Neela Chelai Katti Konda
From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thiruvilaiyadal1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Elae yeloo elae yeloo | Elae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi | Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo | Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi | Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo | Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi | Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Female | |
| Hooo…ooooiii…aaa….hoi | Hooo...ooooiii...aaa....hoi (Vocalizing) |
| Yelaelooo…. | Yelaelooo.... (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Female | |
| Neela chelai kattikonda | Draped in a blue saree, |
| Samudhira ponnu | O ocean maiden, |
| Nee nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna | Why do you curve and turn to look back, |
| Solladi kannu | Tell me, my darling? |
| Neela chelai kattikonda | Draped in a blue saree, |
| Samudhira ponnu | O ocean maiden, |
| Nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna | Why do you curve and turn to look back, |
| Solladi kannu | Tell me, my darling? |
| Female | |
| Yaarai kaana thudikiriyo | Whom are you yearning to see, |
| Karaiyila ninnu | Standing at the shore? |
| Andha aal varaamal thirumbariyo | Are you turning back because that person has not arrived, |
| Solladi kannu | Tell me, my darling? |
| Yaarai kaana thudikiriyo | Whom are you yearning to see, |
| Karaiyila ninnu | Standing at the shore? |
| Aal varaamal thirumbariyo | Turning back because that person has not arrived, |
| Solladi kannu…ohooo….. | Tell me, my darling... ohooo... |
| Chorus | |
| Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Female | |
| Valaiyai veesi kayiru pottu | Casting a net and throwing a rope, |
| Valaikavillaiyaa | Did they not capture/tame you? |
| Nadhi vandhu vandhu | Does the river keep coming |
| Un udalai kalaka villaiya | And mingling with your body? |
| Yelaeloo..ye laeloo | Yelaeloo..ye laeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Chorus | |
| Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Female | |
| Valaiyai veesi kayiru pottu | Casting a net and throwing a rope, |
| Valaikavillaiyaa | Did they not capture/tame you? |
| Nadhi vandhu vandhu | Does the river keep coming |
| Un udalai kalaka villaiya | And mingling with your body? |
| Kalakum podhu pudhiya inbam | When it mingles, does a new bliss |
| Pirakavillaiya | Not take birth? |
| Inbam pirandha pinbum | Even after bliss is born, |
| Un thudipu adanga villaiya | Has your throbbing desire not settled down? |
| Female | |
| Neela chelai kattikonda | Draped in a blue saree, |
| Samudhira ponnu | O ocean maiden, |
| Nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna | Why do you curve and turn to look back, |
| Solladi kannu ohooo….. | Tell me, my darling ohooo... |
| Chorus | |
| Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Female | |
| Enakkum nenjam thuddikudhadi | My heart too is throbbing, |
| Thirumanam kolla | To get married, |
| Manam yengi yengi thavikudhadi | My heart longs and suffers, |
| Inbathai alla | To gather and taste happiness, |
| Yelaeloo..ye laeloo | Yelaeloo..ye laeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Chorus | |
| Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Female | |
| Enakkum nenjam thuddikudhadi | My heart too is throbbing, |
| Thirumanam kolla | To get married, |
| Manam yengi yengi thavikudhadi | My heart longs and suffers, |
| Inbathai alla | To gather and taste happiness, |
| Unakku vandha anubavathai | The experience you have gained, |
| Solladi mella | Tell me softly, |
| Enakkum oruvan vandhu serum podhu | So that when a man arrives to join me, |
| Avanidam solla… | I can tell him... |
| Female | |
| Neela chelai kattikonda | Draped in a blue saree, |
| Samudhira ponnu | O ocean maiden, |
| Nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna | Why do you curve and turn to look back, |
| Solladi kannu | Tell me, my darling, |
| Female | |
| Yaarai kaana thudikiriyo | Whom are you yearning to see, |
| Karaiyila ninnu | Standing at the shore? |
| Andha aal varaamal thirumbariyo | Are you turning back because that person has not arrived, |
| Solladi kannu | Tell me, my darling, |
| Ohooo…..aaaa……aaa…..aaa… | Ohooo.....aaaa......aaa.....aaa... |
| Chorus | |
| Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Female:Yelaeloo..ye laeloo…oooh | Female: Yelaeloo..ye laeloo...oooh (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Chorus :Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Chorus : Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
| Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo | Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant) |
ஏலே ஏலோ ஏலே
ஏலோ ஏலோ ஏலோ ஏலோ
ஏலேலோ ஹோய் ஹையா
ஏலே ஏலோ ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலோ ஏலோ ஏலோ ஏலேலோ
ஹோய் ஹையா ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலே ஏலோ ஏலோ ஏலோ ஏலோ
ஏலேலோ ஹோய்
Elae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant)
Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant)
Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant)
ஹோ... ஓய்....
