Velli Nilave
From Nandhavana Theru · 1995
- Lyricists
- Not listed
- Singers
- S. P, Balasubrahmanyam, Uma Ramanan
- Music director
- Ilaiyaraja
- Details
- Nandhavana Theru1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Velli nilavae…. velli nilavae…. | Oh silver moon... oh silver moon... |
| Velli nilvae velli nilavae veen sogam yenadi maanae yenadi | Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe? |
| Mullai malarae mullai malarae un baaram theerpavar yaaru kooradi | Oh jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower, tell me who will relieve your burden? |
| Minnum silaiyae annai pol varavaa naanum sorutta | Oh glittering statue, shall I come like a mother to feed you rice? |
| Unnaathirunthaal ingae yaar varuvaar unnai seeraata | If you do not eat, who else will come here to pamper you? |
| Male | |
| Velli nilavae velli nilavae veen sogam yenadi maanae yenadi | Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe? |
| Male | |
| Vinnil odi thanaal vaadum nilavae naalum urugaathae | Oh moon that runs in the sky and wilts on its own, do not melt away every day. |
| Unnai paadi mannil kodi kavithai vaalum maravaathae | Singing about you, ten million poems live on earth; do not forget that. |
| Nilaa choru nilaa choru tharavaa neeyum pasiyaara | Shall I give you moonlit rice so that you can satisfy your hunger? |
| Kuyil pattu kuyil paattu tharuvom naangal kushiyaaga | We will happily offer you the songs of the cuckoo. |
| Male | |
| Vaanavillum thaanirangi paai podumae neeyum thoonga | The rainbow itself will come down and lay a mat for you to sleep. |
| Aadum mayil thogai ellaam thaalaattiyae kaatru veesa | The feathers of dancing peacocks will lull you to sleep while the breeze blows. |
| Dheva kaniyae theivathenna nee thannaalae | Oh divine fruit, why do you wither away all by yourself? |
| Male | |
| Velli nilvae velli nilavae veen sogam yenadi maanae yenadi | Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe? |
| Mullai malarae mullai malarae un baaram theerpavar yaaru kooradi | Oh jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower, tell me who will relieve your burden? |
| Male | |
| Sontham yaaru bantham yaaru nilavae paaru enai paaru | Who is true family, who is a relation? Look at me, moon, look at me. |
| Nenjil baram kannil eeram thudaippaar yaaru bathil kooru | Heaviness in heart, moisture in eyes—who will wipe them away? Give me an answer. |
| Ullam thorum kallam nooru athai nee paarthu edai podu | There is deceit in a hundred hearts; observe and weigh them carefully. |
| Unnai kaaka thollai theerkka varuvom naangal thunivodu | To protect you and resolve your troubles, we will come with courage. |
| Male | |
| Vaanathodu kovam kondu nee povathen paal nilaavae | Why do you depart in anger with the sky, oh milky moon? |
| Vaanam kaakka naangal undu nee nambiyae paar nilaavae | We are here to protect the sky; look at us with trust, oh moon. |
| Dheva kanniyae…theivathenna nee thannaalae | Oh divine maiden... why do you wither away all by yourself? |
| Female | |
| Velli nilavu velli nilavu unnodu sernthida thaanae paaduthu | The silver moon sings on its own to unite with you. |
| Ullam thiranthu ullam thiranthu than sogam theernthida thaanae theduthu | Opening its heart, it searches on its own to relieve its own sorrow. |
| Minnum nilavae unnalae varuthae paadi sorootta | Oh shining moon, it comes because of you to sing and feed rice. |
| Thalli nadanthaal veraaru varuvaar ennai kaapaatra | If you walk away, who else will come to save me? |
| Velli nilavu velli nilavu unnodu sernthida thaanae paaduthu | The silver moon sings on its own to unite with you. |
| Male | |
| {Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa | {Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa |
| Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa} (2) | Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa} (2) |
வெள்ளி நிலவே
வெள்ளி நிலவே வெள்ளி
நிலவே வெள்ளி நிலவே
வீண் சோகம் ஏனடி மானே
ஏனடி முல்லை மலரே
முல்லை மலரே உன் பாரம்
தீர்ப்பவர் யாரு கூறடி மின்னும்
சிலையே அன்னை போல் வரவா
நானும் சோறூட்ட உண்ணாதிருந்தால்
இங்கே யார் வருவார் உன்னை சீராட்ட
Oh silver moon... oh silver moon...
Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe?
