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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nilavenna Pesum

From Rani Samyuktha · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Rani Samyuktha
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
10 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nilavenna pesum kuyilenna paadum
Malarenna sollum manadhilae
Kadhai paesumo inba kavi paadumoo
Inghu kannodu kann sollum mozhiyilae
Nilavenna pesum kuyilenna paadum
Malarenna sollum manadhilae
Kadhai paesumo inba kavi paadumoo
Inghu kannodu kann sollum mozhiyilae
Thanga silai pola uravaadum kaalai
Azhagil vilaiyaadum ivvelai
Thanga silai pola uravaadum kaalai
Azhagil vilaiyaadum ivvelai
Vaanagam keezhae vaiyagam melae
Maarudhal polavae thondruvadhaalae
Vaanagam keezhae vaiyagam melae
Maarudhal polavae thondruvadhaalae
Nilavenna pesum kuyilenna paadum
Malarenna sollum manadhilae
Kadhai paesumo inba kavi paadumoo
Inghu kannodu kann sollum mozhiyilae
Iru karai pola thaniyaagha irundhom
Akkaraiyodu ingae kalandhom
Iru karai pola thaniyaagha irundhom
Akkaraiyodu ingae kalandhom
Varumendru edhirparkkum munnae
Varum mazhai polae nee vandhaai kannae
Varumendru edhirparkkum munnae
Varum mazhai polae nee vandhaai kannae
Kavalai allavoo kondu vandhen
Male :Naan kaadhal kadhai ingae solli thandhen
Female :Paruvangal ondraagi magizhum nilaiyil
Male :Neelapattaadai pol thondrum vaanodu
Ulagil nilavenna pesum
Male :Kuyilenna paadum
Female :Malarenna sollum manadhilae
Both :Kadhai paesumo inba kavi paadumoo
Inghu kannodu kann sollum mozhiyilae
Nilavenna pesum
What can the moon say? What can the cuckoo sing?
What can a flower whisper in the heart?
Could they tell a story, or sing a sweet poem,
like the language spoken when eyes meet eyes here?
What can the moon say? What can the cuckoo sing?
What can a flower whisper in the heart?
Could they tell a story, or sing a sweet poem,
like the language spoken when eyes meet eyes here?
On this morning of closeness like golden statues,
at this moment when beauty is at play,
On this morning of closeness like golden statues,
at this moment when beauty is at play,
The sky feels below and the earth seems above,
as if the whole world has turned upside down.
The sky feels below and the earth seems above,
as if the whole world has turned upside down.
What can the moon say? What can the cuckoo sing?
What can a flower whisper in the heart?
Could they tell a story, or sing a sweet poem,
like the language spoken when eyes meet eyes here?
We once stood apart like two separate riverbanks,
but now we have merged together on this shore.
We once stood apart like two separate riverbanks,
but now we have merged together on this shore.
Even before it was expected to fall,
like sudden rain you arrived, my love.
Even before it was expected to fall,
like sudden rain you arrived, my love.
Was it not only worries that I brought with me?
Male: I came and taught you the story of love.
Female: As our youthful years unite in joy,
Male: beside the sky that looks like blue silk,
in this world, what can the moon say?
Male: What can the cuckoo sing?
Female: What can a flower whisper in the heart?
Both: Could they tell a story, or sing a sweet poem,
like the language spoken when eyes meet eyes here?
What can the moon say?
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Nilavenna Pesum' from Rani Samyuktha (1962) is a classic romantic duet depicting deep love and silent communication. The song centers on the premise that conventional symbols of poetic beauty—the moon, the cuckoo, and flowers—are rendered voiceless when compared to the profound, silent language spoken between the eyes of two lovers. Their gaze conveys feelings far richer than any spoken poem or song. The emotional narrative journeys from solitude to joyful unity. The lovers recall being separate like two opposing riverbanks, only to be brought together by an unexpected arrival of love that feels like sudden, refreshing rain. Overwhelmed by bliss, their perception of the world turns upside down—the sky feels below and the earth above—framed under a sky draped like a blue silk saree.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai Ani (Simile)

“Thanga silai pola uravaadum kaalai”

Compares the golden morning radiance to a golden statue ('Thanga silai pola') using the explicit comparison word 'pola'.

Muran Ani (Antithesis/Oxymoron)

“Vaanagam keezhae vaiyagam melae”

Contrasts opposites—sky (vaanagam) being below (keezhae) and earth (vaiyagam) being above (melae)—to describe the dizzying disorientation of falling in love.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Nilavenna pesum... / Malarenna sollum...”

The second letter 'la' (ல) rhymes across lines 1 and 2 ('Ni-la-venna' and 'Ma-la-renna').

Metaphor (Uruvagak katchi)

“Neelapattaadai pol thondrum vaanodu”

Metaphorically compares the vast blue sky to a luxurious blue silk garment ('Neelapattaadai').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Rani Samyuktha' (1962) is a historical romance movie starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) as King Prithviraj Chauhan and Padmini as Princess Samyuktha. The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by the legendary poet Kannadasan. The combination of T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela rendered iconic romantic duets throughout the 1960s, and 'Nilavenna Pesum' remains one of their most celebrated classically-inspired melodies.

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