Nilavukku Ilaiyavalo
From Ondru Engal Jadhiye · 1987
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Mano, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Ondru Engal Jadhiye1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nilavukku ilaiyavalo | Is she younger than the moon? |
| En ninaivukku iniyavalo | Is she sweet to my memory? |
| Nilavukku ilaiyavalo | Is she younger than the moon? |
| En ninaivukku iniyavalo | Is she sweet to my memory? |
| Kalakalavennum kaaveri nadhi ivalo | Is she the babbling, joyful Kaveri river? |
| Female | |
| Kanavukku iniya magan | Sweet prince of dreams, |
| En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan | He is the hero of my poetry. |
| Kanavukku iniya magan | Sweet prince of dreams, |
| En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan | He is the hero of my poetry. |
| Palavidha ninaivugal padaithidum ilaiyamagam | A young prince who creates endless memories. |
| Female | |
| Chozhar kuzha raajiyathin sudar vidum perazhagae | O glowing grand beauty of the Chola dynasty! |
| Tholil manamaalai ena vandhen naan unakkae | I came to belong to you like a wedding garland around your shoulders. |
| Male :Kaadhal mani maaligaiyil kannukku panjanaiyae | Male: In the gem-studded palace of love, a soft bed for the eyes, |
| Kaaman kalai paadamellam kaanum pon silaiyae | A golden statue that embodies all the arts of Kamadeva, |
| Female | |
| Kothai indha raathaiyidam aadum maayavanae | O divine Krishna who plays with this girl Radha, |
| Seethai iaval kaipidithaan sriraghu naayaganae | He is Lord Rama who holds the hand of Sita! |
| Male :Nooru jenmam serum sondham | Male: A soul connection spanning a hundred births, |
| Marubadi inaivadhu iraivan vidhitha vidhiyae | Reuniting once again is the destiny preordained by God. |
| Female | |
| Kanavukku iniya magan | Sweet prince of dreams, |
| En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan | He is the hero of my poetry. |
| Male :Nilavukku ilaiyavalo | Male: Is she younger than the moon? |
| En ninaivukku iniyavalo | Is she sweet to my memory? |
| Female :Palavidha ninaivugal padaithidum ilaiyamagam | Female: A young prince who creates endless memories. |
| Male | |
| Vaanavillin ezhu vannam | The seven colors of the rainbow, |
| Paavai undhan maeni minna naanum | When your maiden body shines with them, and I |
| Adhai kaana vandhaal kannae naanam enna | Come to behold it, my darling, why this shyness? |
| Female | |
| Dhegam ennum veenai thannai | The veena that is the human body, |
| Meettum devan karam | Plucked by the divine hand of God, |
| Mosa rasam yaavum ingae kaaman thandha varam | All the delicious nectar here is a boon granted by Kamadeva. |
| Male | |
| Mun arindha padamalla mogam vegamalla | This is not a lesson learned beforehand, nor a fleeting passion, |
| Kannirandil ppothirukkum dhegam naanumalla | Nor am I merely a physical body resting in your eyes. |
| Female :Aasai meera aaval meera | Female: As desire overflows, as eagerness overflows, |
| Anubhavam purinthathu adhisayam therinthathaiyaa | An experience was understood, and a miracle was revealed, my dear! |
| Male | |
| Nilavukku ilaiyavalo | Is she younger than the moon? |
| En ninaivukku iniyavalo | Is she sweet to my memory? |
| Nilavukku ilaiyavalo | Is she younger than the moon? |
| En ninaivukku iniyavalo | Is she sweet to my memory? |
| Kalakalavennum kaaveri nadhi ivalo | Is she the babbling, joyful Kaveri river? |
| Female | |
| Kanavukku iniya magan | Sweet prince of dreams, |
| En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan | He is the hero of my poetry. |
| Kanavukku iniya magan | Sweet prince of dreams, |
| En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan | He is the hero of my poetry. |
| Palavidha ninaivugal padaithidum ilaiyamagam | A young prince who creates endless memories. |
ஆண்
: நிலவுக்கு இளையவளோ என்
நினைவுக்கு இனியவளோ
நிலவுக்கு இளையவளோ என்
நினைவுக்கு இனியவளோ
கலகலகலவெனும் காவிரி நதி இவளோ
Is she younger than the moon?
Is she sweet to my memory?
Is she younger than the moon?
Is she sweet to my memory?
