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Lyrics & meaning

Ninaithen Vanthai Nooru

From Kaavalkaaran · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kaavalkaaran1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
……………………….....
Male
{ Ninaithen vanthaai{ I thought of you, and you arrived
Nooru vayathu ketenI asked for a hundred years of life
Thandhaai aasai manadhu } (2)You granted it to my longing heart } (2)
Female
Ninaithen vanthaaiI thought of you, and you arrived
Nooru vayathu ketenI asked for a hundred years of life
Thandhaai aasai manadhuYou granted it to my longing heart
Male
Nooru nilavai oruCombining a hundred moons into one
Nilavaaki paavai endruTo create this maiden
Female
Aayiram malaraiCombining a thousand flowers
Oru malaraki paarvai endruInto a single floral gaze
Male
Kan meenaagaDid her eyes stand like a fish
Maanaaga nindradavoAnd like a deer?
Female
Sol thenaagaDid her words sing melodies
Paalaaga panpaadavoLike sweet honey and milk?
Male
Maalai neramIn the evening time
VandhuravaadavoShall I come to forge our bond?
Female
Maalai neramIn the evening time
VandhuravaadavoShall I come to forge our bond?
Female
……………………....
Female
Ninaithen vanthaaiI thought of you, and you arrived
Nooru vayathu ketenI asked for a hundred years of life
Thandhaai aasai manadhuYou granted it to my longing heart
Male
Nilai kannaadiSeeing her cheek as a mirror
Kannam kandu aaahaaAhaha
Malar kalloorumLike a cup overflowing
Kinnam endru ohoooWith flower nectar, ohooo
Male
{ Adhu sindhaamal{ Without spilling it
Kollaamal pakkam vaaWithout losing a drop, come close
Anbu thenodai paaigindraWhere the stream of love and honey flows,
Sorgam vaa } (2)Come to heaven } (2)
Female
Mannan tholoduWith the king's shoulders
Alli konjum pillai avanHe is the beloved child who embraces
Therodu pinni sellum mullaiLike jasmine twining alongside a chariot
Female
{ Unnai nenjendra{ I met you upon the couch
Manjathil santhidhenThat is my heart
Undhan kai konduTake with your hands
Unnadha kanni thaen } (2)This exquisite maiden honey } (2)
Female
Ninaithen vanthaaiI thought of you, and you arrived
Nooru vayathu ketenI asked for a hundred years of life
Thandhaai aasai manadhuYou granted it to my longing heart
Male
Idai noolaadi sellaAs her slender thread-like waist sways
Sella aahaaSways, ahaha
Female
Adhai melaadaiTo cover it with her upper garment
Moodi kolla ohoooAnd wrap herself, ohooo
Male
{ Chinna poo meni{ Her tender flower-like body,
Kaanadha kan ennaWhat eyes have not marvelled at it?
Female
Solli theeraadhaEndless and indescribable,
Inbangal ennenna } (2)What infinite joys these are! } (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ninaithen Vanthaai' is a classic romantic duet from the 1967 Tamil film Kaavalkaaran, expressing the deep passion and poetic admiration between two lovers. The protagonist rejoices at the sudden appearance of his beloved, equating her presence to gaining a long and blessed life. Through lush imagery, the couple exchanges poetic compliments praising each other's beauty, grace, and tenderness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kan meenaaga / Maanaaga nindradavo

Compares the heroine's expressive eyes to a fish (meen) and a deer (maan) to highlight her captivating gaze.

Metaphor (Uruvagandhu / Metaphor)

Unnai nenjendra / Manjathil santhidhen

Metaphorically compares the heart (nenju) to a soft bed/couch (manjam) where love resides.

Hyperbole (Athyokthi / Imagery)

Nooru nilavai oru / Nilavaaki paavai endru

Exaggerates the maiden's beauty by describing her as a fusion of a hundred moons into a single radiant form.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ninaithen Vanthaai' is one of the most popular duets featuring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and J. Jayalalithaa. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, the song was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The evergreen track was later reused in various cultural references across Tamil cinema.

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