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Andaman Kadhali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ninaivaale

From Andaman Kadhali · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Andaman Kadhali
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
11 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ninaivaalae silai seidhu
Unakkaaga vaithaen
Thirukkovilae odi vaa aaa…aaa
Thirukkovilae odi vaa…
Ninaivaalae silai seidhu
Unakkaaga vaithaen
Thirukkovilae odi vaa aaa…aaa
Thirukkovilae odi vaa…
Neerindri aarillai
Neeyindri naanillai
Neerindri aarillai
Neeyindri naanillai
Vaerindri malarae yedhammaa
Vaerindri malarae yedhammaa
Ninaivaalae silai seidhu
Unakkaaga vaithaen
Thirukkovilae odi vaa
Aiyaa un ninaivae thaan
Naan paadum raagangal
Appodhum ippodhum
Thappaadha thaalangal
Aiyaa un ninaivae thaan
Naan paadum raagangal
Appodhum ippodhum
Thappaadha thaalangal
Kanneerilae naan theettinen
Kannathil kolangal…
Kannathil kolangal
Sendhoora bandham
Nilaiyaagum vannam
Sendhoora bandham
Nilaiyaagum vannam
Samsaara thaeril naan yeri vandhen
Thirukkovilae odi vaa
Aa… aaa…aaa…
Thirukkovilae odi vaa
Ninaivaalae silai seidhu
Unakkaaga vaithaen
Thirukkovilae odi vaa
Mullaikku kuzhal thandha
Penmaikku penmai nee
Pillaikku thol thandha
Annaikku annai nee
Mullaikku kuzhal thandha
Penmaikku penmai nee
Pillaikku thol thandha
Annaikku annai nee
Adhi kaalaiyil naan ketpadhu
Nee paadum boopaalam
En kangal rendum
Pallaandu paadi
En kangal rendum
Pallaandu paadi
Sevaanamaanen unai thaedi thaedi
Thirukkovilae odi vaa
Aa..aaa…aaa….aa…
Thirukkovilae odi vaa
Ninaivaalae silai seidhu
Unakkaaga vaithaen
Thirukkovilae odi vaa
Aa…aaa….aaa….aa…
Both :Thirukkovilae odi vaa…
I sculpted an idol out of my memories
And kept it waiting for you
Come running to this sacred temple, ah... ah...
Come running to this sacred temple...
I sculpted an idol out of my memories
And kept it waiting for you
Come running to this sacred temple, ah... ah...
Come running to this sacred temple...
Without water, there is no river
Without you, I do not exist
Without water, there is no river
Without you, I do not exist
How can a flower bloom without roots?
How can a flower bloom without roots?
I sculpted an idol out of my memories
And kept it waiting for you
Come running to this sacred temple
My beloved, your thoughts alone
Are the melodies I sing
At all times and through every moment,
They are beats that never miss rhythm
My beloved, your thoughts alone
Are the melodies I sing
At all times and through every moment,
They are beats that never miss rhythm
With my tears, I drew
Patterns down my cheeks...
Patterns down my cheeks
So that our sacred bond of marriage
Remains permanent and true,
So that our sacred bond of marriage
Remains permanent and true,
I came riding on the chariot of family life
Come running to this sacred temple
Ah... ah... ah...
Come running to this sacred temple
I sculpted an idol out of my memories
And kept it waiting for you
Come running to this sacred temple
Giving your hair to jasmine flowers,
You are the very essence of womanhood
Giving your shoulder to the child,
You are the greatest of all mothers
Giving your hair to jasmine flowers,
You are the very essence of womanhood
Giving your shoulder to the child,
You are the greatest of all mothers
What I hear in the early dawn
Is the morning melody you sing
As both my eyes
Sing prayers for a long and blessed life,
As both my eyes
Sing prayers for a long and blessed life,
They turned crimson like the evening sky, searching endlessly for you
Come running to this sacred temple
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Come running to this sacred temple
I sculpted an idol out of my memories
And kept it waiting for you
Come running to this sacred temple
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Both: Come running to this sacred temple...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Ninaivaalae Silai Seidhu' from the 1978 film Andaman Kadhali is a soulful Tamil song expressing profound devotion, marital intimacy, and emotional yearning. The lyrics elevate the beloved to the status of a living sanctuary or temple ('Thirukkovil'), asserting that the singer's existence is completely interdependent on their partner—just as a river relies on water or a flower depends on roots for life. Through poignant imagery of tears drawing patterns on cheeks and praises of maternal virtue and companionship, lyricist Kannadasan crafts a deeply affectionate hymn celebrating eternal love and devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Thirukkovilae odi vaa”

The beloved is metaphorically addressed as a sacred temple ('Thirukkovil'), elevating human love to divine reverence.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Neerindri aarillai / Neeyindri naanillai”

The second letter 'ri' (ரி) rhymes across consecutive lines, creating lyrical symmetry.

Analogy

“Neerindri aarillai / Neeyindri naanillai / Vaerindri malarae yedhammaa”

Draws natural analogies between a river without water, a flower without roots, and a person without their loved one.

Visual Imagery

“Kanneerilae naan theettinen / Kannathil kolangal”

Paints a vivid poetic image of tears rolling down cheeks resembling decorative traditional kolam patterns.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ninaivaalae Silai Seidhu' is a classic hit composed by legendary music director M. S. Viswanathan for the film Andaman Kadhali (1978), starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayachitra. The playback vocals were rendered by K. J. Yesudas and Vani Jairam, while the lyrics were authored by Kaviarasu Kannadasan.

Keep listening

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