Kai Mel Nilavaai
From Madras Matinee · 2025
- Lyricist
- Snekan
- Singer
- S. P. Charan
- Music director
- K. C. Balasarangan
- Details
- Madras Matinee2025
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kai mel nilavaai… | Like the moon upon my hands... |
| Uyirin uravaai… | As the kin of my very soul... |
| Kidaithaai enakku… | You were bestowed upon me... |
| Ulagam yedharkku… | Why do I need the rest of the world... |
| Nee ennai thandhaiyakka | Are you a divine spirit who came |
| Vandha dheivamo… | To make me a father... |
| Thaaiyaaga nee pirandhu | Were you born like a mother |
| Thandha motchamo… | To grant me spiritual salvation... |
| Varamaai vandha kannammaa… | Oh Kannamma, who came as a divine boon... |
| Kai mel nilavaai… | Like the moon upon my hands... |
| Uyirin uravaai… | As the kin of my very soul... |
| Male | |
| Unadhu kanavai… | Your dreams... |
| Ini en vizhi kaanum… | My eyes will behold from now on... |
| Odu nadhiyaai… | Like a flowing river... |
| Indha ulagil neeyum… | As you journey in this world... |
| Male | |
| Unadhu dhisaiyaai… | In the direction you choose... |
| Ini en vazhi pogum… | My path will travel from now on... |
| Siragai virithu… | Spreading your wings wide... |
| Nee parandhida venum… | You must fly high... |
| Male | |
| Pollaadha kangal… | Wicked and envious eyes... |
| Unnai vizhunga paarkume… | Will watch to swallow you up... |
| Poiyaaga pugazhndhu… | With insincere praises... |
| Unnai thindru theerkkume… | They will consume you entirely... |
| Male | |
| Nizhalum kooda… | Even a shadow... |
| Irulill maraiyum… | Will vanish in the dark... |
| Naam dhaan saami… | We ourselves are God... |
| Ingu namakku thunaiye… | As our own support here... |
| Male | |
| Kai mel nilavaai… | Like the moon upon my hands... |
| Uyirin uravaai… | As the kin of my very soul... |
| Kidaithaai enakku… | You were bestowed upon me... |
| Ulagam yedharkku… | Why do I need the rest of the world... |
| Nee ennai thandhaiyakka | Are you a divine spirit who came |
| Vandha dheivamo… | To make me a father... |
| Thaaiyaaga nee pirandhu | Were you born like a mother |
| Thandha motchamo… | To grant me spiritual salvation... |
| Varamaai vandha kannammaa… | Oh Kannamma, who came as a divine boon... |
| Kai mel nilavaai… | Like the moon upon my hands... |
| Uyirin uravaai… | As the kin of my very soul... |
| Hmm mm hmm mmm hmm mm | Humming... |
கை மேல் நிலவாய்…
உயிரின் உறவாய்...
கிடைத்தாய் எனக்கு…
உலகம் எதற்கு...
Like the moon upon my hands...
As the kin of my very soul...
You were bestowed upon me...
Why do I need the rest of the world...
Are you a divine spirit who came
To make me a father...
Were you born like a mother
To grant me spiritual salvation...
Oh Kannamma, who came as a divine boon...
Like the moon upon my hands...
As the kin of my very soul...
நீ என்னை தந்தையாக்கா
வந்த தெய்வமோ...
தாயாக நீ பிறந்து
தந்த மோட்சமோ...
வரமாய் வந்த கண்ணம்மா...
கை மேல் நிலவாய்…
உயிரின் உறவாய்...
Your dreams...
My eyes will behold from now on...
Like a flowing river...
As you journey in this world...
உனது கனவை…
இனி என் விழிக் காணும்...
ஓடு நதியாய்…
இந்த உலகினில் நீயும்...
In the direction you choose...
My path will travel from now on...
Spreading your wings wide...
You must fly high...
உனது திசையாய்…
இனி என் வழி போகும்...
சிறகை விரித்து...
நீ பரந்திடா வேணும்…
Wicked and envious eyes...
Will watch to swallow you up...
With insincere praises...
They will consume you entirely...
பொல்லாத கண்கள்…
உன்னை விழுங்க பார்க்குமே...
பொய்யாக புகழ்ந்து...
உன்னை தின்று தீர்க்குமே...
Even a shadow...
Will vanish in the dark...
We ourselves are God...
As our own support here...
நிழலும் கூட...
இருளில் மறையும்...
நாம் தான் சாமி…
இங்கு நமக்கு துணையே…
Like the moon upon my hands...
