Nallai Allai
From Kaatru Veliyidai · 2017
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Chinmayi, Sathya Prakash
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kaatru Veliyidai2017
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaanil thedi nindren | I stood searching in the sky, |
| Aazhi nee adaindhaai | You reached the ocean. |
| Aazhi naan vizhunthaal | When I fell into the ocean, |
| Vaanil nee ezhundhai | You rose into the sky. |
| Male | |
| Ennai natchathira kattil | In the forest of stars, |
| Alayavittai | You left me wandering. |
| Naan endra ennam | The ego within me, |
| Tholayavittaai | You made it disappear. |
| Male | |
| Nallai allai.. nallai allai | You are not fair, you are not fair.. |
| Nannilavae nee.. nallai allai | O beautiful moon, you are not fair.. |
| Nallai allai.. nallai allai | You are not fair, you are not fair.. |
| Nalliravae nee.. nallai allai | O beautiful night, you are not fair.. |
| Male | |
| Oligalin thedal enbadhellam | The search for sounds, |
| Mounathil mudigindradhae | Ends in silence. |
| Mounathin thedal enbadhellam | The search within silence, |
| Gnyaanathil mudigindradhae…aeeee…. | Ends in enlightenment... |
| Male | |
| Naan unnai thedum | When I search for you, |
| Velaiyilae nee | At that moment, you, |
| Megam soodi | Adorned in clouds, |
| Odivittaaiii… | Ran away... |
| Male | |
| Nallai allai.. nallai allai | You are not fair, you are not fair.. |
| Nannilavae nee.. nallai allai | O beautiful moon, you are not fair.. |
| Nallai allai.. nallai allai | You are not fair, you are not fair.. |
| Nalliravae nee.. nallai allai | O beautiful night, you are not fair.. |
| Female | |
| Oooo…ooo..oohhoooo… | Oooo…ooo..oohhoooo… |
| Ohoooo…ooohoooooo….ohooo… | Ohoooo…ooohoooooo….ohooo… |
| Male | |
| Mugai mugil | Like a soft cloud, |
| Mottendra nilaigalilae | In the stages of an unopened bud, |
| Muganthoda kaathirundhen | I waited to touch your face. |
| Malar endra nilai vittu | Surpassing the stage of a flower, |
| Pooththirundhaai | You fully bloomed. |
| Manam kolla kaathirunthenn… | I waited to captivate your fragrance... |
| Male | |
| Magarandham thedi | Seeking the pollen, |
| Nugarum munnae | Before I could breathe it in, |
| Veyil kaattil veezhndhuvittaai… | You fell into a forest of heat... |
| Male | |
| Nallai allai.. nallai allai | You are not fair, you are not fair.. |
| Naarumpoovae nee… nallai allai | O fragrant flower, you are not fair.. |
| Nallai allai…nallai allai | You are not fair, you are not fair.. |
| Mullai kollai nee… nallai allai | O thief of jasmine hearts, you are not fair.. |
| Female | |
| Oohoo…oohooo…ohoo… | Oohoo…oohooo…ohoo… |
| Ohoooo….. | Ohoooo….. |
வானில் தேடி
நின்றேன் ஆழி நீயடைந்தாய்
ஆழி நான் விழுந்தால்
வானில் நீ எழுந்தாய்
I stood searching in the sky,
You reached the ocean.
When I fell into the ocean,
You rose into the sky.
என்னை நட்சத்திரக்காட்டில்
அலையவிட்டாய் நான் என்ற எண்ணம்
தொலையவிட்டாய்
In the forest of stars,
You left me wandering.
The ego within me,
You made it disappear.
நல்லையல்லை
நல்லையல்லை நன்னிலவே
நீ நல்லையல்லை நல்லையல்லை
நல்லையல்லை நல்லிரவே நீ நல்லையல்லை
You are not fair, you are not fair..
O beautiful moon, you are not fair..
You are not fair, you are not fair..
O beautiful night, you are not fair..
ஒளிகளின் தேடல்
என்பதெல்லாம் மௌனத்தில்
முடிகின்றதே மௌனத்தின்
தேடல் என்பதெல்லாம்
ஞானத்தில் முடிகின்றதே....
The search for sounds,
Ends in silence.
The search within silence,
Ends in enlightenment...
நான் உன்னைத்தேடும்
வேலையிலே நீ மேகம் சூடி
ஓடிவிட்டாய்
When I search for you,
At that moment, you,
Adorned in clouds,
Ran away...
நல்லையல்லை
நல்லையல்லை நன்னிலவே
நீ நல்லையல்லை நல்லையல்லை
நல்லையல்லை நல்லிரவே நீ நல்லையல்லை
You are not fair, you are not fair..
O beautiful moon, you are not fair..
You are not fair, you are not fair..
O beautiful night, you are not fair..
...................................................
Oooo…ooo..oohhoooo…
Ohoooo…ooohoooooo….ohooo…
முகை முகில்
மொட்டென்ற நிலைகளிலே
முகந்தொட காத்திருந்தேன்
மலா் என்ற நிலைவிட்டுப் பூத்திருந்தாய்
மனம் கொள்ள காத்திருந்தேன்
Like a soft cloud,
In the stages of an unopened bud,
I waited to touch your face.
Surpassing the stage of a flower,
You fully bloomed.
