Nilladi Endradhu Duet
From Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen · 1997
- Lyricist
- R. Sundarrajan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Uncle happy birthday to you..(7) | Uncle, happy birthday to you! |
| Female | |
| Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu | The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!' |
| Selladi endrathu penn manadhu | A woman's heart said, 'Go ahead, girl!' |
| Female | |
| Oli tharum nilavukku | For the moon that gives light, |
| Iravedharkku | Why is night needed? |
| Iravilae alliyai anaippatharkku | To embrace the water lily in the night, |
| Naan unnai anaippenae iravedharkku | For me to embrace you, why is night needed? |
| Female | |
| Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu | The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!' |
| Selladi endrathu penn manadhu | A woman's heart said, 'Go ahead, girl!' |
| Oli tharum nilavukku iravedharkku | For the moon that gives light, why is night needed? |
| Iravilae alliyai anaippatharkku | To embrace the water lily in the night, |
| Naan unnai anaippenae | For me to embrace you... |
| Male :Iravedharkku | Male: Why is night needed? |
| Female | |
| Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu | The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!' |
| Chorus | |
| Haaa….aaaa….aaa….. | Haaa....aaaa....aaa..... |
| Male | |
| Sollava sollava | Shall I tell you, shall I tell you... |
| Naan nalla sedhi | Good news from me? |
| Pakkam vaa vetkam yen | Come close, why be shy? |
| Nee sari paadhi | You are my better half. |
| Male | |
| Thaamadham innuma | Why delay any longer? |
| Idhu nalla neram | This is a good time. |
| Female :Nerunginen mayanginen | Female: I came close and swooned, |
| Malai aruvi oram | Beside the mountain stream. |
| Male | |
| Gangai karai oram vandhu | Coming near the banks of the Ganges, |
| Paattu solla koodatha | Can't you sing a song? |
| Female :Mangai andha maalai pozhuthil | Female: In that evening time, this maiden |
| Mayanguvenae thaanaga | Will naturally be entranced. |
| Male | |
| Eer udal ini orr uyir ena | As two bodies become one soul, |
| Vaazha pogum kaalamae | This time of life that we are going to live... |
| Female | |
| Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu | The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!' |
| Male :Selladi endrathu | Male: 'Go ahead, girl,' said... |
| Female :Penn manadhu | Female: The woman's heart. |
| Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu | The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!' |
| Male | |
| Haa….aaa….aa…. | Haa....aaa....aa.... |
| Female :Haa…aaa….aa…. | Female: Haa...aaa....aa.... |
| Chorus | |
| Haaa….aaaa….aaa…….(2) | Haaa....aaaa....aaa....... |
| Female | |
| Iruvizhi malarnthathu | Both eyes blossomed |
| Un mugam kaana | To see your face. |
| Idaiveli aanadhu | Did this distance happen |
| Idharkaga thaana | Just for this moment? |
| Male | |
| Valarvathu valarnthathu | It grew and grew, |
| Nam kaadhal geetham | Our song of love. |
| Female :Mannava arugil vaa | Female: Oh King, come close, |
| Adhu ondru podhum | That alone is enough. |
| Male | |
| Kannum kannum | Because our eyes met and mingled, |
| Kalanthathinaalae | Lord Krishna's heart sings poetry. |
| Kannan manam kavi paada | Wanting more and more, |
| Innum innum vendum endru | Radha's heart searches for me. |
| Raadhai manam enai theda | In a single day, across many eras, |
| Female | |
| Oru naalilae pala kaalangal | The life we lived is visible! |
| Naam vaazhntha vaazhvu kaanuthae | It said 'Stop, girl'... |
| Male | |
| Nilladi endrathu | Female: The inner heart. |
| Female :Ul manadhu | Male: It said 'Go ahead, girl'... |
| Male :Selladi endrathu | Female: The woman's heart. |
| Female :Penn manadhu | For the moon that gives light, |
| Male | |
| Oli tharum nilavukku | Why is night needed? |
| Iravedharkku | Female: To embrace the water lily in the night, |
| Female :Iravilae alliyai anaippatharkku | Male: For me to embrace you, |
| Male :Naan unnai anaippenae | Female: Why is night needed? |
| Female :Iravedharkku | It said 'Stop, girl'... |
| Male | |
| Nilladi endrathu | Female: The inner heart. |
| Female :Ul manadhu | Male: It said 'Go ahead, girl'... |
| Male :Selladi endrathu | Female: The woman's heart.... |
| Female :Penn manadhu…. | Male: Stop, girl! |
| Male :Nilladi | |
நில்லடி என்றது உள்மனது
செல்லடி என்றது பெண்மனது
ஒளி தரும் நிலவுக்கு இரவெதற்கு
இரவிலே அல்லியை அணைப்பதற்கு
நான் உன்னை அணைப்பேனே
இரவெதற்கு.....
