Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaan Nilave Vaan Nilave

From Panchamirtham · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Panchamirtham1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaan nilavae vaan nilavaeO sky moon, O sky moon
Vazhiyil oru megamillaiThere is no cloud in its path
Vaadai kaaththadikkaAs the chilly north wind blows
Vaazhai malar pooththirukkaAnd the banana blossom blooms
Male
Unakkoru munthaanai polLike a veil draped over you
Vanthaalenna naanWhat if I come to you?
Enakkoru muththaaraththaiA necklace of precious pearls
Thanthaalenna maanWhat if you give me, my deer-like one?
Female
Aththanaikkum neramunduThere is time for all of that
Aasaipadum nenjamunduThere is a heart yearning with desire
Arumbugal poovaagiththaanBuds indeed turn into flowers
Kaayaagiththaan kanivathunduTurn into raw fruit and then ripen into sweet fruit
Male
Vaan nilavae vaan nilavaeO sky moon, O sky moon
Vazhiyil oru megamillaiThere is no cloud in its path
Female
Vaadai kaaththadikkaAs the chilly north wind blows
Vaazhai malar pooththirukkaAnd the banana blossom blooms
Valaikaramthaan saernthirukkaAs bangled hands join together
Vaayaara vaazhththuraikkaTo bless wholeheartedly
Vaayaara vaazhththuraikkaTo bless wholeheartedly
Nee vaayaara vaazhththuraikkaFor you to bless wholeheartedly
Female
Nadakkira pallaakkithuThis palanquin that moves along
Thallaaduthu yaenWhy does it stagger so?
Male :Sumakkira poo paaramaaIs the flower being carried a heavy burden?
Viththaaramaa solOr is it stylish grace, do tell?
Female
Nenjil oru sumaiyirkkuThere is a weight upon my heart
Neeyarinthaal sugamirukkuIf you realize it, it becomes bliss
Male :Thoda thoda theeraamalaeAs you touch, it never ends
Aaraamalae adhu irukkuIt remains without cooling down
Male
Thazhuvuthu maanaeIt embraces you, my deer-like one
Unnai thaanaagavae kaiAll on its own, my hand...
Nazhuvuthu poomaenithaanThis flower-like tender body slips away
Naanamendraal poiTo call it mere shyness is a lie
Female
Vetkam vittu ponathennaWhy has all bashfulness departed?
Un vasamaai aanathennaWhy have I become completely yours?
Ennazhagai kannaal konjamMeasuring my beauty a little with your eyes
Kaiyaal konjam alanthathennaAnd a little with your hands, why so?
Male
Vaan nilavae vaan nilavaeO sky moon, O sky moon
Both :Vazhiyil oru megamillaiThere is no cloud in its path

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a tender romantic duet between two lovers who express their affection and intimate desire through vivid nature metaphors. They compare the growth of their love to nature's natural progression—buds turning into flowers, and unripened fruit slowly becoming sweet fruit under a clear, unclouded moonlit sky.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Vethirpaadhu / Alliteration (Monaai)

Vaan nilavae... / Vazhiyil oru megamillai / Vaadai kaaththadikka / Vaazhai malar pooththirukka

Repetition of the 'Va' (வா/வ) sound at the start of consecutive lines creates a melodic rhythmic flow.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

pooththirukka / kaaththadikka

Matching end sounds in lines create internal harmony in Tamil verse.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Sumakkira poo paaramaa / Nadakkira pallaakkithu

Comparing the heroine to a light flower ('poo') and a moving palanquin ('pallaakku'), emphasizing her delicacy and grace.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary music director duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by Kavirajar Vaali, this duet features the harmonious vocals of K. J. Yesudas and P. Susheela, who were a prominent playback pairing in late 1970s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Panchamirtham