Nilavukkum Nizhalundu
From Aayiram Roobai · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Aayiram Roobai1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nilavukkum nizhal undu | Even the moon has a shadow |
| Andha nizhalukkum oliyundu | And that shadow has light within it |
| Nenjukkum niram undu | The human heart has its own shade |
| Andha nirathukkum manamundu | And that shade possesses its own fragrance |
| Female | |
| Nilavukkum nizhal undu | Even the moon has a shadow |
| Andha nizhalukkum oliyundu | And that shadow has light within it |
| Nenjukkum niram undu | The human heart has its own shade |
| Andha nirathukkum manamundu | And that shade possesses its own fragrance |
| Nilavukkum nizhal undu | Even the moon has a shadow |
| Female | |
| Edhu thaan anbena arivaaya | Do you know what love truly is? |
| Adhu evaridam undena vidhiyunda | Is there any rule governing who possesses it? |
| Edhu thaan anbena arivaaya | Do you know what love truly is? |
| Adhu evaridam undena vidhiyunda | Is there any rule governing who possesses it? |
| Idhayathin vaasal vizhiyallava | Is not the eye the entrance to the heart? |
| Idhayathin vaasal vizhiyallava | Is not the eye the entrance to the heart? |
| Adhil iruppadhu anbin vazhiyallava…aaa.. | Isn't what resides there the path of love? |
| Nilavukkum nizhal undu | Even the moon has a shadow |
| Female | |
| Manadhukku kannai vaithu vidu | Give eyes to your inner mind |
| Adhil mattravar manadhai paarthu vidu | Look at the minds of others through them |
| Manadhukku kannai vaithu vidu | Give eyes to your inner mind |
| Adhil mattravar manadhai paarthu vidu | Look at the minds of others through them |
| Adaiyaalam adhil therindhu vidum | True identity will become known through that |
| Adaiyaalam adhil therindhu vidum | True identity will become known through that |
| Nalla anbulla idamum purindhu vidum..mmm | And the abode of true love will be understood |
| Nilavukkum nizhal undu | Even the moon has a shadow |
| Female | |
| Kakkaiyum kuyilum orr niramae | The crow and the cuckoo share the same color |
| Verum kaanalum neerum orr vadivae | A mere mirage and real water share the same appearance |
| Kakkaiyum kuyilum orr niramae | The crow and the cuckoo share the same color |
| Verum kaanalum neerum orr vadivae | A mere mirage and real water share the same appearance |
| Paarkkindra kannil thelivirundhal | If there is clarity in the beholding eye |
| Paarkkindra kannil thelivirundhal | If there is clarity in the beholding eye |
| Un pagutharivae adhai pirithariyum..mm | Your rational intellect will tell them apart |
| Female | |
| Nilavukkum nizhal undu | Even the moon has a shadow |
| Andha nizhalukkum oliyundu | And that shadow has light within it |
| Nenjukkum niram undu | The human heart has its own shade |
| Andha nirathukkum manamundu | And that shade possesses its own fragrance |
| Female | |
| Nilavukkum nizhal undu | Even the moon has a shadow |
நிலவுக்கும் நிழலுண்டு
அந்த நிழலுக்கும் ஒளியுண்டு
நெஞ்சுக்கும் நிறமுண்டு
அந்த நிறத்துக்கும் மனமுண்டு
Even the moon has a shadow
And that shadow has light within it
The human heart has its own shade
And that shade possesses its own fragrance
நிலவுக்கும் நிழலுண்டு
அந்த நிழலுக்கும் ஒளியுண்டு
நெஞ்சுக்கும் நிறமுண்டு
அந்த நிறத்துக்கும் மனமுண்டு
நிலவுக்கும் நிழலுண்டு.....
Even the moon has a shadow
And that shadow has light within it
The human heart has its own shade
And that shade possesses its own fragrance
Even the moon has a shadow
எதுதான் அன்பென அறிவாயா
அது எவரிடம் உண்டென விதியுண்டா
எதுதான் அன்பென அறிவாயா
அது எவரிடம் உண்டென விதியுண்டா
இதயத்தின் வாசல் விழியல்லவா
இதயத்தின் வாசல் விழியல்லவா
அதில் இருப்பது அன்பின் வழியல்லவா
நிலவுக்கும் நிழலுண்டு....
Do you know what love truly is?
Is there any rule governing who possesses it?
Do you know what love truly is?
Is there any rule governing who possesses it?
Is not the eye the entrance to the heart?
Is not the eye the entrance to the heart?
Isn't what resides there the path of love?
Even the moon has a shadow
மனத்துக்குள் கண்ணை வைத்து விடு
அதில் மற்றவர் மனதை பார்த்துவிடு
மனத்துக்குள் கண்ணை வைத்து விடு
அதில் மற்றவர் மனதை பார்த்துவிடு
அடையாளம் அதில் தெரிந்து விடும்
அடையாளம் அதில் தெரிந்து விடும்
நல்ல அன்புள்ள இடமும் புரிந்துவிடும்
நிலவுக்கும் நிழலுண்டு.....
