Nilave Nilave (Pathos)
From Periyanna · 1999
- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Singer
- S. N. Surendar
- Music director
- Bharani
- Details
- Periyanna1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hmmm haaa…aaa…aaa… Hmm aaaa….aaa….aaa…aaa… Tharinaaa haaa…aaa….. Hmm hmm hmm mm mmm Aaaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…. | [Vocalizing melody and humming sounds] |
| Male | |
| Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu | Oh moon, oh moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dream and turn it into the opening line of a song. |
| Male | |
| Unnai ovvoru Iravilum thedugiren Nee theigindra naalil vaadugiren Un mounathil aayiram paattu Naan mayangugiren adhai kettu Nee maalaiyil varuvathum Kaalaiyil maraivathum Ennadi vilaiyaattu | I search for you every night, and I wither on the days you wane. There are a thousand songs in your silence, and I am entranced listening to them. What kind of game is this, arriving in the evening and fading away in the morning? |
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....
ஹ்ம்ம் ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ...
தரினா ஹா....ஆஅ....
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....
[Vocalizing melody and humming sounds]
ஆண்
: நிலவே நிலவே
சரிகம பதநி பாடு
என் கனவைத் திருடி
பல்லவி வரியாய்ப் போடு
Oh moon, oh moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dream and turn it into the opening line of a song.
உன்னை ஒவ்வொரு
இரவிலும் தேடுகிறேன்
நீ தேய்கின்ற நாளில் வாடுகிறேன்
உன் மௌனத்தில் ஆயிரம் பாட்டு
நான் மயங்குகிறேன் அதைக் கேட்டு
நீ மாலையில் வருவதும்
காலையில் மறைவதும்
என்னடி விளையாட்டு
I search for you every night, and I wither on the days you wane. There are a thousand songs in your silence, and I am entranced listening to them. What kind of game is this, arriving in the evening and fading away in the morning?
Hmmm haaa…aaa…aaa… Hmm aaaa….aaa….aaa…aaa… Tharinaaa haaa…aaa….. Hmm hmm hmm mm mmm Aaaa…aaa….aaa….aaa….
[Vocalizing melody and humming sounds]
Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu
Oh moon, oh moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dream and turn it into the opening line of a song.
Unnai ovvoru Iravilum thedugiren Nee theigindra naalil vaadugiren Un mounathil aayiram paattu Naan mayangugiren adhai kettu Nee maalaiyil varuvathum Kaalaiyil maraivathum Ennadi vilaiyaattu
I search for you every night, and I wither on the days you wane. There are a thousand songs in your silence, and I am entranced listening to them. What kind of game is this, arriving in the evening and fading away in the morning?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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