Oh jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower, tell me who will relieve your burden?
Oh glittering statue, shall I come like a mother to feed you rice?
If you do not eat, who else will come here to pamper you?
வெள்ளி நிலவே
வெள்ளி நிலவே வீண்
சோகம் ஏனடி மானே
ஏனடி
Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe?
விண்ணில் ஓடி
தன்னால் வாடும் நிலவே
நாளும் உருகாதே உன்னை
பாடி மண்ணில் கோடி கவிதை
வாழும் மறவாதே நிலா சோறு
நிலா சோறு தரவா நீயும் பசியாற
குயில் பட்டு குயில் பாட்டு தருவோம்
நாங்கள் குஷியாக
Oh moon that runs in the sky and wilts on its own, do not melt away every day.
Singing about you, ten million poems live on earth; do not forget that.
Shall I give you moonlit rice so that you can satisfy your hunger?
We will happily offer you the songs of the cuckoo.
வானவில்லும் தானிறங்கி
பாய் போடுமே நீயும் தூங்க ஆடும்
மயில் தோகை எல்லாம் தாலாட்டியே
காற்று வீச தேவ கன்னியே
தேய்வதென்ன நீ தன்னாலே
The rainbow itself will come down and lay a mat for you to sleep.
The feathers of dancing peacocks will lull you to sleep while the breeze blows.
Oh divine fruit, why do you wither away all by yourself?
வெள்ளி நிலவே
வெள்ளி நிலவே வீண்
சோகம் ஏனடி மானே
ஏனடி முல்லை மலரே
முல்லை மலரே உன்
பாரம் தீர்ப்பவர் யாரு
கூறடி
Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe?
Oh jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower, tell me who will relieve your burden?
சொந்தம் யாரு பந்தம்
யாரு நிலவே பாரு எனைப் பாரு
நெஞ்சில் பாரம் கண்ணில் ஈரம்
துடைப்பார் யாரு பதில் கூறு
உள்ளம் தோறும் கள்ளம் நூறு
அதை நீ பார்த்து எடை போடு
உன்னை காக்க தொல்லை தீர்க்க
வருவோம் நாங்கள் துணிவோடு
Who is true family, who is a relation? Look at me, moon, look at me.
Heaviness in heart, moisture in eyes—who will wipe them away? Give me an answer.
There is deceit in a hundred hearts; observe and weigh them carefully.
To protect you and resolve your troubles, we will come with courage.
வானத்தோடு கோவம்
கொண்டு நீ போவதேன் பால்
நிலாவே வானம் காக்க நாங்கள்
உண்டு நீ நம்பியே பார் நிலாவே
தேவ கன்னியே தேய்வதென்ன
நீ தன்னாலே
Why do you depart in anger with the sky, oh milky moon?
We are here to protect the sky; look at us with trust, oh moon.
Oh divine maiden... why do you wither away all by yourself?
வெள்ளி நிலவு வெள்ளி
நிலவு உன்னோடு சேர்ந்திட
தானே பாடுது உள்ளம் திறந்து
உள்ளம் திறந்து தன் சோகம்
தீர்ந்திட தானே தேடுது மின்னும்
நிலவே உன்னாலே வருதே பாடி
சோறூட்ட தள்ளி நடந்தால் வேறாரு
வருவார் என்னை காப்பாற்ற வெள்ளி
நிலவு வெள்ளி நிலவு உன்னோடு
சேர்ந்திட தானே பாடுது
The silver moon sings on its own to unite with you.
Opening its heart, it searches on its own to relieve its own sorrow.
Oh shining moon, it comes because of you to sing and feed rice.
If you walk away, who else will come to save me?
The silver moon sings on its own to unite with you.
{ தன் நன் நானா தன்
நன் நானா தன் நன் நானா
தன் நன் நானா தன் நன்
நானா தன் நன் நானா } (2)
{Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa
Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa} (2)
Velli nilavae…. velli nilavae….
Oh silver moon... oh silver moon...
Velli nilvae velli nilavae veen sogam yenadi maanae yenadi
Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe?
Mullai malarae mullai malarae un baaram theerpavar yaaru kooradi
Oh jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower, tell me who will relieve your burden?
Minnum silaiyae annai pol varavaa naanum sorutta
Oh glittering statue, shall I come like a mother to feed you rice?
Unnaathirunthaal ingae yaar varuvaar unnai seeraata
If you do not eat, who else will come here to pamper you?
