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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nilave Nilave

From Periyanna · 1999

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Hariharan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Bharani
Movie name
Periyanna
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
12 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hoo hooo hoo ooo Lala lalaa laa laa
…………………………
Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu
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
Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu
Hmm mm mm mmm Hmm mm mm mm mm
Kaadhal pesum Vayathukku vantha nila Unai nenjai theenda Anumadhi thantha nila Than manathai sollivida Thayanguthu thanga nila
Ada aadham yevaal Paarthathu pazhaiya nila En aasai nenjai Eerthathu pudhiya nila
Than kanavugalai Mella munagum nilaMale :En aayulaiyae Alli parugum nilaFemale :Pagaludan iravum Pathinettu varudam Valarnthathu indha nila Ithu unakkae sondha nila
Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu
Laaa lalalaaaaa Lala laaa lala laaaa…… Hmm mm mm mmm Hmm mm mm mm mm
Kannil kannil Kanavugal poosugiraai En kaadhal nenjil Ninaivugal veesugiraai Thoda thoda naan varugaiyilae Tholaivinil odugiraai
Ada naanum unnai Paarppathu theriyaatha Naan pesum vaarthai Unakkathu puriyaatha
Adi naan irunthen Un gnyabagamaaiFemale :Adhu sollugiren Naan soosagamaaiMale :Arugil naanum Tholaivil neeyum Irunthaal kaadhal edhu Manam ketkum kelvi idhu
Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu
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
Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu En kanavai thirudi Pallavi variyaai podu
Hoo hoo ooh, hoo ooh... la la la la la la
...
O Moon, O Moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dreams and turn them into your song's opening lines.
O Moon, O Moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dreams and turn them into your song's opening lines.
I search for you every night, and wither on the days you fade away. There are a thousand songs in your silence, and I lose myself listening to them. What kind of game is this, appearing at dusk and vanishing at dawn?
O Moon, O Moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dreams and turn them into your song's opening lines.
Mmm mmm mmm mmm... mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
This moon has come of age to talk of love, this moon has allowed you to touch its heart, yet this golden moon hesitates to speak its mind.
The one Adam and Eve saw was an old moon, but the one that captured my loving heart is a new moon.
A moon that softly hums its dreams— A moon that drinks up my very lifetime! For eighteen years, through day and night, this moon has grown, and it belongs only to you.
O Moon, O Moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dreams and turn them into your song's opening lines.
La la la la... la la la... Mmm mmm mmm...
You paint dreams in my eyes, you stir memories in my loving heart; yet when I reach out to touch you, you run away into the distance.
Don't you know that I am looking at you too? Don't you understand the words I speak?
I lived lost in your thoughts— And I am hinting at that very thing! If I am close and you stay far away, what kind of love is that? That is the question my heart asks.
O Moon, O Moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dreams and turn them into your song's opening lines.
O Moon, O Moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dreams and turn them into your song's opening lines.
I search for you every night, and wither on the days you fade away. There are a thousand songs in your silence, and I lose myself listening to them. What kind of game is this, appearing at dusk and vanishing at dawn?
O Moon, O Moon, sing the musical notes; steal my dreams and turn them into your song's opening lines.
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nilavae Nilavae is a romantic track from the 1999 Tamil film Periyanna, where the moon serves as a central motif symbolizing the beloved, her beauty, her mystery, and the evolving feelings of love. The song captures the sweet interplay between lovers—one expressing deep admiration and yearning, while the other playfully hesitates and responds in subtle hints. Through musical metaphors like 'Sarigama pathani' and poetic imagery of waxing and waning moons, the lyrics convey the longing, beauty, and emotional closeness felt despite physical or hesitational distance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Nilavae nilavae Sarigama pathani paadu

The moon ('Nilavae') is personified as a musician capable of singing musical notes (Swaras) and weaving dreams into song lines.

Metaphor

Pagaludan iravum Pathinettu varudam Valarnthathu indha nila

The heroine herself is metaphorically referred to as a moon that has grown over eighteen years.

Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)

Kannil kannil Kanavugal poosugiraai

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words creates a melodic rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Periyanna (1999) featured music composed by Bharathwaj, with lyrics written by the renowned poet Pulamaipithan. The film starred Vijayakanth alongside Suriya in one of his early prominent roles.

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