Nil Nil Nil
From Paattu Padava · 1995
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Ilayaraja, Uma Ramanan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Paattu Padava1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nil nil nil | Stop, stop, stop |
| Badhil sol sol sol | Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer |
| Enai vaattaadhae | Do not torment me |
| Vil vil vil | Bow, bow, bow |
| Un vizhi ambil | With the arrow of your eyes |
| Enai thaakkaadhae | Do not strike me |
| Male | |
| Nillaamal badhil sollaamal | Without stopping, without answering |
| Engae | Wherever |
| Sendraalum vida maattenae | You go, I will not let you go |
| Anbae | My love |
| Dhinam en arugil | Every day near me |
| Male | |
| Nil nil nil | Stop, stop, stop |
| Badhil sol sol sol | Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer |
| Enai vaattaadhae | Do not torment me |
| Vil vil vil | Bow, bow, bow |
| Un vizhi ambil | With the arrow of your eyes |
| Enai thaakkaadhae | Do not strike me |
| Male | |
| Naanam ellaam | If all your shyness |
| Konjam oiveduthaal | Takes a little rest |
| Naan anaippen | I will embrace |
| Unnai poongarathaal | You with flower-soft hands |
| Female | |
| Yegaantha velaiyil | In this moment of solitude |
| Yen indha oodalgal | Why these lover's tiffs? |
| Aarambam aanadho | Has it begun, |
| Aanandha thedalgal | The search for pure bliss? |
| Male | |
| Thaen koottil ulla thaen yaavum | All the honey in the beehive, |
| Manam vendidaadho | Wouldn't the heart desire it? |
| Nool kooda idai nuzhaiyaamal | Without even a thread passing between us, |
| Ennai serndhidaadho sol | Won't you unite with me, tell me? |
| Female | |
| Nil nil nil | Stop, stop, stop |
| Badhil sol sol sol | Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer |
| Enai vaattaadhae | Do not torment me |
| Vil vil vil | Bow, bow, bow |
| Un vizhi ambil | With the arrow of your eyes |
| Enai thaakkaadhae | Do not strike me |
| Female | |
| Nillaamal badhil sollaamal | Without stopping, without answering |
| Engae | Wherever |
| Sendraalum vida maattenae | You go, I will not let you go |
| Anbae | My love |
| Dhinam en arugil | Every day near me |
| Male | |
| Nil nil nil | Stop, stop, stop |
| Badhil sol sol sol | Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer |
| Enai vaattaadhae | Do not torment me |
| Vil vil vil | Bow, bow, bow |
| Un vizhi ambil | With the arrow of your eyes |
| Enai thaakkaadhae | Do not strike me |
| Female | |
| Oviyamaai unnai | Like a painting, of you |
| Theetti vaithen | I sketched |
| Ul manadhil | Inside my heart |
| Adhai maatti vaithen | And hung it there |
| Male | |
| Meen vizhundha kannil | Into eyes like glistening fish |
| Naan vizhundhen anbae | I fell, my love |
| Oor marandhu endhan | Forgetting the town, forgetting my own |
| Per marandhen anbae | Name, my love |
| Female | |
| Koo koo koo yena | Making the sound 'Koo koo koo' |
| Kai korthu kuyil koovidaadho | Won't the cuckoos sing holding hands? |
| Poo poothu pani poo poothu | Flowers blooming, icy dew-flowers blooming, |
| Madi thaavidaadho sol | Won't love leap into my lap, tell me? |
| Female | |
| Nil nil nil | Stop, stop, stop |
| Badhil sol sol sol | Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer |
| Enai vaattaadhae | Do not torment me |
| Male :Vil vil vil | Male: Bow, bow, bow |
| Un vizhi ambil | With the arrow of your eyes |
| Enai thaakkaadhae | Do not strike me |
| Female | |
| Nillaamal badhil sollaamal | Without stopping, without answering |
| Engae | Wherever |
| Male :Sendraalum vida maattenae | Male: Even if you go, I will not let you go |
| Anbae | My love |
| Dhinam en arugil | Every day near me |
| Female | |
| Nil nil nil | Stop, stop, stop |
| Badhil sol sol sol | Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer |
| Enai vaattaadhae | Do not torment me |
| Male :Vil vil vil | Male: Bow, bow, bow |
| Un vizhi ambil | With the arrow of your eyes |
| Enai thaakkaadhae…ae…..ae….ae…. | Do not strike me... |
நில் நில் நில் பதில்
சொல் சொல் சொல்
எனை வாட்டாதே........
வில் வில் வில்
உன் விழி அம்பில்
எனை தாக்காதே.........
