Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iravin Madiyil

From Sarasa B.A. · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Movie name
Sarasa B.A.
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
1 Mar 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Iravin madiyil ulagam urangum
Nilavin azhagil malarum mayangum
En mana vedhanai yaar arivaar
Unmaiyai sonnaal yaar unarvaar
Unarvaar ..unarvaar
Iravin madiyil ulagam urangum
Pazhagiya ninaivai parithu kondaanae
Pudhiyadhor uravai koduthu nindraanae
Kalangidum ennai saatchi vaithaanae
Kaatchiyil maraiyum en iraivan
Iraivan …iraivan
Iravin madiyil ulagam urangum
Nilavin azhagil malarum mayangum
Ha ha ha ha
Ho o o ho
Hmm mm mm mm
Hmm mm mm mm
Ullae oruvan urangugindraanae
Veliyil oruvan ulavigindraanae
Ellaam therindhum oomaiyai polae
Irukkindraanae en thalaivan
Thalaivan…thalaivan
Iravin madiyil ulagam urangum
Nilavin azhagil malarum mayangum
Ha ha ha ha
Ho o o ho
Hmm mm mm mm
Hmm mm mm mm
The world sleeps in the lap of night
In the beauty of the moon, even the flower is enchanted
Who will know the sorrow in my heart?
If I speak the truth, who will understand?
Who will understand... who will understand...
The world sleeps in the lap of night
He snatched away my familiar memories
And gave me a new bond instead
He made my troubled self a witness
My God, who vanishes from sight
My God... my God...
The world sleeps in the lap of night
In the beauty of the moon, even the flower is enchanted
Ha ha ha ha
Ho oh oh ho
Mmm mm mm mm
Mmm mm mm mm
One person is sleeping inside
Another is wandering outside
Knowing everything, yet like someone mute
He remains silent, my Lord
My Lord... my Lord...
The world sleeps in the lap of night
In the beauty of the moon, even the flower is enchanted
Ha ha ha ha
Ho oh oh ho
Mmm mm mm mm
Mmm mm mm mm
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses profound existential grief and inner conflict felt during the quiet stillness of the night. While nature and the world find peaceful rest under the moonlight, the protagonist suffers from deep mental anguish, feeling misunderstood by society and helpless against the twists of fate. Kannadasan's lyrics contrast the tranquil outer world with a turbulent inner world, questioning divine justice and the silence of God in the face of human suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Iravin madiyil ulagam urangum / Nilavin azhagil malarum mayangum

Attributing human actions like sleeping in a lap to the world, and swooning to a flower.

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Iravin / Nilavin

Rhyming of the second letter 'ra' in Iravin and 'la' (similar soft consonant class) in Nilavin.

Antithesis / Contrast

Ullae oruvan urangugindraanae / Veliyil oruvan ulavigindraanae

Contrasting the quiet sleeping inner self with the wandering outer persona.

Metaphor

Ellaam therindhum oomaiyai polae / Irukkindraanae en thalaivan

Comparing the silent divinity or destiny to a mute spectator.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sarasa B.A. (1965) features music composed by S. Vedhachalam with poignant rendition by P. B. Sreenivas. Kannadasan's philosophical lyrics reflect classic themes of solitude and spiritual questioning.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Sarasa B.A.

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.