Nila Kaigirathu Male
From Indira · 1995
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Hariharan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Indira1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hmmm…mmm…mmm | Hmmm…mmm…mmm |
| Aaaa…aaa…aaa… | Aaaa…aaa…aaa… |
| Aaaa….aaa….aaa… | Aaaa…aaa…aaa… |
| Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…. | Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa… |
| Male | |
| Nila kaaigirathu | The moon shines |
| Niram theigirathu | Its color fades |
| Yaarum rasikkavillaiyae | No one is enjoying it |
| Indha kangal mattum | Only these eyes |
| Unnai kaanum | Will look at you |
| Male | |
| Thendral pogindrathu | The gentle breeze passes by |
| Solai sirikkindrathu | The garden smiles |
| Yaarum sugikkavillaiyae | No one is relishing it |
| Indha kaigal mattum | Only these hands |
| Unnai theendum | Will touch you |
| Male | |
| Kaatru veesum | The wind blows |
| Veyil kaayum kaayum | The sun shines brightly |
| Athil maatram yedhum illaiyae | There is no change in that |
| Aaaaaa… vaanum mannum | Aaaaaa… the sky and the earth |
| Nammai vaazha chollum | Ask us to live |
| Andha vaazhthu oyavillai | That blessing never ends |
| Endrendrum vaanil | Forever in the sky |
| Male | |
| Nila kaaigirathu | The moon shines |
| Niram theigirathu | Its color fades |
| Yaarum rasikkavillaiyae | No one is enjoying it |
| Indha kangal mattum | Only these eyes |
| Unnai kaanum | Will look at you |
| Male | |
| Adho poginradhu | There goes |
| Kaanal megam | A cloud of mirage |
| Mazhaiyai kaanavillaiyae | It brings no rain |
| Idho ketkindradhu | Here can be heard |
| Kuyilin sogam | The sorrow of the cuckoo |
| Isaiyum ketkavillaiyae | No music is truly heard |
| Male | |
| Indha bhoomiyae poovanam | This earth is a flower garden |
| Endhan poovidhazh sarugudhae | Yet my flower petals turn into dry leaves |
| Indha vaazhkaiyae seedhanam | This life itself is a gift |
| Adhil jeevanae povadhen | Why then is my soul slipping away? |
| Male | |
| Nila kaaigirathu | The moon shines |
| Niram theigirathu | Its color fades |
| Yaarum rasikkavillaiyae | No one is enjoying it |
| Indha kangal mattum | Only these eyes |
| Unnai kaanum | Will look at you |
| Male | |
| Thendral pogindrathu | The gentle breeze passes by |
| Solai sirikkindrathu | The garden smiles |
| Yaarum sugikkavillaiyae | No one is relishing it |
| Indha kaigal mattum | Only these hands |
| Unnai theendum | Will touch you |
| Male | |
| Kaatru veesum | The wind blows |
| Veyil kaayum kaayum | The sun shines brightly |
| Athil maatram yedhum illaiyae | There is no change in that |
| Aaaaaa… vaanum mannum | Aaaaaa… the sky and the earth |
| Nammai vaazha chollum | Ask us to live |
| Andha vaazhthu oyavillai | That blessing never ends |
| Endrendrum vaanil | Forever in the sky |
| Male | |
| Nila kaaigirathu | The moon shines |
| Niram theigirathu | Its color fades |
| Yaarum rasikkavillaiyae | No one is enjoying it |
| Indha kangal mattum | Only these eyes |
| Unnai kaanum | Will look at you |
| Male | |
| Hmmm…mmm…mmm.. | Hmmm…mmm…mmm.. |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa… | Aaa…aaa…aaa… |
| Aaa…aa…aaa… | Aaa…aa…aaa… |
| Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa… | Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa… |
ஹ்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்
ஆஆ ... ஆஅ.. ஆஅ...
ஆஆ ... ஆஅ.. ஆஅ...
ஆஆ... ஆ ...ஆஅ...ஆஅ...
Hmmm…mmm…mmm
Aaaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…
நிலா காய்கிறது
நேரம் தேய்கிறது
யாரும் ரசிக்கவில்லையே...
