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Annai Or Aalayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nandhavanathil

From Annai Or Aalayam · 1979

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Annai Or Aalayam
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
17 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nandhavanathil vantha kuyilae
Endhan manathil nindra mayilae
Naan irukkayil nadukkamenna
Kollai azhagu ingu kottikidakka
Kollai azhagu ingu kottikidakka
{Vaadi paingili anubavi
Yendi sivanthathu poovizhi} (2)
Nandhavanathil vantha kuyilae
Endhan manathil nindra mayilae
Naan irukkayil nadukkamenna
Kaadhalikkum undhan kannan
Kanni vaikkum kalaiyil mannan
Vaalibathil thullum ullam
Vettaiyida sellum vellum
Aasaiyirundhaal achcham vidu nee
Thodai nadungum poongodiyae
Puyalodu kulavida malarukku
Thunivillaiyoo…
Nandhavanathil oh vantha kuyilae
Endhan manathil haa nindra mayilae
Naan irukkayil nadukkamenna
Kollai azhagu ingu kottikidakka
Vaadi paingili anubavi
Yendi sivanthathu poovizhi
Nathaswaram oodhum singam
Thaalamidum yaanai koottam
Varaverkkum puligal nindru
Manamaagum thirunaal andru
Kaadhal nilavum kattil uravum
Marangalin mel parangalilae
Enakkena piranthaval
Unakkidhu saripadumaa
Nandhavanathil vantha kuyilae
Endhan manathil nindra mayilae
Naan irukkayil nadukkamenna
Kollai azhagu ingu kottikidakka
Kollai azhagu ingu kottikidakka
{Vaadi paingili anubavi
Yendi sivanthathu poovizhi} (2)
Pap pa pappaba papapaa
Pap pa pappaba papapaa
Pap pa pappaba pabapaba paapaa
Pap pa pappaba pa pa pa paa
O cuckoo who came into the garden,
O peacock residing in my heart,
Why do you tremble when I am right here?
With so much beauty overflowing here,
With so much beauty overflowing here,
Come, my sweet parrot, enjoy it!
Why have your flower-like eyes turned red?
O cuckoo who came into the garden,
O peacock residing in my heart,
Why do you tremble when I am right here?
The Kannan who loves you
Is a master at laying traps!
A heart leaping with youth
Will go out to hunt and win!
If you have desire, cast away your fear.
O tender vine trembling with fear,
To play and mingle with the storm,
Does a flower lack the courage?
Oh, cuckoo who came into the garden,
Ah, peacock residing in my heart,
Why do you tremble when I am right here?
With so much beauty overflowing here,
Come, my sweet parrot, enjoy it!
Why have your flower-like eyes turned red?
A lion will play the nadaswaram (traditional wind instrument),
A herd of elephants will beat the rhythm,
Tigers will stand to welcome us,
On that auspicious day of our wedding!
The moonlight of love and our intimate bed,
High above on tree platforms!
O girl born just for me,
Does this sound good to you?
O cuckoo who came into the garden,
O peacock residing in my heart,
Why do you tremble when I am right here?
With so much beauty overflowing here,
With so much beauty overflowing here,
Come, my sweet parrot, enjoy it!
Why have your flower-like eyes turned red?
Pap pa pappapa papapa
Pap pa pappapa papapa
Pap pa pappapa papapapa papa
Pap pa pappapa pa pa pa pa
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and romantic song features the hero reassuring his beloved in a jungle setting. Metaphorically equating her to gentle forest creatures like a cuckoo, peacock, and parrot, he encourages her to drop her timidness and embrace love. He playfully portrays himself as a master hunter capable of protecting her through any storm. In the second verse, he paints a whimsical fantasy of a jungle wedding where wild animals act as wedding musicians and hosts—a lion playing the Nadaswaram, elephants providing the beat, and tigers welcoming the guests. The song blends romantic teasing, vivid nature imagery, and adventurous spirit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

“Nandhavanathil / Endhan manathil”

The second consonant sound 'ndh' rhymes in consecutive opening lines.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Nandhavanathil vantha kuyilae / Endhan manathil nindra mayilae”

The heroine is affectionately addressed using metaphors of forest flora and fauna like cuckoo (kuyil), peacock (mayil), parrot (paingili), and flower vine (poongodi).

Personification & Surreal Imagery

“Nathaswaram oodhum singam / Thaalamidum yaanai koottam”

Wild animals are personified as traditional South Indian wedding musicians and attendants.

Monai (Initial letter rhyming/alliteration)

“Vaalibathil thullum ullam / Vettaiyida sellum vellum”

The initial 'v' sound is repeated for rhythmic emphasis across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is from the 1979 hit movie 'Annai Or Aalayam' starring Rajinikanth and Sripriya, directed by R. Thyagarajan. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The film featured a prominent storyline involving a mother elephant and her calf, making the animal-themed imagery in the lyrics directly suited to the movie's forest environment.

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