- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Chinmayi, Sathya Prakash
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Kaatru Veliyidai
- Movie release year
- 2017
- Lyrics added on
- 9 Feb 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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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