Nilavukku Thaalaattu
From Pudhu Manithan · 1991
- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Pudhu Manithan1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ………………………… | |
| Female | |
| Nilavukku thaalaattu | A lullaby for the moon, |
| Solai kuyilae nee paadu | Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song. |
| Nilavukku thaalaattu | A lullaby for the moon, |
| Solai kuyilae nee paadu | Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song. |
| Maragatha veenai narambugal oomai…. | The strings of the emerald veena have turned mute... |
| Isaiyae paadaathaa….. paadaathaa… | Oh music, won't you sing? Won't you sing? |
| Female | |
| Nilavukku thaalaattu | A lullaby for the moon, |
| Solai kuyilae nee paadu | Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………. | |
| Female | |
| {Poomeththai melae mul vaithu ponaal | If thorns are placed upon a flower bed, |
| Pillai urangaadhu…. | The child will not sleep... |
| Raagangal nooru thaen sindhum ooril | In a land where a hundred ragas spill sweet honey, |
| Kanneer sumanthaalae…} (2) | She carried tears... |
| Female | |
| Isai mazhai thedum… nathiyena paadi…. | Singing like a river searching for the rain of music... |
| Isai mazhai thedum… nathiyena paadi…. | Singing like a river searching for the rain of music... |
| Nalanthida vanthaalae… | She came seeking our well-being... |
| Vellaththilae chella kuyil mounam aanaalae hoi | Yet in the flood, the darling cuckoo fell silent, oh! |
| Female | |
| Nilavukku thaalaattu | A lullaby for the moon, |
| Solai kuyilae nee paadu | Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song. |
| Nilavukku thaalaattu | A lullaby for the moon, |
| Solai kuyilae nee paadu | Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song. |
| Female | |
| {Kaalangal innum kan moodavillai | Time has not closed its eyes yet, |
| Kannae kalangaathae…. | My precious one, do not lose heart... |
| Mazhai varum neram megangal koodum | When rain is due, clouds will gather, |
| Malarae nee paadu….} (2) | Oh flower, sing your song... |
| Female | |
| Manadhilae neeyum…. oruthiyai kolvaai…. | Hold fast to her in your heart... |
| Manadhilae neeyum…. oruthiyai kolvaai…. | Hold fast to her in your heart... |
| Thadaigalai velvaayae…. | You shall conquer every hurdle... |
| Tholvigalae naalai varum vetriyin poomaalai hoi | Today's defeats are tomorrow's garland of victory, oh! |
| Female | |
| Nilavukku thaalaattu | A lullaby for the moon, |
| Solai kuyilae nee paadu | Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song. |
| Maragatha veenai narambugal oomai… | The strings of the emerald veena have turned mute... |
| Isaiyae paadaathaa…. paadaathaa.. | Oh music, won't you sing? Won't you sing? |
| Female | |
| Nilavukku thaalaattu | A lullaby for the moon, |
| Solai kuyilae nee paadu | Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song. |
.....................
நிலவுக்கு தாலாட்டு
சோலை குயிலே நீ பாடு
நிலவுக்கு தாலாட்டு
சோலை குயிலே நீ பாடு
மரகத வீணை நரம்புகள் ஊமை
இசையே பாடாதா பாடாதா
A lullaby for the moon,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
A lullaby for the moon,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
The strings of the emerald veena have turned mute...
Oh music, won't you sing? Won't you sing?
நிலவுக்கு தாலாட்டு
சோலை குயிலே நீ பாடு
A lullaby for the moon,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
..............................
{பூமெத்தை மேல் முள் வைத்து போனால்
பிள்ளை உறங்காது
ராகங்கள் நூறு தேன் சிந்தும் ஊரில்
கண்ணீர் சுமந்தாளே } (2)
If thorns are placed upon a flower bed,
The child will not sleep...
In a land where a hundred ragas spill sweet honey,
She carried tears...
இசை மழை தேடும் நதியென பாடி
இசை மழை தேடும் நதியென பாடி
நலந்திட வந்தாளே
வெள்ளத்திலே செல்ல குயில் மௌனம் ஆனாலே ஹோய்
Singing like a river searching for the rain of music...
Singing like a river searching for the rain of music...
She came seeking our well-being...
Yet in the flood, the darling cuckoo fell silent, oh!
நிலவுக்கு தாலாட்டு
சோலை குயிலே நீ பாடு
நிலவுக்கு தாலாட்டு
சோலை குயிலே நீ பாடு
A lullaby for the moon,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
A lullaby for the moon,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
{காலங்கள் இன்னும் கண் மூடவில்லை
கண்ணே கலங்காதே
மழை வரும் நேரம் மேகங்கள் கூடும்
மலரே நீ பாடு} (2)
Time has not closed its eyes yet,
My precious one, do not lose heart...
When rain is due, clouds will gather,
Oh flower, sing your song...
