Nilavillamal Vaanirukkum
From Vazhikatti · 1965
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ibrahim
- Details
- Vazhikatti1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nilavillamal vaanirukkum | There can exist a sky without the moon, |
| Malarillamal thaenirukkum | There can exist honey without a flower, |
| Neeyillamal naan illai | But without you, I do not exist, |
| Un ninaivillamal ver illai | And without your thoughts, there is nothing else. |
| Female | |
| Nilavillamal vaanirukkum | There can exist a sky without the moon, |
| Malarillamal thaenirukkum | There can exist honey without a flower, |
| Neeyillamal naan illai | But without you, I do not exist, |
| Un ninaivillamal ver illai | And without your thoughts, there is nothing else. |
| Male | |
| Munnum pinnum nadai | Walking back and forth with a swaying gait, |
| Pinni pinni varum paavaiyae | Oh maiden who approaches weaving her steps! |
| Female :Hooo oo ooo oo | Female: Hooo oo ooo oo |
| Male | |
| Munnum pinnum nadai | Walking back and forth with a swaying gait, |
| Pinni pinni varum paavaiyae | Oh maiden who approaches weaving her steps! |
| Kaadhal thottram thottram enna | What is this manifestation of love? |
| Solven ennai mayakkudhae | How do I explain it? It entrances my mind! |
| Azhagae arugae varuvaaya | Oh beautiful one, will you come closer? |
| Innuma | Are you still hesitating? |
| Female :Hum | Female: Hum |
| Male :Vetkama | Male: Are you feeling shy? |
| Female :Hum | Female: Hum |
| Male | |
| Nilavillamal vaanirukkum | There can exist a sky without the moon, |
| Malarillamal thaenirukkum | There can exist honey without a flower, |
| Female :Neeyillamal naan illai | Female: But without you, I do not exist, |
| Un ninaivillamal ver illai | And without your thoughts, there is nothing else. |
| Female | |
| Alli alli sella | To gather me up and carry me away, |
| Mella mella vandha mannava | Oh king who arrived soft and slow, |
| Male :Ahaahaa aaaaa aa | Male: Ahaahaa aaaaa aa |
| Female | |
| Alli alli sella | To gather me up and carry me away, |
| Mella mella vandha mannava | Oh king who arrived soft and slow, |
| Sugam thedi thedi varum allava | Pleasure comes seeking us on its own, doesn't it? |
| Innum sollavaa | Shall I say more? |
| Arugae arugae varuvenae | I shall step closer and closer, |
| Achama | Is it fear that stops you? |
| Male :Hum | Male: Hum |
| Female :Innuma | Female: Still? |
| Male :Hum | Male: Hum |
| Male | |
| Nilavillamal vaanirukkum | There can exist a sky without the moon, |
| Malarillamal thaenirukkum | There can exist honey without a flower, |
| Female :Neeyillamal naan illai | Female: But without you, I do not exist, |
| Un ninaivillamal ver illai | And without your thoughts, there is nothing else. |
| Male | |
| Thanga thirumugam thaenaaroo | Is your golden face a river of honey? |
| Nee tharaiyil thavaum poonthaeroo | Are you a floral chariot crawling along the earth? |
| Female :Mannavan enbathum needhaano | Female: Are you truly my sovereign king? |
| Oru maaligai enbadhu manam thaano | Is a grand palace really nothing more than the heart? |
| Female | |
| Ezhai angae varuvenae | I, a humble girl, shall enter there, |
| Male :Ennai unakku tharuvenae hmm | Male: I shall surrender myself to you, hmm. |
முனகல் :
.................
There can exist a sky without the moon,
There can exist honey without a flower,
But without you, I do not exist,
And without your thoughts, there is nothing else.
நிலவில்லாமல் வானிருக்கும்
மலரில்லாமல் தேனிருக்கும்
நீயில்லாமல் நானில்லை
உன் நினைவில்லாமல் வேறில்லை.....
There can exist a sky without the moon,
There can exist honey without a flower,
But without you, I do not exist,
And without your thoughts, there is nothing else.
நிலவில்லாமல் வானிருக்கும்
மலரில்லாமல் தேனிருக்கும்
நீயில்லாமல் நானில்லை
உன் நினைவில்லாமல் வேறில்லை.....