I waited to captivate your fragrance...
மகரந்தம் தேடி
நுகரும் முன்னே வெயில்
காட்டில் வீழ்ந்துவிட்டாய்
Seeking the pollen,
Before I could breathe it in,
You fell into a forest of heat...
நல்லையல்லை
நல்லையல்லை நாறும்பூவே
நீ நல்லையல்லை நல்லையல்லை
நல்லையல்லை முல்லை கொள்ளை நீ
நல்லையல்லை
You are not fair, you are not fair..
O fragrant flower, you are not fair..
You are not fair, you are not fair..
O thief of jasmine hearts, you are not fair..
...................................................
Oohoo…oohooo…ohoo…
Ohoooo…..
Vaanil thedi nindren
I stood searching in the sky,
Aazhi nee adaindhaai
You reached the ocean.
Aazhi naan vizhunthaal
When I fell into the ocean,
Vaanil nee ezhundhai
You rose into the sky.
Ennai natchathira kattil
In the forest of stars,
Alayavittai
You left me wandering.
Naan endra ennam
The ego within me,
Tholayavittaai
You made it disappear.
Nallai allai.. nallai allai
You are not fair, you are not fair..
Nannilavae nee.. nallai allai
O beautiful moon, you are not fair..
Nallai allai.. nallai allai
You are not fair, you are not fair..
Nalliravae nee.. nallai allai
O beautiful night, you are not fair..
Oligalin thedal enbadhellam
The search for sounds,
Mounathil mudigindradhae
Ends in silence.
Mounathin thedal enbadhellam
The search within silence,
Gnyaanathil mudigindradhae…aeeee….
Ends in enlightenment...
Naan unnai thedum
When I search for you,
Velaiyilae nee
At that moment, you,
Megam soodi
Adorned in clouds,
Odivittaaiii…
Ran away...
Nallai allai.. nallai allai
You are not fair, you are not fair..
Nannilavae nee.. nallai allai
O beautiful moon, you are not fair..
Nallai allai.. nallai allai
You are not fair, you are not fair..
Nalliravae nee.. nallai allai
O beautiful night, you are not fair..
Oooo…ooo..oohhoooo…
Oooo…ooo..oohhoooo…
Ohoooo…ooohoooooo….ohooo…
Ohoooo…ooohoooooo….ohooo…
Mugai mugil
Like a soft cloud,
Mottendra nilaigalilae
In the stages of an unopened bud,
Muganthoda kaathirundhen
I waited to touch your face.
Malar endra nilai vittu
Surpassing the stage of a flower,
Pooththirundhaai
You fully bloomed.
Manam kolla kaathirunthenn…
I waited to captivate your fragrance...
Magarandham thedi
Seeking the pollen,
Nugarum munnae
Before I could breathe it in,
Veyil kaattil veezhndhuvittaai…
You fell into a forest of heat...
Nallai allai.. nallai allai
You are not fair, you are not fair..
Naarumpoovae nee… nallai allai
O fragrant flower, you are not fair..
Nallai allai…nallai allai
You are not fair, you are not fair..
Mullai kollai nee… nallai allai
O thief of jasmine hearts, you are not fair..
Oohoo…oohooo…ohoo…
Oohoo…oohooo…ohoo…
Ohoooo…..
Ohoooo…..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nallai Allai from Kaatru Veliyidai is a soulful ballad of longing, emotional dissonance, and loving grievance. The protagonist laments the tragic cosmic timing between him and his beloved—whenever he looks for her in one place, she shifts to another, like the sky and the sea. He playfully and sorrowfully chides her with 'Nallai Allai' ('You are not being good/kind to me'), comparing her to the elusive moon, the night, and a delicate flower whose fragrance eludes him just as he draws near. The song beautifully captures the transition of love from outward sensory longing to silent spiritual enlightenment, reflecting the pain of two souls bound deeply yet separated by fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Classical Sangam Allusion
“Nallai allai.. nallai allai”
The recurring phrase 'Nallai Allai' directly borrows from classical Sangam literature (Kuruntokai 115), where a lover uses it as a tender accusation meaning 'you are not being good/fair to me'.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Vaanil thedi nindren / Aazhi nee adaindhaai”
Contrasts the sky (Vaan) and the ocean (Aazhi) to symbolize the perpetual mismatch in timing and distance between the lovers.
Metaphor
“Ennai natchathira kattil / Alayavittai”
Describes the boundless feeling of lost longing as wandering through a 'forest of stars' (Natchathira kattil).
Paradox / Spiritual Gradation
“Oligalin thedal enbadhellam / Mounathil mudigindradhae”
Presents a philosophical paradox where the sensory search for sounds leads to silence, which ultimately culminates in spiritual wisdom.
Anaphora
“Nallai allai.. nallai allai”
Repetition of 'Nallai allai' across multiple stanzas reinforces the core emotional motif of affectionate blame and heartache.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song was composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu for Mani Ratnam's 2017 film 'Kaatru Veliyidai'. Vairamuthu drew heavy inspiration from Kuruntokai, an ancient Sangam Tamil poetic anthology. The vocal performance by Sathya Prakash and Chinmayi, combined with Rahman's minimalist acoustic arrangement, earned high critical acclaim for capturing the essence of classical Tamil poetry in modern cinema.
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