Nilave Vaa
From Engirundho Vandhan · 1995
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Engirundho Vandhan1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nilavey vaa….aa….aa… | Come, oh Moon... |
| Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuthu vaanam…mm | The sky is calling, calling... |
| Senthamizhae vaa….aa….aa… | Come, oh pure Tamil... |
| Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuhu gaanam…mm…mm…. | The song is calling, calling... |
| Male | |
| Nilavey vaa….aa….aa… | Come, oh Moon... |
| Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuthu vaanam…mm | The sky is calling, calling... |
| Senthamizhae vaa….aa….aa… | Come, oh pure Tamil... |
| Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuhu gaanam…mm…mm…. | The song is calling, calling... |
| Male | |
| Vaasal thedi nee vanthaal vaanavillum poothoovum | If you come searching for my doorstep, a rainbow will shower flowers |
| Paadal nooru nee thanthaal bhoomi engum theanoorum | If you grant a hundred songs, honey will overflow all over the earth |
| Vizhaa kaanum neram….mm…. | It is time for celebration... |
| Aadalaam paadalaam aah koodalaam | We can dance, we can sing, ah, we can gather together |
| Male | |
| Mullaich charam paadhi muththuch charam paadhi | Half a string of jasmine, half a string of pearls |
| Kalla sirippodu vilanga | Shining bright with a mischievous smile |
| En kannellaam un kolangal | In my eyes are all your exquisite forms |
| Female | |
| Ulla thudippodu sollum thamizh paattu | A Tamil song spoken with a beating heart |
| Saptha swaraththoddu thulanga | Resonating with the seven musical notes |
| En nenjellaam un thaalangal | All across my heart are your rhythm beats |
| Male | |
| Madal vaazhai pennaagi | Like a tender banana plant grown into a woman |
| Manam thannai panthaadum | Playing with the heart like a ball |
| Kadal meengal kannaagi | With eyes like fish in the sea |
| Kadhai koorum ennaalum | Narrating stories every single day |
| Female | |
| Nilavey vaa….aa….aa… | Come, oh Moon... |
| Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuthu vaanam…mm | The sky is calling, calling... |
| Senthamizhae vaa….aa….aa… | Come, oh pure Tamil... |
| Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuhu gaanam…mm…mm…. | The song is calling, calling... |
| Female | |
| Katti kalakkaathu otti kidakkaathu | Without embracing closely, without lying beside |
| Pattu pani paavai varuntha | As the delicate, silk-like maiden grieves |
| Kann thunjaathu nee kenjaathu | Eyes do not sleep, nor do you beg |
| Male | |
| Siththam salikkaathu muththam padhikkaathu | The mind never tires, nor does it imprint a kiss |
| Niththam enakkedhu virunthu | Where is the daily feast for me? |
| Naan vanthaenae en senthaenae | Yet I have come, my sweet honey |
| Female | |
| Enai serum ovvondrum | Everything that joins me |
| Unai serum eppothum | Will always join you too |
| Eduththaalum thiththikkum koduththaalum thiththikkum | It tastes sweet when taken, and sweet when given |
| Female | |
| Vaasal thedi nee vanthaal vaanavillum poothoovum | If you come searching for my doorstep, a rainbow will shower flowers |
| Vizhaa kaanum neram….mm…. | It is time for celebration... |
| Aadalaam paadalaam aah koodalaam | We can dance, we can sing, ah, we can gather together |
நிலவே வா....ஆ....ஆ.....
அழைக்குது அழைக்குது வானம்......ம்......
செந்தமிழே வா....ஆ....ஆ.....
அழைக்குது அழைக்குது கானம்........ம்ம்.....ம்ம்..
Come, oh Moon...
The sky is calling, calling...
Come, oh pure Tamil...
The song is calling, calling...
நிலவே வா....ஆ....ஆ.....
அழைக்குது அழைக்குது வானம்......ம்......
செந்தமிழே வா....ஆ....ஆ.....
அழைக்குது அழைக்குது கானம்........ம்ம்.....ம்ம்..
Come, oh Moon...
The sky is calling, calling...
Come, oh pure Tamil...
