Velli Nila
From Vettaikaaran (1964) Film · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Vettaikaaran (1964) Film1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Velli nilaa muttrathilae | In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon, |
| Vilakkeriya vilakkeriya | As the lamp burns bright and clear, |
| Ullamenum thaamaraiyil | In the lotus of my heart, |
| Unai edhuthu kondu vandhen | I have brought you along, |
| Kondu vandhen hoi… | I brought you along, oh! |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaa muttrathilae | In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon, |
| Vilakkeriya vilakkeriya | As the lamp burns bright and clear, |
| Ullamenum thaamaraiyil | In the lotus of my heart, |
| Unai edhuthu kondu vandhen | I have brought you along, |
| Kondu vandhen hoi… | I brought you along, oh! |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaa muttrathilae | In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon, |
| Male | |
| Vael edukkum marabilae | In the lineage that wields the spear, |
| Veeram serindha mannilae | In this land rich in bravery and valor, |
| Vael edukkum marabilae | In the lineage that wields the spear, |
| Veeram serindha mannilae | In this land rich in bravery and valor, |
| Paal kudikka vandhavanae | Oh child who came to drink milk, |
| Nadaiyai kaattu | Show us your majestic stride, |
| Varum pagaivargalai vendru vidum | Conquer the incoming enemies, |
| Padaiyai kaattu | And show us your formidable army! |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaa muttrathilae | In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon, |
| Vilakkeriya vilakkeriya | As the lamp burns bright and clear, |
| Male | |
| Mukkaniyin saareduthu | Taking the juice of the three sacred fruits, |
| Muthamizhin thaen eduthu | Extracting the sweet honey of Tamil's three branches, |
| Mukkaniyin saareduthu | Taking the juice of the three sacred fruits, |
| Muthamizhin thaen eduthu | Extracting the sweet honey of Tamil's three branches, |
| Muppaalilae kalandhu | Blending them with the three parts of Thirukkural, |
| Eppodhum suvaithiruppaai | May you relish and savor them forever, |
| Muppaalilae kalandhu | Blending them with the three parts of Thirukkural, |
| Eppodhum suvaithiruppaai | May you relish and savor them forever! |
| Male | |
| Naangu pergal pottravum | So that the world's noble people praise you, |
| Naadu unnai vaazhthavum | And the whole nation blesses you, |
| Naangu pergal pottravum | So that the world's noble people praise you, |
| Naadu unnai vaazhthavum | And the whole nation blesses you, |
| Maanathodu vaazhvadhu thaan | To live with honor and dignity, |
| Suya mariyaadhai | That is true self-respect; |
| Nalla manamudaiyor kaanbadhu thaan | To be respected by noble-hearted souls, |
| Thani mariyaadhai | That is true special honor. |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaa muttrathilae | In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon, |
| Vilakkeriya vilakkeriya | As the lamp burns bright and clear, |
| Ullamenum thaamaraiyil | In the lotus of my heart, |
| Unai edhuthu kondu vandhen | I have brought you along, |
| Kondu vandhen hoi… | I brought you along, oh! |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaa muttrathilae | In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon. |
வெள்ளி நிலா முற்றத்திலே
விளக்கெரிய விளக்கெரிய
உள்ளமெனும் தாமரையில்
உனை எடுத்து கொண்டுவந்தேன்
கொண்டு வந்தேன் ஹோய்......
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
As the lamp burns bright and clear,
In the lotus of my heart,
I have brought you along,
I brought you along, oh!
வெள்ளி நிலா முற்றத்திலே
விளக்கெரிய விளக்கெரிய
உள்ளமெனும் தாமரையில்
உனை எடுத்து கொண்டுவந்தேன்
கொண்டு வந்தேன் ஹோய்......
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
As the lamp burns bright and clear,
In the lotus of my heart,
I have brought you along,
I brought you along, oh!
வெள்ளி நிலா முற்றத்திலே
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
வேலெடுக்கும் மரபிலே
வீரம் செறிந்த மண்ணிலே
வேலெடுக்கும் மரபிலே
வீரம் செறிந்த மண்ணிலே
பால் குடிக்க வந்தவனே
நடையை காட்டு
வரும் பகைவர்களை வென்று விடும்
படையை காட்டு
In the lineage that wields the spear,
In this land rich in bravery and valor,
In the lineage that wields the spear,
In this land rich in bravery and valor,
Oh child who came to drink milk,
Show us your majestic stride,
Conquer the incoming enemies,
And show us your formidable army!
வெள்ளி நிலா முற்றத்திலே
விளக்கெரிய விளக்கெரிய
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
As the lamp burns bright and clear,
முக்கனியின் சாறெடுத்து
முத்தமிழின் தேன் எடுத்து
முக்கனியின் சாறெடுத்து
முத்தமிழின் தேன் எடுத்து
முப்பாலிலே கலந்து
எப்போதும் சுவைத்திருப்பாய்
முப்பாலிலே கலந்து
எப்போதும் சுவைத்திருப்பாய்
Taking the juice of the three sacred fruits,
Extracting the sweet honey of Tamil's three branches,
Taking the juice of the three sacred fruits,
Extracting the sweet honey of Tamil's three branches,
Blending them with the three parts of Thirukkural,
May you relish and savor them forever,
Blending them with the three parts of Thirukkural,
May you relish and savor them forever!
