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Policekaran Magal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam

From Policekaran Magal · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Policekaran Magal
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
21 Sept 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Nilavukku enmel ennadi kobam
Neruppaai erigiradhu
Indha malarukku enmel ennadi kobam
Mullai maariyadhu} (2)
Kani mozhikken mel ennadi kobam
Kanalaai kaaikiradhu
Undhan kangalukken mel ennadi kobam
Kanaiyaai paaikiradhu
Nilavukku enmel ennadi kobam
Neruppaai erigiradhu
Indha malarukku enmel ennadi kobam
Mullai maariyadhu
Kulungum munthaanai
Sirikkum athaanai virattuvathenadiyo
Kulungum munthaanai
Sirikkum athaanai virattuvathenadiyo
Undhan kodiyidai indru
Padai kondu vandhu kolvathumenadiyo
Thirumana naalil manavarai meedhu
Iruppavan naan thaanae
Ennai oru murai paarthu
Orakkannalae sirippaval neethaanae
Nilavukku enmel ennadi kobam
Neruppaai erigiradhu
Indha malarukku enmel ennadi kobam
Mullai maariyadhu
Chithirai nilavae
Athaiyin magalae
Sendrathai marandhu vidu aaa
Chithirai nilavae
Athaiyin magalae
Sendrathai marandhu vidu
Undhan bakthiyil thilaikkum
Aththaan enakku paadhaiyai thirandhuvidu
Undhan bakthiyil thilaikkum
Aththaan enakku paadhaiyai thirandhuvidu
Nilavukku enmel ennadi kobam
Neruppaai erigiradhu
Indha malarukku enmel ennadi kobam
Mullai maariyadhu
Why is the moon angry with me, my dear?
It burns like fire.
Why is this flower angry with me?
It has turned into a thorn.
Why are your sweet words angry with me?
They scorch like glowing embers.
Why are your eyes angry with me?
They shoot at me like arrows.
Why is the moon angry with me, my dear?
It burns like fire.
Why is this flower angry with me?
It has turned into a thorn.
Why does your swaying saree
drive away your smiling cousin?
Why does your swaying saree
drive away your smiling cousin?
Why does your slender waist today
bring an army to slay me?
On our wedding day, upon the bridal dais,
the one beside you will be me, won't it?
Looking at me just once,
the one smiling from the corner of her eyes is you, isn't it?
Why is the moon angry with me, my dear?
It burns like fire.
Why is this flower angry with me?
It has turned into a thorn.
O Chithirai (spring) moon,
O daughter of my aunt,
forget what has passed, ah...
O Chithirai (spring) moon,
O daughter of my aunt,
forget what has passed.
For this cousin who is devoted to you,
open up the way to your heart.
For this cousin who is devoted to you,
open up the way to your heart.
Why is the moon angry with me, my dear?
It burns like fire.
Why is this flower angry with me?
It has turned into a thorn.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam' is a timeless romantic classic from the 1962 Tamil film 'Policekaran Magal'. Rendered tenderly by P. B. Sreenivas, the protagonist expresses his gentle sorrow and confusion over his beloved's sudden anger towards him. He poetically laments that nature's most soothing elements—the cool moonlight, soft flowers, her sweet voice, and loving gaze—now feel like burning fire, sharp thorns, hot coals, and piercing arrows because she is upset with him. Reminding her of their deep emotional bond, childhood closeness as cousins, and their promised future together, he lovingly pleads with her to forget past misunderstandings and clear the path for their love to bloom once again.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)

“Nilavukku enmel ennadi kobam / Neruppaai erigiradhu”

Contrasts the inherently cool moon (Nilavu) with the sensation of burning fire (Neruppu) to emphasize emotional torment.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Kanaiyaai paaikiradhu”

Metaphorically compares the sharp, piercing glances of the angry beloved to arrows (Kanai) shot at the lover.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kulungum munthaanai / Sirikkum athaanai”

The second consonant sound 'lu'/'ri' and structural symmetry rhyme across the lines ('munthaanai' / 'athaanai').

Simile (Upamai)

“Kani mozhikken mel ennadi kobam / Kanalaai kaaikiradhu”

Compares her voice, usually sweet as fruit (Kani mozhi), to scorching hot embers (Kanal).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nilavukku Enmel Ennadi Kobam' remains one of the most celebrated romantic solos of P. B. Sreenivas, composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Kaviyarasu Kannadasan. The track is renowned for its lush string arrangements and smooth vocal delivery, perfectly matching actor Muthuraman's on-screen performance.

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