Sakkarai Nilave
From Youth · 2002
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Harish Raghavendra
- Music director
- Mani Sharma
- Details
- Youth2002
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Sakkarai nilavae pen nilavae | Oh sweet moon made of sugar, my maiden moon, |
| Kaanum pothae karainthayae | You melted away the moment I saw you. |
| Nimathi illai en illai nee.. illayae } (2) | There is no peace of mind, none at all, because you are not here. |
| Male | |
| Manam pachai thannithan pennae | My heart was like cold green water, girl, |
| Athai pattravaithathu un kannae | Yet your eyes set it ablaze. |
| En vaazhkai ennum kaattai erithu | Burning down the forest that was my life, |
| Kulirkainthai kodumai pennae | You warmed yourself over the embers, cruel girl. |
| Kavithai paadina kangal | The eyes that sang poetry, |
| Kadhal pesina kaigal | The hands that spoke of love, |
| Kadaisiyil ellam poigal | In the end, were they all lies? |
| En pinju nenju thaanguma | Can my tender heart bear this pain? |
| Male | |
| Sakkarai nilavae pen nilavae | Oh sweet moon made of sugar, my maiden moon, |
| Kaanum pothae karainthayae | You melted away the moment I saw you. |
| Nimathi illai en illai nee illayae | There is no peace of mind, none at all, because you are not here. |
| Male | |
| Oooo thananana … hey thananana | Oooo thananana … hey thananana |
| Oooo ooo nanana …hey nanana | Oooo ooo nanana …hey nanana |
| Kadhal endra ondru athu kadavul pola | This thing called love is like God, |
| Unarathanae mudiyum athil uruvam illai | It can only be felt, it has no visible form. |
| Kaayam kanda idhayam oru kuzhanthai pola | A wounded heart is like a little child, |
| Vaayai moodi azhumae solla varthai illai | It cries with its mouth shut, having no words to express. |
| Male | |
| Anbae un punnagaiyellam adinenjil saemithen | My dear, I stored all your smiles deep within my heart, |
| Kannae un punnagaiyellam kaneerai urugiyathen | My darling, why did all those smiles melt into tears? |
| Vellai siripugal un thavara | Was it your fault to smile so innocently, |
| Athil kollaiponathu en thavara | Or was it my fault to be completely robbed by it? |
| Pirinthu sendrathu un thavara | Was it your fault for walking away, |
| Naan purinthu kondathu en thavara | Or was it my fault for misunderstanding? |
| Aan kanneer parugum pennin idhayam | Is a woman's heart that drinks a man's tears |
| Sathaiyalla kallin suvara | Made of stone wall instead of living flesh? |
| Male | |
| Kavithai paadina kangal kadhal pesina kaigal | The eyes that sang poetry, the hands that spoke of love, |
| Kadaisiyil ellam poigal en pinju nenju thaanguma | In the end, were they all lies? Can my tender heart bear this pain? |
| Male | |
| November maatha mazhaiyil naan nanaiven endren | I said I love getting drenched in the November rain, |
| Enakum kooda nanaithal miga pidikkum endraai | You said you too loved getting drenched so much. |
| Mottaimaadi nilavil naan kulipen endren | I said I like to bathe in the moonlight on the terrace, |
| Enakum antha kuliyal miga pidikkum endraai | You said you too loved that moonlight bath very much. |
| Male | |
| Sugamana kural yaar endral susheela-vin kural endren | When asked whose voice is sweet, I said P. Susheela's voice, |
| Enakum antha kuraliletho mayakam ena nee sonnai | You said that voice casts a magic spell on you too. |
| Kangal moodiya budhar silai | A Buddha statue with closed eyes, |
| En kanavil varuvathu pidikkum endren | I said I love it when it appears in my dreams. |
| Thayakam enbathae sirithumindri | Without even a moment of hesitation, |
| Athu enakum enakum thaan pidikkumendraai | You said you loved that exact same thing too. |
| Adi unakum unakum ellam pidikka | Oh girl, when you liked everything that I liked, |
| Ennai yen pidikkaathendraai… | Why didn't you end up liking me? |
{ சக்கரை நிலவே பெண்
நிலவே காணும் போதே
கரைந்தாயே நிம்மதி இல்லை
ஏன் இல்லை நீ இல்லையே } (2)
Oh sweet moon made of sugar, my maiden moon,
You melted away the moment I saw you.
There is no peace of mind, none at all, because you are not here.
