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Manam Virumbuthe Unnai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vaanathil Aadum Oor Nilavu (Female)

From Manam Virumbuthe Unnai · 1999

Lyricist
Ponnadiyan
Singer
K. S. Chitra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Manam Virumbuthe Unnai
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
12 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaanaththil aadum or nilavu
En kaiyilae iru nilavu
Vaanaththil aadum or nilavu
En kaiyilae iru nilavu
Thaei piraiyo angae
Valar piraigal ingae
Vaanaththil aadum or nilavu
En kaiyilae iru nilavu
Vaanaththil aadum or nilavu
En kaiyilae iru nilavu
Muththu vilaindhidum then kadalil
Un punnagai muththu illaiyae
Kaththum kuyil osai then malaiyil
Nee sindhidum mozhi illaiyae
Thendral mayangum undhan paechil
Angu thondrum sindhu paattil
Nenjam inikkudhu senthamizhae
Vaanaththil aadum or nilavu
En kaiyilae iru nilavu
Vaanaththil aadum or nilavu
En kaiyilae iru nilavu
Thaei piraiyo angae
Valar piraigal ingae
Vaanaththil aadum or nilavu
En kaiyilae iru nilavu
Vaanaththil aadum or nilavu
En kaiyilae iru nilavu….
There is one moon dancing in the sky,
In my arms, there are two moons.
There is one moon dancing in the sky,
In my arms, there are two moons.
Up there, it is a waning moon,
Down here, they are growing moons.
There is one moon dancing in the sky,
In my arms, there are two moons.
There is one moon dancing in the sky,
In my arms, there are two moons.
Pearls grow in the southern sea,
yet none have the pearl of your smile.
The cuckoo calls from the southern hills,
yet it lacks the sweet words you speak.
The gentle breeze is charmed by your speech,
and from the folk song born there,
my heart fills with sweetness, oh pure Tamil!
There is one moon dancing in the sky,
In my arms, there are two moons.
There is one moon dancing in the sky,
In my arms, there are two moons.
Up there, it is a waning moon,
Down here, they are growing moons.
There is one moon dancing in the sky,
In my arms, there are two moons.
There is one moon dancing in the sky,
In my arms, there are two moons...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a tender poetic celebration of beauty and love, comparing a cherished loved one to celestial and natural wonders. The speaker contrasts the distant single moon in the sky with the 'two moons' held closely in their hands, suggesting that the beloved's presence easily surpasses the heavens in radiance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“En kaiyilae iru nilavu”

The speaker metaphorically contrasts the solitary moon in the sky with 'two moons' in hand, representing the radiant face or eyes of the beloved.

Contrast (Ethirmai)

“Thaei piraiyo angae / Valar piraigal ingae”

Pitches 'Thaei pirai' (waning crescent) in the distant sky against 'Valar pirai' (waxing crescent) close at hand, symbolizing growing joy.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

“Muththu vilaindhidum then kadalil / Kaththum kuyil osai then malaiyil”

The second consonant 'th-th' is repeated between 'Muththu' and 'Kaththum', adhering to classical Tamil prosody.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1999 romantic drama film 'Manam Virumbuthe Unnai', directed by M. Sivachandran. Lyricist Ponnadiyan infuses classical Sangam-style imagery—referencing southern pearl seas, cuckoos, and pure Tamil ('Senthamizhae')—to give the song a traditional literary feel.

Keep listening

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