Kadhal Nilave
From Dharma Seelan · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Arun Mozhi, Swarnalatha
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Dharma Seelan1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaadhal nilaavae poovae | Oh moon of love, oh flower |
| Kai meedhu sera vaa | Come to rest in my hands |
| Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae | Oh dream of desire, oh my life |
| Aavalgal theeravaa | Shall I satisfy my longings? |
| Male | |
| Mani oonjal thaan aada | As the gem-studded swing sways |
| Athan melae naan aada | And I swing upon it |
| Ila maalai nerandhaan | It is a tender evening time |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal nilaavae poovae | Oh moon of love, oh flower |
| Kai meedhu sera vaa | Come to rest in my hands |
| Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae | Oh dream of desire, oh my life |
| Aavalgal theeravaa | Shall I satisfy my longings? |
| Male | |
| Yettil oru paavalan | A poem unwritten |
| Ezhudhaadha kaaviyam | By a poet in a book |
| Naattil oru thoorigai | A painting unbrushed |
| Punaiyaadha oviyam | By a paintbrush in the land |
| Female | |
| Meen valarkum | Nurturing fish-like beauty |
| En kann theduthun sondham | My eyes search for your kinship |
| Thaen valarkum | Nurturing sweetness like honey |
| En vaai paadudhun sandham | My mouth sings rhythmic tunes |
| Male | |
| Neeraadum odaiyae | Oh bathing stream |
| Enakena kulir serkkum vaadaiyae | Oh chilly breeze bringing coldness just for me |
| Moham ennaalum ennai vaattudhae | Passion torments me every day |
| Anbae vaaa…aaaa…aa… | Oh beloved, come... |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal nilaavae poovae | Oh moon of love, oh flower |
| Kai meedhu sera vaa | Come to rest in my hands |
| Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae | Oh dream of desire, oh my life |
| Aavalgal theeravaa | Shall I satisfy my longings? |
| Female | |
| Mani oonjal thaan aada | As the gem-studded swing sways |
| Athan melae naan aada | And I swing upon it |
| Ila maalai nerandhaan | It is a tender evening time |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal nilaavae poovae | Oh moon of love, oh flower |
| Kai meedhu sera vaa | Come to rest in my hands |
| Female | |
| Naalum unai koovidum | Calling out to you daily |
| Thuyilaadha poonguyil | Is this sleepless flower-cuckoo |
| Needhaan enai vaattinaal | If even you torment me |
| Uravaedhu boomiyil | What other relation do I have on this earth? |
| Male | |
| Naan virumbum pon maan | The golden deer I desire |
| Thaamarai nenjam | Has a heart like a lotus |
| Naal muzhukka en mel | All day long upon me |
| Saaindhida kenjum.. | It begs to lean... |
| Female | |
| Seraadhu un madi | Without reaching your lap |
| Thanimaiyil thoongaadhu poongodi | This flowering vine cannot sleep in loneliness |
| Koodum santhosham | The happiness of coming together |
| Indru vaaithathae | Has been granted today |
| Anbae vaaa…aaa…aaa | Oh beloved, come... |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal nilaavae poovae | Oh moon of love, oh flower |
| Kai meedhu sera vaa | Come to rest in my hands |
| Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae | Oh dream of desire, oh my life |
| Aavalgal theeravaa | Shall I satisfy my longings? |
| Female | |
| Mani oonjal thaan aada | As the gem-studded swing sways |
| Athan melae naan aada | And I swing upon it |
| Ila maalai nerandhaan | It is a tender evening time |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal nilaavae poovae | Oh moon of love, oh flower |
| Kai meedhu sera vaa | Come to rest in my hands |
| Female :Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae | Female: Oh dream of desire, oh my life |
| Aavalgal theeravaa | Shall I satisfy my longings? |
காதல் நிலாவே பூவே
கை மீது சேர வா....
