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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nillayo

From Bairavaa · 2017

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Haricharan
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Bairavaa2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manjal megamA yellow cloud,
Oru manjal megamA yellow cloud,
Siru pennaagiHas turned into a young girl,
Munne pogumAnd walks ahead of me.
Male
Chella PooveO sweet flower!
Naan unnai kandenI saw you,
Silluu sillaaiInto tiny shattered pieces,
Uyir sidhara kanden.I felt my soul shatter.
Male
Nillaayooo.. NillayoooWon't you stop? Won't you stop?
Un per ennaWhat is your name?
Unnaalaee.. marandhenaeeBecause of you...
En per ennaI forgot what my name is!
Male
Kanava kanvaaIs it a dream? Is it a dream?
Naan kanbadhu kanavaaIs what I see a dream?
En kanmunnae kadavulBefore my eyes, is it a divine...
Thugalaa...particle of God?
Male
Silicon silayooohAre you a silicon statue?
Siruvaai malaroooA flower with a tiny mouth?
Vellai nadhiyoooohA white river?
Veliyur nilavoooOr a moon from an outstation?
Male
Nillaayooo.. NillayoooWon't you stop? Won't you stop?
Un per ennaWhat is your name?
Unnaalaee.. marandhenaeeBecause of you...
En per ennaI forgot what my name is!
Male
Sempon silayoIs she a statue of pure gold?
Ival ayimpon azhagoIs she the beauty of five metals?
Brahmman magaloIs she the daughter of Lord Brahma?
Ival penpaal veyiloIs she sunshine in female form?
Male
Munnazhagaal muttiStrike me with your frontal beauty,
Motcham koduAnd grant me salvation!
Illai pin mudiyaalOtherwise, with your long hair at the back,
Ennai thookkiliduHang me to death!
Male
Nillaayooo.. NillayoooWon't you stop? Won't you stop?
Un per ennaWhat is your name?
Unnaalaee.. marandhenaeeBecause of you...
En per ennaI forgot what my name is!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nillayo from the film Bairavaa is a romantic melody expressing the hero's sheer enchantment upon seeing his love interest for the first time. Strikingly overwhelmed by her grace, he compares her appearance to a golden cloud taking human form, a fine silicon sculpture, and a divine particle. His fascination is so profound that he loses his own sense of identity, pleading with her to stop so he can know her name while confessing he has forgotten his own.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Manjal megam / Siru pennaagi

Compares the heroine directly to a yellow cloud that has manifested into a young woman.

Hyperbole

Illai pin mudiyaal / Ennai thookkilidu

Exaggerates her allure by poetically asking to be hanged to death using her long hair.

Eyalbu Navitchi Ani (Rhetorical Questions / Wonder)

Kanava kanvaa / Naan kanbadhu kanavaa

Uses rhetorical questioning to express disbelief and intoxication at her ethereal beauty.

Iyaipu (Rhyming Refrain)

Nillaayooo.. Nillayooo / Un per enna / Unnaalaee.. marandhenaee / En per enna

Repetitive rhyme and rhythm structure used as a refrain to emphasize his loss of memory and identity in her presence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Nillayo' from Bairavaa (2017) was composed by Santhosh Narayanan, with lyrics written by legendary lyricist Vairamuthu and sung by Haricharan. It visually depicts Vijay's character falling in love at first sight with Keerthy Suresh's character.

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