Walking back and forth with a swaying gait,
Oh maiden who approaches weaving her steps!
Female: Hooo oo ooo oo
இருவரும் :
நிலவில்லாமல் வானிருக்கும்
மலரில்லாமல் தேனிருக்கும்
Walking back and forth with a swaying gait,
Oh maiden who approaches weaving her steps!
What is this manifestation of love?
How do I explain it? It entrances my mind!
Oh beautiful one, will you come closer?
Are you still hesitating?
Female: Hum
Male: Are you feeling shy?
Female: Hum
முன்னும் பின்னும் நடை
பின்னி பின்னி வரும் பாவையே
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ
முன்னும் பின்னும் நடை
பின்னி பின்னி வரும் பாவையே
காதல் தோற்றம் தோற்றம் என்ன
சொல்வேன் என்னை மயக்குதே
அழகே அருகே வருவாயே
இன்னுமா
There can exist a sky without the moon,
There can exist honey without a flower,
Female: But without you, I do not exist,
And without your thoughts, there is nothing else.
ஹும்....
வெட்கமா
ஹும் ....
To gather me up and carry me away,
Oh king who arrived soft and slow,
Male: Ahaahaa aaaaa aa
நிலவில்லாமல் வானிருக்கும்
மலரில்லாமல் தேனிருக்கும்
நீயில்லாமல் நானில்லை
உன் நினைவில்லாமல் வேறில்லை.....
To gather me up and carry me away,
Oh king who arrived soft and slow,
Pleasure comes seeking us on its own, doesn't it?
Shall I say more?
I shall step closer and closer,
Is it fear that stops you?
Male: Hum
Female: Still?
Male: Hum
அள்ளி அள்ளி செல்ல
மெல்ல மெல்ல வந்த மன்னவா
ஹா..ஆஅ..ஆ.ஆ....
அள்ளி அள்ளி செல்ல
மெல்ல மெல்ல வந்த மன்னவா
சுகம் தேடி தேடி வரும் அல்லவா
இன்னும் சொல்லவா......
அருகே அருகே வருவேனே
அச்சமா
ஹும்......
இன்னுமா
ஹும்.......
There can exist a sky without the moon,
There can exist honey without a flower,
Female: But without you, I do not exist,
And without your thoughts, there is nothing else.
நிலவில்லாமல் வானிருக்கும்
மலரில்லாமல் தேனிருக்கும்
நீயில்லாமல் நானில்லை
உன் நினைவில்லாமல் வேறில்லை.....
Is your golden face a river of honey?
Are you a floral chariot crawling along the earth?
Female: Are you truly my sovereign king?
Is a grand palace really nothing more than the heart?
இருவரும் :
நிலவில்லாமல் வானிருக்கும்
மலரில்லாமல் தேனிருக்கும்
I, a humble girl, shall enter there,
Male: I shall surrender myself to you, hmm.
தங்க திருமுகம் தேனாறோ
நீ தரையில் தவழும் பூந்தேரோ
மன்னவன் என்பதும் நீதானோ
ஒரு மாளிகை என்பது மனம் தானோ
ஏழை அங்கே வருவேனே
என்னை உனக்கு தருவேனே
இருவரும் :
நிலவில்லாமல் வானிருக்கும்
மலரில்லாமல் தேனிருக்கும்
நீயில்லாமல் நானில்லை
உன் நினைவில்லாமல் வேறில்லை.....
இருவரும் :
நிலவில்லாமல் வானிருக்கும்
மலரில்லாமல் தேனிருக்கும்
Nilavillamal vaanirukkum
There can exist a sky without the moon,
Malarillamal thaenirukkum
There can exist honey without a flower,
Neeyillamal naan illai
But without you, I do not exist,
Un ninaivillamal ver illai
And without your thoughts, there is nothing else.
Nilavillamal vaanirukkum
There can exist a sky without the moon,
Malarillamal thaenirukkum
There can exist honey without a flower,
Neeyillamal naan illai
But without you, I do not exist,
Un ninaivillamal ver illai
And without your thoughts, there is nothing else.
Munnum pinnum nadai
Walking back and forth with a swaying gait,
Pinni pinni varum paavaiyae
Oh maiden who approaches weaving her steps!
