Thanga Nilave Unnai
From Thangaikkor Geetham · 1983
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Thangaikkor Geetham1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thanga nilavae unnai urukki | Golden moon, shall I melt you |
| Thangachchikku thanga nagai senjidavo | To make gold jewelry for my younger sister? |
| Natchathiramae unnai udaichchi | Oh stars, shall I break you |
| Vidhavidhaaa vaira nagai pottidavo | To adorn her with various diamond ornaments? |
| Aariraro aariraariraro aariraro aariraariraro | Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...) |
| Male | |
| Thanga nilavae unnai urukki | Golden moon, shall I melt you |
| Thangachchikku thanga nagai senjidavo | To make gold jewelry for my younger sister? |
| Natchathiramae unnai udaichchi | Oh stars, shall I break you |
| Vidhavidhaaa vaira nagai pottidavo | To adorn her with various diamond ornaments? |
| Aariraro aariraariraro aariraro aariraariraro | Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...) |
| Male | |
| Javuli kadai bommai kooda | Even the mannequin in the textile shop |
| Kattuthammaa pattu selai | Is draped in a silk saree, my dear; |
| Unakkonnu vaangidavae | To buy one such silk dress for you, |
| Yaezhai annan yaengidavae | Your poor elder brother yearns helplessly; |
| Male | |
| Aasaipattu thottu viduvaen | Driven by desire, I touch the cloth, |
| Kaasa kandu vittu viduvaen | Seeing its price tag, I leave it behind; |
| Aasaipattu thottu viduvaen | Driven by desire, I touch the cloth, |
| Kaasa kandu vittu viduvaen | Seeing its price tag, I leave it behind; |
| Naalum varum naalai endru kaaththiruppaen | I will keep waiting for a better day to arrive tomorrow. |
| Aariraro aariraariraro aariraro aariraariraro | Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...) |
| Male | |
| Kanneeril naan mithanthu | Floating in my own ocean of tears, |
| Kannmaniyai karai saerppaen | I will guide my precious sister safely to the shore; |
| Pattiniyaa naan kidanthu | Enduring hunger and going without food, |
| Seedhanangal seaththu vaippaen | I will save up gifts and a dowry for her; |
| Male | |
| Kanneeril naan mithanthu | Floating in my own ocean of tears, |
| Kannmaniyai karai saerppaen | I will guide my precious sister safely to the shore; |
| Pattiniyaa naan kidanthu | Enduring hunger and going without food, |
| Seedhanangal seaththu vaippaen | I will save up gifts and a dowry for her; |
| Male | |
| Thaaliyaerum naal varaikkum | Until the day the sacred thread is tied around her neck, |
| Kannirandum thoongaathu | Both my eyes will not know sleep; |
| Thaaliyaerum naal varaikkum | Until the day the sacred thread is tied around her neck, |
| Kannirandum thoongaathu | Both my eyes will not know sleep; |
| Kottu melam ketkka venum seekiramae | The auspicious wedding drums must sound very soon. |
| Male | |
| Thanga nilavae unnai urukki | Golden moon, shall I melt you |
| Thangachchikku thanga nagai senjidavo | To make gold jewelry for my younger sister? |
| Natchathiramae unnai udaichchi | Oh stars, shall I break you |
| Vidhavidhaaa vaira nagai pottidavo | To adorn her with various diamond ornaments? |
| Aariraro aariraariraro aariraro aariraariraro | Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...) |
தங்க நிலவே உன்னை உருக்கி
தங்கச்சிக்கு தங்க நகை செஞ்சிடவோ
நட்சத்திரமே உன்னை உடைச்சி
விதவிதமா வைர நகை போட்டிடவோ
ஆரிரரோ ஆரிராரிரரோ ஆரிரரோ ஆரிராரிரரோ
Golden moon, shall I melt you
To make gold jewelry for my younger sister?
Oh stars, shall I break you
To adorn her with various diamond ornaments?
Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...)
தங்க நிலவே உன்னை உருக்கி
தங்கச்சிக்கு தங்க நகை செஞ்சிடவோ
நட்சத்திரமே உன்னை உடைச்சி
விதவிதமா வைர நகை போட்டிடவோ
ஆரிரரோ ஆரிராரிரரோ ஆரிரரோ ஆரிராரிரரோ
Golden moon, shall I melt you
To make gold jewelry for my younger sister?
