Muzhu Nilavu Kaayum
From Pournami Nilavil · 1980
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Pournami Nilavil1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Muzhu nilavu kaayum neram | At the time when the full moon shines |
| Thaazhai madal poovin vaasanai | The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts |
| Manathil oru kadhal vedhanai | There is a sweet pain of love in the heart |
| Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo | Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed? |
| Nillaamal modhumo | Will it crash without stopping? |
| Male | |
| Muzhu nilavu kaayum neram | At the time when the full moon shines |
| Thaazhai madal poovin vaasanai | The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts |
| Manathil oru kadhal vedhanai | There is a sweet pain of love in the heart |
| Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo | Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed? |
| Nillaamal modhumo | Will it crash without stopping? |
| Male | |
| Kulirnthidum nilavilae | In the cooling moonlight |
| Kuliththa manam melum eriyuthae | The heart bathed in it burns even more |
| Thulirvidum ninaivilae | In the sprouting memories |
| Thudiththa sugam kaattril karaiyuthae | The throbbing pleasure dissolves in the wind |
| Male | |
| Udalellaam thudikkuthae | The whole body trembles |
| Unarvinai vadikkuthae | It distills pure emotion |
| Iravilae vidiyuthae | Day breaks within the night |
| Ilamaiyo pudhiyathae | Youth feels fresh and new |
| Uyiril vantha jeevanaathamo | Is this the life-tune arising from the soul? |
| Koora vendumo vaa vaa vaa vaa | Must I explain it? Come, come, come, come! |
| Male | |
| Muzhu nilavu kaayum neram | At the time when the full moon shines |
| Thaazhai madal poovin vaasanai | The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts |
| Manathil oru kadhal vedhanai | There is a sweet pain of love in the heart |
| Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo | Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed? |
| Nillaamal modhumo | Will it crash without stopping? |
| Male | |
| Kaatrilae kalanthoru | Blending into the wind |
| Kadhal swaram paadi alaiyuthae | A musical note of love wanders singing |
| Oottrilae irunthoru | From a natural spring |
| Pudhiya punal odi neliyuthae | A fresh stream runs and curves |
| Male | |
| Manamenum veenaiyum | The lute that is the mind |
| Maalaiyil mayanguthae | Swoons in the evening |
| Mayangiya uravenum | The relationship that swooned |
| Pudhu kural kodukkuthae | Calls out with a new voice |
| madiyil vizhum neramthaanithu | This is the moment to fall into your lap |
| Malargal thaavuthu vaa vaa vaa vaa | Flowers leap up; come, come, come, come! |
| Male | |
| Muzhu nilavu kaayum neram | At the time when the full moon shines |
| Thaazhai madal poovin vaasanai | The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts |
| Manathil oru kadhal vedhanai | There is a sweet pain of love in the heart |
| Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo | Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed? |
| Nillaamal modhumo | Will it crash without stopping? |
முழு நிலவு காயும் நேரம்
தாழை மடல் பூவின் வாசனை
மனதில் ஒரு காதல் வேதனை
இது தாகமோ புது வேகமோ
நில்லாமல் மோதுமோ.......
At the time when the full moon shines
The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts
There is a sweet pain of love in the heart
Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed?
Will it crash without stopping?
முழு நிலவு காயும் நேரம்
தாழை மடல் பூவின் வாசனை
மனதில் ஒரு காதல் வேதனை
இது தாகமோ புது வேகமோ
நில்லாமல் மோதுமோ.......
At the time when the full moon shines
The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts
There is a sweet pain of love in the heart
Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed?
Will it crash without stopping?
குளிர்ந்திடும் நிலவிலே
குளித்த மனம் மேலும் எரியுதே
துளிர்விடும் நினைவிலே
துடித்த சுகம் காற்றில் கரையுதே
In the cooling moonlight
The heart bathed in it burns even more
In the sprouting memories
The throbbing pleasure dissolves in the wind
உடலெல்லாம் துடிக்குதே
உணர்வினை வடிக்குதே
இரவிலே விடியுதே
இளமையோ புதியதே
உயிரில் வந்த ஜீவநாதமோ
கூற வேண்டுமோ வா வா வா வா
The whole body trembles
It distills pure emotion
Day breaks within the night
Youth feels fresh and new
Is this the life-tune arising from the soul?
Must I explain it? Come, come, come, come!
முழு நிலவு காயும் நேரம்
தாழை மடல் பூவின் வாசனை
மனதில் ஒரு காதல் வேதனை
இது தாகமோ புது வேகமோ
நில்லாமல் மோதுமோ.......
At the time when the full moon shines
The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts
There is a sweet pain of love in the heart
Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed?
Will it crash without stopping?
