Ore Naal Unnai Naan
From Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu · 1978
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Orae naal unnai naan nilavil paarthadhu | It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight |
| Ulaavum un ilamaithaan oonjal aaduthu | Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing |
| Female | |
| Orae naal unnai naan nilavil paarthadhu | It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight |
| Ulaavum un ilamaithaan oonjal aaduthu | Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing |
| Male | |
| { Mangaikul kaadhalenum | As I float within the Ganges of love... |
| Gangaikul naan mithaka } (2) | ...that flows within this maiden |
| Female | |
| Sangamangalil idam perum | Taking place during our intimate unions, |
| Sambavangalil itham itham | There is comforting delight in these events |
| Male | |
| Panathaal ninaithaal inipathenna | Why does even the mere thought bring such sweetness? |
| Female | |
| Orae naal unnai naan nilavil paarthadhu | It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight |
| Ulaavum un ilamaithaan oonjal aaduthu | Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing |
| Male | |
| { Nenjathil perezhuthi | Inscribing your name upon my heart, |
| Kannukul naan padithen } (2) | I read it within my eyes |
| Male | |
| Karpanaigalil sugam sugam | There is sheer delight in these imaginations |
| Kandadhenavo nitham nitham | What I have experienced is a daily joy |
| Female | |
| Mazhai nee nilam naan mayakam enna | You are the rain, I am the land—why this sweet intoxication? |
| Male | |
| Orae naal unnai naan nilavil paarthadhu | It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight |
| Ulaavum un ilamaithaan oonjal aaduthu | Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………………. | |
| Male | |
| { Panjanai paadaluku pallavi nee iruka } (2) | As you stand as the refrain for this melody of the cozy bed |
| Female | |
| Kanirandilum orae swaram | A single musical note echoes in both eyes |
| Kai irandilum orae layam | A single rhythm flows through both hands |
| Male | |
| Iravum pagalum isai muzhanga | As music resounds day and night |
| Male | |
| Orae naal unnai naanFemale :Nilavil paarthadhu | It was just on one day that I saw you [Female: in the moonlight] |
| Male | |
| Ulaavum | Strolling... |
ஒரே நாள்
உன்னை நான்
நிலாவில் பார்த்தது
உலாவும் உன் இளமை
தான் ஊஞ்சலாடுது
It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight
Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing
ஒரே நாள்
உன்னை நான்
நிலாவில் பார்த்தது
உலாவும் உன் இளமை
தான் ஊஞ்சலாடுது
It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight
Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing
{ மங்கைக்குள்
காதலெனும் கங்கைக்குள்
நான் மிதக்க } (2)
As I float within the Ganges of love...
...that flows within this maiden
சங்கமங்களில்
இடம் பெரும் சம்பவங்களில்
இதம் இதம்
Taking place during our intimate unions,
There is comforting delight in these events
பணத்தால்
நினைத்தால் இனிப்பதென்ன
Why does even the mere thought bring such sweetness?
ஒரே நாள்
உன்னை நான்
நிலாவில் பார்த்தது
உலாவும் உன் இளமை
தான் ஊஞ்சலாடுது
It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight
Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing
{ நெஞ்சத்தில்
பேர் எழுதி கண்ணுக்குள்
நான் படித்தேன் } (2)
Inscribing your name upon my heart,
I read it within my eyes
கற்பனைகளில்
சுகம் சுகம் கண்டதென்னவோ
நிதம் நிதம்
There is sheer delight in these imaginations
What I have experienced is a daily joy
மழை நீ
நிலம் நான் மயக்கம்
என்ன
You are the rain, I am the land—why this sweet intoxication?
ஒரே நாள்
உன்னை நான்
நிலாவில் பார்த்தது
உலாவும் உன் இளமை
தான் ஊஞ்சலாடுது
It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight
Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing
........................................
