Nilavu Vanthu
From Raman Ethanai Ramanadi · 1970
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Raman Ethanai Ramanadi1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nilavu vandhu paadumo | Will the moon come down and sing? |
| Silai ezhundhu aadumo | Will a statue rise and dance? |
| Palar nirandha sabaiyinilae | In a grand assembly packed with people, |
| Panbu kooda maarinaal | If even moral character changes, |
| Panbu kooda maarinaal | If even moral character changes, |
| Female | |
| Aa… aahha hahhaa | Aa… aahha hahhaa |
| Nilavu vandhu paadumo | Will the moon come down and sing? |
| Silai ezhundhu aadumo | Will a statue rise and dance? |
| Palar nirandha sabaiyinilae | In a grand assembly packed with people, |
| Panbu kooda maarinaal | If even moral character changes, |
| Panbu kooda maarinaal | If even moral character changes, |
| Female | |
| Maarattum manadhu pola pogattum | Let it change, let it go as the mind desires. |
| Aadattum thanai marandhu aadattum | Let them dance, forgetting themselves in dance. |
| Aadattum thanai marandhu aadattum | Let them dance, forgetting themselves in dance. |
| Female | |
| Thalai kunindha pengalum | Women who used to bow their heads, |
| Thalai nimirndha aangalum | And men who used to hold their heads high, |
| Thalai kunindha pengalum | Women who used to bow their heads, |
| Thalai nimirndha aangalum | And men who used to hold their heads high, |
| Nilai kulaindhu pona pin | Once their composure and integrity collapse, |
| Needhi engu vaazhumo | Where can justice live anymore? |
| Needhi engu vaazhumo | Where can justice live anymore? |
| Female | |
| Vaazhattum vazhi marandhu vaazhattum | Let them live, forgetting the right path, let them live. |
| Paarkkattum arivu kondu paarkkattum | Let them watch using their wisdom, let them watch. |
| Paarkkattum arivu kondu paarkkattum | Let them watch using their wisdom, let them watch. |
| Female | |
| Nilavu vandhu paadumo | Will the moon come down and sing? |
| Silai ezhundhu aadumo | Will a statue rise and dance? |
| Female | |
| Anubavikkum avasaram | The haste to indulge in pleasure, |
| Aadai maattrum adhisayam | The strange act of changing disguises, |
| Mudivillaadha bodhaiyil | In endless intoxication, |
| Mugam marandhu pogumo | Will one forget one's own true face? |
| Mugam marandhu pogumo | Will one forget one's own true face? |
| Female | |
| Pogattum pudhiya sugam kaanattum | Let it pass, let them seek new pleasures. |
| Kaanattum kaalam varum maarattum | Let them see, time will come when things change. |
| Kaanattum kaalam varum maarattum | Let them see, time will come when things change. |
| Female | |
| Oomai kanda kanavaiyum | The dream dreamt by a mute person, |
| Uravu thandha ninaivaiyum | And the memories granted by a relationship, |
| Oomai kanda kanavaiyum | The dream dreamt by a mute person, |
| Uravu thandha ninaivaiyum | And the memories granted by a relationship, |
| Karuvil ulla mazhalaiyum | Along with the unborn child inside the womb, |
| Uruvam kaatta mudiyumo | Can any of these be shown in physical form? |
| Uruvam kaatta mudiyumo | Can any of these be shown in physical form? |
| Female | |
| Mudiyattum mudiyum podhu mudiyattum | Let it end, when the time comes for it to end. |
| Vidiyattum vidiyum podhu vidiyattum | Let the dawn arrive, when the time comes to break. |
| Vidiyattum vidiyum podhu vidiyattum | Let the dawn arrive, when the time comes to break. |
| Female | |
| Nilavu vandhu paadumo… | Will the moon come down and sing?… |
| Silai ezhundhu aadumo… | Will a statue rise and dance?… |
நிலவு வந்து பாடுமோ
சிலை எழுந்து ஆடுமோ
பலர் நிறைந்த சபையினிலே
பண்பு கூட மாறினால்
பண்பு கூட மாறினால்
Will the moon come down and sing?