மனம் பச்சை தண்ணி
தான் பெண்ணே அதை பற்ற
வைத்தது உன் கண்ணே என்
வாழ்க்கை என்னும் காட்டை
எாித்து குளிா் காய்ந்தாய்
கொடுமை பெண்ணே கவிதை
பாடின கண்கள் காதல் பேசின
கைகள் கடைசியில் எல்லாம்
பொய்கள் என் பிஞ்சு நெஞ்சு தாங்குமா
My heart was like cold green water, girl,
Yet your eyes set it ablaze.
Burning down the forest that was my life,
You warmed yourself over the embers, cruel girl.
The eyes that sang poetry,
The hands that spoke of love,
In the end, were they all lies?
Can my tender heart bear this pain?
சக்கரை நிலவே பெண்
நிலவே காணும் போதே
கரைந்தாயே நிம்மதி இல்லை
ஏன் இல்லை நீ இல்லையே
Oh sweet moon made of sugar, my maiden moon,
You melted away the moment I saw you.
There is no peace of mind, none at all, because you are not here.
........................................
காதல் என்ற ஒன்று அது
கடவுள் போல உணரத்தானே
முடியும் அதில் உருவம் இல்லை
காயம் கண்ட இதயம் ஒரு குழந்தை
போல வாயை மூடி அழுமே சொல்ல
வாா்த்தை இல்லை
Oooo thananana … hey thananana
Oooo ooo nanana …hey nanana
This thing called love is like God,
It can only be felt, it has no visible form.
A wounded heart is like a little child,
It cries with its mouth shut, having no words to express.
அன்பே உன் புன்னகை
எல்லாம் அடி நெஞ்சில்
சேமித்தேன் கண்ணே உன்
புன்னகை எல்லாம் கண்ணீராய்
உருகியதேன் வெள்ளை சிாிப்புகள்
உன் தவறா அதில் கொள்ளை
போனது என் தவறா பிாிந்து சென்றது
உன் தவறா நான் புாிந்து கொண்டது
என் தவறா ஆண் கண்ணீா் பருகும்
பெண்ணின் இதயம் சதையல்ல
கல்லின் சுவரா
My dear, I stored all your smiles deep within my heart,
My darling, why did all those smiles melt into tears?
Was it your fault to smile so innocently,
Or was it my fault to be completely robbed by it?
Was it your fault for walking away,
Or was it my fault for misunderstanding?
Is a woman's heart that drinks a man's tears
Made of stone wall instead of living flesh?
கவிதை பாடின கண்கள்
காதல் பேசின கைகள் கடைசியில்
எல்லாம் பொய்கள் என் பிஞ்சு
நெஞ்சு தாங்குமா
The eyes that sang poetry, the hands that spoke of love,
In the end, were they all lies? Can my tender heart bear this pain?
நவம்பா் மாத
மழையில் நான் நனைவேன்
என்றேன் எனக்கும் கூட நனைதல்
மிக பிடிக்கும் என்றாய் மொட்டை
மாடி நிலவில் நான் குளிப்பேன்
என்றேன் எனக்கும் அந்த குளியல்
மிக பிடிக்கும் என்றாய்
I said I love getting drenched in the November rain,
You said you too loved getting drenched so much.
I said I like to bathe in the moonlight on the terrace,
You said you too loved that moonlight bath very much.
சுகமான குரல் யாா்
என்றால் சுசீலாவின் குரல்
என்றேன் எனக்கும் அந்த
குரலில் ஏதோ மயக்கம்
என நீ சொன்னாய் கண்கள்
மூடிய புத்தா் சிலை என் கனவில்
வருவது பிடிக்கும் என்றேன்
தயக்கம் என்பதே சிறிதும் இன்றி
அது எனக்கும் எனக்கும் தான்
பிடிக்கும் என்றாய் அடி உனக்கும்
உனக்கும் எல்லாம் பிடிக்க என்னை
ஏன் பிடிக்காதென்றாய்
When asked whose voice is sweet, I said P. Susheela's voice,
You said that voice casts a magic spell on you too.
A Buddha statue with closed eyes,
I said I love it when it appears in my dreams.
Without even a moment of hesitation,
You said you loved that exact same thing too.
Oh girl, when you liked everything that I liked,
Why didn't you end up liking me?
{ Sakkarai nilavae pen nilavae
Oh sweet moon made of sugar, my maiden moon,
Kaanum pothae karainthayae
You melted away the moment I saw you.
Nimathi illai en illai nee.. illayae } (2)
There is no peace of mind, none at all, because you are not here.
Manam pachai thannithan pennae
My heart was like cold green water, girl,
Athai pattravaithathu un kannae
Yet your eyes set it ablaze.