Stop, stop, stop
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Do not torment me
Bow, bow, bow
With the arrow of your eyes
Do not strike me
நில்லாமல் பதில்
சொல்லாமல் எங்கே........சென்றாலும்
விடமாட்டேனே அன்பே
தினம் என் அருகில்
Without stopping, without answering
Wherever
You go, I will not let you go
My love
Every day near me
நில் நில் நில் பதில்
சொல் சொல் சொல்
எனை வாட்டாதே.....
வில் வில் வில்
உன் விழி அம்பில்
எனை தாக்காதே........
Stop, stop, stop
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Do not torment me
Bow, bow, bow
With the arrow of your eyes
Do not strike me
நாணம் எல்லாம்
கொஞ்சம் ஓய்வெடுத்தால்
நான் அணைப்பேன்
உன்னை பூஞ்சரத்தால்
If all your shyness
Takes a little rest
I will embrace
You with flower-soft hands
ஏகாந்த வேளையில்
ஏன் இந்த ஊடல்கள்
ஆரம்பம் ஆனதோ
ஆனந்தத் தேடல்கள்
In this moment of solitude
Why these lover's tiffs?
Has it begun,
The search for pure bliss?
தேன் கூட்டில்
உள்ள தேன் யாவும்
மனம் வேண்டிடாதோ
நூல்கூட இடை நுழையாமல்
என்னைச் சேர்ந்திடாதோ சொல்....
All the honey in the beehive,
Wouldn't the heart desire it?
Without even a thread passing between us,
Won't you unite with me, tell me?
நில் நில் நில் பதில்
சொல் சொல் சொல்
எனை வாட்டாதே......
வில் வில் வில்
உன் விழி அம்பில்
எனை தாக்காதே......
Stop, stop, stop
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Do not torment me
Bow, bow, bow
With the arrow of your eyes
Do not strike me
நில்லாமல் பதில்
சொல்லாமல் எங்கே.......சென்றாலும்
விடமாட்டேனே அன்பே
தினம் என் அருகில்
Without stopping, without answering
Wherever
You go, I will not let you go
My love
Every day near me
நில் நில் நில் பதில்
சொல் சொல் சொல்
எனை வாட்டாதே......
வில் வில் வில்
உன் விழி அம்பில்
எனை தாக்காதே......
Stop, stop, stop
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Do not torment me
Bow, bow, bow
With the arrow of your eyes
Do not strike me
ஓவியமாய் உன்னை
தீட்டி வைத்தேன்
உள் மனதில் அதை
மாட்டி வைத்தேன்
Like a painting, of you
I sketched
Inside my heart
And hung it there
மீன் விழுந்த கண்ணில்
நான் விழுந்தேன் அன்பே
ஊர் மறந்து எந்தன் பேர்
மறந்தேன் அன்பே
Into eyes like glistening fish
I fell, my love
Forgetting the town, forgetting my own
Name, my love
கூக் கூக் கூ என
கை கோர்த்து குயில் கூ.....விடாதோ
பூப்பூத்து பனிப் பூப்பூத்து
மடி தா......விடாதோ சொல்.....
Making the sound 'Koo koo koo'
Won't the cuckoos sing holding hands?
Flowers blooming, icy dew-flowers blooming,
Won't love leap into my lap, tell me?
நில் நில் நில் பதில்
சொல் சொல் சொல்
எனை வாட்டாதே......
வில் வில் வில்
உன் விழி அம்பில்
எனை தாக்காதே.......
Stop, stop, stop
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Do not torment me
Male: Bow, bow, bow
With the arrow of your eyes
Do not strike me
நில்லாமல் பதில்
சொல்லாமல் எங்கே
சென்றாலும்
விடமாட்டேனே அன்பே
தினம் என் அருகில்
Without stopping, without answering
Wherever
Male: Even if you go, I will not let you go
My love
Every day near me
நில் நில் நில் பதில்
சொல் சொல் சொல்
எனை வாட்டாதே......
வில் வில் வில்
உன் விழி அம்பில்
எனை தாக்காதே.....ஏஏ........
Stop, stop, stop
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Do not torment me
Male: Bow, bow, bow
With the arrow of your eyes
Do not strike me...
Nil nil nil
Stop, stop, stop
Badhil sol sol sol
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Enai vaattaadhae
Do not torment me
Vil vil vil
Bow, bow, bow
Un vizhi ambil
With the arrow of your eyes
Enai thaakkaadhae
Do not strike me
Nillaamal badhil sollaamal
Without stopping, without answering
Engae
Wherever
Sendraalum vida maattenae
You go, I will not let you go
Anbae
My love
Dhinam en arugil
Every day near me
Nil nil nil
Stop, stop, stop
Badhil sol sol sol
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Enai vaattaadhae
Do not torment me
Vil vil vil
Bow, bow, bow
Un vizhi ambil
With the arrow of your eyes
Enai thaakkaadhae
Do not strike me
Naanam ellaam
If all your shyness
Konjam oiveduthaal
Takes a little rest
Naan anaippen
I will embrace
Unnai poongarathaal
You with flower-soft hands
Yegaantha velaiyil
In this moment of solitude
Yen indha oodalgal
Why these lover's tiffs?
