Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Ponnu Veettukkaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ilaya Nilave

From Ponnu Veettukkaran · 1999

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Srinivas, Bhavatharani
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ponnu Veettukkaran
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
15 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
O naananaa
Ilaiya nilavae
Nanaa nananaa
Ilaiya nilavae
Nanaa nananaa
Ilaiya nilavae ilaiya nilavae
Innum enna maunamo
Azhagu vizhigal paarkka maruthaal
Endhan manam thaangumo
Nee thaanadi en nimmadhi
O vaanmathi unadhu dhisaiyil yaen
Ilaiya nilavae ilaiya nilavae
Innum enna maunamo
Azhagu vizhigal paarkka maruthaal
Endhan manam thaangumo
Isaikkum kuyilae
Maunam sumandhaal
Yaengum yaengum poongaatru
Urakkam izhandhu
Thavikkum enakkul
Vaeru yaedhu thaalaattu
Vasanthamae pona pin
Paadumo poonguyil
Vaazhvellaam kodaiyae aadumo pon maiyil
Un kangalil neer kolamo
En nenjinai kalanga vidalaamo
Ilaiya nilavae ilaiya nilavae
Innum yenna maunamo
Azhagu vizhigal paarkka maruthaal
Endhan manam thaangumo
Nadandha nadhiyum
Kadandha pozhudhum
Meendum thirumbumo ingae
Velicha nilavu iruttil azhudhaal
Vaanam neelumae anbae
Kanavennum malargalai
Vidhaitthadhaar poo mugam
Yaar manam yaaridam vaazhkkaiyo naadagam
O vaanmathi yaen thani vazhi
Un paadhaiyai maatri chellalaamaa
Ilaiya nilavae ilaiya nilavae
Innum enna salanamo
Pudhiya thisaiyil udhikka ninaithaal
Endhan manam thaangumo
Nee thaanadi en nimmadhi
O vaanmathi unadhu dhisaiyil yaen
Ilaiya nilavae ilaiya nilavae
Innum enna maunamo
Ilaiya nilavae ilaiya nilavae
Innum enna salanamo
Oh nanana
O young moon,
Nana nanana
O young moon,
Nana nanana
O young moon, O young moon,
Why is there still this silence?
If your beautiful eyes refuse to look at me,
can my heart endure it?
You alone are my peace of mind,
O moon of the sky, why in your path...?
O young moon, O young moon,
Why is there still this silence?
If your beautiful eyes refuse to look at me,
can my heart endure it?
If the singing cuckoo
is weighed down by silence,
the gentle breeze will yearn for its song.
Having lost my sleep,
aching and restless inside,
what other lullaby is there for me?
Once spring has gone,
will the sweet cuckoo sing?
When life is only a harsh summer, will the golden peacock dance?
Are those traces of tears in your eyes?
Can you leave my heart to be so troubled?
O young moon, O young moon,
Why is there still this silence?
If your beautiful eyes refuse to look at me,
can my heart endure it?
The river that has flowed away
and the time that has passed,
will they ever return here?
If the bright moon cries in the dark,
the sky will only drag on endlessly, my love.
The flowers called dreams,
whose flower-like face planted them?
Whose heart is with whom? Life is just a play.
O moon of the sky, why take a lonely path?
Can you simply change your way and walk away?
O young moon, O young moon,
Why is there still this turmoil?
If you think of rising in a new direction,
can my heart ever bear it?
You alone are my peace of mind,
O moon of the sky, why in your path...?
O young moon, O young moon,
Why is there still this silence?
O young moon, O young moon,
Why is there still this turmoil?
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful song expresses the deep pain of longing, separation, and emotional distantness between lovers. The protagonist addresses his beloved metaphorically as a 'young moon' (Ilaiya Nilave) and a singing cuckoo, pleading with her to end her painful silence. He wonders how his heart can sustain if her loving gaze turns away or if she chooses a path separate from his.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Ilaiya nilavae ilaiya nilavae”

Addressing the beloved as 'Ilaiya Nilave' (young moon) and 'Isaikkum kuyilae' (musical cuckoo) compares her beauty and voice directly to nature.

Rhetorical Question

“Meendum thirumbumo ingae”

The speaker asks questions like 'Nadandha nadhiyum kadandha pozhudhum meendum thirumbumo ingae' to emphasize the irreversible nature of past time and sorrow.

Anaphora / Monorhyme (Edhukai)

“Nadandha nadhiyum / Kadandha pozhudhum”

Repetition of second-letter consonant sounds in line pairings such as 'Nadandha' and 'Kadandha'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track features lyrics written by Pazhani Bharathi for the 1999 Tamil film 'Ponnu Veettukkaran', starring Sathyaraj and Preetha Vijayakumar, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Mora Saiyya (Yeno Mounam)2016
Maalai Naerathu MayakkamLongingHeartbreak
Engenge Engenge1997
Nerrukku NerLongingSeparation
Thee Yazhini2018
Vanjagar UlagamHeartbreakLonging
Vanjamitho Vaanjaiyitho1954
VairamalaiLongingHeartbreak
Vinnaithaandi Anbe2013
Irandaam UlagamLongingHeartbreak
Bejara2022
Iravin NizhalHeartbreakMelancholic

From the same album

More songs from Ponnu Veettukkaran

View album
Annan Ivan Kannan Illae1999
Ponnu VeettukkaranCelebratory
Kettukama Kettukama1999
Ponnu VeettukkaranCelebratory
Nandhavana Kuyile1999
Ponnu VeettukkaranComforting
Nandhavana Kuyile Song Lyrics – Ilayaraja1999
Ponnu VeettukkaranComforting
Ponnu Veetukarangale1999
Ponnu VeettukkaranCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.