Nilavondru Kanden
From Kairasikkaran · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kairasikkaran1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil | I saw a moon at my window |
| Kanvondru kandaen un kangalil | I saw a dream in your eyes |
| Karaigindra kan mai adhu sollum unmai | The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth |
| Karaigindra kanmai adhu sollum unmai | The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth |
| Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil | I saw a moon at my window |
| Female | |
| Kanneerin eeram sudugindra naeram | At a time when the wetness of tears burns like fire |
| Pani thottam yaavum analaaga maarum | Even a garden of cool dew turns into scorching flames |
| Male :Sogam sonnaal un paaram theerum | Male: If you share your sorrow, your heavy burden will ease |
| Sogam sonnaal un paaram theerum | If you share your sorrow, your heavy burden will ease |
| Female :Poovukku vaaippoottu en sogam nee maattru | Female: The flower is gagged; please wipe away my sorrow |
| Male :En vaazhvilae dheepam yaetru | Male: Light the lamp of hope in my life |
| Female | |
| Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil | I saw a moon at my window |
| Kanvondru kandaen un kangalil | I saw a dream in your eyes |
| Karaigindra kan mai adhu sollum unmai | The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth |
| Karaigindra kanmai adhu sollum unmai | The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth |
| Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil | I saw a moon at my window |
| Male | |
| Naan paarpathellam un paarvaithaanae | Everything I see is through your vision |
| Female :Naan solvathellam un vaarththaithaanae | Female: Everything I speak is made of your words |
| Male :Udalgal vaeru uyir ondruthaanae | Male: Though our bodies are separate, our soul is one |
| Udalgal vaeru uyir ondruthaanae | Though our bodies are separate, our soul is one |
| Female :Naan ingu naanalla en thunbam yaar solla | Female: I am not myself here; who can express my deep distress? |
| Male :En dheivam nee pennalla | Male: You are my divine deity, not merely a woman |
| Female | |
| Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil | I saw a moon at my window |
| Male :Kanvondru kandaen un kangalil | Male: I saw a dream in your eyes |
| Female :Karaigindra kan mai adhu sollum unmai | Female: The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth |
| Male :Karaigindra kanmai adhu sollum unmai | Male: The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth |
| Female :Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil | Female: I saw a moon at my window |
நிலவொன்று கண்டேன் என் ஜன்னலில்
கனவொன்று கண்டேன் உன் கண்களில்
கரைகின்ற கண் மை அது சொல்லும் உண்மை
கரைகின்ற கண் மை அது சொல்லும் உண்மை
நிலவொன்று கண்டேன் என் ஜன்னலில்
I saw a moon at my window
I saw a dream in your eyes
The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
I saw a moon at my window
கண்ணீரின் ஈரம் சுடுகின்ற நேரம்
பனித் தோட்டம் யாவும் அனலாக மாறும்
சோகம் சொன்னால் உன் பாரம் தீரும்
சோகம் சொன்னால் உன் பாரம் தீரும்
பூவுக்கு வாய்ப்பூட்டு என் சோகம் நீ மாற்று
என் வாழ்விலே தீபம் ஏற்று
At a time when the wetness of tears burns like fire
Even a garden of cool dew turns into scorching flames
Male: If you share your sorrow, your heavy burden will ease
If you share your sorrow, your heavy burden will ease
Female: The flower is gagged; please wipe away my sorrow
Male: Light the lamp of hope in my life
நிலவொன்று கண்டேன் என் ஜன்னலில்
கனவொன்று கண்டேன் உன் கண்களில்
கரைகின்ற கண் மை அது சொல்லும் உண்மை
கரைகின்ற கண் மை அது சொல்லும் உண்மை
நிலவொன்று கண்டேன் என் ஜன்னலில்
I saw a moon at my window
I saw a dream in your eyes
The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
I saw a moon at my window
நான் பார்ப்பதெல்லாம் உன் பார்வைதானே
நான் சொல்வதெல்லாம் உன் வார்த்தைதானே
உடல்கள் வேறு உயிர் ஒன்றுதானே
உடல்கள் வேறு உயிர் ஒன்றுதானே
நான் இங்கு நானல்ல என் துன்பம் யார் சொல்ல
என் தெய்வமே நீ பெண்ணல்ல
Everything I see is through your vision
Female: Everything I speak is made of your words
Male: Though our bodies are separate, our soul is one
Though our bodies are separate, our soul is one
Female: I am not myself here; who can express my deep distress?
