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Isaimozhi
Anjali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Iravu Nilavu

From Anjali · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, Karthik Raja, Yuvan Shankar Raja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Anjali
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
29 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Pababa pap paaba pab paaba..paba….
Pababa pap paaba pab paaba..paa..} (2)
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Yaarodum dhaan
Sollamal dhaan
Vaanvittu dhaan
Mannil vandadhu
Mannai kandu
Mayangi nindradhu
Vidiya vidiya vidiya
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Veedhiyengum vanna vanna
Olivilakku minna minna
Chorus :Vennilaavum nindru paarthadhu..
Female :Ooh …hoi
Velli meengal vaira minnal
Ondru serndhu nindradhendru
Chorus :Kan mayakkum kaatchiyaanadhu..
Female :Ooh …hoi..
Enna maayamo enna jaalamo
Chorus :Endru ennai thottu paarthadhu
Female :Thotta velayil shock adithadhum
Chorus :Pattu kaiyil suttu kondadhu
Vali thaanga mudiyaadhu
Kadaloram ilaippaara
Chorus :Vaanam kandadhu vaadi nindradhu
Female :Megam thannai thoodhu vittadhu…
Vidiya vidiya…
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Chinna mullum periya mullum
Ondru serndhu ottikkolla
Chorus :Pannirendu mani adithadhu..
Female :Ooo…hoi
Pazhaya varusham ponadhingu
Pudhiya varusham poothadhendru
Chorus :Oor muzhukka vedi vedithadhu..
Female :Ooo..hoi
Inbam enbadhu ingu vandadhu
Chorus :Thunba naatkal odi ponadhu
Female :Indha bhoomidhaan indha naalilae
Chorus :Sorgamaaga maari ponadhu
Nilavodu vilaiyaadum
Oru megam andha neram
Chorus :Vaan thedudhu poraadudhu
Female :Than kooda vaa endradhu…
Vidiya vidiya…
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Yaarodum dhaan
Sollamal dhaan
Vaanvittu dhaan
Mannil vandadhu
Mannai kandu
Mayangi nindradhu
Vidiya vidiya vidiya
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
Iravu nilavu ulagai
Rasikka ninaithadhu
Jolikkum siragai virithu
Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu
{Pa-ba-ba baap ba-ba baap ba-ba... pa-ba...
Pa-ba-ba baap ba-ba baap ba-ba... ba...} (2)
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
Without telling
a single soul,
leaving the sky behind,
it came down to earth.
Looking at the earth,
it stood spellbound,
all through the night until dawn.
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
All along the streets, colourful
lights twinkled bright,
Chorus: and the white moon stopped and watched.
Female: Ooh... hoy!
As if silver fish, diamonds, and lightning
had gathered all in one place,
Chorus: it became a dazzling sight to see.
Female: Ooh... hoy!
Wondering what magic or trick this was,
Chorus: it reached out and touched me.
Female: The moment it touched, it got a shock,
Chorus: and burned its soft, delicate hand!
Unable to bear the pain,
it went to rest by the seashore.
Chorus: The sky saw this and grew sad,
Female: and sent a cloud as a messenger...
Until the break of dawn...
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
As the short hand and the long hand
came together and touched,
Chorus: the clock struck twelve!
Female: Ooh... hoy!
The old year has departed
and a new year has blossomed,
Chorus: as fireworks burst across the whole town!
Female: Ooh... hoy!
Happiness arrived right here,
Chorus: and days of sorrow ran away.
Female: On this very day,
Chorus: this earth turned into heaven!
A cloud that plays with the moon
at that very hour
Chorus: searches the sky in restless worry,
Female: calling out, "Come along with me!"
Until the break of dawn...
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
Without telling
a single soul,
leaving the sky behind,
it came down to earth.
Looking at the earth,
it stood spellbound,
all through the night until dawn.
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
The night moon
wanted to admire the world.
Spreading its sparkling wings,
it landed on the ground and walked around.
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Iravu Nilavu' from Mani Ratnam's 1990 classic movie 'Anjali' captures a whimsical New Year's Eve celebration from a child's imaginative perspective. Personifying the night moon as a magical winged creature that steps down to earth, the lyrics paint a picture of festive lights, fireworks at midnight, and pure childlike wonder. The song celebrates joy replacing sorrow as the earth momentarily transforms into heaven during the ringing in of the New Year.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagam / Personification)

Jolikkum siragai virithu / Tharaiyil irangi nadandhadhu

The moon is personified as a entity with wings that steps down from the sky to walk on the ground and admire the earth.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Veedhiyengum vanna vanna / Olivilakku minna minna

The second consonant sound 'nn' matches in 'Vannai' and 'Olivilakku' / 'Vennilaavum'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Vidiya vidiya vidiya

Repetition of words like 'Vidiya vidiya' emphasizes duration through the night until daybreak.

Metaphor

Pudhiya varusham poothadhendru

Comparing the striking of 12 o'clock on New Year's Eve to the blooming of a new year like a flower.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by legendary lyricist Vaali, 'Anjali' is known for its iconic soundtrack featuring songs sung by children and S. Janaki. The film won three National Film Awards and was India's official entry for the Oscar considerations in 1990.

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