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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nilavu Oru Pennagi

From Ulagam Sutrum Valiban · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
14 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Nilavu oru pennagi
Ulavugindra azhago
Neeralaigal idam maari
Neenthugindra kuzhalo } (2)
Neenthugindra kuzhalo
{ Maathulaiyin poo polae
Malarugindra idhazho } (2)
Maan inamum meen inamum
Mayangugindra vizhiyo
Nilavu oru pennagi
Ulavugindra azhago
Neeralaigal idam maari
{ Neenthugindra kuzhalo } (2)
{ Puruvam oru villaga
Paarvai oru kanaiyaaga } (2)
Paruvam oru thalamaaga
Por thoduka piranthavalo
{ Kurunagaiyin vannathil
Kuzhi vizhuntha kannathil } (2)
Thaen suvaiyai thaan kuzhaithu
Kodupathellam ival thaano
Nilavu oru pennagi
Ulavugindra azhago
Neeralaigal idam maari
Neenthugindra kuzhalo
Pavalamena viral
Nagamum pasum thalir
Pol valaikaramum
Thaen kanigal iru
Puramum thaangi
Varum poonkodiyo
{ Aalkadalin sangaaga
Neelkazhuthu amainthavalo } (2)
Yazhisaiyin oliyaaga vaaimozhi
Thaan malarnthavalo
Nilavu oru pennagi
Ulavugindra azhago
Neeralaigal idam maari
Neenthugindra kuzhalo
Senthazhalin oli
Eduthu santhanathin
Kulir koduthu
Ponpagatil vaarthu
Vaitha pennudalai ennavenben
{ Madalvaazhai thudai
Iruka macham ondru adhil iruka } (2)
Padaithavanin thiramai ellam
Muzhumai petra azhagi enben
Nilavu oru pennagi
Ulavugindra azhago
Neeralaigal idam maari
{ Neenthugindra kuzhalo } (2)
Is this the moon turning into a woman,
walking around in all her beauty?
Have the rolling water waves changed their place
to swim as her flowing hair?
To swim as her flowing hair?
Like the flower of a pomegranate,
are those her blooming lips?
Are those eyes that make both deer and fish
swoon in wonder?
Is this the moon turning into a woman,
walking around in all her beauty?
Have the rolling water waves changed their place
to swim as her flowing hair?
With an eyebrow like a bow,
and a glance like an arrow,
with youth as her battlefield,
was she born to wage war?
In the charm of her gentle smile,
and in her dimpled cheek,
blending the sweet taste of honey,
is she the one offering it all?
Is this the moon turning into a woman,
walking around in all her beauty?
Have the rolling water waves changed their place
to swim as her flowing hair?
With finger-
nails like coral, and bangled arms
like tender green shoots,
bearing two sweet fruits
on either side,
is she a flowering vine walking by?
With a graceful neck shaped
like a conch from the deep sea,
did her spoken words blossom
like the melody of a yazh (ancient harp)?
Is this the moon turning into a woman,
walking around in all her beauty?
Have the rolling water waves changed their place
to swim as her flowing hair?
Taking the glow
of red flames, giving
the coolness of sandalwood,
and casting it in a golden mould,
what can I say of this woman's form?
With thighs smooth like banana stems,
and a beauty mark resting upon them,
I would say she is the beauty where the Creator's
entire artistry attained perfection!
Is this the moon turning into a woman,
walking around in all her beauty?
Have the rolling water waves changed their place
to swim as her flowing hair?
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Nilavu Oru Pennagi' is a romantic visual track from the 1973 film 'Ulagam Sutrum Valiban'. Written by Vaali, the song poetically extols the heroine's physical beauty by comparing her features to various elements of nature and fine arts. Her face is equated to the walking moon, her cascading hair to shifting water waves, her lips to pomegranate blossoms, and her eyes to the captivating gaze of deer and fish. The hero marvels at the Creator's craftsmanship, viewing her as an artwork synthesized from the glow of fire, the coolness of sandalwood, and the radiance of gold. Through classical Tamil poetic imagery, the song portrays her as an embodiment of ultimate aesthetic perfection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai Ani (Simile)

“Maathulaiyin poo polae”

Compares the blooming lips directly to a pomegranate flower using the explicit comparison word 'polae'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Puruvam oru villaga Paarvai oru kanaiyaaga”

Metaphorically equates the eyebrows to a bow and the romantic glance to an arrow launched in a battlefield of youth.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Puruvam / Paarvai / Paruvam / Por”

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'P' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic flow.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kurunagaiyin / Kuzhi”

Matching of second letter consonants ('ru' / 'zhi' / soft 'u' sounds) in consecutive descriptions.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nilavu Oru Pennagi' was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan for M. G. Ramachandran in the mega-hit film 'Ulagam Sutrum Valiban' (1973). The movie was one of the earliest Indian films to be extensively shot in foreign locations across East Asia, including Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

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