Nilavo Aval Irulo
From Arunagirinathar · 1964
- Lyricist
- T. K. Krishnasami
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Arunagirinathar1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nilavo aval irulo | Is she the moonlight or the darkness? |
| Oliyo adhan nizhaloo | Is she the light or its shadow? |
| Suvaithidum sondhamingae | Here is a bond to be savored, |
| Suvai tharum penmai engae | Where is the womanhood that bestows delight? |
| Ini naana avalthaana | From now on, is it me or is it her? |
| Nilavo aval irulo | Is she the moonlight or the darkness? |
| Male | |
| Nilavae adhan oliyae | Oh moon and its radiant light, |
| Female :Aaa…aaa… | Female: Aaa…aaa… |
| Male :Malarae adhan manamae | Male: Oh flower and its fragrance, |
| Female :Aaa…aaa… | Female: Aaa…aaa… |
| Male :Suvaithidum sondham ingae | Male: Here is the bond to be savored, |
| Suvai tharum penmai ingae | Here is the womanhood that bestows delight, |
| Ini neeyae aval yeno | From now on, you are her—why doubt it? |
| Nilavae adhan oliyae | Oh moon and its radiant light, |
| Female | |
| Paadum kannodu aaduven | I will dance with singing eyes, |
| Baavamae marandhu paridhavippaai | Forgetting all pretense, you will pine in love, |
| Paadum kannodu aaduven | I will dance with singing eyes, |
| Baavamae marandhu paridhavippaai | Forgetting all pretense, you will pine in love, |
| Female | |
| Serndhadhu sugamae | Union brings true bliss, |
| Marandhadhu mogamae | Forgotten is all mere infatuation, |
| Serndhadhu sugamae | Union brings true bliss, |
| Marandhadhu mogamae | Forgotten is all mere infatuation, |
| Yaarini uravaagum | Who else can become kin now? |
| Female | |
| Nilavo aval irulo | Is she the moonlight or the darkness? |
| Male :Haa…aaa…. | Male: Haa…aaa…. |
| Female :Oliyo adhan nizhaloo | Female: Is she the light or its shadow? |
| Male :Haa…aaa…. | Male: Haa…aaa…. |
| Female :Suvaithidum sondhamingae | Female: Here is a bond to be savored, |
| Suvai tharum penmai engae | Where is the womanhood that bestows delight? |
| Ini naana avalthaana | From now on, is it me or is it her? |
| Nilavo aval irulo | Is she the moonlight or the darkness? |
| Male | |
| Thedum kannalae pesuvom | We shall converse through searching eyes, |
| Pesiyae inaindhu sugithiruppom | In conversation, we will unite and revel in bliss, |
| Thedum kannalae pesuvom | We shall converse through searching eyes, |
| Pesiyae inaindhu sugithiruppom | In conversation, we will unite and revel in bliss, |
| Kaadhalin sugamae | The sweet bliss of love, |
| Kanidhazh mogamae | The desire born of fruit-like lips, |
| Kaadhalin sugamae | The sweet bliss of love, |
| Kanidhazh mogamae | The desire born of fruit-like lips, |
| Kaaviyam varaivomae | Let us paint an epic together! |
நிலவோ அவள் இருளோ
ஒளியோ அதன் நிழலோ
சுவைத்திடும் சொந்தமிங்கே
சுவை தரும் பெண்மை எங்கே
இனி நானா அவள் தானா
நிலவோ அவள் இருளோ
Is she the moonlight or the darkness?
Is she the light or its shadow?
Here is a bond to be savored,
Where is the womanhood that bestows delight?
From now on, is it me or is it her?
Is she the moonlight or the darkness?
நிலவே அதன் ஒளியே
ஹா....ஆஅ....
மலரே அதன் மணமே
ஹா....ஆஅ....
சுவைத்திடும் சொந்தமிங்கே
சுவை தரும் பெண்மை இங்கே
இனி நீயே அவள் ஏனோ
Oh moon and its radiant light,
Female: Aaa…aaa…
Male: Oh flower and its fragrance,
Female: Aaa…aaa…
Male: Here is the bond to be savored,
Here is the womanhood that bestows delight,
From now on, you are her—why doubt it?
Oh moon and its radiant light,
பாடும் கண்ணோடு ஆடுவேன்
பாவமே மறந்து பரிதவிப்பாய்
பாடும் கண்ணோடு ஆடுவேன்
பாவமே மறந்து பரிதவிப்பாய்
I will dance with singing eyes,
Forgetting all pretense, you will pine in love,
I will dance with singing eyes,
Forgetting all pretense, you will pine in love,
சேர்ந்தது சுகமே
மறைந்தது சோகமே
சேர்ந்தது சுகமே
மறைந்தது சோகமே
யாரினி உறவாகும்
Union brings true bliss,
Forgotten is all mere infatuation,
Union brings true bliss,
Forgotten is all mere infatuation,
Who else can become kin now?
நிலவோ அவள் இருளோ
ஹா...ஆஅ....ஆஅ...
ஒளியோ அதன் நிழலோ
ஹா...ஆஅ....ஆஅ...
சுவைத்திடும் சொந்தமிங்கே
சுவை தரும் பெண்மை எங்கே
இனி நானா அவள் தானா
நிலவோ அவள் இருளோ
Is she the moonlight or the darkness?
Male: Haa…aaa….
Female: Is she the light or its shadow?
Male: Haa…aaa….
Female: Here is a bond to be savored,
Where is the womanhood that bestows delight?
From now on, is it me or is it her?
Is she the moonlight or the darkness?