ஆஆ ...ஹோய் ஏலேலோ
ஏலே ஏலோ ஏலே ஏலேலோ
ஏலே ஏலோ ஏலே ஏலேலோ
Hooo...ooooiii...aaa....hoi (Vocalizing)
Yelaelooo.... (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
நீல சேலை
கட்டிக்கொண்ட சமுத்திர
பொண்ணு நீ நெளிஞ்சு
நெளிஞ்சு பார்ப்பதென்ன
சொல்லடி கண்ணு நீல
சேலை கட்டிக்கொண்ட
சமுத்திர பொண்ணு
நெளிஞ்சு நெளிஞ்சு
பார்ப்பதென்ன சொல்லடி
கண்ணு
Draped in a blue saree,
O ocean maiden,
Why do you curve and turn to look back,
Tell me, my darling?
Draped in a blue saree,
O ocean maiden,
Why do you curve and turn to look back,
Tell me, my darling?
யாரை காண
துடிக்கிறியோ கரையில
நின்னு அந்த ஆள் வராமல்
திரும்பறியோ சொல்லடி
கண்ணு யாரை காண
துடிக்கிறியோ கரையில
நின்னு ஆள் வராமல்
திரும்பறியோ சொல்லடி
கண்ணு ஓஹோ
Whom are you yearning to see,
Standing at the shore?
Are you turning back because that person has not arrived,
Tell me, my darling?
Whom are you yearning to see,
Standing at the shore?
Turning back because that person has not arrived,
Tell me, my darling... ohooo...
ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலே ஏலேலோ
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
வலையை
வீசி கயிறு போட்டு
வளைக்கவில்லையா
நதி வந்து வந்து உன்
உடலை கலக்க வில்லையா
ஏலேலோ ஏ லேலோ
Casting a net and throwing a rope,
Did they not capture/tame you?
Does the river keep coming
And mingling with your body?
Yelaeloo..ye laeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலே ஏலேலோ
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
வலையை வீசி
கயிறு போட்டு வளைக்கவில்லையா
நதி வந்து வந்து உன் உடலை
கலக்க வில்லையா கலக்கும்
போது புதிய இன்பம்
பிறக்கவில்லையா இன்பம்
பிறந்த பின்பும் உன் துடிப்பு
அடங்க வில்லையா
Casting a net and throwing a rope,
Did they not capture/tame you?
Does the river keep coming
And mingling with your body?
When it mingles, does a new bliss
Not take birth?
Even after bliss is born,
Has your throbbing desire not settled down?
நீல சேலை
கட்டிக்கொண்ட
சமுத்திர பொண்ணு
நெளிஞ்சு நெளிஞ்சு
பார்ப்பதென்ன சொல்லடி
கண்ணு ஓஹோ
Draped in a blue saree,
O ocean maiden,
Why do you curve and turn to look back,
Tell me, my darling ohooo...
ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலே ஏலேலோ
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
எனக்கும்
நெஞ்சம் துடிக்குதடி
திருமணம் கொள்ள
மனம் ஏங்கி ஏங்கி
தவிக்குதடி இன்பத்தை
அள்ள ஏலேலோ ஏ லேலோ
My heart too is throbbing,
To get married,
My heart longs and suffers,
To gather and taste happiness,
Yelaeloo..ye laeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலே ஏலேலோ
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
எனக்கும் நெஞ்சம்
துடிக்குதடி திருமணம்
கொள்ள மனம் ஏங்கி
ஏங்கி தவிக்குதடி
இன்பத்தை அள்ள உனக்கு
வந்த அனுபவத்தை
சொல்லடி மெல்ல எனக்கும்
ஒருவன் வந்து சேரும்
போது அவனிடம் சொல்ல
My heart too is throbbing,
To get married,
My heart longs and suffers,
To gather and taste happiness,
The experience you have gained,
Tell me softly,
So that when a man arrives to join me,
I can tell him...
நீல சேலை
கட்டிக்கொண்ட
சமுத்திர பொண்ணு
நெளிஞ்சு நெளிஞ்சு
பார்ப்பதென்ன சொல்லடி
கண்ணு
Draped in a blue saree,
O ocean maiden,
Why do you curve and turn to look back,
Tell me, my darling,
யாரை காண
துடிக்கிறியோ கரையில
நின்னு அந்த ஆள் வராமல்
திரும்பறியோ சொல்லடி
கண்ணு ஓஹோ ஆஆ
ஆஆ ஆஆ
Whom are you yearning to see,
Standing at the shore?
Are you turning back because that person has not arrived,
Tell me, my darling,
Ohooo.....aaaa......aaa.....aaa...
ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலே ஏலேலோ
ஏலேலோ
ஏ லேலோ ஓஓ
குழு :
ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலே ஏலேலோ
ஏலே ஏலோ
ஏலே ஏலேலோ
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Female: Yelaeloo..ye laeloo...oooh (Fisherfolk chant)
Chorus : Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Elae yeloo elae yeloo
Elae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant)
Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo
Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant)
Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo
Haiyaa yelae yeloo elae yeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi
Yelo yelo yelo yelaeloo..hoi (Fisherfolk chant)
Hooo…ooooiii…aaa….hoi
Hooo...ooooiii...aaa....hoi (Vocalizing)
Yelaelooo….