Will a statue rise and dance?
In a grand assembly packed with people,
If even moral character changes,
If even moral character changes,
ஆ......ஆஹ்ஹா ஹஹ்ஹா
நிலவு வந்து பாடுமோ
சிலை எழுந்து ஆடுமோ
பலர் நிறைந்த சபையினிலே
பண்பு கூட மாறினால்
பண்பு கூட மாறினால்
Aa… aahha hahhaa
Will the moon come down and sing?
Will a statue rise and dance?
In a grand assembly packed with people,
If even moral character changes,
If even moral character changes,
மாறட்டும் மனது போல போகட்டும்
ஆடட்டும் தனை மறந்து ஆடட்டும்
ஆடட்டும் தனை மறந்து ஆடட்டும்
Let it change, let it go as the mind desires.
Let them dance, forgetting themselves in dance.
Let them dance, forgetting themselves in dance.
விசில் :
...............................
Women who used to bow their heads,
And men who used to hold their heads high,
Women who used to bow their heads,
And men who used to hold their heads high,
Once their composure and integrity collapse,
Where can justice live anymore?
Where can justice live anymore?
தலை குனிந்த பெண்களும்
தலை நிமிர்ந்த ஆண்களும்
தலை குனிந்த பெண்களும்
தலை நிமிர்ந்த ஆண்களும்
நிலை குலைந்து போன பின்
நீதி எங்கு வாழுமோ
நீதி எங்கு வாழுமோ
Let them live, forgetting the right path, let them live.
Let them watch using their wisdom, let them watch.
Let them watch using their wisdom, let them watch.
வாழட்டும் வழி மறந்து வாழட்டும்
பார்க்கட்டும் அறிவு கொண்டு பார்க்கட்டும்
பார்க்கட்டும் அறிவு கொண்டு பார்க்கட்டும்
Will the moon come down and sing?
Will a statue rise and dance?
நிலவு வந்து பாடுமோ
சிலை எழுந்து ஆடுமோ
The haste to indulge in pleasure,
The strange act of changing disguises,
In endless intoxication,
Will one forget one's own true face?
Will one forget one's own true face?
அனுபவிக்கும் அவசரம்
ஆடை மாற்றும் அதிசயம்
முடிவில்லாத போதையில்
முகம் மறந்து போகுமோ
முகம் மறந்து போகுமோ
Let it pass, let them seek new pleasures.
Let them see, time will come when things change.
Let them see, time will come when things change.
போகட்டும் புதிய சுகம் காணட்டும்
காணட்டும் காலம் வரும் மாறட்டும்
காணட்டும் காலம் வரும் மாறட்டும்
The dream dreamt by a mute person,
And the memories granted by a relationship,
The dream dreamt by a mute person,
And the memories granted by a relationship,
Along with the unborn child inside the womb,
Can any of these be shown in physical form?
Can any of these be shown in physical form?
விசில் :
...................................
Let it end, when the time comes for it to end.
Let the dawn arrive, when the time comes to break.
Let the dawn arrive, when the time comes to break.
ஊமை கண்ட கனவையும்
உறவு தந்த நினைவையும்
ஊமை கண்ட கனவையும்
உறவு தந்த நினைவையும்
கருவிலுள்ள மழலையும்
உருவம் காட்ட முடியுமோ
உருவம் காட்ட முடியுமோ
Will the moon come down and sing?…
Will a statue rise and dance?…
முடியட்டும் முடியும் போது முடியட்டும்
விடியட்டும் விடியும் போது விடியட்டும்
விடியட்டும் விடியும் போது விடியட்டும்
நிலவு வந்து பாடுமோ
சிலை எழுந்து ஆடுமோ
Nilavu vandhu paadumo
Will the moon come down and sing?
Silai ezhundhu aadumo
Will a statue rise and dance?
Palar nirandha sabaiyinilae
In a grand assembly packed with people,
Panbu kooda maarinaal
If even moral character changes,
Panbu kooda maarinaal
If even moral character changes,
Aa… aahha hahhaa
Aa… aahha hahhaa
Nilavu vandhu paadumo
Will the moon come down and sing?
