Nilavu Paatu
From Kannukkul Nilavu · 2000
- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Singer
- Hariharan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kannukkul Nilavu2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu… | Moon song, moon song... |
| Orr naal ketten | I heard it one day |
| Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil… | In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest... |
| Naalum padiththen | I learned it every day |
| Male | |
| {Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu… | {Moon song, moon song... |
| Orr naal ketten | I heard it one day |
| Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil… | In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest... |
| Naalum padiththen} (2) | I learned it every day} (2) |
| Male | |
| Andha isaiyin ragasiyam | The secret of that music |
| Iru uyirukku purindhadhu | Was understood by two souls |
| Iru uyirukku purindhadhu | Was understood by two souls |
| Ingu yaarukkuth therindhadhu | Who else here knew it? |
| Isaiyil kalandhu midhakkum thendralae | Oh gentle breeze floating mixed in music |
| Isaiyin magalai paarththadhillaiyo | Haven't you seen the daughter of music? |
| Male | |
| Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu… | Moon song, moon song... |
| Orr naal ketten | I heard it one day |
| Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil… | In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest... |
| Naalum padiththen | I learned it every day |
| Male | |
| Kanavugal varuvadhu | Is the arrival of dreams |
| Vizhigalin viruppamaa | The desire of the eyes? |
| Kavidhaigal varuvadhu | Is the creation of poems |
| Kavinjanin viruppamaa | The desire of the poet? |
| Male | |
| Kuyilgalin iruppidam | The dwelling place of cuckoos |
| Isaiyaal ariyalaam | Can be known through music |
| Malarndhidum malargalai | The blossoming flowers |
| Vaasanai sollalaam | Their fragrance can tell |
| Kuyilgalum malargalum adhisayam | Cuckoos and flowers are wonders |
| Kanavugal kavidhaigal ragasiyam | Dreams and poems are secrets |
| Male | |
| Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu… | Moon song, moon song... |
| Orr naal ketten | I heard it one day |
| Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil… | In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest... |
| Naalum padiththen | I learned it every day |
| Male | |
| Nilavondru nadandhadhu | A moon walked past |
| Suvadugal manadhilae | Leaving footprints in my heart |
| Mazhai vandhu nanaiththadhu | Rain came and drenched me |
| Isai yennai seviyilae | Music drenched my ears |
| Male | |
| Kolusugal keerththanai | Her anklets play a sacred hymn |
| Yaarandha dhevadhai | Who is that angel? |
| Vizhigalil virigiraal | She unfolds before my eyes |
| Yaarandha thaamarai | Who is that lotus? |
| Idhu oru pudhuvidha paravasam | This is a new kind of ecstasy |
| Mayakkudhu isaiyennum adhisayam | The wonder called music mesmerizes me |
| Male | |
| Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu… | Moon song, moon song... |
| Orr naal ketten | I heard it one day |
| Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil… | In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest... |
| Naalum padiththen | I learned it every day |
| Male | |
| Andha isaiyin ragasiyam | The secret of that music |
| Iru uyirukku purindhadhu | Was understood by two souls |
| Iru uyirukku purindhadhu | Was understood by two souls |
| Ingu yaarukkuth therindhadhu | Who else here knew it? |
| Isaiyil kalandhu midhakkum thendralae | Oh gentle breeze floating mixed in music |
| Isaiyin magalai paarththadhillaiyo | Haven't you seen the daughter of music? |
| Male | |
| {Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu… | {Moon song, moon song... |
| Orr naal ketten | I heard it one day |
| Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil… | In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest... |
| Naalum padiththen} (2) | I learned it every day} (2) |
நிலவுப் பாட்டு நிலவுப் பாட்டு
ஓர் நாள் கேட்டேன்
மூங்கில் காட்டில் மூங்கில் காட்டில்
நாளும் படித்தேன்
Moon song, moon song...
I heard it one day
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
I learned it every day
{நிலவுப் பாட்டு நிலவுப் பாட்டு
ஓர் நாள் கேட்டேன்
மூங்கில் காட்டில் மூங்கில் காட்டில்
நாளும் படித்தேன்} (2)
{Moon song, moon song...
