- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Ninaivellam Nithya
- Movie release year
- 1982
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Jan 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Panivizhum Malarvanam' is a celebrated romantic track from the 1982 film 'Ninaivellam Nithya'. The song captures the intense romance, intimacy, and poetic admiration of a lover for his partner. Through vivid nature imagery—such as dew-covered gardens, fruit-laden trees, and rain-soaked skylarks—the lyrics evoke a dreamy atmosphere where love elevates human emotion to a transcendental level. The song explores the sensory beauty of intimate moments: glowing nails likened to twenty mini-moons, the soft modesty of a burning lamp closing its eyes, and the exchange of hearts during a tight embrace. Vairamuthu's poetic pen and Ilaiyaraaja's timeless composition make this song an enduring classic of Tamil cinema.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagham)
“Irubadhu nilavugal nagamengum olividum”
Comparing the twenty fingernails and toenails to 'twenty moons' (Irubadhu nilavugal nagamengum olividum) to emphasize exquisite beauty.
Personification
“Yeriyum vilakku sirithu kangal moodum”
Attributing human actions to a lamp ('the burning lamp smiles and closes its eyes') as a delicate metaphor for dimming the light during intimate moments.
Internal Rhyme (Iyalbu Edhukai / Monai)
“Inivarum munivarum thadumaarum kanimaram”
Rhythmic repetition of sounds like 'Inivarum', 'munivarum', and 'thadumaarum' within the same verse.
Simile / Hyperbole
“Inivarum munivarum thadumaarum kanimaram”
Describing the woman as a fruit tree alluring enough to make even future ascetics/sages lose their composure.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung flawlessly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, this song from 'Ninaivellam Nithya' (directed by C. V. Sridhar) is iconic for its brilliant acoustic guitar and flute prelude. Lyricist Vairamuthu received immense praise for creative lines like 'Irubadhu nilavugal' (twenty moons referring to 10 fingernails and 10 toenails).
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Ninaivellam Nithya
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.