Velli Nilave O Vennilave
From Athisaya Thirudan · 1958
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- S. Dakshinamurthi
- Details
- Athisaya Thirudan1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Neelavaanil neendhum nilavae | Oh moon swimming in the blue sky, |
| Nillaayoo badhil sollaaiyoo | Won't you stop and answer me? |
| Female | |
| Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae | Oh silver moon, oh white moon! |
| Female | |
| Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae | Oh silver moon, oh white moon! |
| Ulladhai solven alli nilaavae | I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon, |
| Ulladhai solven alli nilaavae | I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon, |
| Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae | Oh silver moon, oh white moon! |
| Female | |
| Kallamillamal ulavidum neeyae | You who roam around without any guile, |
| Kaarmugilodu kalandhathum yaeno… | Why did you blend into the dark rain clouds? |
| Aaa….aaa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa.. | Aaa....aaa....aa....aa....aa…aa…aa.. |
| Kallamillamal ulavidum neeyae | You who roam around without any guile, |
| Kaarmugilodu kalandhathum yaeno… | Why did you blend into the dark rain clouds? |
| Nallathor gunamae neeadainthirunthum | Even though you possessed good qualities, |
| Nadamaada mudiyaamal maraivaanadheno | Why did you go into hiding, unable to walk freely? |
| Female | |
| Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae | Oh silver moon, oh white moon! |
| Ulladhai solven alli nilaavae | I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon, |
| Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae | Oh silver moon, oh white moon! |
| Female | |
| Kalavenum thozhilaiyae kalaiyaai ninainthaai | You thought of the occupation of thievery as an art form, |
| Kathiravan oliyaiyae thirudiyae thirinthaai | You wandered around stealing the light of the sun! |
| Ulagil inimael maasara thigazhndhae | In this world, from now on, shining flawlessly, |
| Ulagil inimael maasara thigazhndhae | In this world, from now on, shining flawlessly, |
| Uyarvaana gunathodu oli veesavaa…..vaa… | Come to radiate light with noble character... come... |
| Female | |
| Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae | Oh silver moon, oh white moon! |
| Ulladhai solven alli nilaavae | I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon, |
| Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae | Oh silver moon, oh white moon! |
| Iniyaenum unarvaayoo oo vennilavae | Will you realize this at least now, oh white moon? |
| Ooo vennilaavae | Oh white moon... |
நீலவானில் நீந்தும் நிலவே
நில்லாயோ பதில் சொல்லாயோ
Oh moon swimming in the blue sky,
Won't you stop and answer me?
வெள்ளி நிலாவே ஓ...வெண்ணிலாவே
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
வெள்ளி நிலாவே ஓ...வெண்ணிலாவே
உள்ளதைச் சொல்வேன் அல்லி நிலாவே
உள்ளதைச் சொல்வேன் அல்லி நிலாவே
வெள்ளி நிலாவே ஓ...வெண்ணிலாவே
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon,
I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon,
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
கள்ளமில்லாமல் உலவிடும் நீயே
கார்முகிலோடு கலந்ததும் ஏனோ.....
ஆஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....
கள்ளமில்லாமல் உலவிடும் நீயே
கார்முகிலோடு கலந்ததும் ஏனோ.....
நல்லதோர் குணமே நீயடைந்திருந்தும்
நடமாட முடியாமல் மறைவானதேனோ....
You who roam around without any guile,
Why did you blend into the dark rain clouds?
Aaa....aaa....aa....aa....aa…aa…aa..
You who roam around without any guile,
Why did you blend into the dark rain clouds?
Even though you possessed good qualities,
Why did you go into hiding, unable to walk freely?
வெள்ளி நிலாவே ஓ...வெண்ணிலாவே
உள்ளதைச் சொல்வேன் அல்லி நிலாவே
வெள்ளி நிலாவே ஓ...வெண்ணிலாவே
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon,
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
களவெனும் தொழிலையே கலையாய் நினைத்தாய்
கதிரவன் ஒளியையே திருடியே திரிந்தாய்
உலகில் இனிமேல் மாசறத் திகழ்ந்தே
உலகில் இனிமேல் மாசறத் திகழ்ந்தே
உயர்வான குணத்தோடு ஒளி வீசவா......வா.....
