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Parakkum Paavai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nilavennum Aadai

From Parakkum Paavai · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Parakkum Paavai
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
21 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nilavennum aadai kondaalo
Aval than nizhaludan nindraalo
Kulirennum vaadai kondaalo
Aval than koondhalil maraindhaalo
Iravilae thannai thaanae
Kaana ninaithaalo
Ohhaho…
Ilamaiyai naeril kandu
Yenga ninaithaalo
Hoo hoo hoo oo
Pennae pennodu pesumo
Sugam ennendru koorumo
En munnae varaamal theerumo
Nizhal muthangal sindhumo…oo…
Nilavennum maedai kandaano
Avan en nizhalukku nindraano
Malarennum vaadai kondaano
Avan pen mayakkam kondaano
Paruvathai naeril kandu
Aada ninaithaano
Aam…haam…
Paadinaal koodum endru
Paadi mudithaano…
Mhuhum
Paavam ennenna vaegamo
Nizhal paarthaalum podhumo
Ival paavam kandaalum
Podhumo
Avan ennengal theerumo
Nilavennum maedai kandaano
Avan en nizhalukku nindraano
Malarennum vaadai kondaano
Avan pen mayakkam kondaano
Aanmaiyin kaiyil thanae
Penmai vara vendum
Vandha pin penmai thaanae
Inbam thara vendum
Mannavan kobam kondaal
Kanneer vida vendum
Vanjiyiar vanjam vaithaal
Paadham thoda vendum
Nilavennum maedai kandaano
Avan en nizhalukku nindraano
Malarennum vaadai kondaano
Avan pen mayakkam kondaano
Did she dress herself in moonlight?
Did she stand beside her own shadow?
Did she catch the chilly breeze?
Did she hide beneath her own hair?
In the quiet of the night,
did she want to look at herself?
Ohaho...
Looking at her own youth,
did she begin to yearn?
Hoo hoo hoo oo...
Can a woman speak of love to another woman?
Can she describe what sweet pleasure feels like?
Can she stay away without coming before me?
Can a shadow shower kisses? Oo...
Did he see a stage made of moonlight?
Did he stop and wait for my shadow?
Did he catch the sweet scent of flowers?
Was he enchanted by a woman?
Seeing my youth before his eyes,
did he feel like dancing?
Aam... haam...
Thinking we would unite if he sang,
did he finish singing his song?
Mhum...
Poor soul, what a rush he is in!
Is it enough just to see a shadow?
Even if he sees her expressions,
is it enough?
Will his desires ever be satisfied?
Did he see a stage made of moonlight?
Did he stop and wait for my shadow?
Did he catch the sweet scent of flowers?
Was he enchanted by a woman?
Only into a man's hands
should a woman come.
And once she arrives, isn't it womanhood
that must give him joy?
If her man gets angry,
she must shed tears to soften him.
If a woman holds a playful grudge,
he must touch her feet to plead.
Did he see a stage made of moonlight?
Did he stop and wait for my shadow?
Did he catch the sweet scent of flowers?
Was he enchanted by a woman?
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Parakkum Paavai' (1966) is a charming and romantic duet that explores playful banter and romantic anticipation between two lovers. The male lover marvels at the heroine's ethereal beauty, poetically wondering if she is adorned in moonlight and enamored by her own youthful radiance. He wonders if she longs for love as much as he does.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Nilavennum aadai kondaalo”

Compares moonlight directly to a garment draped around the heroine ('garment of moonlight').

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Nilavennum aadai kondaalo / Aval than nizhaludan nindraalo”

Lines end with matching rhyming suffixes ('kondaalo', 'nindraalo').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Mannavan kobam kondaal / Vanjiyiar vanjam vaithaal”

The second letter 'n' (ன்/ஞ்) rhymes in successive lines ('Ma-n-navan' and 'Va-n-jiyiar').

Personification

“Nizhal muthangal sindhumo”

Attributes the human act of scattering kisses to intangible shadows.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Parakkum Paavai' (1966) is a popular Tamil film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), B. Saroja Devi, and K. R. Vijaya. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by the iconic Kannadasan. The duet is sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, capturing the quintessential musical flavor of 1960s Tamil cinema.

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