மனதிலே நீயும் ஒருத்தியை கொள்வாய்
மனதிலே நீயும் ஒருத்தியை கொள்வாய்
தடைகளை வெல்வாயே
தோல்விகளை நாளை வரும் வெற்றியின் பூமாலை ஹோய்
Hold fast to her in your heart...
Hold fast to her in your heart...
You shall conquer every hurdle...
Today's defeats are tomorrow's garland of victory, oh!
நிலவுக்கு தாலாட்டு
சோலை குயிலே நீ பாடு
மரகத வீணை நரம்புகள் ஊமை
இசையே பாடாதா பாடாதா
A lullaby for the moon,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
The strings of the emerald veena have turned mute...
Oh music, won't you sing? Won't you sing?
நிலவுக்கு தாலாட்டு
சோலை குயிலே நீ பாடு
A lullaby for the moon,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
…………………………
Nilavukku thaalaattu
A lullaby for the moon,
Solai kuyilae nee paadu
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
Nilavukku thaalaattu
A lullaby for the moon,
Solai kuyilae nee paadu
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
Maragatha veenai narambugal oomai….
The strings of the emerald veena have turned mute...
Isaiyae paadaathaa….. paadaathaa…
Oh music, won't you sing? Won't you sing?
Nilavukku thaalaattu
A lullaby for the moon,
Solai kuyilae nee paadu
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
…………………….
{Poomeththai melae mul vaithu ponaal
If thorns are placed upon a flower bed,
Pillai urangaadhu….
The child will not sleep...
Raagangal nooru thaen sindhum ooril
In a land where a hundred ragas spill sweet honey,
Kanneer sumanthaalae…} (2)
She carried tears...
Isai mazhai thedum… nathiyena paadi….
Singing like a river searching for the rain of music...
Isai mazhai thedum… nathiyena paadi….
Singing like a river searching for the rain of music...
Nalanthida vanthaalae…
She came seeking our well-being...
Vellaththilae chella kuyil mounam aanaalae hoi
Yet in the flood, the darling cuckoo fell silent, oh!
Nilavukku thaalaattu
A lullaby for the moon,
Solai kuyilae nee paadu
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
Nilavukku thaalaattu
A lullaby for the moon,
Solai kuyilae nee paadu
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
{Kaalangal innum kan moodavillai
Time has not closed its eyes yet,
Kannae kalangaathae….
My precious one, do not lose heart...
Mazhai varum neram megangal koodum
When rain is due, clouds will gather,
Malarae nee paadu….} (2)
Oh flower, sing your song...
Manadhilae neeyum…. oruthiyai kolvaai….
Hold fast to her in your heart...
Manadhilae neeyum…. oruthiyai kolvaai….
Hold fast to her in your heart...
Thadaigalai velvaayae….
You shall conquer every hurdle...
Tholvigalae naalai varum vetriyin poomaalai hoi
Today's defeats are tomorrow's garland of victory, oh!
Nilavukku thaalaattu
A lullaby for the moon,
Solai kuyilae nee paadu
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
Maragatha veenai narambugal oomai…
The strings of the emerald veena have turned mute...
Isaiyae paadaathaa…. paadaathaa..
Oh music, won't you sing? Won't you sing?
Nilavukku thaalaattu
A lullaby for the moon,
Solai kuyilae nee paadu
Oh cuckoo of the grove, sing your song.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nilavukku Thaalaattu' is a poignant composition from Pudhu Manithan (1991) lyricized by Na. Kamarasan. The song uses rich nature imagery—the moon, cuckoos, rains, rivers, and veenas—to express profound grief, empathy, and comfort. It portrays the suffering of a gentle soul who, despite spreading joy and sweetness to others, is burdened with sadness and silence. The emotional arc transitions from sorrow over mute instruments and sorrowful tears to an uplifting message of hope and perseverance. The song reminds the listener that setbacks and tears are temporary phases, reassuring them that today's struggles will bloom into tomorrow's triumph.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Maragatha veenai narambugal oomai…”
Compares an unspoken or silenced voice/talent to the mute strings of an emerald veena.
Simile (Upamai)
“Isai mazhai thedum… nathiyena paadi…”
Explicitly compares the character's yearning voice to a river searching for a rain of music.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Nilavukku thaalaattu / Solai kuyilae nee paadu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across corresponding metrical positions creating melodic cadence.
Personification
“Kaalangal innum kan moodavillai”
Attributes human characteristics to Time ('Kaalangal'), depicting it as an entity that hasn't closed its eyes.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pudhu Manithan (1991) stars Sathyaraj and Bhanupriya, directed by Thinnai Thozhar Velu. The soundtrack was composed by Deva, featuring memorable lyrics by Na. Kamarasan, one of Tamil cinema's acclaimed modern poets known for his vivid surrealist imagery.
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