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En Aasai Unnoduthan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nilave Unadhu

From En Aasai Unnoduthan · 1983

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
En Aasai Unnoduthan
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
25 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae
Nizhalae unadhu dhaegam enga
Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae
Nizhalae unadhu dhaegam enga
Urugum melugum naanum ondru
Idhayam muzhuthum yaekkam kondu
Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae
Nizhalae unadhu dhaegam enga
Ennaasai unnodu thaan
Endrum nee indha pennodu thaan
Ennaasai unnodu thaan
Endrum nee indha pennodu thaan
Imai veru kann veru illai
Endra ennangal nenjodu thaan
Dhinam dhinam undhan orae mugam
Manam thanil inba ulaa varum
Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae
Nizhalae unadhu dhaegam enga
Urugum melugum naanum ondru
Idhayam muzhuthum yaekkam kondu
Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae
Nizhalae unadhu dhaegam enga
Ver vaazha neer vendumae
Ingu naan vaazha nee vendumae
Ver vaazha neer vendumae
Ingu naan vaazha nee vendumae
Kaadhaara naan kaetpathendru
Nalla kalyaana sangeethamae
Unakkenna mannil pirandhaval
Uyir thunai endru kalandhaval
Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae
Nizhalae unadhu dhaegam enga
Urugum melugum naanum ondru
Idhayam muzhuthum yaekkam kondu
Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae
Nizhalae unadhu dhaegam enga
O moon, where is your sky?
O shadow, where is your body?
O moon, where is your sky?
O shadow, where is your body?
Melting wax and I are one and the same,
with a heart completely filled with longing.
O moon, where is your sky?
O shadow, where is your body?
My heart's desire is only with you,
and you belong forever with this girl.
My heart's desire is only with you,
and you belong forever with this girl.
Like the eyelid that is never parted from the eye,
these thoughts remain deep within my heart.
Day after day, your face alone
strolls happily through my mind.
O moon, where is your sky?
O shadow, where is your body?
Melting wax and I are one and the same,
with a heart completely filled with longing.
O moon, where is your sky?
O shadow, where is your body?
For roots to live, they need water,
and for me to live here, I need you.
For roots to live, they need water,
and for me to live here, I need you.
When will I finally hear with my own ears
the sweet, auspicious music of our wedding?
I was born into this world only for you,
and merged with you as your life partner.
O moon, where is your sky?
O shadow, where is your body?
Melting wax and I are one and the same,
with a heart completely filled with longing.
O moon, where is your sky?
O shadow, where is your body?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic track 'Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae' expresses deep love, emotional longing, and devotion. The narrator uses vivid imagery—comparing herself to a moon without its sky, a shadow without a body, and melting wax—to convey how incomplete her life feels without her beloved. Her entire heart is filled with an unbearable yearning for union. She emphasizes the intimate connection they share, describing their bond as inseparable as eyelids and eyes, or roots and water. Looking forward to marriage, she views herself as someone born on earth solely to be his true soulmate, eagerly awaiting the sweet sounds of wedding music to seal their eternal companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Nilavae unadhu vaanam engae / Nizhalae unadhu dhaegam enga

Matching initial consonants ('Ni'-'Ni') in 'Nilavae' and 'Nizhalae' across opening lines.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ennaasai unnodu thaan / Endrum nee indha pennodu thaan

The second letter sound ('n') matches in 'Ennaasai' and 'Endrum'.

Metaphor

Urugum melugum naanum ondru

Compares her pining state directly to melting wax.

Simile / Analogy

Ver vaazha neer vendumae / Ingu naan vaazha nee vendumae

Draws an analogy that just as a plant's roots require water to survive, she requires her lover to live.

Imagery

Imai veru kann veru illai

Uses the organic closeness of eyelids and eyes to symbolize absolute inseparability.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics for this track were penned by the veteran Tamil poet Pulamaipithan for the 1983 film 'En Aasai Unnoduthan'.

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