Iravum Nilavum
From Karnan · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Karnan1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Ah… ah… ah… ah… |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Ah… ah… ah… ah… |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Ah… ah… ah… |
| Aaa…aaa… | Ah… ah… |
| Female | |
| Iravum nilavum valarattumae | Let the night and the moon flourish. |
| Nam inimai ninaivugal thodarattumae | Let our sweet memories continue. |
| Iravum nilavum valarattumae | Let the night and the moon flourish. |
| Nam inimai ninaivugal thodarattumae | Let our sweet memories continue. |
| Iravum nilavum valarattumae | Let the night and the moon flourish. |
| Male | |
| Tharavum peravum udhavattumae ae… | Let giving and receiving help us. |
| Tharavum peravum udhavattumae | Let giving and receiving help us. |
| Nam thanimai sughanghal perugattumae… | Let the pleasures of our solitude multiply. |
| Female | |
| Iravum nilavum valarattumae… | Let the night and the moon flourish. |
| Ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…… | Ae… ae… ae… ae… |
| Female | |
| Malligai panjanai virikkattumae | Let the jasmine bed be spread. |
| Male :Angu mangaiyin thaamarai | Male: There, the lady's lotus-like face |
| Sirikkattumae | Let it smile. |
| Female :Illaiyinnaammal kodukkattumae | Female: If there is a need, let us give. |
| Male :Nenjil irukkindra varaiyil edukkattumae… | Male: Let us take as long as it remains in the heart. |
| Female | |
| Iravum nilavum valarattumae… | Let the night and the moon flourish. |
| Ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…… | Ae… ae… ae… ae… |
| Female | |
| Aasaiyil nenjam thudikkattumae | Let the heart throb with desire. |
| Male | |
| Angu achamum konjam | There, a little fear as well |
| Irukkattumae | Let it be present. |
| Female :Naadagam muzhuvadhum | Female: Let the whole drama |
| Nadakkattumae | Take place. |
| Male :Adhil naanamum konjam pirakkattumae… | Male: In that, let a little shyness also be born. |
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....
ஆ....ஆ......ஆ.....
ஆஆஆ.....ஆஆஆ.....
Ah… ah… ah… ah…
Ah… ah… ah… ah…
Ah… ah… ah…
Ah… ah…
இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே
நம் இனிமை நினைவுகள் தொடரட்டுமே
இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே
நம் இனிமை நினைவுகள் தொடரட்டுமே
இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Let our sweet memories continue.
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Let our sweet memories continue.
Let the night and the moon flourish.
தரவும் பெறவும் உதவட்டுமே ஏ....
தரவும் பெறவும் உதவட்டுமே
நம் தனிமை சுகங்கள் பெருகட்டுமே....
Let giving and receiving help us.
Let giving and receiving help us.
Let the pleasures of our solitude multiply.
இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே
நம் இனிமை நினைவுகள் தொடரட்டுமே
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Ae… ae… ae… ae…
இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே
ஏ....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ....ஏ......
Let the jasmine bed be spread.
Male: There, the lady's lotus-like face
Let it smile.
Female: If there is a need, let us give.
Male: Let us take as long as it remains in the heart.
மல்லிகை பஞ்சணை விரிக்கட்டுமே
அங்கு மங்கையின் தாமரை
சிரிக்கட்டுமே
இல்லையென்னாமல் கொடுக்கட்டுமே
நெஞ்சில் இருக்கின்றவரையில்
எடுக்கட்டுமே.....
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Ae… ae… ae… ae…
இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே
நம் இனிமை நினைவுகள் தொடரட்டுமே
Let the heart throb with desire.
இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே
ஏ....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ....ஏ......
There, a little fear as well
Let it be present.
Female: Let the whole drama
Take place.
Male: In that, let a little shyness also be born.
ஆசையில் நெஞ்சம் துடிக்கட்டுமே
அங்கு அச்சமும் கொஞ்சம்
இருக்கட்டுமே
நாடகம் முழுவதும்
நடக்கட்டுமே
அதில் நாணமும் கொஞ்சம்
பிறக்கட்டுமே....
இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே
நம் இனிமை நினைவுகள் தொடரட்டுமே
இரவும் நிலவும்
வளரட்டுமே
ஏ....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ....ஏ......
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Ah… ah… ah… ah…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Ah… ah… ah… ah…
Aa… aa… aa…
Ah… ah… ah…
Aaa…aaa…
Ah… ah…
Iravum nilavum valarattumae
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Nam inimai ninaivugal thodarattumae
Let our sweet memories continue.
Iravum nilavum valarattumae
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Nam inimai ninaivugal thodarattumae
Let our sweet memories continue.
Iravum nilavum valarattumae
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Tharavum peravum udhavattumae ae…
Let giving and receiving help us.
Tharavum peravum udhavattumae
Let giving and receiving help us.
Nam thanimai sughanghal perugattumae…
Let the pleasures of our solitude multiply.
Iravum nilavum valarattumae…
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae……
Ae… ae… ae… ae…
Malligai panjanai virikkattumae
Let the jasmine bed be spread.
Male :Angu mangaiyin thaamarai
Male: There, the lady's lotus-like face
Sirikkattumae
Let it smile.
Female :Illaiyinnaammal kodukkattumae
Female: If there is a need, let us give.
Male :Nenjil irukkindra varaiyil edukkattumae…
Male: Let us take as long as it remains in the heart.
Iravum nilavum valarattumae…
Let the night and the moon flourish.
Ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae……
Ae… ae… ae… ae…
Aasaiyil nenjam thudikkattumae
Let the heart throb with desire.
Angu achamum konjam
There, a little fear as well
Irukkattumae
Let it be present.
Female :Naadagam muzhuvadhum
Female: Let the whole drama
Nadakkattumae
Take place.
Male :Adhil naanamum konjam pirakkattumae…
Male: In that, let a little shyness also be born.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic duet from the epic film Karnan (1964) expresses the deep intimacy, love, and affection between King Karnan and his wife Subhangi. Set against the serene backdrop of the night, the couple wishes for time to linger, allowing their sweet memories and romantic bond to multiply. Kannadasan poetically portrays love as a continuous interplay of giving, receiving, playful fear, and coy shyness, weaving natural imagery like jasmine beds and lotus faces to symbolize romantic bliss.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Iravum nilavum valarattumae / Nam inimai ninaivugal thodarattumae”
Repeated usage of the suffix '-attumae' at the end of consecutive lines (valarattumae, thodarattumae, perugattumae, virikkattumae) creates a melodious and cohesive lyrical rhythm.
Uvamai (Metaphor)
“Male :Angu mangaiyin thaamarai / Sirikkattumae”
Comparing the woman's smiling face to a blossoming lotus flower ('mangaiyin thaamarai sirikkattumae').
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Angu achamum konjam / Irukkattumae”
Matching second letters in words across lines, such as 'achamum' and 'ichai/nadagam' patterns in Tamil poetry, enhanced by thematic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Iravum Nilavum' features in Karnan (1964), directed by B. R. Panthulu. Composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song remains a celebrated classic for its rich classical composition and graceful expression of romance within an epic historical narrative.
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