Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Time album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Muthu Nilave

From Time · 1999

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Devan, Gopika Poornima
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Time
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
16 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaa
Thithikkindradhae
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaa
Kottugindradhae
Kaatrilae kaigalaal oviyam varaigiren
Dhevadhai naeril vandhaalae hoi
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaa
Thithikkindradhae
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaa
Kottugindradhae
Hae sirikkudhae sirikkum minnal
Hae parikkudhae thudikkum nenjai
Hae haehaei
Hae thudikkudhae kodhikkum nenjam
Hae kulikkudhae kodhikkum aatril
Hae haehaei
Haa… kaarmugil vannan
Kuzhal osai ketkiradhu
Maalaiyil manivannaa
Raadhaiyin ullam
Mana maalai korkkiradhu
Maalaiyil manivannaa
Vaenguzhal thaen osai
Osaiyil or aasai
Aasaiyil pen kannam poothadhae
En nenjin pen aanaai
Muthu mani mutham kannukkullae
Ratthinangal sindhum en nenjukkullae
Angum ingum engengum nee thaanaa
Thathi thathi pogum pachai kili
Rekkaigalai thandhidum nee sonna padi
Naan andha oviyam kandu
Silaiyaai aagiren
Vaanavillin vannam kandu
Mazhaiyaai aagiren
Ninaivilae vaazhndhaval
Naerilae thondrinaal
En uyir dheebathai vizhiyinaal thoondinaal
Kaadhal kolvenae kaalam kaalam velvenae
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaa
Thithikkindradhae
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaa
Kottugindradhae
En paadhi enbaenaa
Sithirathin sirippu kan azhagu
Thoondilukku thappaadhu kan azhagu
Unnai vittu ingae naan vaazhvenaa
Rendil ondru pattendru solli vidu
Thatthalikkum en manadhai alli edu
Poovukkullae poovukkullae
Naam vaazhvomaa
Aal illaa aalae illaa
Dhesam povomaa
Kaadhalai unnalaam
Kaadhalai uduthalaam
Kaadhalai vaazhalaam
Kaadhalai aalalaam
Thodarum en anbae
Podhum podhum en anbae
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaa
Thithikkindradhae
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaa
Kottugindradhae
Kaatrilae kaigalaal
Oviyam varaigiren
Dhevadhai naeril vandhaalae hoi
Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaa
Thithikkindradhae
Natchathiramae yaahiyaayaa
Kottugindradhae
Hae sirikkudhae sirikkum minnal
Hae parikkudhae thudikkum nenjai
Hae haehaei
Hae thudikkudhae kodhikkum nenjam
Hae kulikkudhae kodhikkum aatril
Hae haehaei
O sweet pearl-like moon, ya-hee-ya-ya,
it tastes so sweet!
O twinkling stars, ya-hee-ya-ya,
they are showering down!
I draw a portrait in the air with my hands,
and an angel has appeared before me in person, hoy!
O sweet pearl-like moon, ya-hee-ya-ya,
it tastes so sweet!
O twinkling stars, ya-hee-ya-ya,
they are showering down!
Hey, the smiling lightning is laughing,
hey, it snatches away my beating heart!
Hey, hey-hey!
Hey, my burning heart is throbbing,
hey, it is bathing in a boiling river!
Hey, hey-hey!
Ah... Krishna, colored like dark rain clouds,
the sound of your flute is heard.
In the evening, O jewel-hued Lord,
Radha's heart
strings together a garland of love,
in the evening, O jewel-hued Lord!
The sweet honey-tune of the bamboo flute,
a deep longing inside that tune,
and in that longing, this girl's cheeks have blossomed.
You became the woman of my heart.
A pearl-like kiss inside my eyes,
and gems are scattering inside my heart.
Is it only you there, here, and everywhere?
The green parrot hopping along
will give away its wings if you ask.
Looking at that painted beauty,
I turn into a statue.
Seeing the colors of the rainbow,
I turn into rain.
The one who lived in my memories
appeared right before my eyes.
With her gaze, she kindled the flame of my soul.
I will fall in love and conquer time itself!
O sweet pearl-like moon, ya-hee-ya-ya,
it tastes so sweet!
O twinkling stars, ya-hee-ya-ya,
they are showering down!
Shall I call you my other half?
The beauty of eyes with a picture-like smile,
no one can escape the hook of those lovely eyes.
Can I ever live here without you?
Tell me one way or the other right now,
and scoop up my restless, struggling heart.
Inside a flower, deep inside a flower,
shall we live together?
To a place where nobody lives, nobody at all,
shall we go to such a land?
We can feast on love,
we can clothe ourselves in love,
we can live for love,
we can rule over love.
It will go on, my love!
That is enough, that is enough, my love!
O sweet pearl-like moon, ya-hee-ya-ya,
it tastes so sweet!
O twinkling stars, ya-hee-ya-ya,
they are showering down!
In the air, with my hands,
I draw a portrait,
and an angel has appeared before me in person, hoy!
O sweet pearl-like moon, ya-hee-ya-ya,
it tastes so sweet!
O twinkling stars, ya-hee-ya-ya,
they are showering down!
Hey, the smiling lightning is laughing,
hey, it snatches away my beating heart!
Hey, hey-hey!
Hey, my burning heart is throbbing,
hey, it is bathing in a boiling river!
Hey, hey-hey!
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Muthu Nilave from the 1999 film Time is a romantic duet expressing ecstatic love and wonderment upon reuniting with one's beloved. The lovers compare their joy to sweet moonlight and raining stars, using vivid nature imagery to capture their inner thrill. The song incorporates mythical romantic motifs, drawing parallels between their bond and the divine affection between Radha and Krishna, emphasizing how love nourishes, clothes, and transforms every dimension of their existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Muthu nilavae yaahiyaayaa

Compares the beloved to a celestial angel and precious moonlight, enhancing the romantic awe.

Anaphora & Monorhyme (Iyaibu)

Kaadhalai unnalaam / Kaadhalai uduthalaam / Kaadhalai vaazhalaam

Sequential repetition of 'Kaadhalai' at the start of lines combined with matching verb endings (-laam) creates rhythmic harmony.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kaatrilae kaigalaal oviyam varaigiren

Repetition of the 'K' consonant sound across consecutive words creates a pleasant musical flow.

Personification

Hae sirikkudhae sirikkum minnal

Attributes human characteristics such as laughter to physical lightning.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva for the 1999 Tamil film 'Time' directed by Geetha Krishna, this popular track features vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Unni Krishnan, and Anuradha Sriram, with lyrics written by Pazhani Bharathi.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Time

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.