Give eyes to your inner mind
Look at the minds of others through them
Give eyes to your inner mind
Look at the minds of others through them
True identity will become known through that
True identity will become known through that
And the abode of true love will be understood
Even the moon has a shadow
காக்கையும் குயிலும் ஓர் நிறமே
வெறும் கானலும் நீறும் ஓர் வடிவே
காக்கையும் குயிலும் ஓர் நிறமே
வெறும் கானலும் நீறும் ஓர் வடிவே
பார்க்கின்ற கண்ணில் தெளிவிருந்தால்
பார்க்கின்ற கண்ணில் தெளிவிருந்தால்
உன் பகுத்தறிவே அதைப் பிரித்தறியும்
The crow and the cuckoo share the same color
A mere mirage and real water share the same appearance
The crow and the cuckoo share the same color
A mere mirage and real water share the same appearance
If there is clarity in the beholding eye
If there is clarity in the beholding eye
Your rational intellect will tell them apart
நிலவுக்கும் நிழலுண்டு
அந்த நிழலுக்கும் ஒளியுண்டு
நெஞ்சுக்கும் நிறமுண்டு
அந்த நிறத்துக்கும் மனமுண்டு
Even the moon has a shadow
And that shadow has light within it
The human heart has its own shade
And that shade possesses its own fragrance
நிலவுக்கும் நிழலுண்டு அந்த
நிழலுக்கும் ஒளியுண்டு....
Even the moon has a shadow
Nilavukkum nizhal undu
Even the moon has a shadow
Andha nizhalukkum oliyundu
And that shadow has light within it
Nenjukkum niram undu
The human heart has its own shade
Andha nirathukkum manamundu
And that shade possesses its own fragrance
Nilavukkum nizhal undu
Even the moon has a shadow
Andha nizhalukkum oliyundu
And that shadow has light within it
Nenjukkum niram undu
The human heart has its own shade
Andha nirathukkum manamundu
And that shade possesses its own fragrance
Nilavukkum nizhal undu
Even the moon has a shadow
Edhu thaan anbena arivaaya
Do you know what love truly is?
Adhu evaridam undena vidhiyunda
Is there any rule governing who possesses it?
Edhu thaan anbena arivaaya
Do you know what love truly is?
Adhu evaridam undena vidhiyunda
Is there any rule governing who possesses it?
Idhayathin vaasal vizhiyallava
Is not the eye the entrance to the heart?
Idhayathin vaasal vizhiyallava
Is not the eye the entrance to the heart?
Adhil iruppadhu anbin vazhiyallava…aaa..
Isn't what resides there the path of love?
Nilavukkum nizhal undu
Even the moon has a shadow
Manadhukku kannai vaithu vidu
Give eyes to your inner mind
Adhil mattravar manadhai paarthu vidu
Look at the minds of others through them
Manadhukku kannai vaithu vidu
Give eyes to your inner mind
Adhil mattravar manadhai paarthu vidu
Look at the minds of others through them
Adaiyaalam adhil therindhu vidum
True identity will become known through that
Adaiyaalam adhil therindhu vidum
True identity will become known through that
Nalla anbulla idamum purindhu vidum..mmm
And the abode of true love will be understood
Nilavukkum nizhal undu
Even the moon has a shadow
Kakkaiyum kuyilum orr niramae
The crow and the cuckoo share the same color
Verum kaanalum neerum orr vadivae
A mere mirage and real water share the same appearance
Kakkaiyum kuyilum orr niramae
The crow and the cuckoo share the same color
Verum kaanalum neerum orr vadivae
A mere mirage and real water share the same appearance
Paarkkindra kannil thelivirundhal
If there is clarity in the beholding eye
Paarkkindra kannil thelivirundhal
If there is clarity in the beholding eye
Un pagutharivae adhai pirithariyum..mm
Your rational intellect will tell them apart
Nilavukkum nizhal undu
Even the moon has a shadow
Andha nizhalukkum oliyundu
And that shadow has light within it
Nenjukkum niram undu
The human heart has its own shade
Andha nirathukkum manamundu
And that shade possesses its own fragrance
Nilavukkum nizhal undu
Even the moon has a shadow
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In 'Nilavukkum Nizhal Undu', lyricist Kannadasan presents a philosophical contemplation on perception, love, and human nature. The song highlights that surface appearances can be deceptive; just as a crow and a cuckoo look identical in dark plumage, or a mirage resembles water from afar, true character cannot be judged merely by sight. True understanding requires the clarity of rational thought and looking at others through the eyes of the mind rather than superficial appearance. Set to K. V. Mahadevan's evocative music and rendered with deep emotion by P. Susheela, the song serves as a reminder that genuine love and goodness exist beyond outer labels. It urges listeners to cultivate inner vision and discernment, asserting that wisdom and true affection are found by looking deeper into the heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Nilavukkum nizhal undu”
Repetition of the initial 'Ni' sound in 'Nilavukkum' and 'nizhal'.
Metaphor / Analogy
“Kakkaiyum kuyilum orr niramae / Verum kaanalum neerum orr vadivae”
Using the outer similarity of a crow and cuckoo, and a mirage and water, as metaphors for deceptive surface appearances in human character.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Idhayathin vaasal vizhiyallava / Adhil iruppadhu anbin vazhiyallava”
Rhyming ends with 'allava' across consecutive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Nilavukkum Nizhal Undu' from the 1964 film 'Aayiram Roobai' features music by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics by Kannadasan. Performed by P. Susheela, it is celebrated as one of Kannadasan's timeless philosophical songs about human perception and true inner beauty.
Keep listening
More from Aayiram Roobai
Aayiram Roobai
Aayiram Roobai
Aayiram Roobai
Aayiram Roobai