Nilavu Thoongum Neram Female
From Kunguma Chimil · 1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nilavu thoongum neram | When the moon slumbers, |
| Ninaivu thoongidathu | Memories do not sleep. |
| Iravu thoonginaalum | Even if the night sleeps, |
| Uravu thoongidathu | The bond of love does not sleep. |
| Female | |
| Idhu oru thodar kathai | This is a serial story, |
| Dhinam dhinam valar pirai | A waxing moon growing day by day. |
| Nilavu thoongum neram | When the moon slumbers... |
| Female | |
| Naangu kannil indru | Today in four eyes, |
| Oru kaatchiyaanathae | A single vision has emerged. |
| Vaanam kaatru boomi | Sky, wind, and earth, |
| Ivai saatchiyaanathae | These have become witnesses. |
| Female | |
| Naan unnai paarthathu | My meeting/seeing you |
| Poorva jenma bantham | Is a connection from a past life. |
| Neenda naal ninaivilae | In long-held memories, |
| Vaazhum indha sontham | This relationship lives on. |
| Female | |
| Naan ini nee.. | I am you from now on.. |
| Nee ini naan | You are me from now on. |
| Vaazhvom vaa kannaa | Come, my beloved, let us live! |
| Female | |
| Nilavu thoongum neram | When the moon slumbers, |
| Ninaivu thoongidathu | Memories do not sleep. |
| Iravu thoonginaalum | Even if the night sleeps, |
| Uravu thoongidathu | The bond of love does not sleep. |
| Female | |
| Idhu oru thodar kathai | This is a continuous story, |
| Dhinam dhinam valar pirai | A waxing moon growing day by day. |
| Nilavu thoongum neram… | When the moon slumbers… |
| Female | |
| Geethai pola kaadhal | Love is like the Bhagavad Gita, |
| Miga punithamaanathu | It is immensely sacred. |
| Kothai nenjil aadum intha | Resting/swaying upon a maiden's chest, |
| Siluvai pondrathu | It is like a cross. |
| Female | |
| Vaazhvilum thaazhvilum | Through life's highs and lows, |
| Vilagidaatha nesam | An unwavering affection. |
| Vaalibam thendralaai | Youth, like a gentle breeze, |
| Endrum ingu veesum | Will always blow here. |
| Female | |
| Yen mayakkam….. | Why this trance? |
| Yen thayakkam | Why this hesitation? |
| Kannaa vaa ingae… | Come here, my beloved… |
| Female | |
| Nilavu thoongum neram | When the moon slumbers, |
| Ninaivu thoongidathu | Memories do not sleep. |
| Iravu thoonginaalum | Even if the night sleeps, |
| Uravu thoongidathu | The bond of love does not sleep. |
| Female | |
| Idhu oru thodar kathai | This is a continuous story, |
| Dhinam dhinam valar pirai | A waxing moon growing day by day. |
| Nilavu thoongum neram | When the moon slumbers, |
| Ninaivu thoongidathu… | Memories do not sleep… |
நிலவு தூங்கும் நேரம்
நினைவு தூங்கிடாது
இரவு தூங்கினாலும்
உறவு தூங்கிடாது
இது ஒரு தொடர்கதை
தினம் தினம் வளர்பிறை
நிலவு தூங்கும் நேரம்
When the moon slumbers,
Memories do not sleep.
Even if the night sleeps,
The bond of love does not sleep.
நான்கு கண்ணில் இன்று
ஒரு காட்சியானதே
வானம் காற்று பூமி இவை
சாட்சியானதே
This is a serial story,
A waxing moon growing day by day.
When the moon slumbers...
நான் உனை பார்த்தது
பூர்வ ஜென்ம பந்தம்
நீண்ட நாள் நினைவிலே
வாழும் இந்த சொந்தம்
Today in four eyes,
A single vision has emerged.
Sky, wind, and earth,
These have become witnesses.
நான் இனி நீ...
நீ இனி நான்
வாழ்வோம் வா கண்ணே
My meeting/seeing you
Is a connection from a past life.
In long-held memories,
This relationship lives on.
நிலவு தூங்கும் நேரம்
நினைவு தூங்கிடாது
இரவு தூங்கினாலும்
உறவு தூங்கிடாது
இது ஒரு தொடர்கதை
தினம் தினம் வளர்பிறை
நிலவு தூங்கும் நேரம்
I am you from now on..
You are me from now on.
Come, my beloved, let us live!
கீதை போலக் காதல்
மிகப் புனிதமானது
கோதை நெஞ்சில் ஆடும்
இந்தச் சிலுவை போன்றது
வாழ்விலும் தாழ்விலும்
விலகிடாத நேசம்
வாலிபம் தென்றலாய்
என்றும் இங்கு வீசும்
When the moon slumbers,
Memories do not sleep.
