrying the dream of Kama (god of love)?
A princess like a fresh rose,
When she embraces the branch of desire,
There is such sweet warmth!
Evening... la la la la la
Male: Evening, the hour of tender pleasure,
Chorus: The body... la la la la la
Male: The body is a wondrous blanket,
Chorus: Passion... la la la la la
Female: Passion fills the youth of the body,
Chorus: Time... la la la la la
Female: And time works a magic of its own!
Come close, come closer to me,
Won't you reach out and touch me?
My sweet beauty, pure as honey,
The fruit that dances in my heart!
O young mountain moon,
Is this a flower or a face?
Are these two legs a chariot,
Carrying the dream of Kama (god of love)?
A princess like a fresh rose,
When she embraces the branch of desire,
There is such sweet warmth!
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Ila Malai Nilave' is a romantic duet from the 1985 movie 'Yemaatrathe Yemaarathe', featuring playful and passionate dialogue between two lovers. The lyrics utilize rich Tamil imagery—comparing the beloved's features to nature, flowers, and the evening moon—to convey intimacy, youthful desire, and the joy of romantic togetherness. Through energetic call-and-response lines with the chorus and catchy English loan words popular in 1980s Tamil cinema lyrics (like 'teenage', 'college', 'honeymoon'), the song captures a modern yet deeply lyrical celebration of young love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai / Metaphor

“Idhu poovo mugamo / Iru kaalgal radhamo”

Comparing the female lead's physical features to flowers, chariots, and a wondrous blanket.

Iyaibu / End Rhyme

“Idhu poovo mugamo / Iru kaalgal radhamo / Adhil kaaman kanavo”

Rhyming word endings creating a rhythmic flow across lines (e.g., mugamo, radhamo, kanavo).

Uruvagaim / Personification

“Thendral kaatru pugumae”

Personifying evening, time, and breeze entering the grove as active participants in romantic intimacy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Chandrabose with lyrics by Na. Kamarasan, this track represents the vibrant mid-1980s trend in Tamil film music where traditional poetic metaphors were combined with contemporary Western pop-style chorus chants ('lalalalala') and English loanwords.

Keep listening

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Kannula Nikkudhu Nenjula1989
SolaikuyilAttractionDesire
Kaar Megam Oorkolam Pogum1986
Kaalamellaam Un MadiyilRomanticNature
Ada Neela Sela Parakkaiyile1980
Vasantha AzhaipugalAttractionDesire

From the same album

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