Aarambam aanadho
Has it begun,
Aanandha thedalgal
The search for pure bliss?
Thaen koottil ulla thaen yaavum
All the honey in the beehive,
Manam vendidaadho
Wouldn't the heart desire it?
Nool kooda idai nuzhaiyaamal
Without even a thread passing between us,
Ennai serndhidaadho sol
Won't you unite with me, tell me?
Nil nil nil
Stop, stop, stop
Badhil sol sol sol
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Enai vaattaadhae
Do not torment me
Vil vil vil
Bow, bow, bow
Un vizhi ambil
With the arrow of your eyes
Enai thaakkaadhae
Do not strike me
Nillaamal badhil sollaamal
Without stopping, without answering
Engae
Wherever
Sendraalum vida maattenae
You go, I will not let you go
Anbae
My love
Dhinam en arugil
Every day near me
Nil nil nil
Stop, stop, stop
Badhil sol sol sol
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Enai vaattaadhae
Do not torment me
Vil vil vil
Bow, bow, bow
Un vizhi ambil
With the arrow of your eyes
Enai thaakkaadhae
Do not strike me
Oviyamaai unnai
Like a painting, of you
Theetti vaithen
I sketched
Ul manadhil
Inside my heart
Adhai maatti vaithen
And hung it there
Meen vizhundha kannil
Into eyes like glistening fish
Naan vizhundhen anbae
I fell, my love
Oor marandhu endhan
Forgetting the town, forgetting my own
Per marandhen anbae
Name, my love
Koo koo koo yena
Making the sound 'Koo koo koo'
Kai korthu kuyil koovidaadho
Won't the cuckoos sing holding hands?
Poo poothu pani poo poothu
Flowers blooming, icy dew-flowers blooming,
Madi thaavidaadho sol
Won't love leap into my lap, tell me?
Nil nil nil
Stop, stop, stop
Badhil sol sol sol
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Enai vaattaadhae
Do not torment me
Male :Vil vil vil
Male: Bow, bow, bow
Un vizhi ambil
With the arrow of your eyes
Enai thaakkaadhae
Do not strike me
Nillaamal badhil sollaamal
Without stopping, without answering
Engae
Wherever
Male :Sendraalum vida maattenae
Male: Even if you go, I will not let you go
Anbae
My love
Dhinam en arugil
Every day near me
Nil nil nil
Stop, stop, stop
Badhil sol sol sol
Tell me, tell me, tell me an answer
Enai vaattaadhae
Do not torment me
Male :Vil vil vil
Male: Bow, bow, bow
Un vizhi ambil
With the arrow of your eyes
Enai thaakkaadhae…ae…..ae….ae….
Do not strike me...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nil Nil Nil' is a playful and expressive romantic duet written by Vaali for the 1995 Tamil film 'Paattu Padava'. The song centers on the lover's earnest yet lighthearted plea for their beloved to stop fleeing and acknowledge their affection. Using vivid, classic Tamil metaphors—such as comparing sharp glances to arrows shot from a bow and expressive eyes to darting fish—the lyrics convey a game of romantic chase filled with longing and passion. The narrative arc transitions from mild lover's quarrel (oodal) to deep intimate desire, expressing how love renders one completely oblivious to the world and their own self-identity. The protagonist describes painting the image of their beloved in their heart and yearns for an unbroken closeness where no barrier, not even a thin thread, exists between them.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor)
“Un vizhi ambil / Enai thaakkaadhae”
Compares the beloved's glance to an arrow ('ambil') shot from a bow ('vil'), highlighting the piercing impact of her eyes.
Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)
“Enai vaattaadhae / Enai thaakkaadhae”
Both lines end with the rhyming suffix '-adhae', creating a pleasant musical cadence at the end of the refrain.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vil vil vil / Un vizhi ambil”
Repetition of the 'V' sound ('Vil', 'Vizhi') at the beginning of words creates rhythmic flow.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Nil nil nil / Badhil sol sol sol”
The three-fold repetition of words ('Nil', 'Sol') expresses urgency and playful persistence in calling out to the beloved.
Metaphor
“Oviyamaai unnai Theetti vaithen / Ul manadhil Adhai maatti vaithen”
Visualizing the beloved's memory as a painted artwork framed and hung inside the lover's heart.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Paattu Padava' (1995) stars legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside Rahman and Kushboo. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vaali. SPB himself performed the male vocals for this track along with K. S. Chithra, making it one of the memorable musical collaborations of the duo during the mid-90s.
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