I heard it one day
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
I learned it every day} (2)
அந்த இசையின் ரகசியம்
இரு உயிருக்குப் புரிந்தது
இரு உயிருக்குப் புரிந்தது
இங்கு யாருக்குத் தெரிந்தது
இசையில் கலந்து மிதக்கும் தென்றலே
இசையின் மகளைப் பார்த்ததில்லையோ
The secret of that music
Was understood by two souls
Was understood by two souls
Who else here knew it?
Oh gentle breeze floating mixed in music
Haven't you seen the daughter of music?
நிலவுப் பாட்டு நிலவுப் பாட்டு
ஓர் நாள் கேட்டேன்
மூங்கில் காட்டில் மூங்கில் காட்டில்
நாளும் படித்தேன்
Moon song, moon song...
I heard it one day
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
I learned it every day
கனவுகள் வருவது
விழிகளின் விருப்பமா
கவிதைகள் வருவது
கவிஞனின் விருப்பமா
Is the arrival of dreams
The desire of the eyes?
Is the creation of poems
The desire of the poet?
குயில்களின் இருப்பிடம்
இசையால் அறியலாம்
மலர்ந்திடும் மலர்களை
வாசனை சொல்லலாம்
குயில்களும் மலர்களும் அதிசயம்
கனவுகள் கவிதைகள் ரகசியம்
The dwelling place of cuckoos
Can be known through music
The blossoming flowers
Their fragrance can tell
Cuckoos and flowers are wonders
Dreams and poems are secrets
நிலவுப் பாட்டு நிலவுப் பாட்டு
ஓர் நாள் கேட்டேன்
மூங்கில் காட்டில் மூங்கில் காட்டில்
நாளும் படித்தேன்
Moon song, moon song...
I heard it one day
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
I learned it every day
நிலவொன்று நடந்தது
சுவடுகள் மனதிலே
மழை வந்து நனைத்தது
இசை என்னை செவியிலே
A moon walked past
Leaving footprints in my heart
Rain came and drenched me
Music drenched my ears
கொலுசுகள் கீர்த்தனை
யாரந்த தேவதை
விழிகளில் விரிகிறாள்
யாரந்த தாமரை
இது ஒரு புதுவிதப் பரவசம்
மயக்குது இசையென்னும் அதிசயம்
Her anklets play a sacred hymn
Who is that angel?
She unfolds before my eyes
Who is that lotus?
This is a new kind of ecstasy
The wonder called music mesmerizes me
நிலவுப் பாட்டு நிலவுப் பாட்டு
ஓர் நாள் கேட்டேன்
மூங்கில் காட்டில் மூங்கில் காட்டில்
நாளும் படித்தேன்
Moon song, moon song...
I heard it one day
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
I learned it every day
அந்த இசையின் ரகசியம்
இரு உயிருக்குப் புரிந்தது
இரு உயிருக்குப் புரிந்தது
இங்கு யாருக்குத் தெரிந்தது
இசையில் கலந்து மிதக்கும் தென்றலே
இசையின் மகளைப் பார்த்ததில்லையோ
The secret of that music
Was understood by two souls
Was understood by two souls
Who else here knew it?
Oh gentle breeze floating mixed in music
Haven't you seen the daughter of music?
{நிலவுப் பாட்டு நிலவுப் பாட்டு
ஓர் நாள் கேட்டேன்
மூங்கில் காட்டில் மூங்கில் காட்டில்
நாளும் படித்தேன்} (2)
{Moon song, moon song...
I heard it one day
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
I learned it every day} (2)
Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu…
Moon song, moon song...
Orr naal ketten
I heard it one day
Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil…
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
Naalum padiththen
I learned it every day
{Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu…
{Moon song, moon song...
Orr naal ketten
I heard it one day
Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil…
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
Naalum padiththen} (2)
I learned it every day} (2)
Andha isaiyin ragasiyam
The secret of that music
Iru uyirukku purindhadhu
Was understood by two souls
Iru uyirukku purindhadhu
Was understood by two souls
Ingu yaarukkuth therindhadhu
Who else here knew it?