Is she the babbling, joyful Kaveri river?
பெண்
: கனவுக்கு இனிய மகன் என்
கவிதைக்கு தலைவன் இவன்
கனவுக்கு இனிய மகன் என்
கவிதைக்கு தலைவன் இவன்
பலவித நினைவுகள் படைத்திடும் இளையமகன்
Sweet prince of dreams,
He is the hero of my poetry.
Sweet prince of dreams,
He is the hero of my poetry.
A young prince who creates endless memories.
பெண்
: சோழர் குல ராஜ்ஜியத்தின் சுடர் விடும் பேரழகே
தோளில் மணமாலை என வந்தேன் நான் உனக்கே
ஆண்
: காதல் மணி மாளிகையில் கண்ணனுக்கு பஞ்சணையே
காமன் கலை பாடமெல்லாம் காணும் பொன் சிலையே
O glowing grand beauty of the Chola dynasty!
I came to belong to you like a wedding garland around your shoulders.
Male: In the gem-studded palace of love, a soft bed for the eyes,
A golden statue that embodies all the arts of Kamadeva,
பெண்
: கோதை இந்த ராதையிடம் ஆடும் மாயவனே
சீதை இவள் கைப்பிடித்தான் ஸ்ரீரகு நாயகனே
ஆண்
: நூறு ஜென்மம் சேரும் சொந்தம்
மறுபடி இணைவது இறைவன் விதித்த விதியே
O divine Krishna who plays with this girl Radha,
He is Lord Rama who holds the hand of Sita!
Male: A soul connection spanning a hundred births,
Reuniting once again is the destiny preordained by God.
பெண்
: கனவுக்கு இனிய மகன் என்
கவிதைக்கு தலைவன் இவன்
ஆண்
: நிலவுக்கு இளையவளோ என்
நினைவுக்கு இனியவளோ
பெண்
: பலவித நினைவுகள்
படைத்திடும் இளையமகன்
Sweet prince of dreams,
He is the hero of my poetry.
Male: Is she younger than the moon?
Is she sweet to my memory?
Female: A young prince who creates endless memories.
ஆண்
: வானவில்லின் ஏழு வண்ணம்
பாவை உந்தன் மேனி மின்ன நானும்
அதைக் காண வந்தால் கண்ணே நாணமென்ன
The seven colors of the rainbow,
When your maiden body shines with them, and I
Come to behold it, my darling, why this shyness?
பெண்
: தேகம் என்னும் வீணை தன்னை
மீட்டும் தேவன் கரம்
மோக ரசம் யாவும் இங்கே காமன் தந்த வரம்
The veena that is the human body,
Plucked by the divine hand of God,
All the delicious nectar here is a boon granted by Kamadeva.
ஆண்
: முன் அறிந்த பாடமல்ல மோகம் வேகமல்ல
கண்ணிரண்டில் பூத்திருக்கும் தேகம் நானுமல்ல
பெண்
: ஆசை மீற ஆவல் மீற
அனுபவம் புரிந்தது அதிசயம் தெரிந்ததய்யா
This is not a lesson learned beforehand, nor a fleeting passion,
Nor am I merely a physical body resting in your eyes.
Female: As desire overflows, as eagerness overflows,
An experience was understood, and a miracle was revealed, my dear!
ஆண்
: நிலவுக்கு இளையவளோ என்
நினைவுக்கு இனியவளோ
நிலவுக்கு இளையவளோ என்
நினைவுக்கு இனியவளோ
கலகலகலவெனும் காவிரி நதி இவளோ
Is she younger than the moon?
Is she sweet to my memory?
Is she younger than the moon?
Is she sweet to my memory?
Is she the babbling, joyful Kaveri river?
பெண்
: கனவுக்கு இனிய மகன் என்
கவிதைக்கு தலைவன் இவன்
கனவுக்கு இனிய மகன் என்
கவிதைக்கு தலைவன் இவன்
பலவித நினைவுகள் படைத்திடும் இளையமகன்
Sweet prince of dreams,
He is the hero of my poetry.
Sweet prince of dreams,
He is the hero of my poetry.
A young prince who creates endless memories.
Nilavukku ilaiyavalo
Is she younger than the moon?
En ninaivukku iniyavalo
Is she sweet to my memory?
Nilavukku ilaiyavalo
Is she younger than the moon?
En ninaivukku iniyavalo
Is she sweet to my memory?
