Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Moongil Ilai Mele

From Kaattu Rani · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
P. S. Diwakar
Movie name
Kaattu Rani
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
9 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Moongil ilai melae thoongum pani neerae
Moongil ilai melae thoongum pani neerae
Thoongum pani neerai vaangum kadhironae
Tholudan thol saerthu
Nidhamum sugam perum marangalilae
Vaayudan vaai saerthu
Konji vaazhndhidum paravaigalae
Moongil ilai melae thoongum pani neerae
Enakkoru siragilaiyae
Yengum ilamaikku thunaiyillaiyae
Kulirukku neruppillaiyae
Pennin gunathukku manam illaiyae
Moongil ilai melae thoongum pani neerae
Androru naal vandhaan
Avanai indru varai kaanaen
Paravai enum thozhi
Avanai paarthaal varasolladi
Moongil ilai melae thoongum pani neerae
Thoongum pani neerai vaangum kadhironae
O dewdrop sleeping upon the bamboo leaf,
O dewdrop sleeping upon the bamboo leaf,
O sun who gathers the sleeping dew,
Leaning shoulder to shoulder,
finding joy each day among the trees,
bringing your beaks together,
O birds living and loving so tenderly!
O dewdrop sleeping upon the bamboo leaf,
I do not have wings,
nor a companion for my longing youth.
There is no fire to warm the cold,
and no heart to comfort a woman's feelings.
O dewdrop sleeping upon the bamboo leaf,
He came by one day,
and I have not seen him since.
O bird, my dear friend,
if you see him, tell him to come to me.
O dewdrop sleeping upon the bamboo leaf,
O sun who gathers the sleeping dew,
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Moongil Ilai Melae' is a poignant romantic melody from the 1965 movie Kaattu Rani, featuring lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan and music by P. S. Diwakar. In this song, a young woman living in the forest expresses her intense longing and aching solitude after being separated from her lover. Surrounding nature serves as a stark reminder of her isolation: trees stand linked together and birds express affection in pairs, while she remains alone with no companion for her youth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Imagery & Personification

“Moongil ilai melae thoongum pani neerae / Thoongum pani neerai vaangum kadhironae”

Aatruppadai / Address to Nature (Personification)

“Paravai enum thozhi avanai paarthaal varasolladi”

Emonai / Rhyme & Alliteration

“Enakkoru siragilaiyae / Yengum ilamaikku thunaiyillaiyae”

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by P. S. Diwakar and rendered melodiously by legendary playback singer P. Susheela, this song is widely celebrated for Kannadasan's evocative use of Sangam-style nature metaphors where elements of the forest reflect the heroine's emotional inner world.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Annam Pola Pennirukku1958
Maalaiyitta MangaiLongingSeparation
Thangathadi Manasu1993
ThangakkiliLongingSeparation
Ennai Maranthathen1965
Kalangarai VilakkamLongingSeparation
Kaattu Pura Onnu1965
Kaattu RaniLongingMelancholic
Naan Ondru Ninaithen1972
Appa TataMelancholicSeparation
Sugam Enge Sugam Enge1954
Sugam EngeMelancholicLonging

From the same album

More songs from Kaattu Rani

View album
Sollatha Kadhai Onru1965
Kaattu RaniRomantic
Ottraiyadi Paadhaiyile1965
Kaattu RaniBittersweet
Kaattu Rani Mugathai1965
Kaattu RaniRomantic
Kaattu Pura Onnu1965
Kaattu RaniMelancholic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.