Oh stars, shall I break you
To adorn her with various diamond ornaments?
Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...)
ஜவுளிக் கடை பொம்மை கூட
கட்டுதம்மா பட்டுச் சேலை
உனக்கொண்ணு வாங்கிடவே
ஏழை அண்ணன் ஏங்கிடவே
Even the mannequin in the textile shop
Is draped in a silk saree, my dear;
To buy one such silk dress for you,
Your poor elder brother yearns helplessly;
ஆசைப்பட்டு தொட்டு விடுவேன்
காசக் கண்டு விட்டு விடுவேன்
ஆசைப்பட்டு தொட்டு விடுவேன்
காசக் கண்டு விட்டு விடுவேன்
நாளும் வரும் நாளை என்று காத்திருப்பேன்
ஆரிரரோ ஆரிராரிரரோ ஆரிரரோ ஆரிராரிரரோ
Driven by desire, I touch the cloth,
Seeing its price tag, I leave it behind;
Driven by desire, I touch the cloth,
Seeing its price tag, I leave it behind;
I will keep waiting for a better day to arrive tomorrow.
Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...)
கண்ணீரில் நான் மிதந்து
கண்மணியைக் கரை சேர்ப்பேன்
பட்டினியா நான் கிடந்து
சீதனங்கள் சேத்து வைப்பேன்
Floating in my own ocean of tears,
I will guide my precious sister safely to the shore;
Enduring hunger and going without food,
I will save up gifts and a dowry for her;
கண்ணீரில் நான் மிதந்து
கண்மணியைக் கரை சேர்ப்பேன்
பட்டினியா நான் கிடந்து
சீதனங்கள் சேத்து வைப்பேன்
Floating in my own ocean of tears,
I will guide my precious sister safely to the shore;
Enduring hunger and going without food,
I will save up gifts and a dowry for her;
தாலியேறும் நாள் வரைக்கும்
கண்ணிரண்டும் தூங்காது
தாலியேறும் நாள் வரைக்கும்
கண்ணிரண்டும் தூங்காது
கொட்டு மேளம் கேக்க வேணும் சீக்கிரமே
Until the day the sacred thread is tied around her neck,
Both my eyes will not know sleep;
Until the day the sacred thread is tied around her neck,
Both my eyes will not know sleep;
The auspicious wedding drums must sound very soon.
தங்க நிலவே உன்னை உருக்கி
தங்கச்சிக்கு தங்க நகை செஞ்சிடவோ
நட்சத்திரமே உன்னை உடைச்சி
விதவிதமா வைர நகை போட்டிடவோ
ஆரிரரோ ஆரிராரிரரோ ஆரிரரோ ஆரிராரிரரோ
Golden moon, shall I melt you
To make gold jewelry for my younger sister?
Oh stars, shall I break you
To adorn her with various diamond ornaments?
Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...)
Thanga nilavae unnai urukki
Golden moon, shall I melt you
Thangachchikku thanga nagai senjidavo
To make gold jewelry for my younger sister?
Natchathiramae unnai udaichchi
Oh stars, shall I break you
Vidhavidhaaa vaira nagai pottidavo
To adorn her with various diamond ornaments?
Aariraro aariraariraro aariraro aariraariraro
Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...)
Thanga nilavae unnai urukki
Golden moon, shall I melt you
Thangachchikku thanga nagai senjidavo
To make gold jewelry for my younger sister?
Natchathiramae unnai udaichchi
Oh stars, shall I break you
Vidhavidhaaa vaira nagai pottidavo
To adorn her with various diamond ornaments?
Aariraro aariraariraro aariraro aariraariraro
Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...)