காற்றிலே கலந்தொரு
காதல் ஸ்வரம் பாடி அலையுதே
ஊற்றிலே இருந்தொரு
புதிய புனல் ஓடி நெளியுதே
Blending into the wind
A musical note of love wanders singing
From a natural spring
A fresh stream runs and curves
மனமெனும் வீணையும்
மாலையில் மயங்குதே
மயங்கிய உறவெனும்
புதுக் குரல் கொடுக்குதே
மடியில் விழும் நேரம்தானிது
மலர்கள் தாவுது வா வா வா வா
The lute that is the mind
Swoons in the evening
The relationship that swooned
Calls out with a new voice
This is the moment to fall into your lap
Flowers leap up; come, come, come, come!
முழு நிலவு காயும் நேரம்
தாழை மடல் பூவின் வாசனை
மனதில் ஒரு காதல் வேதனை
இது தாகமோ புது வேகமோ
நில்லாமல் மோதுமோ.......
At the time when the full moon shines
The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts
There is a sweet pain of love in the heart
Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed?
Will it crash without stopping?
Muzhu nilavu kaayum neram
At the time when the full moon shines
Thaazhai madal poovin vaasanai
The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts
Manathil oru kadhal vedhanai
There is a sweet pain of love in the heart
Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo
Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed?
Nillaamal modhumo
Will it crash without stopping?
Muzhu nilavu kaayum neram
At the time when the full moon shines
Thaazhai madal poovin vaasanai
The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts
Manathil oru kadhal vedhanai
There is a sweet pain of love in the heart
Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo
Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed?
Nillaamal modhumo
Will it crash without stopping?
Kulirnthidum nilavilae
In the cooling moonlight
Kuliththa manam melum eriyuthae
The heart bathed in it burns even more
Thulirvidum ninaivilae
In the sprouting memories
Thudiththa sugam kaattril karaiyuthae
The throbbing pleasure dissolves in the wind
Udalellaam thudikkuthae
The whole body trembles
Unarvinai vadikkuthae
It distills pure emotion
Iravilae vidiyuthae
Day breaks within the night
Ilamaiyo pudhiyathae
Youth feels fresh and new
Uyiril vantha jeevanaathamo
Is this the life-tune arising from the soul?
Koora vendumo vaa vaa vaa vaa
Must I explain it? Come, come, come, come!
Muzhu nilavu kaayum neram
At the time when the full moon shines
Thaazhai madal poovin vaasanai
The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts
Manathil oru kadhal vedhanai
There is a sweet pain of love in the heart
Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo
Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed?
Nillaamal modhumo
Will it crash without stopping?
Kaatrilae kalanthoru
Blending into the wind
Kadhal swaram paadi alaiyuthae
A musical note of love wanders singing
Oottrilae irunthoru
From a natural spring
Pudhiya punal odi neliyuthae
A fresh stream runs and curves
Manamenum veenaiyum
The lute that is the mind
Maalaiyil mayanguthae
Swoons in the evening
Mayangiya uravenum
The relationship that swooned
Pudhu kural kodukkuthae
Calls out with a new voice
madiyil vizhum neramthaanithu
This is the moment to fall into your lap
Malargal thaavuthu vaa vaa vaa vaa
Flowers leap up; come, come, come, come!
Muzhu nilavu kaayum neram
At the time when the full moon shines
Thaazhai madal poovin vaasanai
The fragrance of the screwpine flower wafts
Manathil oru kadhal vedhanai
There is a sweet pain of love in the heart
Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo
Is this a thirst or a new sensation of speed?
Nillaamal modhumo
Will it crash without stopping?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Muzhu Nilavu Kaayum Neram is a sensual and evocative Tamil romantic song composed and written by Gangai Amaran for the movie Kanni Paruvathile (1980), sung beautifully by S. P. Sailaja. Set under a radiant full moon filled with the sweet fragrance of thaazhai flowers, the track captures the deep romantic yearning and passionate awakening of a young woman longing for her lover. Through vivid imagery of cool moonlight, flowing springs, and wind carrying musical notes, the lyrics contrast the cool external setting with the burning romantic desire within her heart. The mind is likened to a veena instrument vibrating with love, calling out for intimacy and union.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Manamenum veenaiyum”
Comparing the human mind directly to a musical instrument in 'Manamenum veenaiyum' (the veena that is the mind).
Paradox / Oxymoron
“Kulirnthidum nilavilae / Kuliththa manam melum eriyuthae”
Juxtaposition of cool moonlight causing an inner burning sensation ('Kulirnthidum nilavilae / Kuliththa manam melum eriyuthae').
End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Idhu thaagamo pudhu vegamo / Nillaamal modhumo”
Use of rhyming end-syllables like 'thaagamo', 'vegamo', 'modhumo' to create a flowing rhythmic cadence.
Assonance / Alliteration (Monai and Ethirai)
“Kulirnthidum nilavilae / Kuliththa manam melum eriyuthae”
Matching initial consonants and second-letter patterns in 'Kulirnthidum' and 'Kuliththa', as well as 'Thulirvidum' and 'Thudiththa'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song is from the movie 'Kanni Paruvathile' (1980). It stands out as a rare gem where Gangai Amaran handled both the musical composition and lyrical writing, while S. P. Sailaja gave one of her most acclaimed solo vocal performances.
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