Uncle, happy birthday to you!
நில்லடி என்றது உள்மனது
செல்லடி என்றது பெண்மனது
ஒளி தரும் நிலவுக்கு இரவெதற்கு.....
இரவிலே அல்லியை அணைப்பதற்கு
நான் உன்னை அணைப்பேனே
இரவெதற்கு....
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
A woman's heart said, 'Go ahead, girl!'
நில்லடி என்றது உள்மனது
For the moon that gives light,
Why is night needed?
To embrace the water lily in the night,
For me to embrace you, why is night needed?
ஆஆ....ஆஆஆ......ஆஆஆ....
ஆஆ....ஆஆஆ......ஆஆஆ....
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
A woman's heart said, 'Go ahead, girl!'
For the moon that gives light, why is night needed?
To embrace the water lily in the night,
For me to embrace you...
Male: Why is night needed?
சொல்லவா சொல்லவா
நான் நல்ல சேதி.......
பக்கம் வா வெட்கமே
நீ சரி பாதி.....
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
தாமதம் இன்னுமா
இது நல்ல நேரம்......
நெருங்கினேன் மயங்கினேன்
மலை அருவி ஓரம்
Haaa....aaaa....aaa.....
கங்கைக்கரை ஓரம் வந்து
பாட்டு சொல்ல கூடாதா
மங்கை அந்த மாலைப்பொழுதில்
மயங்குவேனே தானாக
ஈருடல் இனி ஓருயிர்
என வாழப்போகும் காலமே
Shall I tell you, shall I tell you...
Good news from me?
Come close, why be shy?
You are my better half.
நில்லடி என்றது உள்மனது
செல்லடி என்றது
பெண்மனது....
நில்லடி என்றது உள்மனது
Why delay any longer?
This is a good time.
Female: I came close and swooned,
Beside the mountain stream.
ஆஅ.....ஆஆ......ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஆ......ஆஅ.....
குழு :
ஆஅ.....ஆஆ......ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஆ......ஆஅ.....
Coming near the banks of the Ganges,
Can't you sing a song?
Female: In that evening time, this maiden
Will naturally be entranced.
இருவிழி மலர்ந்தது
உன் முகம் காண
இடைவெளி ஆனது
இதற்காகத்தானா
As two bodies become one soul,
This time of life that we are going to live...
வளர்வது வளர்ந்தது
நம் காதல் கீதம்
மன்னவா அருகில் வா
அது ஒன்று போதும்
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
Male: 'Go ahead, girl,' said...
Female: The woman's heart.
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
கண்ணும் கண்ணும்
கலந்ததினாலே
கண்ணன் மனம் கவி பாட
இன்னும் இன்னும் வேண்டும் என்று
ராதை மனம் எனைத்தேட
Haa....aaa....aa....
Female: Haa...aaa....aa....
ஒரு நாளிலே பல காலங்கள்
நாம் வாழ்ந்த வாழ்வு தோணுதே
Haaa....aaaa....aaa.......
நில்லடி என்றது
உள்மனது
செல்லடி என்றது
பெண்மனது
ஒளி தரும்
நிலவுக்கு இரவெதற்கு
இரவிலே அல்லியை
அணைப்பதற்கு
நான் உன்னை அணைப்பேனே
இரவெதற்கு
Both eyes blossomed
To see your face.
Did this distance happen
Just for this moment?
நில்லடி என்றது
உள்மனது....
செல்லடி என்றது
பெண்மனது....
நில்லடி
It grew and grew,
Our song of love.
Female: Oh King, come close,
That alone is enough.
Because our eyes met and mingled,
Lord Krishna's heart sings poetry.
Wanting more and more,
Radha's heart searches for me.
In a single day, across many eras,
The life we lived is visible!
It said 'Stop, girl'...
Female: The inner heart.
Male: It said 'Go ahead, girl'...
Female: The woman's heart.
For the moon that gives light,
Why is night needed?
Female: To embrace the water lily in the night,
Male: For me to embrace you,
Female: Why is night needed?
It said 'Stop, girl'...
Female: The inner heart.
Male: It said 'Go ahead, girl'...
Female: The woman's heart....
Male: Stop, girl!
Uncle happy birthday to you..(7)
Uncle, happy birthday to you!
Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
Selladi endrathu penn manadhu
A woman's heart said, 'Go ahead, girl!'
Oli tharum nilavukku
For the moon that gives light,
Iravedharkku
Why is night needed?
Iravilae alliyai anaippatharkku
To embrace the water lily in the night,
Naan unnai anaippenae iravedharkku
For me to embrace you, why is night needed?
Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
Selladi endrathu penn manadhu
A woman's heart said, 'Go ahead, girl!'