En vaazhkai ennum kaattai erithu
Burning down the forest that was my life,
Kulirkainthai kodumai pennae
You warmed yourself over the embers, cruel girl.
Kavithai paadina kangal
The eyes that sang poetry,
Kadhal pesina kaigal
The hands that spoke of love,
Kadaisiyil ellam poigal
In the end, were they all lies?
En pinju nenju thaanguma
Can my tender heart bear this pain?
Sakkarai nilavae pen nilavae
Oh sweet moon made of sugar, my maiden moon,
Kaanum pothae karainthayae
You melted away the moment I saw you.
Nimathi illai en illai nee illayae
There is no peace of mind, none at all, because you are not here.
Oooo thananana … hey thananana
Oooo thananana … hey thananana
Oooo ooo nanana …hey nanana
Oooo ooo nanana …hey nanana
Kadhal endra ondru athu kadavul pola
This thing called love is like God,
Unarathanae mudiyum athil uruvam illai
It can only be felt, it has no visible form.
Kaayam kanda idhayam oru kuzhanthai pola
A wounded heart is like a little child,
Vaayai moodi azhumae solla varthai illai
It cries with its mouth shut, having no words to express.
Anbae un punnagaiyellam adinenjil saemithen
My dear, I stored all your smiles deep within my heart,
Kannae un punnagaiyellam kaneerai urugiyathen
My darling, why did all those smiles melt into tears?
Vellai siripugal un thavara
Was it your fault to smile so innocently,
Athil kollaiponathu en thavara
Or was it my fault to be completely robbed by it?
Pirinthu sendrathu un thavara
Was it your fault for walking away,
Naan purinthu kondathu en thavara
Or was it my fault for misunderstanding?
Aan kanneer parugum pennin idhayam
Is a woman's heart that drinks a man's tears
Sathaiyalla kallin suvara
Made of stone wall instead of living flesh?
Kavithai paadina kangal kadhal pesina kaigal
The eyes that sang poetry, the hands that spoke of love,
Kadaisiyil ellam poigal en pinju nenju thaanguma
In the end, were they all lies? Can my tender heart bear this pain?
November maatha mazhaiyil naan nanaiven endren
I said I love getting drenched in the November rain,
Enakum kooda nanaithal miga pidikkum endraai
You said you too loved getting drenched so much.
Mottaimaadi nilavil naan kulipen endren
I said I like to bathe in the moonlight on the terrace,
Enakum antha kuliyal miga pidikkum endraai
You said you too loved that moonlight bath very much.
Sugamana kural yaar endral susheela-vin kural endren
When asked whose voice is sweet, I said P. Susheela's voice,
Enakum antha kuraliletho mayakam ena nee sonnai
You said that voice casts a magic spell on you too.
Kangal moodiya budhar silai
A Buddha statue with closed eyes,
En kanavil varuvathu pidikkum endren
I said I love it when it appears in my dreams.
Thayakam enbathae sirithumindri
Without even a moment of hesitation,
Athu enakum enakum thaan pidikkumendraai
You said you loved that exact same thing too.
Adi unakum unakum ellam pidikka
Oh girl, when you liked everything that I liked,
Ennai yen pidikkaathendraai…
Why didn't you end up liking me?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Sakkarai Nilave' is a poignant breakup song from the 2002 Vijay-starrer 'Youth', written by lyricist Vairamuthu and composed by Mani Sharma. The protagonist expresses his deep agony and sense of betrayal after the woman he loved abruptly departs from his life. He compares his lover to a sweet moon made of sugar that dissolved too quickly, leaving his heart in complete despair.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Sakkarai nilavae pen nilavae”
Compares the beloved to a moon made of sugar ('Sakkarai nilave') and life to a forest ('vaazhkai ennum kaattai').
Simile (Uvamai)
“Kadhal endra ondru athu kadavul pola”
Compares love to God ('kadavul pola'), existing only as a feeling without form, and a wounded heart to a crying child ('kuzhanthai pola').
Anaphora / Rhyme Structure (Emoni & Edhurakai)
“Vellai siripugal un thavara / Athil kollaiponathu en thavara”
Repetitive rhetorical questions highlighting fault ('un thavara... en thavara') to emphasize inner conflict and confusion.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the prompt lists 'Unknown' for music and singers, the track was composed by Mani Sharma and sung brilliantly by Harish Raghavendra. The lyrics by Vairamuthu famously capture the cultural pop references of the era, such as referencing legendary playback singer P. Susheela.
Keep listening