Even if the night sleeps,
The bond of love does not sleep.
ஏன் மயக்கம்
ஏன் தயக்கம்
கண்ணா வா இங்கே
This is a continuous story,
A waxing moon growing day by day.
When the moon slumbers…
நிலவு தூங்கும் நேரம்
நினைவு தூங்கிடாது
இரவு தூங்கினாலும்
உறவு தூங்கிடாது
இது ஒரு தொடர்கதை
தினம் தினம் வளர்பிறை
நிலவு தூங்கும் நேரம்
நினைவு தூங்கிடாது
Love is like the Bhagavad Gita,
It is immensely sacred.
Resting/swaying upon a maiden's chest,
It is like a cross.
Through life's highs and lows,
An unwavering affection.
Youth, like a gentle breeze,
Will always blow here.
Why this trance?
Why this hesitation?
Come here, my beloved…
When the moon slumbers,
Memories do not sleep.
Even if the night sleeps,
The bond of love does not sleep.
This is a continuous story,
A waxing moon growing day by day.
When the moon slumbers,
Memories do not sleep…
Nilavu thoongum neram
When the moon slumbers,
Ninaivu thoongidathu
Memories do not sleep.
Iravu thoonginaalum
Even if the night sleeps,
Uravu thoongidathu
The bond of love does not sleep.
Idhu oru thodar kathai
This is a serial story,
Dhinam dhinam valar pirai
A waxing moon growing day by day.
Nilavu thoongum neram
When the moon slumbers...
Naangu kannil indru
Today in four eyes,
Oru kaatchiyaanathae
A single vision has emerged.
Vaanam kaatru boomi
Sky, wind, and earth,
Ivai saatchiyaanathae
These have become witnesses.
Naan unnai paarthathu
My meeting/seeing you
Poorva jenma bantham
Is a connection from a past life.
Neenda naal ninaivilae
In long-held memories,
Vaazhum indha sontham
This relationship lives on.
Naan ini nee..
I am you from now on..
Nee ini naan
You are me from now on.
Vaazhvom vaa kannaa
Come, my beloved, let us live!
Nilavu thoongum neram
When the moon slumbers,
Ninaivu thoongidathu
Memories do not sleep.
Iravu thoonginaalum
Even if the night sleeps,
Uravu thoongidathu
The bond of love does not sleep.
Idhu oru thodar kathai
This is a continuous story,
Dhinam dhinam valar pirai
A waxing moon growing day by day.
Nilavu thoongum neram…
When the moon slumbers…
Geethai pola kaadhal
Love is like the Bhagavad Gita,
Miga punithamaanathu
It is immensely sacred.
Kothai nenjil aadum intha
Resting/swaying upon a maiden's chest,
Siluvai pondrathu
It is like a cross.
Vaazhvilum thaazhvilum
Through life's highs and lows,
Vilagidaatha nesam
An unwavering affection.
Vaalibam thendralaai
Youth, like a gentle breeze,
Endrum ingu veesum
Will always blow here.
Yen mayakkam…..
Why this trance?
Yen thayakkam
Why this hesitation?
Kannaa vaa ingae…
Come here, my beloved…
Nilavu thoongum neram
When the moon slumbers,
Ninaivu thoongidathu
Memories do not sleep.
Iravu thoonginaalum
Even if the night sleeps,
Uravu thoongidathu
The bond of love does not sleep.
Idhu oru thodar kathai
This is a continuous story,
Dhinam dhinam valar pirai
A waxing moon growing day by day.
Nilavu thoongum neram
When the moon slumbers,
Ninaivu thoongidathu…
Memories do not sleep…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the eternal and unyielding nature of true love. The lyrics convey that while the physical world, moon, and night may fall asleep, true love and memories remain wide awake. The bond between lovers is depicted not merely as a temporary romance, but as a continuous journey rooted in past lives (poorva jenma bantham) that grows stronger every day like a waxing moon.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Antithesis)
“Nilavu thoongum neram / Ninaivu thoongidathu”
Contrasts the sleeping of the physical world (moon/night) with the wakeful nature of internal memories and love.
Simile (Upamai)
“Geethai pola kaadhal ... Siluvai pondrathu”
Compares love to sacred spiritual symbols like the holy Gita and the cross to underline its purity and sacrifice.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Vaazhvilum thaazhvilum / Vilagidaatha nesam”
Repetition of the 'Va'/'Vi' sounds across words creating a pleasing rhythmic resonance.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed in context as unknown, this iconic song from 'Kunguma Chimil' (1985) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki (solo) as well as S.P. Balasubrahmanyam. Vaali's lyrics brilliantly cross religious allegories by comparing love simultaneously to the Bhagavad Gita and the Cross.
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