Isaiyil kalandhu midhakkum thendralae
Oh gentle breeze floating mixed in music
Isaiyin magalai paarththadhillaiyo
Haven't you seen the daughter of music?
Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu…
Moon song, moon song...
Orr naal ketten
I heard it one day
Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil…
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
Naalum padiththen
I learned it every day
Kanavugal varuvadhu
Is the arrival of dreams
Vizhigalin viruppamaa
The desire of the eyes?
Kavidhaigal varuvadhu
Is the creation of poems
Kavinjanin viruppamaa
The desire of the poet?
Kuyilgalin iruppidam
The dwelling place of cuckoos
Isaiyaal ariyalaam
Can be known through music
Malarndhidum malargalai
The blossoming flowers
Vaasanai sollalaam
Their fragrance can tell
Kuyilgalum malargalum adhisayam
Cuckoos and flowers are wonders
Kanavugal kavidhaigal ragasiyam
Dreams and poems are secrets
Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu…
Moon song, moon song...
Orr naal ketten
I heard it one day
Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil…
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
Naalum padiththen
I learned it every day
Nilavondru nadandhadhu
A moon walked past
Suvadugal manadhilae
Leaving footprints in my heart
Mazhai vandhu nanaiththadhu
Rain came and drenched me
Isai yennai seviyilae
Music drenched my ears
Kolusugal keerththanai
Her anklets play a sacred hymn
Yaarandha dhevadhai
Who is that angel?
Vizhigalil virigiraal
She unfolds before my eyes
Yaarandha thaamarai
Who is that lotus?
Idhu oru pudhuvidha paravasam
This is a new kind of ecstasy
Mayakkudhu isaiyennum adhisayam
The wonder called music mesmerizes me
Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu…
Moon song, moon song...
Orr naal ketten
I heard it one day
Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil…
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
Naalum padiththen
I learned it every day
Andha isaiyin ragasiyam
The secret of that music
Iru uyirukku purindhadhu
Was understood by two souls
Iru uyirukku purindhadhu
Was understood by two souls
Ingu yaarukkuth therindhadhu
Who else here knew it?
Isaiyil kalandhu midhakkum thendralae
Oh gentle breeze floating mixed in music
Isaiyin magalai paarththadhillaiyo
Haven't you seen the daughter of music?
{Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu…
{Moon song, moon song...
Orr naal ketten
I heard it one day
Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil…
In the bamboo forest, in the bamboo forest...
Naalum padiththen} (2)
I learned it every day} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nilavu Paattu' is a soulful, poetic track from the movie Kannukkul Nilavu that expresses a deep, mystical connection between music, nature, and love. The protagonist reflects on hearing a captivating melody resonating through a bamboo forest, a song whose secret meaning is shared and understood only by two kindred souls. Nature serves as the backdrop and metaphor for romance—dreams, blooming flowers, calling cuckoos, and gentle breezes reflect the inner ecstasy and mystery of falling in love. The song portrays love as an ethereal musical experience that washes over the senses like rain and leaves an everlasting footprint on the heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukku Thodar (Repetition)
“Nilavu paattu nilavu paattu... / Moongil kaattil moongil kaattil...”
Repetition of words consecutively to create rhythm and emphasize the mystical nature of the moonlit song and bamboo forest.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nilavondru nadandhadhu / Suvadugal manadhilae”
Comparing the arrival of the beloved to a walking moon that leaves emotional footprints on the protagonist's heart.
Rhetorical Question
“Vizhigalin viruppamaa / Kavinjanin viruppamaa”
Questioning whether dreams arise out of the eyes' longing or poems from a poet's desire, heightening the poetic beauty of human emotion.
Personification
“Isaiyil kalandhu midhakkum thendralae / Isaiyin magalai paarththadhillaiyo”
Addressing the breeze as a living entity that floats through music and asking if it has met 'music's daughter'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kannukkul Nilavu' (2000) was directed by Fazil, starring Vijay and Shalini. Although the composer is marked unknown in the prompt context, the film's iconic music score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Pazhani Bharathi.
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