Oh Alagu Nilavu
From My Dear Marthandan · 1990
- Lyricist
- Piraisoodan
- Singer
- Mano
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- My Dear Marthandan1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae | Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile. |
| Oo…..malarum sirippil uravai maranthathae | Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond. |
| En kanmani pani thuli kann medhilaa | My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid? |
| Vinn meedhilae valam varum nee vennilaa | You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky. |
| Male | |
| Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae | Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile. |
| Male | |
| Imaigal moodum kangalaai naan vaazhgiraen | I live like eyes closed shut by eyelids. |
| Idhyam kooda paaramaai naan moozhinaen | I sank into sorrow as even my heart became a heavy burden. |
| Ilaigal moodum kanigalthaan en aasaiyae | My desire is like fruit hidden beneath the leaves. |
| Ilakkanamthaan inainthidaa kuilosaiyae | It is like a cuckoo's song lacking grammatical harmony. |
| Male | |
| Neer mael azhaiya kolam | Like a rangoli pattern drawn upon water that instantly vanishes, |
| Pottaen dhinam dhinam naanum | I drew it every single day. |
| Ninaiththaal inimaithaan nadanthaal arumaithaan | It is sweet to think about, and magnificent if it actually comes true. |
| Ninaive ninaivilae vizhiyilae ezhuthadi | O memory, write inside the memory and within the eyes! |
| Male | |
| Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae | Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile. |
| Oo…..malarum sirippil uravai maranthathae | Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond. |
| En kanmani pani thuli kann medhilaa | My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid? |
| Vinn meedhilae valam varum nee vennilaa | You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky. |
| Male | |
| Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae | Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile. |
| Male | |
| Vidhaippathum adhu mulaippathum | The sowing of seeds and their sprouting, |
| Yaar solliththaan | At whose command does it take place? |
| Mulaippathum adhu vilaivathum | The sprouting and the yielding of crops, |
| Yaar kayilthaan | In whose hands does the power lie? |
| Male | |
| Malarvathum adhu manappathum | The blooming of flowers and their fragrance, |
| Yaar paarththuthaan | Who is keeping watch over it? |
| Manappathum adhu nilaippathum | The scent that spreads and its permanence, |
| Yaar kettuthaan | Who asked for its permission? |
| Male | |
| Yaaro ezhuthiya paadhai | A destiny path written by someone unknown, |
| Purinthaal vilangidum geedhai | If understood, the essence of the Gita becomes clear. |
| Ninaivae vilagidu ninaiththaal vilai kodu | O memory, step away; if you ponder, pay the price! |
| Uravae uravilae urugiyae ezhuthadi | O bond, melt with love and write within the relationship! |
| Male | |
| Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae | Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile. |
| Oo…..malarum sirippil uravai maranthathae | Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond. |
| En kanmani pani thuli kann medhilaa | My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid? |
| Vinn meedhilae valam varum nee vennilaa | You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky. |
| Male | |
| Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae….oo…. | Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile... oh... |
ஓ......அழகு நிலவு சிரிக்க மறந்ததே
ஓ.....மலரும் சிரிப்பில் உறவை மறந்ததே
என் கண்மணி பனிதுளி கண் மீதிலா
விண் மீதிலே வலம் வரும் நீ வெண்ணிலா
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond.
My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid?
You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky.
ஓ......அழகு நிலவு சிரிக்க மறந்ததே......ஓ....
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
இமைகள் மூடும் கண்களாய் நான் வாழ்கிறேன்
இதயம் கூட பாரமாய் நான் மூழ்கினேன்
இலைகள் மூடும் கனிகள்தான் என் ஆசையே
இலக்கணம் தான் இணைந்திடா குயிலோசையே
I live like eyes closed shut by eyelids.
I sank into sorrow as even my heart became a heavy burden.
My desire is like fruit hidden beneath the leaves.
It is like a cuckoo's song lacking grammatical harmony.
நீர் மேல் அழகிய கோலம்
போட்டேன் தினம் தினம் நானும்
நினைத்தால் இனிமைதான் நடந்தால் அருமைதான்
நினைவே நினைவிலே விழியிலே எழுதடி
Like a rangoli pattern drawn upon water that instantly vanishes,
I drew it every single day.
It is sweet to think about, and magnificent if it actually comes true.
O memory, write inside the memory and within the eyes!
ஓ......அழகு நிலவு சிரிக்க மறந்ததே
ஓ.....மலரும் சிரிப்பில் உறவை மறந்ததே
என் கண்மணி பனிதுளி கண் மீதிலா
விண் மீதிலே வலம் வரும் நீ வெண்ணிலா
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond.
My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid?
You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky.
ஓ......அழகு நிலவு சிரிக்க மறந்ததே......ஓ....
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
விதைப்பதும் அது முளைப்பதும்
யார் சொல்லித்தான்
முளைப்பதும் அது விளைவதும்
யார் கையில்தான்
The sowing of seeds and their sprouting,
At whose command does it take place?