Female :Hooo oo ooo oo
Female: Hooo oo ooo oo
Munnum pinnum nadai
Walking back and forth with a swaying gait,
Pinni pinni varum paavaiyae
Oh maiden who approaches weaving her steps!
Kaadhal thottram thottram enna
What is this manifestation of love?
Solven ennai mayakkudhae
How do I explain it? It entrances my mind!
Azhagae arugae varuvaaya
Oh beautiful one, will you come closer?
Innuma
Are you still hesitating?
Female :Hum
Female: Hum
Male :Vetkama
Male: Are you feeling shy?
Female :Hum
Female: Hum
Nilavillamal vaanirukkum
There can exist a sky without the moon,
Malarillamal thaenirukkum
There can exist honey without a flower,
Female :Neeyillamal naan illai
Female: But without you, I do not exist,
Un ninaivillamal ver illai
And without your thoughts, there is nothing else.
Alli alli sella
To gather me up and carry me away,
Mella mella vandha mannava
Oh king who arrived soft and slow,
Male :Ahaahaa aaaaa aa
Male: Ahaahaa aaaaa aa
Alli alli sella
To gather me up and carry me away,
Mella mella vandha mannava
Oh king who arrived soft and slow,
Sugam thedi thedi varum allava
Pleasure comes seeking us on its own, doesn't it?
Innum sollavaa
Shall I say more?
Arugae arugae varuvenae
I shall step closer and closer,
Achama
Is it fear that stops you?
Male :Hum
Male: Hum
Female :Innuma
Female: Still?
Male :Hum
Male: Hum
Nilavillamal vaanirukkum
There can exist a sky without the moon,
Malarillamal thaenirukkum
There can exist honey without a flower,
Female :Neeyillamal naan illai
Female: But without you, I do not exist,
Un ninaivillamal ver illai
And without your thoughts, there is nothing else.
Thanga thirumugam thaenaaroo
Is your golden face a river of honey?
Nee tharaiyil thavaum poonthaeroo
Are you a floral chariot crawling along the earth?
Female :Mannavan enbathum needhaano
Female: Are you truly my sovereign king?
Oru maaligai enbadhu manam thaano
Is a grand palace really nothing more than the heart?
Ezhai angae varuvenae
I, a humble girl, shall enter there,
Male :Ennai unakku tharuvenae hmm
Male: I shall surrender myself to you, hmm.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
"Nilavillamal Vaanirukkum" is a romantic duet between two lovers expressing their deep, inseparable bond. Using poetic hyperboles, the song asserts that while impossible natural feats—such as a sky existing without the moon or honey existing without flowers—might theoretically be imagined, the lovers' lives have zero meaning or existence without each other. The song unfolds as a coy, playful conversation between the hero and heroine. They admire each other's physical grace and beauty, tease one another about shyness and fear, and build an intimate emotional closeness. Ultimately, they reach a poignant realization that true royalty and grandeur do not reside in physical palaces, but within the sanctuary of a loving heart where both surrender fully to each other.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nilavillamal vaanirukkum / Malarillamal thaenirukkum”
The second consonant sound ('la' in Ni-la-villamal and Ma-la-rillamal) matches, creating a classic Tamil poetic rhyme scheme.
Hyperbole / Uyarvu Navortchi Ani
“Nilavillamal vaanirukkum / Malarillamal thaenirukkum / Neeyillamal naan illai”
The lyrist uses impossible natural conditions (a moonless sky or flowerless honey) to hyperbolically emphasize that life without the beloved is entirely impossible.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition / Anaphora)
“Pinni pinni varum paavaiyae / Alli alli sella / Mella mella vandha”
Repetition of words like 'Pinni pinni', 'Alli alli', and 'Mella mella' adds rhythmic cadence, musicality, and visual imagery to the actions described.
Metaphor / Uruvagam
“Oru maaligai enbadhu manam thaano”
The human heart is metaphorically equated to a grand palace, emphasizing that real wealth and luxury lie in emotional connection rather than physical structures.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1965 Tamil movie 'Vazhikatti', featuring music composed by Ibrahim. It features the iconic playback duo of T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) and P. Susheela, who dominated Tamil romantic duets throughout the 1960s. The lyrics were penned by legendary poet Vaali, whose evocative line 'Oru maaligai enbadhu manam thaano' became one of his celebrated romantic metaphors of that era.
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