Male: You are my divine deity, not merely a woman
நிலவொன்று கண்டேன் என் ஜன்னலில்
கனவொன்று கண்டேன் உன் கண்களில்
கரைகின்ற கண் மை அது சொல்லும் உண்மை
கரைகின்ற கண் மை அது சொல்லும் உண்மை
நிலவொன்று கண்டேன் என் ஜன்னலில்
I saw a moon at my window
Male: I saw a dream in your eyes
Female: The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
Male: The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
Female: I saw a moon at my window
Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil
I saw a moon at my window
Kanvondru kandaen un kangalil
I saw a dream in your eyes
Karaigindra kan mai adhu sollum unmai
The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
Karaigindra kanmai adhu sollum unmai
The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil
I saw a moon at my window
Kanneerin eeram sudugindra naeram
At a time when the wetness of tears burns like fire
Pani thottam yaavum analaaga maarum
Even a garden of cool dew turns into scorching flames
Male :Sogam sonnaal un paaram theerum
Male: If you share your sorrow, your heavy burden will ease
Sogam sonnaal un paaram theerum
If you share your sorrow, your heavy burden will ease
Female :Poovukku vaaippoottu en sogam nee maattru
Female: The flower is gagged; please wipe away my sorrow
Male :En vaazhvilae dheepam yaetru
Male: Light the lamp of hope in my life
Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil
I saw a moon at my window
Kanvondru kandaen un kangalil
I saw a dream in your eyes
Karaigindra kan mai adhu sollum unmai
The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
Karaigindra kanmai adhu sollum unmai
The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil
I saw a moon at my window
Naan paarpathellam un paarvaithaanae
Everything I see is through your vision
Female :Naan solvathellam un vaarththaithaanae
Female: Everything I speak is made of your words
Male :Udalgal vaeru uyir ondruthaanae
Male: Though our bodies are separate, our soul is one
Udalgal vaeru uyir ondruthaanae
Though our bodies are separate, our soul is one
Female :Naan ingu naanalla en thunbam yaar solla
Female: I am not myself here; who can express my deep distress?
Male :En dheivam nee pennalla
Male: You are my divine deity, not merely a woman
Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil
I saw a moon at my window
Male :Kanvondru kandaen un kangalil
Male: I saw a dream in your eyes
Female :Karaigindra kan mai adhu sollum unmai
Female: The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
Male :Karaigindra kanmai adhu sollum unmai
Male: The smudged kohl reveals the painful truth
Female :Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil
Female: I saw a moon at my window
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Nilavondru Kandaen En Jannalil' is a heartfelt duet expressing deep empathy, tragic grief, and spiritual love between two lovers. The imagery of the moon appearing at a window and a dream seen through tears highlights how tender love persists even during moments of immense sorrow. The smudged eye cosmetics (kan mai) serve as a poignant symbol of suppressed tears revealing unspoken pain that words cannot convey.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Nilavondru kandaen en jannalil”
Compares the beloved's radiant yet distant presence to a moon viewed through a window.
Muran (Oxymoron / Contrast)
“Kanneerin eeram sudugindra naeram”
Contrasts the cool moisture of tears ('eeram') with a burning heat sensation ('sudugindra').
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Naan paarpathellam un paarvaithaanae / Naan solvathellam un vaarththaithaanae”
Both lines end with the rhyming suffix '-thaanae', enhancing melodic symmetry.
Monai (Initial Sound Alliteration)
“Karaigindra kan mai adhu sollum unmai”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound in 'Karaigindra' and 'kan'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Nilavondru Kandaen' is from the 1984 Tamil movie 'Kairasikkaran' starring Prabhu and Radha. Although the context lists the composer and singers as unknown, the music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with iconic renditions by K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki. The lyrics were penned by Vairamuthu, showcasing his signature style of blending nature imagery with deep human emotions.
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