Silai ezhundhu aadumo
Will a statue rise and dance?
Palar nirandha sabaiyinilae
In a grand assembly packed with people,
Panbu kooda maarinaal
If even moral character changes,
Panbu kooda maarinaal
If even moral character changes,
Maarattum manadhu pola pogattum
Let it change, let it go as the mind desires.
Aadattum thanai marandhu aadattum
Let them dance, forgetting themselves in dance.
Aadattum thanai marandhu aadattum
Let them dance, forgetting themselves in dance.
Thalai kunindha pengalum
Women who used to bow their heads,
Thalai nimirndha aangalum
And men who used to hold their heads high,
Thalai kunindha pengalum
Women who used to bow their heads,
Thalai nimirndha aangalum
And men who used to hold their heads high,
Nilai kulaindhu pona pin
Once their composure and integrity collapse,
Needhi engu vaazhumo
Where can justice live anymore?
Needhi engu vaazhumo
Where can justice live anymore?
Vaazhattum vazhi marandhu vaazhattum
Let them live, forgetting the right path, let them live.
Paarkkattum arivu kondu paarkkattum
Let them watch using their wisdom, let them watch.
Paarkkattum arivu kondu paarkkattum
Let them watch using their wisdom, let them watch.
Nilavu vandhu paadumo
Will the moon come down and sing?
Silai ezhundhu aadumo
Will a statue rise and dance?
Anubavikkum avasaram
The haste to indulge in pleasure,
Aadai maattrum adhisayam
The strange act of changing disguises,
Mudivillaadha bodhaiyil
In endless intoxication,
Mugam marandhu pogumo
Will one forget one's own true face?
Mugam marandhu pogumo
Will one forget one's own true face?
Pogattum pudhiya sugam kaanattum
Let it pass, let them seek new pleasures.
Kaanattum kaalam varum maarattum
Let them see, time will come when things change.
Kaanattum kaalam varum maarattum
Let them see, time will come when things change.
Oomai kanda kanavaiyum
The dream dreamt by a mute person,
Uravu thandha ninaivaiyum
And the memories granted by a relationship,
Oomai kanda kanavaiyum
The dream dreamt by a mute person,
Uravu thandha ninaivaiyum
And the memories granted by a relationship,
Karuvil ulla mazhalaiyum
Along with the unborn child inside the womb,
Uruvam kaatta mudiyumo
Can any of these be shown in physical form?
Uruvam kaatta mudiyumo
Can any of these be shown in physical form?
Mudiyattum mudiyum podhu mudiyattum
Let it end, when the time comes for it to end.
Vidiyattum vidiyum podhu vidiyattum
Let the dawn arrive, when the time comes to break.
Vidiyattum vidiyum podhu vidiyattum
Let the dawn arrive, when the time comes to break.
Nilavu vandhu paadumo…
Will the moon come down and sing?…
Silai ezhundhu aadumo…
Will a statue rise and dance?…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from Raman Ethanai Ramanadi explores profound philosophical themes about human moral degradation, societal change, and intangible truths. Poet Kannadasan uses rhetorical questions and metaphors—such as asking if a moon can sing or a statue can dance—to reflect on how society is losing its traditional virtues and restraint in the pursuit of temporary pleasures.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)
“Thalai kunindha pengalum / Thalai nimirndha aangalum”
Contrasts 'thalai kunindha' (head bowed down) with 'thalai nimirndha' (head held high) to highlight social roles and gender dynamics.
Rhetorical Question & Metaphor
“Nilavu vandhu paadumo / Silai ezhundhu aadumo”
Asks impossible questions about the moon singing or a statue dancing to symbolize unnatural changes in human character and society.
Ethugai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Oomai kanda kanavaiyum / Karuvil ulla mazhalaiyum”
The second consonant 'ma' / 'ra' sound pattern creates poetic rhythm across comparative couplets.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the iconic Kannadasan, 'Nilavu vandhu paadumo' is a reflective track from the 1970 Sivaji Ganesan starrer 'Raman Ethanai Ramanadi'. The song features profound philosophical observations disguised in graceful rhythmic lyricism typical of Kannadasan's masterpiece era.
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