The song is calling, calling...
வாசல் தேடி நீ வந்தால் வானவில்லும் பூத்தூவும்
பாடல் நூறு நீ தந்தால் பூமியெங்கும் தேனூறும்
விழாக் காணும் நேரம்.......ம்ம்....
ஆடலாம் பாடலாம் ஆஹ் கூடலாம்.......
If you come searching for my doorstep, a rainbow will shower flowers
If you grant a hundred songs, honey will overflow all over the earth
It is time for celebration...
We can dance, we can sing, ah, we can gather together
முல்லைச்சரம் பாதி முத்துச்சரம் பாதி
கள்ளச் சிரிப்போடு விளங்க
என் கண்ணெல்லாம் உன் கோலங்கள்
Half a string of jasmine, half a string of pearls
Shining bright with a mischievous smile
In my eyes are all your exquisite forms
உள்ளத் துடிப்போடு சொல்லும் தமிழ் பாட்டு
ஸ்ப்த ஸ்வரத்தோடு துலங்க
என் நெஞ்செல்லாம் உன் தாளங்கள்
A Tamil song spoken with a beating heart
Resonating with the seven musical notes
All across my heart are your rhythm beats
மடல் வாழை பெண்ணாகி
மனம் தன்னை பந்தாடும்
கடல் மீன்கள் கண்ணாகி
கதை கூறும் எந்நாளும்
Like a tender banana plant grown into a woman
Playing with the heart like a ball
With eyes like fish in the sea
Narrating stories every single day
நிலவே வா....ஆ....ஆ.....
அழைக்குது அழைக்குது வானம்......ம்......
செந்தமிழே வா....ஆ....ஆ.....
அழைக்குது அழைக்குது கானம்........ம்ம்.....ம்ம்..
Come, oh Moon...
The sky is calling, calling...
Come, oh pure Tamil...
The song is calling, calling...
கட்டிக் கலக்காது ஒட்டிக் கிடக்காது
பட்டுப் பனிப் பாவை வருந்த
கண் துஞ்சாது நீ கொஞ்சாது
Without embracing closely, without lying beside
As the delicate, silk-like maiden grieves
Eyes do not sleep, nor do you beg
சித்தம் சலிக்காது முத்தம் பதிக்காது
நித்தம் எனக்கேது விருந்து
நான் வந்தேனே என் செந்தேனே
The mind never tires, nor does it imprint a kiss
Where is the daily feast for me?
Yet I have come, my sweet honey
எனைச் சேரும் ஒவ்வொன்றும்
உனைச் சேரும் எப்போதும்
எடுத்தாலும் தித்திக்கும் கொடுத்தாலும் தித்திக்கும்
Everything that joins me
Will always join you too
It tastes sweet when taken, and sweet when given
வாசல் தேடி நீ வந்தால் வானவில்லும் பூத்தூவும்..
விழாக் காணும் நேரம்.......ம்ம்....
ஆடலாம் பாடலாம் ஆஹ் கூடலாம்.....
If you come searching for my doorstep, a rainbow will shower flowers
It is time for celebration...
We can dance, we can sing, ah, we can gather together
நிலவே வா....ஆ....ஆ.....
அழைக்குது அழைக்குது வானம்......ம்......
செந்தமிழே வா....ஆ....ஆ.....
அழைக்குது அழைக்குது கானம்........ம்ம்.....ம்ம்..
Nilavey vaa….aa….aa…
Come, oh Moon...
Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuthu vaanam…mm
The sky is calling, calling...
Senthamizhae vaa….aa….aa…
Come, oh pure Tamil...
Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuhu gaanam…mm…mm….
The song is calling, calling...
Nilavey vaa….aa….aa…
Come, oh Moon...
Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuthu vaanam…mm
The sky is calling, calling...
Senthamizhae vaa….aa….aa…
Come, oh pure Tamil...
Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuhu gaanam…mm…mm….
The song is calling, calling...
Vaasal thedi nee vanthaal vaanavillum poothoovum
If you come searching for my doorstep, a rainbow will shower flowers
Paadal nooru nee thanthaal bhoomi engum theanoorum
If you grant a hundred songs, honey will overflow all over the earth
Vizhaa kaanum neram….mm….