Javuli kadai bommai kooda
Even the mannequin in the textile shop
Kattuthammaa pattu selai
Is draped in a silk saree, my dear;
Unakkonnu vaangidavae
To buy one such silk dress for you,
Yaezhai annan yaengidavae
Your poor elder brother yearns helplessly;
Aasaipattu thottu viduvaen
Driven by desire, I touch the cloth,
Kaasa kandu vittu viduvaen
Seeing its price tag, I leave it behind;
Aasaipattu thottu viduvaen
Driven by desire, I touch the cloth,
Kaasa kandu vittu viduvaen
Seeing its price tag, I leave it behind;
Naalum varum naalai endru kaaththiruppaen
I will keep waiting for a better day to arrive tomorrow.
Aariraro aariraariraro aariraro aariraariraro
Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...)
Kanneeril naan mithanthu
Floating in my own ocean of tears,
Kannmaniyai karai saerppaen
I will guide my precious sister safely to the shore;
Pattiniyaa naan kidanthu
Enduring hunger and going without food,
Seedhanangal seaththu vaippaen
I will save up gifts and a dowry for her;
Kanneeril naan mithanthu
Floating in my own ocean of tears,
Kannmaniyai karai saerppaen
I will guide my precious sister safely to the shore;
Pattiniyaa naan kidanthu
Enduring hunger and going without food,
Seedhanangal seaththu vaippaen
I will save up gifts and a dowry for her;
Thaaliyaerum naal varaikkum
Until the day the sacred thread is tied around her neck,
Kannirandum thoongaathu
Both my eyes will not know sleep;
Thaaliyaerum naal varaikkum
Until the day the sacred thread is tied around her neck,
Kannirandum thoongaathu
Both my eyes will not know sleep;
Kottu melam ketkka venum seekiramae
The auspicious wedding drums must sound very soon.
Thanga nilavae unnai urukki
Golden moon, shall I melt you
Thangachchikku thanga nagai senjidavo
To make gold jewelry for my younger sister?
Natchathiramae unnai udaichchi
Oh stars, shall I break you
Vidhavidhaaa vaira nagai pottidavo
To adorn her with various diamond ornaments?
Aariraro aariraariraro aariraro aariraariraro
Lullaby refrains (Aariraro...)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thanga Nilave from the movie Thangaikkor Geetham (1983) is a poignant Tamil lullaby sung by an impoverished elder brother to express his deep love and unconditional devotion toward his younger sister. He uses grand celestial imagery—wishing he could melt the moon for gold jewelry and shatter stars for diamonds—to show how much he desires to give her, contrasting sharply with his real-world poverty where he cannot even afford a silk saree seen on a shop mannequin. Despite his hardships, the brother vows to stay hungry and shed tears if it means securing her future dowry and well-being. His ultimate life goal is to stay awake and toil tirelessly until he sees her happily married, underscoring the selfless bond between siblings that is a recurring theme in classic Tamil cinema.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)
“Thanga nilavae unnai urukki / Natchathiramae unnai udaichchi”
Extravagant poetic exaggeration where the brother considers melting the moon to make gold ornaments and crushing stars into diamonds.
Metaphor (Uruvagak Ani)
“Kanneeril naan mithanthu / Kannmaniyai karai saerppaen”
Comparing life's hardships to a sea of tears ('Kanneeril naan mithanthu') and his sister to a precious gem ('Kannmani') that he must safely navigate to shore.
Edukku / Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Aasaipattu thottu viduvaen / Kaasa kandu vittu viduvaen”
Rhyming pattern on the second consonant in consecutive lines, such as 'sa' in Aasaipattu / Kaasa kandu.
Moonaam / Monai (Initial Rhyme)
“Thanga nilavae unnai urukki / Thangachchikku thanga nagai senjidavo”
Alliteration matching initial sounds, prominent in 'Thanga' and 'Thangachchikku'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Thangaikkor Geetham (1983) was written, directed, composed, and produced by multi-talented filmmaker T. Rajendar. Known for his signature rhyming dialogue and lyricism, T. Rajendar created several iconic brother-sister sentiment songs in Tamil cinema during the 1980s. This song, rendered with deep emotional gravity by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, remains one of the most famous sibling lullabies in Tamil pop culture.
Keep listening
More from Thangaikkor Geetham
Thangaikkor Geetham
Thangaikkor Geetham
Thangaikkor Geetham
Thangaikkor Geetham
Thangaikkor Geetham
Thangaikkor Geetham