{ பஞ்சணைப் பாடலுக்கு
பல்லவி நீ இருக்க } (2)
As you stand as the refrain for this melody of the cozy bed
கண்ணிரண்டிலும்
ஒரே ஸ்வரம் கையிரண்டிலும்
ஒரே லயம்
A single musical note echoes in both eyes
A single rhythm flows through both hands
இரவும் பகலும்
இசை முழங்க
As music resounds day and night
ஒரே நாள்
உன்னை நான்
நிலாவில் பார்த்தது
உலாவும்
ஆண் & பெண் :
உன் இளமை
தான் ஊஞ்சலாடுது ஊஞ்சலாடுது
It was just on one day that I saw you [Female: in the moonlight]
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஆ ஹா ஆ ஹா
Strolling...
Orae naal unnai naan nilavil paarthadhu
It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight
Ulaavum un ilamaithaan oonjal aaduthu
Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing
Orae naal unnai naan nilavil paarthadhu
It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight
Ulaavum un ilamaithaan oonjal aaduthu
Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing
{ Mangaikul kaadhalenum
As I float within the Ganges of love...
Gangaikul naan mithaka } (2)
...that flows within this maiden
Sangamangalil idam perum
Taking place during our intimate unions,
Sambavangalil itham itham
There is comforting delight in these events
Panathaal ninaithaal inipathenna
Why does even the mere thought bring such sweetness?
Orae naal unnai naan nilavil paarthadhu
It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight
Ulaavum un ilamaithaan oonjal aaduthu
Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing
{ Nenjathil perezhuthi
Inscribing your name upon my heart,
Kannukul naan padithen } (2)
I read it within my eyes
Karpanaigalil sugam sugam
There is sheer delight in these imaginations
Kandadhenavo nitham nitham
What I have experienced is a daily joy
Mazhai nee nilam naan mayakam enna
You are the rain, I am the land—why this sweet intoxication?
Orae naal unnai naan nilavil paarthadhu
It was just on one day that I saw you in the moonlight
Ulaavum un ilamaithaan oonjal aaduthu
Your strolling youthfulness sways like a swing
……………………………………….
{ Panjanai paadaluku pallavi nee iruka } (2)
As you stand as the refrain for this melody of the cozy bed
Kanirandilum orae swaram
A single musical note echoes in both eyes
Kai irandilum orae layam
A single rhythm flows through both hands
Iravum pagalum isai muzhanga
As music resounds day and night
Orae naal unnai naanFemale :Nilavil paarthadhu
It was just on one day that I saw you [Female: in the moonlight]
Ulaavum
Strolling...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
‘Orae Naal Unnai Naan’ is a classic romantic song from the 1978 Tamil film 'Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu'. The song captures the captivating power of love at first sight, where a single romantic encounter under the moonlight ignites an intoxicating sense of passion and intimacy. The sway of youth is poetically metaphorized as a swing ('oonjal'), oscillating endlessly between desire, imagination, and blissful daydreaming. Vaali’s lyrics weave rich poetic imagery, comparing love to a sacred river and the union of lovers to rain falling upon thirsty land. As the song progresses, love is envisioned as a continuous musical symphony played across all senses—where every glance, touch, and thought rhythmically harmonizes day and night.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Mangaikul kaadhalenum / Gangaikul naan mithaka”
The second consonant sound 'nga' (ங்) matches in 'Mangaikul' and 'Gangaikul', creating a traditional Tamil phonetic harmony.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Mazhai nee nilam naan mayakam enna”
Directly compares the lover to refreshing rain and the speaker to receptive land ('You are rain, I am land'), expressing deep connection.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Sambavangalil itham itham / Kandadhenavo nitham nitham”
The deliberate repetition and rhyme of 'itham itham' and 'nitham nitham' at line endings create rhythm and musicality.
Monai (Alliteration / First-letter Rhyme)
“Kanirandilum orae swaram / Kai irandilum orae layam”
The initial sound 'Ka' (க்) is repeated at the start of consecutive lines ('Kanirandilum' and 'Kai irandilum').
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the music director is uncredited in the given prompt, the music for 'Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu' was composed by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja. Directed by C. V. Sridhar, the film featured prominent stars Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Sripriya, and Jayachitra, and this track (sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam, with an alternate solo version by K. J. Yesudas) remains one of the most celebrated melodies in Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
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