Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaa Vaa En Thalaiva

From Nandri · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Nandri1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………..Come, come, my leader, welcome to you!
Female
Vaa vaa en thalaivaa nalvaravallavaaCome, come, my leader, welcome to you!
Vaa vaa en thalaivaa nalvaravallavaaPeacock feather
Mayil thogaiMale: Ah....
Male :Aa….Female: Precious jewel doll
Female :Mani paavaiMale: Ah... aah... aa....
Male :Aa…aah…aa….Female: Aren't you the earth, and aren't you the rain?
Female :Nilam allavaa nee mazhai allavaaThis time of coming together is a golden time, isn't it?
Serum inneram pon pozhuthallavaaAa....aah....aa...aa...aah...aa...
Male
Aa….aah….aa…aa…aah…aa…Aa....aah....aa...aa...aah...aa...
Aa….aah….aa…aa…aah…aa…Come, come, moon-like lover, welcome to you!
Male
Vaa vaa vennilavaa nalvaravallavaaCome, come, moon-like lover, welcome to you!
Vaa vaa vennilavaa nalvaravallavaaPeacock feather
Mayil thogaiFemale: Ah....
Female :Aa….Male: Precious jewel doll
Male :Mani paavaiFemale: Ah... aah... aa....
Female :Aa…aah…aa….Male: Aren't you the earth, and aren't you the rain?
Male :Nilam allavaa nee mazhai allavaaThis time of coming together is a golden time, isn't it?
Serum inneram pon pozhuthallavaaAa....aah....aa...aa...aah...aa...
Female
Aa….aah….aa…aa…aah…aa…Aa....aah....aa...aa...aah...aa...
Aa….aah….aa…aa…aah…aa…At the entrance of the goddess's shrine
Female
Deviyin mandapa vaasalA canopy of honeyed sugar sweetness
Thaen suvai sarkkarai panthalMale: Coming during the auspicious evening time
Male :Maalai subavelai vanthuThe gentle breeze offers its blessings
Vaazhththu koorum thendralAt the entrance of the goddess's shrine
Female
Deviyin mandapa vaasalA canopy of honeyed sugar sweetness
Thaen suvai sarkkarai panthalMale: Coming during the auspicious evening time
Male :Maalai subavelai vanthuThe gentle breeze offers its blessings
Vaazhththu koorum thendralAs the lover leaps to embrace, the fruit-like lips
Female
Kadhalan thaaviyanaikka kaniyithazhTaste sweet like sugar candy
Karkandu polae inikkaAs the lover leaps to embrace, the fruit-like lips
Kadhalan thaaviyanaikka kaniyithazhTaste sweet like sugar candy
Karkandu polae inikkaWhether taking or giving
Male
Eduththaalum koduththaalumTo leave a mark of love
Adaiyaalam kaattaCome, come, my leader, welcome to you!
Female
Vaa vaa en thalaivaa nalvaravallavaaMale: Peacock feather
Male :Mayil thogaiFemale: Ah....
Female :Aa….Male: Precious jewel doll
Male :Mani paavaiFemale: Ah... aah... aa....
Female :Aa…aah…aa….Male: Aren't you the earth, and aren't you the rain?
Male :Nilam allavaa nee mazhai allavaaFemale: This time of coming together is a golden time, isn't it?
Female :Serum inneram pon pozhuthallavaaMale: This time of coming together is a golden time, isn't it?
Male :Serum inneram pon pozhuthallavaaAa....aah....aa...aa...aah...aa...
Female
Aa….aah….aa…aa…aah…aa…Aa....aah....aa...aa...aah...aa...
Aa….aah….aa…aa…aah…aa…Come, come, moon-like lover, welcome to you!
Male
Vaa vaa vennilavaa nalvaravallavaaEven yesterday, poet Bharathidasan
Chorus
……………….Sang a song in pure, sweet Tamil
Male
Bharathidasanum nettruFemale: Wondering whether it was I or you
Paadiya painthamizh paattuThe cuckoos yearn after listening
Female :Naano illai neeyo enaEven yesterday, poet Bharathidasan
Kuyilgal yaengum kettuSang a song in pure, sweet Tamil
Male
Bharathidasanum nettruFemale: Wondering whether it was I or you
Paadiya painthamizh paattuThe cuckoos yearn after listening
Female :Naano illai neeyo enaFor epic love to shine, offering new
Kuyilgal yaengum kettuPatterns of creative imagination
Male
Kaaviya kadhal thulanga pudhu pudhuFor epic love to shine, offering new
Karpanai kolam vazhangaPatterns of creative imagination
Kaaviya kadhal thulanga pudhu pudhuFemale: Must perform on stage through night into day
Karpanai kolam vazhangaCome, come, moon-like lover, welcome to you!
Female :Iravodu pagalaaga arangettra vendumFemale: Peacock feather
Male
Vaa vaa vennilavaa nalvaravallavaaMale: Ah....
Female :Mayil thogaiFemale: Precious jewel doll
Male :Aa….Male: Ah... aah... aa....
Female :Mani paavaiFemale: Aren't you the earth, and aren't you the rain?
Male :Aa…aah…aa….Male: This time of coming together is a golden time, isn't it?
Female :Nilam allavaa nee mazhai allavaa
Male :Serum inneram pon pozhuthallavaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vaa Vaa En Thalaivaa / Vaa Vaa Vennilavaa is a melodious romantic duet from the 1984 Tamil film Nandri, composed by Shankar Ganesh and written by Vaali. Sung by P. Jayachandran and Vani Jairam, the song portrays two lovers celebrating their reunion and intense affection for each other through poetic imagery and metaphors of nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Karkandu polae inikka

Compares the sweetness of the lover's lips to rock candy (karkandu).

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

Nilam allavaa nee mazhai allavaa

Metaphorically addresses the lovers as the fertile earth (nilam) and nourishing rain (mazhai).

Anaphora (Repetition)

Vaa vaa en thalaivaa nalvaravallavaa

Repetition of the phrase 'Vaa vaa' at the start of the line to emphasize eager invitation and affection.

Literary Reference

Bharathidasanum nettru Paadiya painthamizh paattu

Invokes the revered modern Tamil poet Bharathidasan to highlight the literary sweetness of pure Tamil love poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nandri (1984) was directed by Rama Narayanan and featured music by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh. Lyricist Vaali famously incorporated references to Revolutionary Poet Bharathidasan in this song to celebrate the beauty of pure Tamil (Painthamizh).

Keep listening

More from Nandri