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Nilave Mugam Kaattu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thendralai Kandukolla

From Nilave Mugam Kaattu · 1999

Lyricist
Vasan
Singers
Hariharan, Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nilave Mugam Kaattu
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
1 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thendralai kandukolla maanae
Kangalin thevai enna thaenae
Thendralai kandukolla maanae
Kangalin thevai enna thaenae
Ullathil paarvai undu maanae
Unmaigal kandu sollum thaenae
Nenjin vannangalai odum ennangalai
Kaana kan venduma
Pesa chol venduma
Malar poothathai vaasangal sollumae
Thendralai kandukolla maanae
Kangalin thevai enna thaenae
Unnai paarthoru kuyil koovuthae
Andha kaadhal thaen kural kettayo
Unnai paarthoru megam thoovudhae
Eera kattru kaadhal solla kandaaya
Unnai naan ennugindra neram
Ullukkul maargazhi maadham
Anbae naan unnai kaanum neram
Kannukkul kaarthigai dheepam
Kangal indri ennai kandukolvaai
Endru nee en kaadhal kandu kolvaai …
Andha naal endha naal endru nee sollu..uu…uu..
Thendralai kandukolla maanae
Kangalin thevai enna thaenae
Ullathil paarvai undu maanae
Unmaigal kandu sollum thaenae
………………………..
Solai poovanam thedum poovinam
Endhan nenjil poopparikka vandhaalo
Andha vennila thedum pennila
Endhan nenjai vaanam endru kondaalo
Ho sandhana chandhiranin paattu
Santhangal sonnathadi nettru
Sollaadha yekangalai serthu
Nee thaanae ennai thotta kaatru
Adhikaalai maalai iravenna
Adhan thunbam inbam thanthathenna
Endru mounathin vaasalai thirappaai …
Thendralai kandukolla maanae
Kangalin thevai enna thaenae
Ullathil paarvai undu maanae
Unmaigal kandu sollum thaenae
Nenjin vannangalai odum ennangalai
Kaana kan venduma
Pesa chol venduma
Malar poothathai vaasangal sollumae..ae…
Thendralai kandukolla maanae
Kangalin thevai enna thaenae
Ullathil paarvai undu maanae
Unmaigal kandu sollum thaenae
To feel the gentle breeze, my dear,
what need is there for eyes, my sweetheart?
To feel the gentle breeze, my dear,
what need is there for eyes, my sweetheart?
The heart has its own vision, my dear,
it sees and speaks the truth, my sweetheart.
The shades of the heart and the flowing thoughts—
does one need eyes to see them?
Does one need words to speak them?
The fragrance alone will tell that a flower has bloomed.
To feel the gentle breeze, my dear,
what need is there for eyes, my sweetheart?
A cuckoo sings as it looks at you,
did you hear that sweet voice of love?
A cloud showers as it looks at you,
did you feel the cool breeze speak of love?
Whenever I think of you,
it feels like Margazhi (the cool winter month) inside my heart.
My love, whenever I see you,
a Karthigai lamp (bright festive light) shines in my eyes.
You can sense me even without your eyes,
but when will you realize my love?
Tell me, which day will that be?
To feel the gentle breeze, my dear,
what need is there for eyes, my sweetheart?
The heart has its own vision, my dear,
it sees and speaks the truth, my sweetheart.
...
A lovely blossom sought by the garden,
did she come to gather flowers from my heart?
A moon-like girl whom the silver moon seeks,
did she make my heart her sky?
Oh, the song of the sandalwood moon,
it sang sweet rhythms yesterday.
Gathering all my unspoken yearnings,
were you not the breeze that gently touched me?
What are dawn, dusk, and night?
What joy and sorrow have they brought?
When will you open the doorway of your silence?
To feel the gentle breeze, my dear,
what need is there for eyes, my sweetheart?
The heart has its own vision, my dear,
it sees and speaks the truth, my sweetheart.
The shades of the heart and the flowing thoughts—
does one need eyes to see them?
Does one need words to speak them?
The fragrance alone will tell that a flower has bloomed...
To feel the gentle breeze, my dear,
what need is there for eyes, my sweetheart?
The heart has its own vision, my dear,
it sees and speaks the truth, my sweetheart.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic song explores the idea that true perception and love do not require physical sight or words, but rather emotional connection and spiritual feeling. Just as the breeze is felt without being seen and a blooming flower is recognized by its scent, love is an inner experience understood directly by the heart. The protagonist expresses how thinking of and seeing the beloved brings deep serenity, metaphorically comparing these feelings to seasons, light, and nature's elements.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

Thendralai kandukolla maanae / Kangalin thevai enna thaenae

Rhyming end words like 'maanae' and 'thaenae' create melodic harmony across the lines.

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Ullukkul maargazhi maadham / Kannukkul kaarthigai dheepam

Comparing feelings inside to the cool Tamil month of 'Maargazhi' and sight to 'Kaarthigai dheepam'.

Rhetorical Question

Kaana kan venduma / Pesa chol venduma

Asking whether eyes or words are necessary to feel love, emphasizing that inner perception supersedes physical senses.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nilave Mugam Kaattu' (1999) stars Karthik and Devayani, directed by Kalanjiyam. The music for the film was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics for this track written by lyricist Vasan.

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