It is time for celebration...
Aadalaam paadalaam aah koodalaam
We can dance, we can sing, ah, we can gather together
Mullaich charam paadhi muththuch charam paadhi
Half a string of jasmine, half a string of pearls
Kalla sirippodu vilanga
Shining bright with a mischievous smile
En kannellaam un kolangal
In my eyes are all your exquisite forms
Ulla thudippodu sollum thamizh paattu
A Tamil song spoken with a beating heart
Saptha swaraththoddu thulanga
Resonating with the seven musical notes
En nenjellaam un thaalangal
All across my heart are your rhythm beats
Madal vaazhai pennaagi
Like a tender banana plant grown into a woman
Manam thannai panthaadum
Playing with the heart like a ball
Kadal meengal kannaagi
With eyes like fish in the sea
Kadhai koorum ennaalum
Narrating stories every single day
Nilavey vaa….aa….aa…
Come, oh Moon...
Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuthu vaanam…mm
The sky is calling, calling...
Senthamizhae vaa….aa….aa…
Come, oh pure Tamil...
Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuhu gaanam…mm…mm….
The song is calling, calling...
Katti kalakkaathu otti kidakkaathu
Without embracing closely, without lying beside
Pattu pani paavai varuntha
As the delicate, silk-like maiden grieves
Kann thunjaathu nee kenjaathu
Eyes do not sleep, nor do you beg
Siththam salikkaathu muththam padhikkaathu
The mind never tires, nor does it imprint a kiss
Niththam enakkedhu virunthu
Where is the daily feast for me?
Naan vanthaenae en senthaenae
Yet I have come, my sweet honey
Enai serum ovvondrum
Everything that joins me
Unai serum eppothum
Will always join you too
Eduththaalum thiththikkum koduththaalum thiththikkum
It tastes sweet when taken, and sweet when given
Vaasal thedi nee vanthaal vaanavillum poothoovum
If you come searching for my doorstep, a rainbow will shower flowers
Vizhaa kaanum neram….mm….
It is time for celebration...
Aadalaam paadalaam aah koodalaam
We can dance, we can sing, ah, we can gather together
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic song is a poetic beckoning filled with rich classical imagery, equating the beloved to both the enchanting moon and the sweetness of pure Tamil ('Senthamizh'). The singer describes how nature itself—the sky and melodies—calls out for the beloved's presence. Her arrival turns everyday life into a grand celebration where flowers rain down and sweet music fills the air. The verses beautifully weave together elements of nature, music, and feminine grace. The song uses metaphors of pearls, jasmine, seven musical scales (Saptha Swaras), and rhythms to portray love as a joyful, harmonious festivity. Ultimately, it expresses the deep emotional and physical union between lovers, where every shared gesture is overwhelmingly sweet.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagakani)
“Senthamizhae vaa….aa….aa…”
The beloved is metaphorically addressed as 'Senthamizh' (pure, refined Tamil language), highlighting her sweetness, elegance, and cultural richness.
Personification
“Azhaikkuthu azhaikkuthu vaanam…mm”
The sky is personified as a entity capable of calling out to welcome the arrival of the beloved.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Madal vaazhai pennaagi / Kadal meengal kannaagi”
The second consonant sound 'da' (ட) in 'Madal' and 'Kadal' rhymes across these lines.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Vaasal thedi nee vanthaal vaanavillum poothoovum / Paadal nooru nee thanthaal bhoomi engum theanoorum”
Lines 9 and 10 end with rhyming verbs 'vanthaal' and 'thanthaal', creating a melodious rhythm.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Eduththaalum thiththikkum koduththaalum thiththikkum”
Repetition of 'thiththikkum' (tastes sweet) highlights the boundless sweetness of love in both receiving and giving.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features lyrics written by legendary lyricist Vaali, known for seamlessly weaving traditional Tamil literary metaphors—like comparing a beloved to pure Tamil and lush nature—into contemporary film music for 'Engirundho Vandhan' (1995).
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