இந்த கண்கள் மட்டும்
உன்னை காணும்...
The moon shines
Its color fades
No one is enjoying it
Only these eyes
Will look at you
தென்றல் போகின்றது
சோலை சிரிக்கின்றது
யாரும் சுகிக்கவில்லையே...
சின்ன கைகள் மட்டும்
உன்னை தீண்டும்...
The gentle breeze passes by
The garden smiles
No one is relishing it
Only these hands
Will touch you
காற்று வீசும் வெய்யில்
காயும் காயும்
அதில் மாற்றம் ஏதும் இல்லையே ...
ஆஆ..வானும் மண்ணும்
நம்மை வாழ சொல்லும்
அந்த வாழ்த்து ஓயவில்லையே
என்றென்றும் வானில்...
The wind blows
The sun shines brightly
There is no change in that
Aaaaaa… the sky and the earth
Ask us to live
That blessing never ends
Forever in the sky
நிலா காய்கிறது
நேரம் தேய்கிறது
யாரும் ரசிக்கவில்லையே...
இந்த கண்கள் மட்டும்
உன்னை காணும்...
The moon shines
Its color fades
No one is enjoying it
Only these eyes
Will look at you
அதோ போகின்றது
கானல் மேகம்
மழையை காணவில்லையே
இதோ கேட்கின்றது
குயிலின் சோகம்
இசையும் கேட்கவில்லையே...
There goes
A cloud of mirage
It brings no rain
Here can be heard
The sorrow of the cuckoo
No music is truly heard
இந்த பூமியே பூவனம்
எந்தன் பூவிதழ் சருகுதே
இந்த வாழ்க்கையே சீதனம்
அதில் ஜீவனே போவதேன்
This earth is a flower garden
Yet my flower petals turn into dry leaves
This life itself is a gift
Why then is my soul slipping away?
நிலா காய்கிறது
நேரம் தேய்கிறது
யாரும் ரசிக்கவில்லையே...
இந்த கண்கள் மட்டும்
உன்னை காணும்...
The moon shines
Its color fades
No one is enjoying it
Only these eyes
Will look at you
தென்றல் போகின்றது
சோலை சிரிக்கின்றது
யாரும் சுகிக்கவில்லையே...
சின்ன கைகள் மட்டும்
உன்னை தீண்டும்...
The gentle breeze passes by
The garden smiles
No one is relishing it
Only these hands
Will touch you
காற்று வீசும் வெய்யில்
காயும் காயும்
அதில் மாற்றம் ஏதும் இல்லையே ...
ஆஆ..வானும் மண்ணும்
நம்மை வாழ சொல்லும்
அந்த வாழ்த்து ஓயவில்லையே
என்றென்றும் வானில்..
The wind blows
The sun shines brightly
There is no change in that
Aaaaaa… the sky and the earth
Ask us to live
That blessing never ends
Forever in the sky
நிலா காய்கிறது
நேரம் தேய்கிறது
யாரும் ரசிக்கவில்லையே...
இந்த கண்கள் மட்டும்
உன்னை காணும்...
The moon shines
Its color fades
No one is enjoying it
Only these eyes
Will look at you
ஹ்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்
ஆஆ ... ஆஅ.. ஆஅ...
ஆஆ ... ஆஅ.. ஆஅ...
ஆஆ... ஆ ...ஆஅ...ஆஅ...
Hmmm…mmm…mmm..
Aaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…
Hmmm…mmm…mmm
Hmmm…mmm…mmm
Aaaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaaa….aaa….aaa…
Aaaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa….
