Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nilave Nilave (Pathos)

From Periyanna · 1999

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singer
S. N. Surendar
Music director
Bharani
Movie name
Periyanna
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
12 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hmmm haaa…aaa…aaa… Hmm aaaa….aaa….aaa…aaa… Tharinaaa haaa…aaa….. Hmm hmm hmm mm mmm Aaaa…aaa….aaa….aaa….
Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu
Unnai ovvoru Iravilum thedugiren Nee theigindra naalil vaadugiren Un mounathil aayiram paattu Naan mayangugiren adhai kettu Nee maalaiyil varuvathum Kaalaiyil maraivathum Ennadi vilaiyaattu
Mmm... ha... aa... Mmm aa... aa... Tharina... ha... Mmm hmm hmm... aa...
O moon, O moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dream and make it the opening line of a song.
I look for you every night, and fade away on the days you wane. There are a thousand songs in your silence, and I am lost listening to them. What kind of game is this, arriving in the evening and vanishing by morning?
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this romantic song from the movie Periyanna (1999), the protagonist addresses the moon as a surrogate for their beloved. Asking the moon to turn stolen dreams into a poetic melody, the speaker expresses deep affection and the pain of longing during the moon's waning phases. The lyrics beautifully capture the mystery of love, where even the silence of the beloved feels like a thousand sweet songs, and playfully questions the celestial game of appearing at dusk only to disappear by dawn.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu

The poet addresses the moon directly as a human being, asking it to sing musical notes and compose a song line out of dreams.

Iyaipu (Rhyming End Words)

Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu

The words 'paadu' and 'podu' at the end of consecutive clauses create a pleasing internal end-rhyme.

Metaphor

Un mounathil aayiram paattu Naan mayangugiren adhai kettu

The silence of the moon/lover is metaphorically described as containing 'a thousand songs' that can captivate the listener.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for Periyanna (1999) was composed by Bharathwaj, and the lyrics were penned by the renowned poet Arivumathi. The film stars Vijayakanth and Suriya in prominent roles.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Periyanna

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.