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Kunguma Chimil album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nilavu Thoongum Neram Female

From Kunguma Chimil · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kunguma Chimil
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
29 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nilavu thoongum neram
Ninaivu thoongidathu
Iravu thoonginaalum
Uravu thoongidathu
Idhu oru thodar kathai
Dhinam dhinam valar pirai
Nilavu thoongum neram
Naangu kannil indru
Oru kaatchiyaanathae
Vaanam kaatru boomi
Ivai saatchiyaanathae
Naan unnai paarthathu
Poorva jenma bantham
Neenda naal ninaivilae
Vaazhum indha sontham
Naan ini nee..
Nee ini naan
Vaazhvom vaa kannaa
Nilavu thoongum neram
Ninaivu thoongidathu
Iravu thoonginaalum
Uravu thoongidathu
Idhu oru thodar kathai
Dhinam dhinam valar pirai
Nilavu thoongum neram…
Geethai pola kaadhal
Miga punithamaanathu
Kothai nenjil aadum intha
Siluvai pondrathu
Vaazhvilum thaazhvilum
Vilagidaatha nesam
Vaalibam thendralaai
Endrum ingu veesum
Yen mayakkam…..
Yen thayakkam
Kannaa vaa ingae…
Nilavu thoongum neram
Ninaivu thoongidathu
Iravu thoonginaalum
Uravu thoongidathu
Idhu oru thodar kathai
Dhinam dhinam valar pirai
Nilavu thoongum neram
Ninaivu thoongidathu…
When the moon falls asleep,
Memories do not sleep.
Even if the night goes to sleep,
Our bond does not sleep.
This is a continuing story,
A waxing moon growing day by day.
When the moon falls asleep,
In our four eyes today,
A single vision has appeared.
The sky, the wind, and the earth
Have become our witnesses.
My meeting you
Is a bond from a past life.
In everlasting memories,
This bond will live on.
From now on, I am you...
From now on, you are me.
Come, Kanna, let us live together.
When the moon falls asleep,
Memories do not sleep.
Even if the night goes to sleep,
Our bond does not sleep.
This is a continuing story,
A waxing moon growing day by day.
When the moon falls asleep...
Like the Gita, love
Is truly sacred;
It is like this cross
Resting on a woman's heart.
Through life's highs and lows,
This love will never fade away.
Like a gentle breeze, youth
Will always blow here.
Why this sweet confusion?...
Why this hesitation?
Kanna, come here...
When the moon falls asleep,
Memories do not sleep.
Even if the night goes to sleep,
Our bond does not sleep.
This is a continuing story,
A waxing moon growing day by day.
When the moon falls asleep,
Memories do not sleep...
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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