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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Vanna Nila

From Kattalai · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kattalai1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Naan vanna nilaaI am the colorful moon
Vanna nilaaColorful moon
Raagam nooruA hundred ragas
Kannil sonna nilaa hoiThe moon expressed through the eyes, hoi!
Naan muthu nilaaI am the pearl moon
Muthu nilaaPearl moon
Mogam konduFilled with passion
Mannil thathum nilaa hoiThe moon toddling on the earth, hoi!
Eppodhum engaeyumAlways, everywhere
Nirkaadhu en sangeethamMy music will never stop
Eppodhum engaeyumAlways, everywhere
Nirkaadhu en sangeethamMy music will never stop
Chorus
Vanjiyin nenjinilIn this young girl's heart
Sanjalam illaiyadiThere is no hesitation or sorrow
Vanjiyin nenjinilIn this young girl's heart
Sanjalam illaiyadiThere is no hesitation or sorrow
Chorus
Vanna nilaaColorful moon
Vanna nilaaColorful moon
Raagam nooruA hundred ragas
Kannil sonna nilaa hoiThe moon expressed through the eyes, hoi!
Muthu nilaaPearl moon
Muthu nilaaPearl moon
Mogam konduFilled with passion
Mannil thathum nilaa …..The moon toddling on the earth...
Female
En veedu thaan man veedallaMy home is not made of mud
Endrumae adhu pon maaligaiIt is forever a golden palace
En maadathin dheepangalaaiAs lamps on my balcony
Minnumae andha vin thaaragaiThose stars in the sky shine
Female
Naan thoongavae rojaakkalaeFor me to sleep, roses
Panneer methai virikkumWill lay out a mattress of rosewater
Naan ketkavae neelaambariFor me to listen, the sky lark
Vaanam paadi isaikkumWill sing in Neelambari raga
Eppodhum engaeyumAlways, everywhere
Nirkaadhu en sangeethamMy music will never stop
Chorus
Vanjiyin nenjinilIn this young girl's heart
Sanjalam illaiyadiThere is no hesitation or sorrow
Chorus
Vanna nilaaColorful moon
Vanna nilaaColorful moon
Raagam nooruA hundred ragas
Kannil sonna nilaa hoiThe moon expressed through the eyes, hoi!
Muthu nilaaPearl moon
Muthu nilaaPearl moon
Mogam konduFilled with passion
Mannil thathum nilaa …..The moon toddling on the earth...
Female
Gangai varum vaigai varumGanges will come, Vaigai will come
Mangai naan dhinam neeraada thaanJust for me, a young maiden, to bathe daily
Brindhaavanam pookkal tharumBrindavan will yield flowers
Alliyae dhinam naan sooda thaanTo pluck and adorn my hair daily
Female
Ellorukkum chella pillaiI am everyone's darling child
Ketkum yaavum kidaikkumWhatever I ask for, I get
Engengu naan sendraalumaeWherever I may go
Vaasal yaavum thirakkumAll doors will open for me
Eppodhum engaeyumAlways, everywhere
Nirkaadhu en sangeethamMy music will never stop
Chorus
Vanjiyin nenjinilIn this young girl's heart
Sanjalam illaiyadiThere is no hesitation or sorrow
Female
Vanna nilaa vanna nilaaColorful moon, colorful moon
Raagam nooruA hundred ragas
Kannil sonna nilaa hoiThe moon expressed through the eyes, hoi!
Muthu nilaa muthu nilaaPearl moon, pearl moon
Mogam konduFilled with passion
Mannil thathum nilaa hoiThe moon toddling on the earth, hoi!
Female
Eppodhum engaeyumAlways, everywhere
Nirkaadhu en sangeethamMy music will never stop
Eppodhum engaeyumAlways, everywhere
Nirkaadhu en sangeethamMy music will never stop
Chorus
Vanjiyin nenjinilIn this young girl's heart
Sanjalam illaiyadiThere is no hesitation or sorrow
Vanjiyin nenjinilIn this young girl's heart
Sanjalam illaiyadiThere is no hesitation or sorrow
Chorus
Vanna nilaaColorful moon
Vanna nilaaColorful moon
Raagam nooruA hundred ragas
Kannil sonna nilaa hoiThe moon expressed through the eyes, hoi!
Muthu nilaaPearl moon
Muthu nilaaPearl moon
Mogam konduFilled with passion
Mannil thathum nilaa …..The moon toddling on the earth...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Naan Vanna Nilaa' is a joyous and exuberant song celebrating carefree innocence, beauty, and self-confidence. The protagonist metaphorically compares herself to a colorful, glowing moon that toddles on earth, spreading rhythm and melody everywhere she goes. She views her world with ultimate grandeur, imagining stars as lamps, rose petals as beds, and great rivers like Ganges and Vaigai flowing just for her comfort. Through poetic imagery, lyricist Vaali captures a sense of untamed freedom, joy, and emotional purity, declaring that her musical spirit will never be silenced or stalled.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Naan vanna nilaa

Comparing the protagonist directly to a colorful moon ('vanna nilaa') and pearl moon ('muthu nilaa').

Rhyme / Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Naan vanna nilaa / Naan muthu nilaa

Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('vanna' / 'muthu', 'Eppodhum' / 'Nirkaadhu').

Imagery

En maadathin dheepangalaai minnumae andha vin thaaragai

Visualizing celestial stars as decorative balcony lamps.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is featured in the 1993 Tamil movie 'Kattalai', starring Sathyaraj and Bhanupriya, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja (though credited as Unknown in some archives) and lyrics penned by Vaali.

Keep listening

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