Yelaelooo.... (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Neela chelai kattikonda
Draped in a blue saree,
Samudhira ponnu
O ocean maiden,
Nee nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna
Why do you curve and turn to look back,
Solladi kannu
Tell me, my darling?
Neela chelai kattikonda
Draped in a blue saree,
Samudhira ponnu
O ocean maiden,
Nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna
Why do you curve and turn to look back,
Solladi kannu
Tell me, my darling?
Yaarai kaana thudikiriyo
Whom are you yearning to see,
Karaiyila ninnu
Standing at the shore?
Andha aal varaamal thirumbariyo
Are you turning back because that person has not arrived,
Solladi kannu
Tell me, my darling?
Yaarai kaana thudikiriyo
Whom are you yearning to see,
Karaiyila ninnu
Standing at the shore?
Aal varaamal thirumbariyo
Turning back because that person has not arrived,
Solladi kannu…ohooo…..
Tell me, my darling... ohooo...
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Valaiyai veesi kayiru pottu
Casting a net and throwing a rope,
Valaikavillaiyaa
Did they not capture/tame you?
Nadhi vandhu vandhu
Does the river keep coming
Un udalai kalaka villaiya
And mingling with your body?
Yelaeloo..ye laeloo
Yelaeloo..ye laeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Valaiyai veesi kayiru pottu
Casting a net and throwing a rope,
Valaikavillaiyaa
Did they not capture/tame you?
Nadhi vandhu vandhu
Does the river keep coming
Un udalai kalaka villaiya
And mingling with your body?
Kalakum podhu pudhiya inbam
When it mingles, does a new bliss
Pirakavillaiya
Not take birth?
Inbam pirandha pinbum
Even after bliss is born,
Un thudipu adanga villaiya
Has your throbbing desire not settled down?
Neela chelai kattikonda
Draped in a blue saree,
Samudhira ponnu
O ocean maiden,
Nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna
Why do you curve and turn to look back,
Solladi kannu ohooo…..
Tell me, my darling ohooo...
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Enakkum nenjam thuddikudhadi
My heart too is throbbing,
Thirumanam kolla
To get married,
Manam yengi yengi thavikudhadi
My heart longs and suffers,
Inbathai alla
To gather and taste happiness,
Yelaeloo..ye laeloo
Yelaeloo..ye laeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Enakkum nenjam thuddikudhadi
My heart too is throbbing,
Thirumanam kolla
To get married,
Manam yengi yengi thavikudhadi
My heart longs and suffers,
Inbathai alla
To gather and taste happiness,
Unakku vandha anubavathai
The experience you have gained,
Solladi mella
Tell me softly,
Enakkum oruvan vandhu serum podhu
So that when a man arrives to join me,
Avanidam solla…
I can tell him...
Neela chelai kattikonda
Draped in a blue saree,
Samudhira ponnu
O ocean maiden,
Nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna
Why do you curve and turn to look back,
Solladi kannu
Tell me, my darling,
Yaarai kaana thudikiriyo
Whom are you yearning to see,
Karaiyila ninnu
Standing at the shore?
Andha aal varaamal thirumbariyo
Are you turning back because that person has not arrived,
Solladi kannu
Tell me, my darling,
Ohooo…..aaaa……aaa…..aaa…
Ohooo.....aaaa......aaa.....aaa...
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Female:Yelaeloo..ye laeloo…oooh
Female: Yelaeloo..ye laeloo...oooh (Fisherfolk chant)
Chorus :Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Chorus : Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo
Yelae yeloo yelae yelaeloo (Fisherfolk chant)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this classic song from Thiruvilaiyadal (1965), a young fisherwoman addresses the sea as a fellow maiden wearing a blue saree. Through poetical personification, she observes the waves rolling back and forth on the shore as if the ocean is eagerly searching for her lover. She draws a poetic parallel between the joining of rivers into the sea and the sweet intimacy of marriage. The protagonist expresses her own deep yearning to get married and experience love, asking the ocean maiden to softly share her secrets of union so she can apply them when her own partner arrives.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagandhal)
“Neela chelai kattikonda Samudhira ponnu”
The ocean is personified as a young girl wearing a blue saree ('Samudhira ponnu') whose waves reaching the shore are imagined as her searching for a lover.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Neela chelai kattikonda”
The blue sea waters are metaphorically described as a blue saree ('Neela chelai') wrapped around the ocean maiden.
Repetition / Reiterative Phrase (Adukkuthodar)
“Nelinju nelinju paarpadhenna”
Words like 'nelinju nelinju' (twisting/curving) and 'yengi yengi' (yearning) are repeated sequentially to emphasize physical movement and emotional intensity.
Did you know?
Trivia
The music for Thiruvilaiyadal was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics by Kannadasan and vocals by S. Janaki. The song features actress L. Vijayalakshmi dancing on the seashore as Goddess Parvathi born in a fisherfolk community, waiting for Lord Shiva in the divine play (Thiruvilaiyadal).
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