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…
Nila kaaigirathu
The moon shines
Niram theigirathu
Its color fades
Yaarum rasikkavillaiyae
No one is enjoying it
Indha kangal mattum
Only these eyes
Unnai kaanum
Will look at you
Thendral pogindrathu
The gentle breeze passes by
Solai sirikkindrathu
The garden smiles
Yaarum sugikkavillaiyae
No one is relishing it
Indha kaigal mattum
Only these hands
Unnai theendum
Will touch you
Kaatru veesum
The wind blows
Veyil kaayum kaayum
The sun shines brightly
Athil maatram yedhum illaiyae
There is no change in that
Aaaaaa… vaanum mannum
Aaaaaa… the sky and the earth
Nammai vaazha chollum
Ask us to live
Andha vaazhthu oyavillai
That blessing never ends
Endrendrum vaanil
Forever in the sky
Nila kaaigirathu
The moon shines
Niram theigirathu
Its color fades
Yaarum rasikkavillaiyae
No one is enjoying it
Indha kangal mattum
Only these eyes
Unnai kaanum
Will look at you
Adho poginradhu
There goes
Kaanal megam
A cloud of mirage
Mazhaiyai kaanavillaiyae
It brings no rain
Idho ketkindradhu
Here can be heard
Kuyilin sogam
The sorrow of the cuckoo
Isaiyum ketkavillaiyae
No music is truly heard
Indha bhoomiyae poovanam
This earth is a flower garden
Endhan poovidhazh sarugudhae
Yet my flower petals turn into dry leaves
Indha vaazhkaiyae seedhanam
This life itself is a gift
Adhil jeevanae povadhen
Why then is my soul slipping away?
Nila kaaigirathu
The moon shines
Niram theigirathu
Its color fades
Yaarum rasikkavillaiyae
No one is enjoying it
Indha kangal mattum
Only these eyes
Unnai kaanum
Will look at you
Thendral pogindrathu
The gentle breeze passes by
Solai sirikkindrathu
The garden smiles
Yaarum sugikkavillaiyae
No one is relishing it
Indha kaigal mattum
Only these hands
Unnai theendum
Will touch you
Kaatru veesum
The wind blows
Veyil kaayum kaayum
The sun shines brightly
Athil maatram yedhum illaiyae
There is no change in that
Aaaaaa… vaanum mannum
Aaaaaa… the sky and the earth
Nammai vaazha chollum
Ask us to live
Andha vaazhthu oyavillai
That blessing never ends
Endrendrum vaanil
Forever in the sky
Nila kaaigirathu
The moon shines
Niram theigirathu
Its color fades
Yaarum rasikkavillaiyae
No one is enjoying it
Indha kangal mattum
Only these eyes
Unnai kaanum
Will look at you
Hmmm…mmm…mmm..
Hmmm…mmm…mmm..
Aaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nila Kaaigirathu' is a soulful, melancholic track portraying the contrast between the eternal beauty of nature and the internal isolation of a heart longing for love. The lyrics describe nature continuing its rhythm—the moon shining, the breeze blowing, and gardens smiling—while noticing that no one takes the time to truly appreciate it, except the singer whose sight and touch remain devoted exclusively to their beloved. The second verse deepens this poignant sadness using evocative metaphors such as a cloud that is merely a mirage bringing no rain, a cuckoo singing out of sorrow rather than joy, and delicate flower petals decaying into dry leaves. It questions why life, which is a precious gift, feels as though it is slipping away, capturing a profound sense of yearning, solitude, and quiet romantic pain.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Solai sirikkindrathu”
Attributes the human trait of 'smiling' (sirikkindrathu) to a garden (solai).
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Nila kaaigirathu / Niram theigirathu”
The lines end with matching verbal suffixes ('kaaigirathu' and 'theigirathu'), creating a rhythmic flow.
Metaphor / Uruvagani
“Endhan poovidhazh sarugudhae”
Compares youth or delicate emotions directly to flower petals turning into dry, withered leaves (sarugu).
Muran (Contrast)
“Indha bhoomiyae poovanam / Endhan poovidhazh sarugudhae”
Juxtaposes the surrounding world being a lush flower garden with the singer's personal state of wilting away.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A.R. Rahman for the 1995 directorial debut of Suhasini Maniratnam, 'Indira', this song features lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song was recorded in both female and male renditions; the female version marked the playback singing debut of Harini at the age of 15, which earned her the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
Keep listening
More from Indira
Indira
Indira
Indira
Indira
Indira