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Nilavu Suduvathillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Raathiri Poovadai

From Nilavu Suduvathillai · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nilavu Suduvathillai
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
17 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raathiri poovaadai
Nazhuvudhu melaadai
Paal vanna udambil
Paruvathin baaram
Thaan mattum sumandhu
Thattu thadumaarum
Vaa… vaavaa vaavaa
Raathiri poovaadai
Hae nazhuvudhu melaadai
Aarugal ellaam
Kadalil adangum hae hae
Aanmaiyil thaanae
Penmai adangum
Kangalil thudikkudhu ullam
Karaigalai meerudhu vellam
Un kaiyai konjam kondaa
Adhil kaadhal regai undaa
Kaiyai konjam kondaa
Adhil kaadhal regai undaa
Kani vandhu kettum kili vidalaamaa
Hoo… hoohoo hoohoo
Raathiri poovaadai
Hae nazhuvudhu melaadai
Paal vanna udambil
Paruvathin baaram
Thaan mattum sumandhu
Thattu thadumaarum
Vaa… vaavaa vaavaa
Raathiri poovaadai
Hae nazhuvudhu melaadai
Pennukku thaanae
Aasaigal kollai
Haei naaniya pengal
Solvadhum illai
Aasaiyil en manam koosum
Vaasanai vaarthaigal paesum
Nitham pitham yerum
En ratham satham podum
Nitham pitham yerum
En ratham satham podum
Un nuni viralaalae
Kani thoda vendum
Poo… poo poo poo
Raathiri poovaadai
Hahahaha
Nazhuvudhu melaadai
Paal vanna udambil
Paruvathin baaram
Thaan mattum sumandhu
Thattu thadumaarum
Vaa… vaavaa vaavaa
Raathiri poovaadai
Haa
Nazhuvudhu melaadai
A flower-scented night breeze blows,
and my robe is slipping down.
On this milk-white body,
carrying the heavy burden of youth
all by itself,
it sways and falters.
Come... come, come, oh come!
A flower-scented night breeze blows,
hey, my robe is slipping down!
All the rivers
surrender to the sea, hey hey,
and isn't it in a man's embrace
that a woman finds her rest?
My heart's longing flutters in my eyes,
the flood is overflowing its banks.
Give me your hand for a moment,
does it have a line of love?
Give me your hand for a moment,
does it have a line of love?
When the sweet fruit offers itself, should the parrot let it go?
Hoo... hoo-hoo hoo-hoo
A flower-scented night breeze blows,
hey, my robe is slipping down!
On this milk-white body,
carrying the heavy burden of youth
all by itself,
it sways and falters.
Come... come, come, oh come!
A flower-scented night breeze blows,
hey, my robe is slipping down!
A woman holds inside her
so many countless desires,
hey, yet shy women
never say them out loud.
In deep longing, my heart feels shy,
yet it whispers fragrant words.
Every day, the fever of passion rises,
and my blood cries out aloud.
Every day, the fever of passion rises,
and my blood cries out aloud.
With the very tip of your finger,
you must touch this fruit.
Poo... poo poo poo
A flower-scented night breeze blows,
Hahaha
My robe is slipping down!
On this milk-white body,
carrying the heavy burden of youth
all by itself,
it sways and falters.
Come... come, come, oh come!
A flower-scented night breeze blows,
Haa
My robe is slipping down!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This sensual track from 'Nilavu Suduvathillai' (1984) portrays a woman passionately calling out to her lover under the cover of night. Expressing the overwhelming passion and burden of youth, she describes how nature and emotion align—just as rivers merge into the ocean, femininity finds its fulfillment in masculinity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை)

“Aarugal ellaam / Kadalil adangum”

Comparing rivers merging into the sea to femininity finding surrender in masculinity.

Iyaibu / Rhyme (இயைபு)

“Thaan mattum sumandhu / Thattu thadumaarum”

Matching end sounds in adjacent lines ('udambil', 'baaram', 'sumandhu', 'thadumaarum').

Mondhai / Alliteration (மோனை)

“Nitham pitham yerum / En ratham satham podum”

Repetition of starting sounds like 'Nitham' and 'pitham' / 'ratham' and 'satham'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Nilavu Suduvathillai' (1984) stars Sivakumar and Radhika. This alluring song composed by K. V. Mahadevan showcases Vairamuthu's signature poetic imagery blended with sensual romantic themes.

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