Kalakalavennum kaaveri nadhi ivalo
Is she the babbling, joyful Kaveri river?
Kanavukku iniya magan
Sweet prince of dreams,
En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan
He is the hero of my poetry.
Kanavukku iniya magan
Sweet prince of dreams,
En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan
He is the hero of my poetry.
Palavidha ninaivugal padaithidum ilaiyamagam
A young prince who creates endless memories.
Chozhar kuzha raajiyathin sudar vidum perazhagae
O glowing grand beauty of the Chola dynasty!
Tholil manamaalai ena vandhen naan unakkae
I came to belong to you like a wedding garland around your shoulders.
Male :Kaadhal mani maaligaiyil kannukku panjanaiyae
Male: In the gem-studded palace of love, a soft bed for the eyes,
Kaaman kalai paadamellam kaanum pon silaiyae
A golden statue that embodies all the arts of Kamadeva,
Kothai indha raathaiyidam aadum maayavanae
O divine Krishna who plays with this girl Radha,
Seethai iaval kaipidithaan sriraghu naayaganae
He is Lord Rama who holds the hand of Sita!
Male :Nooru jenmam serum sondham
Male: A soul connection spanning a hundred births,
Marubadi inaivadhu iraivan vidhitha vidhiyae
Reuniting once again is the destiny preordained by God.
Kanavukku iniya magan
Sweet prince of dreams,
En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan
He is the hero of my poetry.
Male :Nilavukku ilaiyavalo
Male: Is she younger than the moon?
En ninaivukku iniyavalo
Is she sweet to my memory?
Female :Palavidha ninaivugal padaithidum ilaiyamagam
Female: A young prince who creates endless memories.
Vaanavillin ezhu vannam
The seven colors of the rainbow,
Paavai undhan maeni minna naanum
When your maiden body shines with them, and I
Adhai kaana vandhaal kannae naanam enna
Come to behold it, my darling, why this shyness?
Dhegam ennum veenai thannai
The veena that is the human body,
Meettum devan karam
Plucked by the divine hand of God,
Mosa rasam yaavum ingae kaaman thandha varam
All the delicious nectar here is a boon granted by Kamadeva.
Mun arindha padamalla mogam vegamalla
This is not a lesson learned beforehand, nor a fleeting passion,
Kannirandil ppothirukkum dhegam naanumalla
Nor am I merely a physical body resting in your eyes.
Female :Aasai meera aaval meera
Female: As desire overflows, as eagerness overflows,
Anubhavam purinthathu adhisayam therinthathaiyaa
An experience was understood, and a miracle was revealed, my dear!
Nilavukku ilaiyavalo
Is she younger than the moon?
En ninaivukku iniyavalo
Is she sweet to my memory?
Nilavukku ilaiyavalo
Is she younger than the moon?
En ninaivukku iniyavalo
Is she sweet to my memory?
Kalakalavennum kaaveri nadhi ivalo
Is she the babbling, joyful Kaveri river?
Kanavukku iniya magan
Sweet prince of dreams,
En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan
He is the hero of my poetry.
Kanavukku iniya magan
Sweet prince of dreams,
En kavidhaikku thalaivan avan
He is the hero of my poetry.
Palavidha ninaivugal padaithidum ilaiyamagam
A young prince who creates endless memories.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic duet celebrates deep love, poetic intimacy, and cosmic destiny between two lovers. The lovers praise each other's beauty using grand mythological and classical metaphors, comparing themselves to divine pairs such as Radha-Krishna and Sita-Rama, and invoking classical imagery of the Chola kingdom and the Kaveri river.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)
“Nilavukku ilaiyavalo / En ninaivukku iniyavalo”
Repetition of the 'N' sound ('Nilavukku', 'ninaivukku') creates a pleasing rhythmic flow at the start of adjacent phrases.
Metaphor
“Dhegam ennum veenai thannai”
The human body is metaphorically compared to a veena (musical instrument) played by divine hands.
Mythological Allusion
“Seethai iaval kaipidithaan sriraghu naayaganae”
The lover is equated to Sri Rama taking Sita's hand, drawing from epical traditions to emphasize eternal devotion.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Ondru Engal Jadhiye' (1987) features music composed by Gangai Amaran, who also wrote the lyrics for this song. Performed by Mano and K. S. Chithra, it showcases Mano's early period as a leading playback singer following his breakthrough in the late 1980s.
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