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Neengal Kettavai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pillai Nila (Female)

From Neengal Kettavai · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Neengal Kettavai
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
30 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pillai nila
Irandum vellai nila..
Chorus :Lalalaa
Female :Pillai nila
Irandum vellai nila..
Chorus :Lalalaa
Alai polavae vilayaadumae
Sugam nooraagumae
Mann melae thullum maan polae
Pillai nila
Irandum vellai nila..
Chorus :Lalalaa
Female :Pillai nila
Irandum vellai nila..
Malaimelae mazhai adikka
Chorus :Malaimelae mazhai adikka
Female :Maan thoppil kudai pidikka
Chorus :Maan thoppil kudai pidikka
Aavaram
Chorus :Kattukulla
Female :Aayiram poo
Chorus :Poothirukka
Female :Mangaatha
Chorus :Kaathirundha
Female :Mammanodu
Chorus :Pooparikka
Thana thanana thananadha thanana
Thana thanana thananadha thanana
Thaa naa naa naaa…..
Ennaalum nammai vittu
Pogaathu vasantham
Tholodu roja rendu urangum
Thallaadum pookal elaam
Vilayaada azhaikkum
Yethetho ezhai manam ninaikkum
Thennai ilancholai
Paalai vidum naalai
Thennai ilancholai
Paalai vidum naalai
Kai irandil alli kondu
Kaathodu annai manam
Paadum kangal moodum
Pillai nila
Irandum vellai nila..
Chorus :Lalalaaa
Alai polavae vilayaadumae
Sugam nooraagumae
Mann melae thullum maan polae
Thandhana thandha
Chorus :Thandhana thandha
Male :Thaara thandha
Chorus :Thaara thandha
Male :Thandhana thandha
Chorus :Thandhana thandha
Male :Thana naana naa naa
Aalaana singam rendum
Kai veesi nadanthaal
Kaaladiyil boomi elaam adangum
Singaara thangam rendum
Thaer pola valanthaal
Aagayam vanthu ingae vanangum
Ungalaal thaanae
Uyir sumanthenae
Ungalaal thaanae
Uyir sumanthenae
Kanthalilae muthu charam
Kaapaathi katti vechu
Naanae paasam thaanae
Pillai nila
Irandum vellai nila..
Chorus :Lalalaaa
Alai polavae vilayaadumae
Sugam nooraagumae
Mann melae thullum maan polae
{La laa laaa
Hahahaha
La la laa laa laaa} (2)
Ha haahahah hahah ha ha….
Baby moons,
both are pure white moons...
Chorus: La la la...
Female: Baby moons,
both are pure white moons...
Chorus: La la la...
They play just like rolling waves,
bringing a hundredfold joy,
like deer leaping across the earth.
Baby moons,
both are pure white moons...
Chorus: La la la...
Female: Baby moons,
both are pure white moons...
As rain pours down upon the hill,
Chorus: As rain pours down upon the hill,
Female: holding an umbrella in the mango grove,
Chorus: holding an umbrella in the mango grove,
In the aavaram...
Chorus: ...woods,
Female: where a thousand flowers...
Chorus: ...are in bloom,
Female: with the ever-loving...
Chorus: ...uncle who waited...
Female: ...by our side,
Chorus: ...to pick flowers!
Thana thanana thananatha thanana
Thana thanana thananatha thanana
Thaa naa naa naa...
Never leaving our side,
spring will stay forever.
Two roses sleep resting against my shoulder.
All the swaying flowers
call them out to play.
This humble mother's heart dreams of so many things.
Looking forward to the day
the young coconut grove blooms with sap,
looking forward to the day
the young coconut grove blooms with sap,
gathering you both into my arms,
a mother's heart, drifting on the breeze,
will sing as her eyes gently close.
Baby moons,
both are pure white moons...
Chorus: La la la...
They play just like rolling waves,
bringing a hundredfold joy,
like deer leaping across the earth.
Thanthana thantha
Chorus: Thanthana thantha
Male: Thaara thantha
Chorus: Thaara thantha
Male: Thanthana thantha
Chorus: Thanthana thantha
Male: Thana naana naa naa
When these two grown lion cubs
walk swinging their arms in pride,
the whole earth will bow beneath their feet.
When my two precious golden boys
grow tall like grand temple chariots,
even the sky will come down and honor them.
Only because of you both,
I hold on to this life.
Only because of you both,
I hold on to this life.
Like a string of pearls wrapped safely in rags,
sheltered and held so closely,
I live on through pure love for you.
Baby moons,
both are pure white moons...
Chorus: La la la...
They play just like rolling waves,
bringing a hundredfold joy,
like deer leaping across the earth.
{La la la...
Ha ha ha ha
La la la la la...} (x2)
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic lullaby-style tender duet from 'Neengal Kettavai' celebrates parental affection and unconditional love towards two children. The lyrics compare the young children to pristine white moons, dancing waves, and playful deer on earth. The parents express boundless hope for their future, imagining a spring season that never leaves their home, while dreaming of their children growing up strong as lions and grand as temple chariots before whom the world will bow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile)

Pillai nila Irandum vellai nila / Mann melae thullum maan polae

Comparing children to innocent white moons and playful deer on earth using 'polavae' and 'polae'.

Uruvagamb (Metaphor)

Tholodu roja rendu urangum / Kanthalilae muthu charam

Describing children metaphorically as two roses resting on shoulders and pearls inside torn rags.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Singaara thangam rendum Thaer pola valanthaal Aagayam vanthu ingae vanangum

Exaggerating the future stature of the children by stating the sky will bow down to them when they grow up.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Malaimelae mazhai adikka / Maan thoppil kudai pidikka

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'M' across line segments.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki and K. J. Yesudas, 'Pillai Nila Irandum Vellai Nila' remains one of Tamil cinema's most revered lullabies and affection-themed songs. Directed by Balu Mahendra, 'Neengal Kettavai' (1984) showcased a unique blend of commercial elements and sensitive character portrayals.

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