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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nanda Nee En Nila

From Nanda En Nila · 1977

Lyricist
Ra. Pazhanisami
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
V. Dakshinamurthy
Details
Nanda En Nila1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nanda en nila…aa…aa….aa….Nanda, my moon... ah...
Nanda nee en nila nilaNanda, you are my moon, my moon
Naayagan madiyil kanbathu sugamaeIs it not pure bliss to rest on your lover's lap?
Naanam yaeno vaa haa haa…aa….Why this shyness? Come... ah...
Male
Vizhi meenaadum vizhi mozhiEyes where fish dance, language of the eyes
Thaenaadum mozhi kuzhalLanguage dripping with honey, hair...
Poovaadum kuzhal ezhil neeyaadum ezhilHair adorned with flowers, grace in your every movement
Minni varum silaiyil mogana kalaiyaeYou are the enchanting art in a gleaming statue
Vanna vanna mozhiyil vaanavar amuthaeYou are the divine nectar in colorful words
Male
Aasai nenjin deivam neeyaeYou are the deity of my longing heart
Aadi nirkum deepaam neeyaeYou are the dancing flame of a lamp
Pesugindra veenai neeyaeYou are the speaking veena
Kani idhazh amuthinai vazhangidaTo bestow the nectar of your fruit-like lips
Aruginil vaaCome near me
Male
Nanda nee en nila nilaNanda, you are my moon, my moon
Naayagan madiyil kanbathu sugamaeIs it not pure bliss to rest on your lover's lap?
Naanam yaeno vaa haa haa…aa….Why this shyness? Come... ah...
Male
Aayiram minnal orr uruvaagiA thousand flashes of lightning taking a single form
Aayizhaiyaaga vanthaval neeyaeYou are the one who arrived as a jeweled maiden
Aayiram minnal orr uruvaagiA thousand flashes of lightning taking a single form
Aayizhaiyaaga vanthaval neeyaeYou are the one who arrived as a jeweled maiden
Male
Agathiyam pottrum arunthamizh neeyaeYou are the precious Tamil praised by Sage Agastya
Arunthathi polae piranthu vanthaayaeYou were born pure like Arundhati
Male
Nanda nee en nila nilaNanda, you are my moon, my moon
Naayagan madiyil kanbathu sugamaeIs it not pure bliss to rest on your lover's lap?
Naanam yaeno vaa haa haa…aa….Why this shyness? Come... ah...
Male
Aagamam kandu seedhaiyum indruSeeing the sacred traditions, has Sita today
Raghavan naan endru thirumbi vanthaaloReturned declaring 'I am Raghavan'?
Aagamam kandu seedhaiyum indruSeeing the sacred traditions, has Sita today
Raghavan naan endru thirumbi vanthaaloReturned declaring 'I am Raghavan'?
Male
Megathilaadum oorvasi enthanHas Urvashi, who dances amidst the clouds,
Mogathilaada irangi vanthaaloDescended to dance in my passion?
Male
Nanda nee en nila nilaNanda, you are my moon, my moon
Naayagan madiyil kanbathu sugamaeIs it not pure bliss to rest on your lover's lap?
Naanam yaeno vaa haa haa…aa….aa…..Why this shyness? Come... ah...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nanda En Nila is a soul-stirring romantic song in which the male protagonist passionately addresses his beloved Nanda, calling her his moon and inviting her to discard her bashfulness and embrace him. He poetically praises her exquisite features—her fish-like eyes, honeyed speech, flower-decked hair, and fruit-like lips—elevating her to the status of a living goddess and a musical instrument that speaks love. The song blends deep intimacy with classic Tamil literary grandeur. In the later verses, the protagonist compares her divine presence to a thousand lightnings taking form, the classical Tamil language revered by Sage Agastya, the mythical purity of Arundhati, and the celestial beauty of Sita and Urvashi. Through rich metaphors and classical Indian imagery, the song portrays love not merely as romantic attraction, but as a divine and transcendent experience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nanda nee en nila nila

The protagonist directly compares his beloved to the moon ('en nila'), a speaking instrument ('Pesugindra veenai neeyae'), and a radiant lamp ('deepam neeyae').

Imagery / Simile (Uvamai)

Vizhi meenaadum vizhi mozhi

'Vizhi meenaadum' creates vivid visual imagery, comparing the movement of her eyes to playful fish.

Assonance and Alliteration (Monai)

Aayiram minnal orr uruvaagi

Repetition of initial vowel sounds 'Aa' across lines ('Aayiram', 'Aayizhaiyaaga', 'Agathiyam', 'Arunthamizh') adds melodic structure and flow.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Aayiram minnal orr uruvaagi

Describing the maiden as a thousand lightnings condensed into a single human form elevates her beauty to cosmic proportions.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary maestro V. Dakshinamurthy, this song stands as one of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's most celebrated classical-infused solos in Tamil film music. The lyrics by Ra. Pazhanisami weave ancient Tamil literary motifs and mythological references seamlessly into modern romantic poetry.

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