As the kin of my very soul...
You were bestowed upon me...
Why do I need the rest of the world...
Are you a divine spirit who came
To make me a father...
Were you born like a mother
To grant me spiritual salvation...
Oh Kannamma, who came as a divine boon...
Like the moon upon my hands...
As the kin of my very soul...
Humming...
கை மேல் நிலவாய்…
உயிரின் உறவாய்...
கிடைத்தாய் எனக்கு…
உலகம் எதற்கு...
நீ என்னை தந்தையாக்கா
வந்த தெய்வமோ...
தாயாக நீ பிறந்து
தந்த மோட்சமோ...
வரமாய் வந்த கண்ணம்மா...
கை மேல் நிலவாய்…
உயிரின் உறவாய்...
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்......
Kai mel nilavaai…
Like the moon upon my hands...
Uyirin uravaai…
As the kin of my very soul...
Kidaithaai enakku…
You were bestowed upon me...
Ulagam yedharkku…
Why do I need the rest of the world...
Nee ennai thandhaiyakka
Are you a divine spirit who came
Vandha dheivamo…
To make me a father...
Thaaiyaaga nee pirandhu
Were you born like a mother
Thandha motchamo…
To grant me spiritual salvation...
Varamaai vandha kannammaa…
Oh Kannamma, who came as a divine boon...
Kai mel nilavaai…
Like the moon upon my hands...
Uyirin uravaai…
As the kin of my very soul...
Unadhu kanavai…
Your dreams...
Ini en vizhi kaanum…
My eyes will behold from now on...
Odu nadhiyaai…
Like a flowing river...
Indha ulagil neeyum…
As you journey in this world...
Unadhu dhisaiyaai…
In the direction you choose...
Ini en vazhi pogum…
My path will travel from now on...
Siragai virithu…
Spreading your wings wide...
Nee parandhida venum…
You must fly high...
Pollaadha kangal…
Wicked and envious eyes...
Unnai vizhunga paarkume…
Will watch to swallow you up...
Poiyaaga pugazhndhu…
With insincere praises...
Unnai thindru theerkkume…
They will consume you entirely...
Nizhalum kooda…
Even a shadow...
Irulill maraiyum…
Will vanish in the dark...
Naam dhaan saami…
We ourselves are God...
Ingu namakku thunaiye…
As our own support here...
Kai mel nilavaai…
Like the moon upon my hands...
Uyirin uravaai…
As the kin of my very soul...
Kidaithaai enakku…
You were bestowed upon me...
Ulagam yedharkku…
Why do I need the rest of the world...
Nee ennai thandhaiyakka
Are you a divine spirit who came
Vandha dheivamo…
To make me a father...
Thaaiyaaga nee pirandhu
Were you born like a mother
Thandha motchamo…
To grant me spiritual salvation...
Varamaai vandha kannammaa…
Oh Kannamma, who came as a divine boon...
Kai mel nilavaai…
Like the moon upon my hands...
Uyirin uravaai…
As the kin of my very soul...
Hmm mm hmm mmm hmm mm
Humming...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kai Mel Nilavaai' is a tender paternal ballad from 'Madras Matinee' (2025) that portrays a father's profound love and protectiveness toward his child, whom he lovingly calls 'Kannamma'. He compares holding her to holding the moon in his palms and wonders if she is a deity sent to transform him into a father or a maternal figure bestowing ultimate peace and salvation upon his life. The song highlights his promise to protect her dreams and guide her as she navigates through the world. In the latter verses, he offers gentle wisdom about the harsh realities of life, warning her against deceitful praise and treacherous surroundings. Ultimately, he encourages self-reliance and inner strength, reminding her that they must be their own guiding light and strength.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Kai mel nilavaai…”
Compares the daughter to the moon resting in hand using 'nilavaai' ('like the moon').
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kai mel nilavaai… / Uyirin uravaai…”
Rhyming ending sound '-aai' in consecutive lines 'nilavaai' and 'uravaai'.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Pollaadha kangal… / Poiyaaga pugazhndhu…”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds 'Po' in 'Pollaadha' and 'Poiyaaga'.
Paradox / Metaphor
“Thaaiyaaga nee pirandhu thandha motchamo…”
Describing a child as a mother who grants salvation to the father ('Thaaiyaaga nee pirandhu thandha motchamo').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by K. C. Balasarangan and features vocals by S. P. Charan, carrying forward the emotional richness reminiscent of classic father-daughter melodies in Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
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