Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Sillunu Oru Kadhal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Munbe Vaa

From Sillunu Oru Kadhal · 2006

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Naresh Iyer, Shreya Ghoshal
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Sillunu Oru Kadhal
Movie release year
2006
Lyrics added on
2 Dec 2016

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Oonae vaa uyirae vaa
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Poo poovaai poopom vaa..
Naan naana keten ennai naanae
Naan neeya nenjam sonnathae
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Oonae vaa uyirae vaa
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Poo poovaai poopom vaa..
Rango rangoli kolangal nee pottai
Kolam pottaval kaigal vaazhi
Valaiyal satham
Jal jal
Rango rangoli kolangal nee pottai
Kolam pottaval kaigal vaazhi
Sunthara malligai
Santhana malligai
Sithira Punnagai vannam minna..
: Poo vaithaai poo vaithaai
Nee poovaikoor poo vaithaai
Mana poovaithu poovaithu
Poovaikkul thee vaithaai oohh ohh
Nee nee nee mazhaiyil aada
Naan naan nnan nanainthae vaada
En naanathil un ratham
Naadikkul un satham
Uyire ohoooo
Thozhil oru sila naalil
Thaniyena aanal tharaiyinil meen.hmm..hmm
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Oonae vaa uyirae vaa
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Male :Poo poovaai poopom vaa..
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Poo poovaai poopom vaa..ahhh
Nilavidam vaadagai vaangi
Vizhi veetinil kudi vaikkalaama..?
Naam vaazhum veetukul
Veraarum vanthalae thaguma..?
Then malai thekkukku neethaan..
Unthan thozhgalil idam tharalaama..?
Naan saayum thozhmel
Veraarum sainthalae..thaguma ..?
Neerum senbula cherum
Kalanthathu polae kalanthavar naam..
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Oonae vaa uyirae vaa
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Poo poovaai poopom vaa..
Naan naana keten ennai naanae
Naan neeya nenjam sonnathae
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Oonae vaa uyirae vaa
Munbae vaa en anbae vaa
Poo poovaai poopom vaa..
{Rango rangoli kolangal nee pottai
Kolam pottaval kaigal vaazhi
Valaiyal satham
Jal jal
Rango rangoli kolangal nee pottai
Kolam pottaval kaigal vaazhi
Sunthara malligai
Santhana malligai
Sithira Punnagai vannam minna..} (2)
Come before me, come, my love
Come, my body, come, my life
Come before me, come, my love
Come, let us blossom like flowers...
"Am I myself?" I asked myself
"I am you," my heart replied
Come before me, come, my love
Come, my body, come, my life
Come before me, come, my love
Come, let us blossom like flowers...
You drew colorful rangoli patterns
Blessed be the hands that drew them
The sound of bangles...
Jingle, jingle
You drew colorful rangoli patterns
Blessed be the hands that drew them
Beautiful jasmine
Sandalwood jasmine
A picture-perfect smile glowing with color...
You placed flowers, you placed flowers
You placed a flower upon this flower of a girl
With fragrant love in your heart,
you lit a fire within this flower, ooh oh
As you, you, you dance in the rain,
I, I, I wither, completely drenched
Your blood flows in my shyness
Your voice echoes in my pulse
My life, oh...
After resting on your shoulder,
if left alone, I am like a fish on dry land... hmm hmm
Come before me, come, my love
Come, my body, come, my life
Come before me, come, my love
Come, let us blossom like flowers...
Come before me, come, my love
Come, let us blossom like flowers... aah
Can we take rent from the moon
and let it live inside our eyes?
Inside the home where we live,
is it right if anyone else enters?
You are the sweet rain to the south...
Can you make room for me upon your shoulder?
On the shoulder where I lean,
is it right if anyone else rests?
Like red soil and pouring rain,
we have blended into one...
Come before me, come, my love
Come, my body, come, my life
Come before me, come, my love
Come, let us blossom like flowers...
"Am I myself?" I asked myself
"I am you," my heart replied
Come before me, come, my love
Come, my body, come, my life
Come before me, come, my love
Come, let us blossom like flowers...
You drew colorful rangoli patterns
Blessed be the hands that drew them
The sound of bangles...
Jingle, jingle
You drew colorful rangoli patterns
Blessed be the hands that drew them
Beautiful jasmine
Sandalwood jasmine
A picture-perfect smile glowing with color...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Munbe Vaa' is an iconic romantic duet from Sillunu Oru Kadhal that portrays deep intimacy, surrender, and eternal love. The lovers describe how their separate identities have dissolved into a single soul, expressing how every breath, pulse, and emotion is intertwined with each other. The lyrics elegantly capture both soft romantic affection and passionate longing through vivid imagery of nature, rain, flowers, and moonlight.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sangam Classical Allusion / Metaphor

“Neerum senbula cherum kalan thathu polae kalanthavar naam..”

The line 'Neerum senbula cherum kalanthathu polae' directly borrows from classical Sangam literature (Kuruntokai 40: 'Sembula peyal neer pola'), comparing the merging of lovers' hearts to rainwater mingling seamlessly with red soil.

Oxymoron / Imagery

“Poovaikkul thee vaithaai oohh ohh”

Placing 'thee' (fire) inside 'poo' (flower) creates a stark contrast between delicate tenderness and burning passion.

Simile

“Thaniyena aanal tharaiyinil meen.hmm..hmm”

Compares the pain of temporary separation from the lover's embrace to a fish suffering on dry land.

Emonai / Rhythmic Alliteration

“Munbae vaa en anbae vaa / Oonae vaa uyirae vaa”

Rhyming starting sounds ('Munbae vaa', 'Oonae vaa') and end rhythms generate a hypnotic musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by legendary poet Vaali, 'Munbe Vaa' features vocals by Shreya Ghoshal and Naresh Iyer. Vaali's inclusion of the classical Kuruntokai metaphor 'Senbula peyal neer' won widespread critical acclaim from Tamil literary scholars for bridging ancient Sangam poetry with contemporary film music.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Unnai Partha Pinbu2009
LeelaiRomantic UnionLonging
Vellai Pura Ondru (Duet)1982
Pudhu KavithaiAttractionLonging
Oru Kaaviyam1986
Aruvadai NaalAttractionRomantic Union
Nee Irunthalthan Nimmathi1985
Needhiyin NizhalLongingDevotion
Nee Pathi Naan Pathi1990
Keladi KanmaniRomantic UnionLonging
Rasaali2016
Achcham Yenbadhu MadamaiyadaAttractionRomantic

From the same album

More songs from Sillunu Oru Kadhal

View album
Maaricham2006
Sillunu Oru KadhalMysterious
Kummi Adi2006
Sillunu Oru KadhalCelebratory
Maaza Maaza2006
Sillunu Oru KadhalPlayful
Machakkari2006
Sillunu Oru KadhalPassionate
New York Nagaram2006
Sillunu Oru KadhalMelancholic
Jillendru Oru Kaadhal2006
Sillunu Oru KadhalPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.