தேடும் கண்ணாலே பேசுவோம்
பேசியே இணைந்து சுகித்திருப்போம்
தேடும் கண்ணாலே பேசுவோம்
பேசியே இணைந்து சுகித்திருப்போம்
காதலின் சுகமே கனியிதழ் மோகமே
காவியம் வரைவோமே
காதலின் சுகமே கனியிதழ் மோகமே
காவியம் வரைவோமே
We shall converse through searching eyes,
In conversation, we will unite and revel in bliss,
We shall converse through searching eyes,
In conversation, we will unite and revel in bliss,
The sweet bliss of love,
The desire born of fruit-like lips,
The sweet bliss of love,
The desire born of fruit-like lips,
Let us paint an epic together!
நிலவே அதன் ஒளியே
மலரே அதன் மணமே
சுவைத்திடும் சொந்தமிங்கே
சுவை தரும் பெண்மை இங்கே
இனி நாமும் மகிழ்வோமே
Nilavo aval irulo
Is she the moonlight or the darkness?
Oliyo adhan nizhaloo
Is she the light or its shadow?
Suvaithidum sondhamingae
Here is a bond to be savored,
Suvai tharum penmai engae
Where is the womanhood that bestows delight?
Ini naana avalthaana
From now on, is it me or is it her?
Nilavo aval irulo
Is she the moonlight or the darkness?
Nilavae adhan oliyae
Oh moon and its radiant light,
Female :Aaa…aaa…
Female: Aaa…aaa…
Male :Malarae adhan manamae
Male: Oh flower and its fragrance,
Female :Aaa…aaa…
Female: Aaa…aaa…
Male :Suvaithidum sondham ingae
Male: Here is the bond to be savored,
Suvai tharum penmai ingae
Here is the womanhood that bestows delight,
Ini neeyae aval yeno
From now on, you are her—why doubt it?
Nilavae adhan oliyae
Oh moon and its radiant light,
Paadum kannodu aaduven
I will dance with singing eyes,
Baavamae marandhu paridhavippaai
Forgetting all pretense, you will pine in love,
Paadum kannodu aaduven
I will dance with singing eyes,
Baavamae marandhu paridhavippaai
Forgetting all pretense, you will pine in love,
Serndhadhu sugamae
Union brings true bliss,
Marandhadhu mogamae
Forgotten is all mere infatuation,
Serndhadhu sugamae
Union brings true bliss,
Marandhadhu mogamae
Forgotten is all mere infatuation,
Yaarini uravaagum
Who else can become kin now?
Nilavo aval irulo
Is she the moonlight or the darkness?
Male :Haa…aaa….
Male: Haa…aaa….
Female :Oliyo adhan nizhaloo
Female: Is she the light or its shadow?
Male :Haa…aaa….
Male: Haa…aaa….
Female :Suvaithidum sondhamingae
Female: Here is a bond to be savored,
Suvai tharum penmai engae
Where is the womanhood that bestows delight?
Ini naana avalthaana
From now on, is it me or is it her?
Nilavo aval irulo
Is she the moonlight or the darkness?
Thedum kannalae pesuvom
We shall converse through searching eyes,
Pesiyae inaindhu sugithiruppom
In conversation, we will unite and revel in bliss,
Thedum kannalae pesuvom
We shall converse through searching eyes,
Pesiyae inaindhu sugithiruppom
In conversation, we will unite and revel in bliss,
Kaadhalin sugamae
The sweet bliss of love,
Kanidhazh mogamae
The desire born of fruit-like lips,
Kaadhalin sugamae
The sweet bliss of love,
Kanidhazh mogamae
The desire born of fruit-like lips,
Kaaviyam varaivomae
Let us paint an epic together!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song 'Nilavo Aval Irulo' from the 1964 biographical-devotional film 'Arunagirinathar' captures a sensual yet deeply poetic dialogue exploring love, beauty, identity, and enchantment during the protagonist's early life before his spiritual transformation. The lover marvels at the enigmatic nature of his beloved, questioning whether she is as comforting as moonlight or as mysterious as darkness, light or its shadow. The response reassures him, likening their connection to inseparable pairs like a flower and its fragrance, or the moon and its beam. As the song progresses, the dynamic shifts into a romantic exchange about romantic fulfillment and emotional unity. The characters speak of communicating through eyes, overcoming earthly pretense, and turning their love into a grand poetic canvas ('Kaaviyam'). Set to a rich classical melody composed by G. Ramanathan, the song captures the alluring spell of worldly desire before Arunagirinathar's ultimate divine calling.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Antithesis)
“Nilavo aval irulo / Oliyo adhan nizhaloo”
Contrasting paired concepts are used together: 'Nilavu' (Moonlight/Brightness) vs 'Irul' (Darkness), and 'Oli' (Light) vs 'Nizhal' (Shadow).
Metaphor (Uvamai / Urvagam)
“Malarae adhan manamae / Nilavae adhan oliyae”
Comparing the lovers' inseparable bond to intrinsic natural pairings—a flower and its scent, and the moon and its illumination.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Serndhadhu sugamae / Marandhadhu mogamae”
The second consonant 'r' (р/ர்) rhymes across 'Serndhadhu' and 'Marandhadhu'.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Suvaithidum sondham ingae / Suvai tharum penmai engae”
The starting 'Su' sound repeats across both consecutive lines for rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Arunagirinathar' (1964) is notable because iconic playback singer T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) played the title role of Saint Arunagirinathar as an actor while also singing all the songs. This song was composed by master composer G. Ramanathan, serving as one of his final legendary soundtracks in Tamil cinema history.
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