Oli tharum nilavukku iravedharkku
For the moon that gives light, why is night needed?
Iravilae alliyai anaippatharkku
To embrace the water lily in the night,
Naan unnai anaippenae
For me to embrace you...
Male :Iravedharkku
Male: Why is night needed?
Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
Haaa….aaaa….aaa…..
Haaa....aaaa....aaa.....
Sollava sollava
Shall I tell you, shall I tell you...
Naan nalla sedhi
Good news from me?
Pakkam vaa vetkam yen
Come close, why be shy?
Nee sari paadhi
You are my better half.
Thaamadham innuma
Why delay any longer?
Idhu nalla neram
This is a good time.
Female :Nerunginen mayanginen
Female: I came close and swooned,
Malai aruvi oram
Beside the mountain stream.
Gangai karai oram vandhu
Coming near the banks of the Ganges,
Paattu solla koodatha
Can't you sing a song?
Female :Mangai andha maalai pozhuthil
Female: In that evening time, this maiden
Mayanguvenae thaanaga
Will naturally be entranced.
Eer udal ini orr uyir ena
As two bodies become one soul,
Vaazha pogum kaalamae
This time of life that we are going to live...
Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
Male :Selladi endrathu
Male: 'Go ahead, girl,' said...
Female :Penn manadhu
Female: The woman's heart.
Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu
The inner heart said, 'Stop, girl!'
Haa….aaa….aa….
Haa....aaa....aa....
Female :Haa…aaa….aa….
Female: Haa...aaa....aa....
Haaa….aaaa….aaa…….(2)
Haaa....aaaa....aaa.......
Iruvizhi malarnthathu
Both eyes blossomed
Un mugam kaana
To see your face.
Idaiveli aanadhu
Did this distance happen
Idharkaga thaana
Just for this moment?
Valarvathu valarnthathu
It grew and grew,
Nam kaadhal geetham
Our song of love.
Female :Mannava arugil vaa
Female: Oh King, come close,
Adhu ondru podhum
That alone is enough.
Kannum kannum
Because our eyes met and mingled,
Kalanthathinaalae
Lord Krishna's heart sings poetry.
Kannan manam kavi paada
Wanting more and more,
Innum innum vendum endru
Radha's heart searches for me.
Raadhai manam enai theda
In a single day, across many eras,
Oru naalilae pala kaalangal
The life we lived is visible!
Naam vaazhntha vaazhvu kaanuthae
It said 'Stop, girl'...
Nilladi endrathu
Female: The inner heart.
Female :Ul manadhu
Male: It said 'Go ahead, girl'...
Male :Selladi endrathu
Female: The woman's heart.
Female :Penn manadhu
For the moon that gives light,
Oli tharum nilavukku
Why is night needed?
Iravedharkku
Female: To embrace the water lily in the night,
Female :Iravilae alliyai anaippatharkku
Male: For me to embrace you,
Male :Naan unnai anaippenae
Female: Why is night needed?
Female :Iravedharkku
It said 'Stop, girl'...
Nilladi endrathu
Female: The inner heart.
Female :Ul manadhu
Male: It said 'Go ahead, girl'...
Male :Selladi endrathu
Female: The woman's heart....
Female :Penn manadhu….
Male: Stop, girl!
Male :Nilladi
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic duet depicts a playful yet deeply affectionate dialogue between two lovers. The central motif revolves around the internal conflict of a woman's emotions—where her cautious inner mind tells her to pause ('Nilladi'), while her heart yearns to surrender to love ('Selladi'). The song uses imagery of the moon, night, water lilies, and sacred rivers like the Ganges to express the deep romantic bond that turns two separate bodies into a single soul ('Eer udal ini orr uyir ena'). As the song progresses, the lovers express their longing, comparing their affection to the legendary love story of Radha and Krishna. They feel that even a single day spent together feels like living through multiple lifetimes, celebrating their union and total surrender to love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Antithesis)
“Nilladi endrathu ul manadhu / Selladi endrathu penn manadhu”
Contrasts 'Nilladi' (stop/stay) with 'Selladi' (go/proceed), reflecting the psychological tension between hesitation and desire.
Metaphor
“Nee sari paadhi”
Refers to the beloved as 'sari paadhi' (better half / equal half), representing unity of souls.
Alliteration / Monai
“Valarvathu valarnthathu / Nam kaadhal geetham”
Repetition of the 'Va' sound in 'Valarvathu' and 'valarnthathu' creates rhythmic harmony.
Cultural/Mythological Allusion
“Kannan manam kavi paada... Raadhai manam enai theda”
Invokes Lord Krishna (Kannan) and Radha to signify divine, eternal love.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1997 Vijay-starrer 'Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen', directed by R. Sundarrajan who also penned the lyrics. The soundtrack was composed by Deva, with dual-vocal performances by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.
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