நான்கு பேர்கள் போற்றவும்
நாடு உன்னை வாழ்த்தவும்
நான்கு பேர்கள் போற்றவும்
நாடு உன்னை வாழ்த்தவும்
மானத்தோடு வாழ்வது தான்
சுயமரியாதை
நல்ல மனமுடையோர் காண்பதுதான்
தனி மரியாதை
So that the world's noble people praise you,
And the whole nation blesses you,
So that the world's noble people praise you,
And the whole nation blesses you,
To live with honor and dignity,
That is true self-respect;
To be respected by noble-hearted souls,
That is true special honor.
வெள்ளி நிலா முற்றத்திலே
விளக்கெரிய விளக்கெரிய
உள்ளமெனும் தாமரையில்
உனை எடுத்து கொண்டுவந்தேன்
கொண்டு வந்தேன் ஹோய்......
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
As the lamp burns bright and clear,
In the lotus of my heart,
I have brought you along,
I brought you along, oh!
வெள்ளி நிலா முற்றத்திலே
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon.
Velli nilaa muttrathilae
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
Vilakkeriya vilakkeriya
As the lamp burns bright and clear,
Ullamenum thaamaraiyil
In the lotus of my heart,
Unai edhuthu kondu vandhen
I have brought you along,
Kondu vandhen hoi…
I brought you along, oh!
Velli nilaa muttrathilae
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
Vilakkeriya vilakkeriya
As the lamp burns bright and clear,
Ullamenum thaamaraiyil
In the lotus of my heart,
Unai edhuthu kondu vandhen
I have brought you along,
Kondu vandhen hoi…
I brought you along, oh!
Velli nilaa muttrathilae
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
Vael edukkum marabilae
In the lineage that wields the spear,
Veeram serindha mannilae
In this land rich in bravery and valor,
Vael edukkum marabilae
In the lineage that wields the spear,
Veeram serindha mannilae
In this land rich in bravery and valor,
Paal kudikka vandhavanae
Oh child who came to drink milk,
Nadaiyai kaattu
Show us your majestic stride,
Varum pagaivargalai vendru vidum
Conquer the incoming enemies,
Padaiyai kaattu
And show us your formidable army!
Velli nilaa muttrathilae
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
Vilakkeriya vilakkeriya
As the lamp burns bright and clear,
Mukkaniyin saareduthu
Taking the juice of the three sacred fruits,
Muthamizhin thaen eduthu
Extracting the sweet honey of Tamil's three branches,
Mukkaniyin saareduthu
Taking the juice of the three sacred fruits,
Muthamizhin thaen eduthu
Extracting the sweet honey of Tamil's three branches,
Muppaalilae kalandhu
Blending them with the three parts of Thirukkural,
Eppodhum suvaithiruppaai
May you relish and savor them forever,
Muppaalilae kalandhu
Blending them with the three parts of Thirukkural,
Eppodhum suvaithiruppaai
May you relish and savor them forever!
Naangu pergal pottravum
So that the world's noble people praise you,
Naadu unnai vaazhthavum
And the whole nation blesses you,
Naangu pergal pottravum
So that the world's noble people praise you,
Naadu unnai vaazhthavum
And the whole nation blesses you,
Maanathodu vaazhvadhu thaan
To live with honor and dignity,
Suya mariyaadhai
That is true self-respect;
Nalla manamudaiyor kaanbadhu thaan
To be respected by noble-hearted souls,
Thani mariyaadhai
That is true special honor.
Velli nilaa muttrathilae
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon,
Vilakkeriya vilakkeriya
As the lamp burns bright and clear,
Ullamenum thaamaraiyil
In the lotus of my heart,
Unai edhuthu kondu vandhen
I have brought you along,
Kondu vandhen hoi…
I brought you along, oh!
Velli nilaa muttrathilae
In the courtyard illuminated by the silver moon.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Velli Nilaa Muttrathilae is a deeply affectionate lullaby-like song from the 1964 Tamil movie Vettaikaaran. Sung as a mother's guidance and affection towards a young child, the lyrics urge the child to uphold the glorious traditions of courage, dignity, and Tamil literary heritage. The child is encouraged to walk with pride as an heir to a heroic lineage that defends its land.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ullamenum thaamaraiyil”
Compares the human heart to a blooming lotus flower (Ullamenum Thaamarai).
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Vael edukkum marabilae / Veeram serindha mannilae”
Repetition of the initial 'V' consonant sound across consecutive lines creating poetic harmony.
Cultural Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)
“Mukkaniyin saareduthu / Muthamizhin thaen eduthu / Muppaalilae kalandhu”
References the classical Tamil triplets: Mukkani (Mango, Banana, Jackfruit), Muthamizh (Iyal, Isai, Nadagam), and Muppaal (Aram, Porul, Inbam of Thirukkural).
Did you know?
Trivia
Vettaikaaran (1964) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Savitri in lead roles. The film's musical score was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics authored by Kannadasan. The song features vocals by P. Susheela and T. M. Soundararajan and remains a classic example of literary Tamil integrated into film music.
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