The sprouting and the yielding of crops,
In whose hands does the power lie?
மலர்வதும் அது மணப்பதும்
யார் பார்த்துதான்
மணப்பதும் அது நிலைப்பதும்
யார் கேட்டுதான்
The blooming of flowers and their fragrance,
Who is keeping watch over it?
The scent that spreads and its permanence,
Who asked for its permission?
யாரோ எழுதிய பாதை
புரிந்தால் விளங்கிடும் கீதை
நினைவே விலகிடு நினைத்தால் விலை கொடு
உறவே உறவிலே உருகியே எழுதடி
A destiny path written by someone unknown,
If understood, the essence of the Gita becomes clear.
O memory, step away; if you ponder, pay the price!
O bond, melt with love and write within the relationship!
ஓ......அழகு நிலவு சிரிக்க மறந்ததே
ஓ.....மலரும் சிரிப்பில் உறவை மறந்ததே
என் கண்மணி பனிதுளி கண் மீதிலா
விண் மீதிலே வலம் வரும் நீ வெண்ணிலா
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond.
My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid?
You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky.
ஓ......அழகு நிலவு சிரிக்க மறந்ததே......ஓ....
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile... oh...
Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
Oo…..malarum sirippil uravai maranthathae
Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond.
En kanmani pani thuli kann medhilaa
My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid?
Vinn meedhilae valam varum nee vennilaa
You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky.
Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
Imaigal moodum kangalaai naan vaazhgiraen
I live like eyes closed shut by eyelids.
Idhyam kooda paaramaai naan moozhinaen
I sank into sorrow as even my heart became a heavy burden.
Ilaigal moodum kanigalthaan en aasaiyae
My desire is like fruit hidden beneath the leaves.
Ilakkanamthaan inainthidaa kuilosaiyae
It is like a cuckoo's song lacking grammatical harmony.
Neer mael azhaiya kolam
Like a rangoli pattern drawn upon water that instantly vanishes,
Pottaen dhinam dhinam naanum
I drew it every single day.
Ninaiththaal inimaithaan nadanthaal arumaithaan
It is sweet to think about, and magnificent if it actually comes true.
Ninaive ninaivilae vizhiyilae ezhuthadi
O memory, write inside the memory and within the eyes!
Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
Oo…..malarum sirippil uravai maranthathae
Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond.
En kanmani pani thuli kann medhilaa
My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid?
Vinn meedhilae valam varum nee vennilaa
You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky.
Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
Vidhaippathum adhu mulaippathum
The sowing of seeds and their sprouting,
Yaar solliththaan
At whose command does it take place?
Mulaippathum adhu vilaivathum
The sprouting and the yielding of crops,
Yaar kayilthaan
In whose hands does the power lie?
Malarvathum adhu manappathum
The blooming of flowers and their fragrance,
Yaar paarththuthaan
Who is keeping watch over it?
Manappathum adhu nilaippathum
The scent that spreads and its permanence,
Yaar kettuthaan
Who asked for its permission?
Yaaro ezhuthiya paadhai
A destiny path written by someone unknown,
Purinthaal vilangidum geedhai
If understood, the essence of the Gita becomes clear.
Ninaivae vilagidu ninaiththaal vilai kodu
O memory, step away; if you ponder, pay the price!
Uravae uravilae urugiyae ezhuthadi
O bond, melt with love and write within the relationship!
Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile.
Oo…..malarum sirippil uravai maranthathae
Oh... in its blooming smile, it forgot the bond.
En kanmani pani thuli kann medhilaa
My darling dewdrop, is it resting on the eyelid?
Vinn meedhilae valam varum nee vennilaa
You are the white moon orbiting high in the sky.
Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae….oo….
Oh... the beautiful moon has forgotten how to smile... oh...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song is a poignant, introspective melancholy tune expressing heartbreak, longing, and philosophical reflection on life's unpredictable nature. The protagonist compares their lost love or emotional state to a beautiful moon that has forgotten how to smile, lamenting a relationship that dissolved like a pattern drawn on water.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Vinn meedhilae valam varum nee vennilaa”
Compares the beloved directly to the white moon orbiting the sky.
Simile / Analogy
“Neer mael azhaiya kolam Pottaen dhinam dhinam naanum”
Compares futile efforts in love to drawing rangoli patterns on water that disappear immediately.
Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)
“Vidhaippathum adhu mulaippathum / Mulaippathum adhu vilaivathum”
Repetitive rhythmic ending suffixes (-athum) creating a poetic rhythm across lines.
Personification
“Oo…azhagu nilavu sirikka maranthathae”
Attributes the human ability of smiling and forgetting to the moon.
Did you know?
Trivia
My Dear Marthandan (1990) is a Tamil comedy-drama film directed by Prathap K. Pothan and produced by Kamal Haasan under Raj Kamal Films International. Although the song's lyricist is Piraisoodan, the film's iconic musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, starring Prabhu and Gautami in the lead roles.
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