ஆசைக் கனாவே வாழ்வே
ஆவல்கள் தீர வா
மணி ஊஞ்சல்தான் ஆட
அதன் மேலே நான் ஆட
இள மாலை நேரம் தான்......
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Come to rest in my hands
Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Shall I satisfy my longings?
காதல் நிலாவே பூவே
கை மீது சேர வா....
ஆசைக் கனாவே வாழ்வே
ஆவல்கள் தீர வா....
As the gem-studded swing sways
And I swing upon it
It is a tender evening time
ஏட்டில் ஒரு பாவலன்
எழுதாத காவியம்
நாட்டில் ஒரு தூரிகை
புனையாத ஓவியம்
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Come to rest in my hands
Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Shall I satisfy my longings?
நீ வளர்க்க என் கண்
தேடுது உன் சொந்தம்
தேன் வளர்க்க என்
வாய் பாடுது உன் சந்தம்
A poem unwritten
By a poet in a book
A painting unbrushed
By a paintbrush in the land
நீராடும் ஓடையே எனக்கென
குளிர் சேர்க்கும் வாடையே
மோகம் எந்நாளும் என்னை வாட்டுதே
அன்பே வா ஆஆ... ஆ...
Nurturing fish-like beauty
My eyes search for your kinship
Nurturing sweetness like honey
My mouth sings rhythmic tunes
காதல் நிலாவே பூவே
கை மீது சேர வா
ஆசைக் கனாவே வாழ்வே
ஆவல்கள் தீர வா
மணி ஊஞ்சல்தான் ஆட
அதன் மேலே நான் ஆட
இள மாலை நேரம் தான்....
Oh bathing stream
Oh chilly breeze bringing coldness just for me
Passion torments me every day
Oh beloved, come...
காதல் நிலாவே பூவே
கை மீது சேர வா....
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Come to rest in my hands
Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Shall I satisfy my longings?
நாளும் உனைக் கூவிடும்
குயிலாக பூங்குயில்
நீயும் எனை வாட்டினால்
உறவேது பூமியில்
As the gem-studded swing sways
And I swing upon it
It is a tender evening time
நான் விரும்பும் பொன்
மான் தாமரை நெஞ்சம்
நாள் முழுக்க
என் மேல் சாய்ந்திடக் கெஞ்சும்
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Come to rest in my hands
சேராது உன் மடி
தனிமையில் தூங்காது பூங்கொடி
கூடும் சந்தோஷம் இன்று வாய்த்ததே
அன்பே வா ஆஆ...ஆ...
Calling out to you daily
Is this sleepless flower-cuckoo
If even you torment me
What other relation do I have on this earth?
காதல் நிலாவே பூவே
கை மீது சேர வா....
ஆசைக் கனாவே வாழ்வே
ஆவல்கள் தீர வா
The golden deer I desire
Has a heart like a lotus
All day long upon me
It begs to lean...
மணி ஊஞ்சல்தான் ஆட
அதன் மேலே நான் ஆட
இள மாலை நேரம் தான்......
Without reaching your lap
This flowering vine cannot sleep in loneliness
The happiness of coming together
Has been granted today
Oh beloved, come...
காதல் நிலாவே பூவே
கை மீது சேர வா....
ஆசைக் கனாவே வாழ்வே
ஆவல்கள் தீர வா
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Come to rest in my hands
Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Shall I satisfy my longings?
As the gem-studded swing sways
And I swing upon it
It is a tender evening time
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Come to rest in my hands
Female: Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Shall I satisfy my longings?
Kaadhal nilaavae poovae
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Kai meedhu sera vaa
Come to rest in my hands
Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae
Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Aavalgal theeravaa
Shall I satisfy my longings?
Mani oonjal thaan aada
As the gem-studded swing sways
Athan melae naan aada
And I swing upon it
Ila maalai nerandhaan
It is a tender evening time
Kaadhal nilaavae poovae
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Kai meedhu sera vaa
Come to rest in my hands
Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae
Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Aavalgal theeravaa
Shall I satisfy my longings?
