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Lyrics & meaning

Nilavu Vandhu Vaanathaiyae

From Thirudi · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thirudi1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nilavu vanthu vaanaththaiyaeThe moon came and stole the sky
Thirudi kondathuStole it away
Nilavu vanthu vaanaththaiyaeThe moon came and stole the sky
Thirudi kondathuStole it away
Neela kannum unnazhagaiMy blue eyes stole your beauty
Thirudi kondathuStole it away
Female
Nilavu vanthu vaanaththaiyaeThe moon came and stole the sky
Thirudi kondathu thirudi kondathuStole it away, stole it away
Male
Manathu konjam urangum pothuWhen the mind slept a little
Kanavu vanthathuA dream came
Manathu konjam urangum pothuWhen the mind slept a little
Kanavu vanthathuA dream came
Adhu malarntha pothu unnai pattriWhen it blossomed, thoughts of you
Ninaivu vanthathu….A memory came...
Adhu malarntha pothu unnai pattriWhen it blossomed, thoughts of you
Ninaivu vanthathu….A memory came...
Male
Manathu konjam urangum pothuWhen the mind slept a little
Kanavu vanthathuA dream came
Adhu malarntha pothu unnai pattriWhen it blossomed, thoughts of you
Ninaivu vanthathu….ninaivu vanthathu….A memory came... memory came...
Female
Minnaamal vantha megamThe cloud that arrived without lightning
Kadalai thirudi kondathuStole the ocean
Megam thantha mazhaiyinaiyoAnd the rain given by the cloud
Bhoomi thirudi kondathuThe earth stole away
Female
Minnaamal vantha megamThe cloud that arrived without lightning
Kadalai thirudi kondathuStole the ocean
Megam thantha mazhaiyinaiyoAnd the rain given by the cloud
Bhoomi thirudi kondathuThe earth stole away
Male
Pennaaga pirantha pergalThose born as women
Ullam thirudi kolvathuStealing human hearts
Pennaaga pirantha pergalThose born as women
Ullam thirudi kolvathuStealing human hearts
Innaalil mattum allaIs not just happening today
Ennaalum ullathuIt exists for all time
Female
Nilavu vanthu vaanaththaiyaeThe moon came and stole the sky
Thirudi kondathu thirudi kondathuStole it away, stole it away
Female
Kaakkai pol iruntha ondruSomething that was like a crow
Kuyilai pola vanthathuTransformed and came like a cuckoo
Kannaalan thalaiyil pachaikiliA green parrot on my beloved lover's head
Ennai theadi vanthathuCame searching for me
Female
Nilavu vanthu vaanaththaiyaeThe moon came and stole the sky
Thirudi kondathu thirudi kondathuStole it away, stole it away
Female
Inneram sonna kadhaiThe story told at this hour
Enakku mattum therinthathuWas known only to me
Ippothu nadappathuthaanWhat is happening right now
Unakku kooda purinthathuEven you have understood
Male
Kannaalae solvathuthaanWhat is expressed through glances
Kadhalilae puthiyathuIs something brand new in love
Kadal aazham siriyathammaaThe ocean's depth is tiny, my dear
Pen manathu periyathuA woman's mind is vast and infinite
Female
Nilavu vanthu vaanaththaiyaeThe moon came and stole the sky
Thirudi kondathuStole it away
Neela kannum unnazhagaiMy blue eyes stole your beauty
Thirudi kondathuStole it away
Female
Nilavu vanthu vaanaththaiyaeThe moon came and stole the sky
Thirudi kondathu….Stole it away...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nilavu Vanthu Vaanaththaiyae from the 1974 movie Thirudi is a charming romantic duet composed by M. S. Viswanathan and penned by Kannadasan. The lyrics clever play on the movie's title 'Thirudi' (Female Thief), framing love as a series of natural thefts. Just as the moon captures the night sky, clouds steal moisture from the ocean, and the earth steals rain, women capture and steal men's hearts as an age-old phenomenon. The romantic dialogue emphasizes subtle unexpressed emotions that transition into mutual understanding. It concludes with a poetic reflection that while the ocean's depth can be measured, the depth of a woman's heart and her love remains boundless and endless.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Nilavu vanthu vaanaththaiyae thirudi kondathu

Attributing human actions ('stealing') to inanimate natural elements like the moon and sky.

Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)

Kanavu vanthathu / Ninaivu vanthathu

Rhyming line endings using 'vanthathu' to create musicality and rhythm.

Monai (Alliteration)

Pennaaga pirantha pergal

Repetition of the initial sound 'P' ('Pe', 'pi', 'pe') across consecutive words.

Hyperbole / Simile

Kadal aazham siriyathammaa / Pen manathu periyathu

Poetic exaggeration comparing the depth of the ocean as small next to the vastness of a woman's heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song cleverly integrates the concept of 'Thirudi' (thief), matching the film's title, through Kannadasan's playful verses about nature stealing from nature and lovers stealing each other's hearts. The music by M. S. Viswanathan features signature vocal harmonies from S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela.

Keep listening

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