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Isaimozhi
Appu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Koila Koila

From Appu · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, Anuradha Sriram
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Appu
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
24 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raathiri veyil tharum velli nilavae
En raaniyin nilai enna velli nilavae
Un kannathin karaigalai velli nilavae
En kanneeril thudaippen velli nilavae
Azhagu mathi vennila
Aval manathu kandu vaa
Azhagu mathi vennila
Aval manathu kandu vaa
Sadalam ondru paaduthae
Idhoo idhoo idhoo
Uyirai udal theduthe
Ingae ingae ingae
Ingae ingae ingae…..
Vittu sendra un moochu
Kaatrinil irukku
Kaatrinil irukku…uu…..
Vittu sendra un moochu
Kaatrinil irukku
Kaatrinil irukku…uu…..
Andha moochai vaangi vaangi
Vaangi vaangi vaangi vaanginen..
Aavi theigiren
Un malligayil vaartha poovu
Maarbukkul kidakku
Maarbukkul kidakku
Andha poovu vaada vaada
Vaada vaada aavi vaazhuthae
Kangal mooduthae
Raathiri veyil tharum velli nilavae
En raaniyin nilai enna velli nilavae
Un kannathin karaigalai velli nilavae
En kanneeril thudaippen velli nilavae
Azhagu mathi vennila
Aval manathu kandu vaa
Azhagu mathi vennila
Aval manathu kandu vaa
Sadalam ondru paaduthae
Idhoo idhoo idhoo
Idhoo idhoo idhoo
Kaayathil kathi kuthaai
Kalanguthu nenju
Kalanguthu nenjae…ae…
Kaayathil kathi kuthaai
Kalanguthu nenju
Kalanguthu nenju
Un neelavaanam
Paarvai podhum
Aarum kaayam aarumae
Jeevan oiyumae
Pidi pattu kannaadithan
Norunguthu usuru
Norunguthu usuruu
Ennai theendum kaigal
Theendum podhu
Udainthu jeevan serumae
Unnai koodumae
Raathiri veyil tharum velli nilavae
En raaniyin nilai enna velli nilavae
Un kannathin karaigalai velli nilavae
En kanneeril thudaippen velli nilavae
Azhagu mathi vennila
Aval manathu kandu vaa
Azhagu mathi vennila
Aval manathu kandu vaa
Sadalam ondru paaduthae
Idhoo idhoo idhoo
Idhoo idhoo idhoo
O silver moon bringing burning heat in the night,
how is my queen doing, O silver moon?
The dark stains upon your cheeks, O silver moon,
I will wipe away with my tears, O silver moon.
O lovely, glowing white moon,
go see what is in her heart and return.
O lovely, glowing white moon,
go see what is in her heart and return.
A lifeless body is singing,
look here, right here, right here.
A body is searching for its soul,
here, right here, right here.
Here, right here, right here...
The breath you left behind
is still in the air,
is still in the air...
The breath you left behind
is still in the air,
is still in the air...
Breathing in that very breath,
breathing it in again and again,
my soul is slowly wasting away.
The flower shaped from your jasmine
lies close to my heart,
lies close to my heart.
As that flower slowly withers,
withering away, my soul barely clings to life,
as my eyes begin to close.
O silver moon bringing burning heat in the night,
how is my queen doing, O silver moon?
The dark stains upon your cheeks, O silver moon,
I will wipe away with my tears, O silver moon.
O lovely, glowing white moon,
go see what is in her heart and return.
O lovely, glowing white moon,
go see what is in her heart and return.
A lifeless body is singing,
look here, right here, right here.
Look here, right here, right here.
Like a knife stabbing into an open wound,
my heart is in agony,
my heart is in agony...
Like a knife stabbing into an open wound,
my heart is in agony,
my heart is in agony.
Just one look from your eyes,
vast as the blue sky,
will heal this deep wound,
and let my soul finally rest.
Trapped like fragile glass,
my very life is shattering,
my very life is shattering...
When unwanted hands
reach out to touch me,
my broken soul will fly to you,
and become one with you.
O silver moon bringing burning heat in the night,
how is my queen doing, O silver moon?
The dark stains upon your cheeks, O silver moon,
I will wipe away with my tears, O silver moon.
O lovely, glowing white moon,
go see what is in her heart and return.
O lovely, glowing white moon,
go see what is in her heart and return.
A lifeless body is singing,
look here, right here, right here.
Look here, right here, right here.
Male
Male
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a poignant, mournful expression of deep separation and heartbreak. The protagonist addresses the night moon as a companion and messenger, pleading with it to check on the well-being of his beloved. He compares his physical state without her to a empty corpse ('sadalam') searching for its departed soul ('uyir'), kept alive only by inhaling the lingering warmth of her memory and breath.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Oxymoron

Raathiri veyil tharum velli nilavae

Combining 'Raathiri' (night) with 'Veyil' (daytime sunlight/heat) creates a striking oxymoronic image of moonlight offering heat or burning sensation.

Personification

Un kannathin karaigalai velli nilavae

Addressing the moon as having cheeks with spots ('kannathin karaigalai') and offering to wipe them with tears personifies the celestial body into a grieving companion.

Metaphor

Sadalam ondru paaduthae

Describing himself as a 'sadalam' (lifeless body/corpse) singing for its lost soul highlights the intensity of his emotional emptiness.

Simile / Analogy

Pidi pattu kannaadithan norunguthu usuru

Comparing his agonizing pain to glass shattering under pressure ('kannaadithan norunguthu usuru').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Raathiri Veyil' is a track composed by Deva for the movie 'Appu' (2000), starring Prashanth and Devayani. The film is a remake of the 1999 Hindi film 'Sadak'.

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