Yettil oru paavalan
A poem unwritten
Ezhudhaadha kaaviyam
By a poet in a book
Naattil oru thoorigai
A painting unbrushed
Punaiyaadha oviyam
By a paintbrush in the land
Meen valarkum
Nurturing fish-like beauty
En kann theduthun sondham
My eyes search for your kinship
Thaen valarkum
Nurturing sweetness like honey
En vaai paadudhun sandham
My mouth sings rhythmic tunes
Neeraadum odaiyae
Oh bathing stream
Enakena kulir serkkum vaadaiyae
Oh chilly breeze bringing coldness just for me
Moham ennaalum ennai vaattudhae
Passion torments me every day
Anbae vaaa…aaaa…aa…
Oh beloved, come...
Kaadhal nilaavae poovae
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Kai meedhu sera vaa
Come to rest in my hands
Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae
Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Aavalgal theeravaa
Shall I satisfy my longings?
Mani oonjal thaan aada
As the gem-studded swing sways
Athan melae naan aada
And I swing upon it
Ila maalai nerandhaan
It is a tender evening time
Kaadhal nilaavae poovae
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Kai meedhu sera vaa
Come to rest in my hands
Naalum unai koovidum
Calling out to you daily
Thuyilaadha poonguyil
Is this sleepless flower-cuckoo
Needhaan enai vaattinaal
If even you torment me
Uravaedhu boomiyil
What other relation do I have on this earth?
Naan virumbum pon maan
The golden deer I desire
Thaamarai nenjam
Has a heart like a lotus
Naal muzhukka en mel
All day long upon me
Saaindhida kenjum..
It begs to lean...
Seraadhu un madi
Without reaching your lap
Thanimaiyil thoongaadhu poongodi
This flowering vine cannot sleep in loneliness
Koodum santhosham
The happiness of coming together
Indru vaaithathae
Has been granted today
Anbae vaaa…aaa…aaa
Oh beloved, come...
Kaadhal nilaavae poovae
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Kai meedhu sera vaa
Come to rest in my hands
Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae
Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Aavalgal theeravaa
Shall I satisfy my longings?
Mani oonjal thaan aada
As the gem-studded swing sways
Athan melae naan aada
And I swing upon it
Ila maalai nerandhaan
It is a tender evening time
Kaadhal nilaavae poovae
Oh moon of love, oh flower
Kai meedhu sera vaa
Come to rest in my hands
Female :Aasai kanaavae vaazhvae
Female: Oh dream of desire, oh my life
Aavalgal theeravaa
Shall I satisfy my longings?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kaadhal Nilaave Poove' is a romantic duet expressing deep affection, yearning, and poetic admiration between two lovers. Set against the serene backdrop of a gentle evening, the song uses vivid metaphors of nature, art, and poetry to portray the beauty and emotional intensity of love. The protagonist describes the beloved as an unwritten epic and an unpainted canvas, highlighting how love brings joy and relieves the ache of solitude.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Yettil oru paavalan Ezhudhaadha kaaviyam”
Compares the beloved to an unwritten epic ('Ezhudhaadha kaaviyam') and an unpainted picture ('Punaiyaadha oviyam'), signifying rare and untouched perfection.
Rhyme (Edhugai / Monai)
“Meen valarkum / Thaen valarkum”
The repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across lines creates rhythmic symmetry ('Meen valarkum' / 'Thaen valarkum').
Personification
“Thuyilaadha poonguyil”
Attributes human feelings of longing and sleeplessness to nature ('Thuyilaadha poonguyil' - sleepless cuckoo bird).
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features classic Vaali lyrics that blend classical Tamil poetic metaphors with modern cinematic romantic sensibility. The soundtrack for 'Dharma Seelan' (1993) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.
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