You thought of the occupation of thievery as an art form,
You wandered around stealing the light of the sun!
In this world, from now on, shining flawlessly,
In this world, from now on, shining flawlessly,
Come to radiate light with noble character... come...
வெள்ளி நிலாவே ஓ...வெண்ணிலாவே
உள்ளதைச் சொல்வேன் அல்லி நிலாவே
வெள்ளி நிலாவே ஓ...வெண்ணிலாவே
இனியேனும் உணராயோ ஒ...வெண்ணிலவே.....
ஒ...வெண்ணிலவே.....
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon,
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
Will you realize this at least now, oh white moon?
Oh white moon...
Neelavaanil neendhum nilavae
Oh moon swimming in the blue sky,
Nillaayoo badhil sollaaiyoo
Won't you stop and answer me?
Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
Ulladhai solven alli nilaavae
I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon,
Ulladhai solven alli nilaavae
I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon,
Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
Kallamillamal ulavidum neeyae
You who roam around without any guile,
Kaarmugilodu kalandhathum yaeno…
Why did you blend into the dark rain clouds?
Aaa….aaa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa..
Aaa....aaa....aa....aa....aa…aa…aa..
Kallamillamal ulavidum neeyae
You who roam around without any guile,
Kaarmugilodu kalandhathum yaeno…
Why did you blend into the dark rain clouds?
Nallathor gunamae neeadainthirunthum
Even though you possessed good qualities,
Nadamaada mudiyaamal maraivaanadheno
Why did you go into hiding, unable to walk freely?
Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
Ulladhai solven alli nilaavae
I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon,
Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
Kalavenum thozhilaiyae kalaiyaai ninainthaai
You thought of the occupation of thievery as an art form,
Kathiravan oliyaiyae thirudiyae thirinthaai
You wandered around stealing the light of the sun!
Ulagil inimael maasara thigazhndhae
In this world, from now on, shining flawlessly,
Ulagil inimael maasara thigazhndhae
In this world, from now on, shining flawlessly,
Uyarvaana gunathodu oli veesavaa…..vaa…
Come to radiate light with noble character... come...
Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
Ulladhai solven alli nilaavae
I shall tell the truth, oh night-lily moon,
Velli nilavae oo vennilaaavae
Oh silver moon, oh white moon!
Iniyaenum unarvaayoo oo vennilavae
Will you realize this at least now, oh white moon?
Ooo vennilaavae
Oh white moon...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Neelavaanil neendhum nilavae' uses the moon as a striking allegory for a person born with good virtues who has fallen into bad habits, specifically theft. Addressing the moon directly, the singer asks why an innocent entity that glides across the sky feels the need to hide behind dark rain clouds and wander in darkness. The lyrics metaphorically accuse the moon of treating stealing as an art form because it borrows its shine from the sun without owning it. In the latter half, the speaker pleads with the moon—and by extension, the protagonist—to reform, shed the shame of deceit, and shine openly in the world with pure and noble character.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaal / Initial Alliteration (மோனை)
“Neelavaanil neendhum nilavae”
Repetition of the initial 'Ne' sound in 'Neelavaanil' and 'neendhum'.
Personification (உருவகப்படுத்தல்)
“Kathiravan oliyaiyae thirudiyae thirinthaai”
The moon is personified as a conscious entity that hides behind dark clouds out of guilt and engages in theft.
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Kalavenum thozhilaiyae kalaiyaai ninainthaai”
Framing the act of stealing as a fine art form ('kalai').
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Athisaya Thirudan (1958) starred Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, with music composed by S. Dakshinamurthi. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was renowned for incorporating clever wordplay and allegorical moral lessons into film lyrics during the golden age of Tamil cinema.
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