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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nil Nil Nil Ilanthendrale

From Deivapiravi · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Deivapiravi1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nil nil nil ilan thendralaeStop, stop, stop, oh gentle young breeze,
Male :Sol sol sol oru paadalaeMale: Sing, sing, sing a song,
Female :Engal solai endrum malaraFemale: So that our garden blossoms forever,
Male :Endha naalum inbam valaraMale: So that happiness grows with each passing day,
Female :Mazhalai selvam konja naalilaeFemale: With the treasure of a child lisping in a few days,
Male :Malarai polae konjam thozhilaeMale: Cradled affectionately on shoulders like a flower,
Female :LalalalalalalalallaaaFemale: Lalalalalalalalallaaa
Female
Nil nil nil ilan thendralaeStop, stop, stop, oh gentle young breeze,
Male :Sol sol sol oru paadalaeMale: Sing, sing, sing a song,
Female
………………………..
Female
Unnai enni nettri pottu vaithenThinking of you, I placed the bindi on my forehead,
Undhan nenjai adhil thottu vaithenAnd touched your heart through it,
Male :Annaiyendru unnai aakki vaithenMale: I elevated you to the status of a mother,
Innum enna inbam baakki vaithenWhat remaining joy have I left behind?
Female
Ennalum en manam unnodu sangamamForever, my heart merges with yours,
Nee thaane thandhadhu kalyana mangalamAren't you the one who bestowed marital auspiciousness?
Male :Pani vaai malarae piriyaa uravaeMale: Oh dew-laden flower, oh bond that never breaks,
Female
Nil nil nil ilan thendralaeStop, stop, stop, oh gentle young breeze,
Male :Sol sol sol oru paadalaeMale: Sing, sing, sing a song,
Female :Engal solai endrum malaraFemale: So that our garden blossoms forever,
Male :Endha naalum inbam valaraMale: So that happiness grows with each passing day,
Female :Mazhalai selvam konja naalilaeFemale: With the treasure of a child lisping in a few days,
Male :Malarai polae konjam thozhilaeMale: Cradled affectionately on shoulders like a flower,
LalalalalalalalallaaaLalalalalalalalallaaa
Female
……………………..
Female
Manjal kondu unnai mundhi konduAdorned with turmeric, departing before you,
Mannai vittu sellum ennam unduI hold a wish to leave this earth,
Male :Pennallavae neethaan deiva piraviMale: You are no ordinary woman, you are a divine soul,
Jenmamellam nee thaan endhan thunaiviAcross all lifetimes, you alone are my companion,
Female
Unnodu vaazhvadhu naan seidha punniyamLiving with you is a virtue I earned through good deeds,
Pottodu povadhu naan konda latchiyamTo pass away while still wearing my vermilion bindi is my ultimate goal,
Male :Alaigal piriyum pirindhaal inaiyumMale: Waves may drift apart, but once separated, they always reunite,
Female
Nil nil nil ilan thendralaeStop, stop, stop, oh gentle young breeze,
Male :Sol sol sol oru paadalaeMale: Sing, sing, sing a song,
Female :Engal solai endrum malaraFemale: So that our garden blossoms forever,
Male :Endha naalum inbam valaraMale: So that happiness grows with each passing day,
Female :Mazhalai selvam konja naalilaeFemale: Female: With the treasure of a child lisping in a few days,
Male :Malarai polae konjam thozhilaeMale: Cradled affectionately on shoulders like a flower,
Both :Lalalalalalalalallaaa………………Both: Lalalalalalalalallaaa………………
La la la lala laala laa…(2)La la la lala laala laa…(2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Nil Nil Nil Ilan Thendralae' from the 1985 film 'Deivapiravi' is a romantic and emotionally rich duet celebrating marital bliss, domestic harmony, and the deep emotional bond between husband and wife. Set against a backdrop of nature imagery—comparing their family life to a flourishing garden and their love to merging ocean waves—the couple expresses their shared anticipation of welcoming a child ('mazhalai selvam'). The wife reflects traditional cultural sentiments, expressing her wish to live a blessed married life and depart the world before her husband while still wearing her auspicious bindi ('pottodu povadhu'). In turn, the husband reveres his wife as a divine creation ('deiva piravi') and his eternal companion across lifetimes. Vaali's lyrics beautifully capture tenderness, devotion, and the sacred values associated with family life in Tamil culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai Ani (Simile)

Malarai polae konjam thozhilae

Compares a child being cradled gently on shoulders to a delicate flower using the comparative marker 'polae'.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Unnodu vaazhvadhu naan seidha punniyam / Pottodu povadhu naan konda latchiyam

The second consonant sound 'tt' ('Unnodu' / 'Pottodu') rhymes across consecutive couplets.

Metaphor (Rupaka Ani)

Engal solai endrum malara

Metaphorically compares the family's happiness and household to a flourishing garden ('solai').

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

Nil nil nil ilan thendralae / Sol sol sol oru paadalae

Repetition of identical initial consonants and words ('Nil', 'Sol') creating rhythmic lyrical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Nil Nil Nil Ilan Thendralae' is from the 1985 movie 'Deivapiravi', starring Mohan and Urvashi in lead roles. The film featured music composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and featured popular renditions by iconic playback singers S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. Lyricist Vaali penned the song incorporating quintessential cultural tropes of Tamil marital tradition, such as 'manjal' (turmeric) and 'pottu' (bindi/vermilion), which symbolize wedded bliss.

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