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Lyrics & meaning

Nilavodu Vaanmugil

From Raja Rajan · 1957

Lyricist
Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthi
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, A. P. Komala
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Raja Rajan1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nilavodu vaan mugilThe sky's clouds with the moon
VilaiyaadudhaeAre playing...
Andha nilai kandu enadhullamSeeing that state, my heart
Thunai thaedudhaeSeeks a companion.
Female
Nilavodu vaan mugilThe sky's clouds with the moon
VilaiyaadudhaeAre playing...
Andha nilai kandu enadhullamSeeing that state, my heart
Thunai thaedudhaeSeeks a companion.
Female
Nilavodu vaan mugilThe sky's clouds with the moon
VilaiyaadudhaeAre playing...
Male
Ezhil maevum kangalBeautiful eyes full of grace
En mael valai veesudhaeCast a net over me.
Ezhil maevum kangalBeautiful eyes full of grace
En mael valai veesudhaeCast a net over me.
Inidhaagavae inba kadhai pesudhaeSweetly speaking tales of joy,
Inidhaagavae inba kadhai pesudhaeSweetly speaking tales of joy.
Male
Nilavodu vaan mugilThe sky's clouds with the moon
VilaiyaadudhaeAre playing...
Andha nilai kandu enadhullamSeeing that state, my heart
Thunai thaedudhaeSeeks a companion.
Male
Nilavodu vaan mugilThe sky's clouds with the moon
VilaiyaadudhaeAre playing...
Female
Pudhu paadhai thanai kaanaTo see a new path,
Manam naadudhaeThe heart longs.
Unmai puriyaamal vetkam vandhuNot understanding the truth, shyness comes
Thirai podudhaeAnd draws a veil.
Female
Pudhu paadhai thanai kaanaTo see a new path,
Manam naadudhaeThe heart longs.
Unmai puriyaamal vetkam vandhuNot understanding the truth, shyness comes
Thirai podudhaeAnd draws a veil.
Male
Madhu unna magizhvoduWith joy to consume nectar,
Varum kaadhal vandinThe love-bee that comes—
Manam noga malaraeOh flower, will your petals close,
Un idhazh moodumaaHurting its heart?
Male
Madhu unna magizhvoduWith joy to consume nectar,
Varum kaadhal vandinThe love-bee that comes—
Manam noga malaraeOh flower, will your petals close,
Un idhazh moodumaaHurting its heart?
Female
Idhayam ondraagi uravaaduvodumWhen hearts unite and share intimacy,
Male
Ennaalum piriyaadha nilai kaanuvomWe shall attain a state of never parting.
Female
Idhayam ondraagi uravaaduvodumWhen hearts unite and share intimacy,
Male
Ennaalum piriyaadha nilai kaanuvomWe shall attain a state of never parting.
Female
Ooo…Ooo...
Male
Nilavodu vaan mugilThe sky's clouds with the moon
VilaiyaadudhaeAre playing...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nilavodu vaan mugil is a classic romantic song expressing the sweet longing and bashful nature of emerging love. Watching the clouds playfully embrace the moon in the night sky, the protagonist feels an inner yearning for love and companionship. The beauty of the beloved's eyes is portrayed as a captivating net that draws one into sweet conversations of bliss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Nilavodu vaan mugil Vilaiyaadudhae

Human playfulness is attributed to celestial elements—the clouds and the moon in the sky.

Metaphor

Ezhil maevum kangal En mael valai veesudhae

The captivating gaze of the beloved is metaphorically described as casting a net over the lover.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Pudhu paadhai thanai kaana Manam naadudhae / ...Thirai podudhae

The lines end with similar sounding rhythmic suffixes ('naadudhae' and 'podudhae').

Extended Metaphor

Madhu unna magizhvodu Varum kaadhal vandin... malarae Un idhazh moodumaa

The lover is portrayed as a honeybee seeking nectar, and the beloved as a flower whose closing petals symbolize hesitation or shyness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Raja Rajan (1957) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and P. Bhanumathi. The lyrics for this song were written by Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthi, a distinguished Tamil dramatist, author, and lyricist known for his poetic contributions to early Tamil cinema.

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