- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- S. Dakshinamurthi
- Movie name
- Athisaya Thirudan
- Movie release year
- 1958
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Jun 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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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