Velli nilavae velli nilavae veen sogam yenadi maanae yenadi
Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe?
Vinnil odi thanaal vaadum nilavae naalum urugaathae
Oh moon that runs in the sky and wilts on its own, do not melt away every day.
Unnai paadi mannil kodi kavithai vaalum maravaathae
Singing about you, ten million poems live on earth; do not forget that.
Nilaa choru nilaa choru tharavaa neeyum pasiyaara
Shall I give you moonlit rice so that you can satisfy your hunger?
Kuyil pattu kuyil paattu tharuvom naangal kushiyaaga
We will happily offer you the songs of the cuckoo.
Vaanavillum thaanirangi paai podumae neeyum thoonga
The rainbow itself will come down and lay a mat for you to sleep.
Aadum mayil thogai ellaam thaalaattiyae kaatru veesa
The feathers of dancing peacocks will lull you to sleep while the breeze blows.
Dheva kaniyae theivathenna nee thannaalae
Oh divine fruit, why do you wither away all by yourself?
Velli nilvae velli nilavae veen sogam yenadi maanae yenadi
Oh silver moon, oh silver moon, why this unnecessary sadness, my dear doe?
Mullai malarae mullai malarae un baaram theerpavar yaaru kooradi
Oh jasmine flower, oh jasmine flower, tell me who will relieve your burden?
Sontham yaaru bantham yaaru nilavae paaru enai paaru
Who is true family, who is a relation? Look at me, moon, look at me.
Nenjil baram kannil eeram thudaippaar yaaru bathil kooru
Heaviness in heart, moisture in eyes—who will wipe them away? Give me an answer.
Ullam thorum kallam nooru athai nee paarthu edai podu
There is deceit in a hundred hearts; observe and weigh them carefully.
Unnai kaaka thollai theerkka varuvom naangal thunivodu
To protect you and resolve your troubles, we will come with courage.
Vaanathodu kovam kondu nee povathen paal nilaavae
Why do you depart in anger with the sky, oh milky moon?
Vaanam kaakka naangal undu nee nambiyae paar nilaavae
We are here to protect the sky; look at us with trust, oh moon.
Dheva kanniyae…theivathenna nee thannaalae
Oh divine maiden... why do you wither away all by yourself?
Velli nilavu velli nilavu unnodu sernthida thaanae paaduthu
The silver moon sings on its own to unite with you.
Ullam thiranthu ullam thiranthu than sogam theernthida thaanae theduthu
Opening its heart, it searches on its own to relieve its own sorrow.
Minnum nilavae unnalae varuthae paadi sorootta
Oh shining moon, it comes because of you to sing and feed rice.
Thalli nadanthaal veraaru varuvaar ennai kaapaatra
If you walk away, who else will come to save me?
Velli nilavu velli nilavu unnodu sernthida thaanae paaduthu
The silver moon sings on its own to unite with you.
{Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa
{Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa
Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa} (2)
Than nan naanaa than nan naanaa than nan naanaaa} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a tender, comforting lullaby that addresses a loved one experiencing deep grief and burden. Using poetic imagery, the singer compares the protagonist to a silver moon, a jasmine flower, and a divine fruit, pleading with her to let go of her pointless sorrow. The lyrics offer maternal love, protection, and reassurance against the deceptive world outside. Nature imagery—such as rainbows making a bed, peacocks fanning their feathers to create a gentle breeze, and cuckoo birds singing lullabies—is woven throughout to evoke peace and security. It reassures the loved one that she is valued, cherished, and never alone in her struggles.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamanai)
“Velli nilavae velli nilavae veen sogam yenadi maanae yenadi”
Addressing the beloved using tender natural metaphors such as 'Velli nilavae' (silver moon), 'Mullai malarae' (jasmine flower), and 'Dheva kaniyae' (divine fruit).
Personification
“Vaanavillum thaanirangi paai podumae neeyum thoonga”
Attributes human behaviors to natural elements like the rainbow laying a bed mat and peacock feathers singing lullabies.
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Mullai malarae mullai malarae un baaram theerpavar yaaru kooradi”
The second consonant sound 'll' repeats across consecutive lines ('Velli' / 'Mullai').
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Nilaa choru nilaa choru tharavaa neeyum pasiyaara”
Repetition of address phrases ('Velli nilavae', 'Mullai malarae', 'Nilaa choru') to create a soothing rhythmic quality.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1995 Tamil drama film 'Nandhavana Theru', starring Karthik and Devayani. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.
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