Velli Nilavinile
From Sonnathu Neethana · 1978
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Sonnathu Neethana1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Tamil veenai vanthathu | A Tamil veena has arrived |
| Adhu paadum raagam nee raja | The melody it sings is you, my king |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Tamil veenai vanthathu | A Tamil veena has arrived |
| Adhu paadum raagam nee raja | The melody it sings is you, my king |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Male | |
| Vizhiyo karthigai deepam | Your eyes are like Karthigai lamps |
| Oli naan vaa vaa endrathu | The light said, come, come |
| Unakkaa ennidam kobam | Are you angry with me? |
| Adhuthaan yaen yaen vanthathu | Why did that anger even come? |
| Male | |
| Adikkumpothu mirugamadaa | When striking out, one is a beast |
| Anikkumpothu manithanadaa | When embracing with love, one is a human |
| Deivam neeyadaa | You are a divine soul! |
| Mana theril yaeri vaa raja | Ascend and come upon the chariot of my heart, my king |
| Male | |
| Unakken vaaimozhai ondru | Is there a word of promise for you? |
| Adhuthaan naanthaan allavo | Is that promise not me? |
| Madimale thoongadaa vanthu | Come and sleep upon my lap |
| Manaththaal thaai naan allavaa | Am I not a mother to you in my heart? |
| Male | |
| Viralil enna abhinayamaa | What expressive gestures lie in your fingers! |
| Vizhiyil enna kavi nayamo | What poetic grace lies in your eyes! |
| Anbil deepamae | O lamp of love! |
| Innum aandu nooru nee vaazhga | May you live for a hundred more years! |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Tamil veenai vanthathu | A Tamil veena has arrived |
| Adhu paadum raagam nee raja | The melody it sings is you, my king |
| Male | |
| Velli nilaavinilae….. | In the silver moonlight... |
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
தமிழ் வீணை வந்தது
அது பாடும் ராகம் நீ ராஜா
In the silver moonlight
A Tamil veena has arrived
The melody it sings is you, my king
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
தமிழ் வீணை வந்தது
அது பாடும் ராகம் நீ ராஜா
In the silver moonlight
A Tamil veena has arrived
The melody it sings is you, my king
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
In the silver moonlight
விழியோ கார்த்திகை தீபம்
ஒளி நான் வா வா என்றது
உனக்கா என்னிடம் கோபம்
அதுதான் ஏன் ஏன் வந்தது
Your eyes are like Karthigai lamps
The light said, come, come
Are you angry with me?
Why did that anger even come?
அடிக்கும்போது மிருகமடா
அணைக்கும்போது மனிதனடா
தெய்வம் நீயடா
மனத் தேரில் ஏறி வா ராஜா..........
When striking out, one is a beast
When embracing with love, one is a human
You are a divine soul!
Ascend and come upon the chariot of my heart, my king
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
தமிழ் வீணை வந்தது
அது பாடும் ராகம் நீ ராஜா
Is there a word of promise for you?
Is that promise not me?
Come and sleep upon my lap
Am I not a mother to you in my heart?
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
What expressive gestures lie in your fingers!
What poetic grace lies in your eyes!
O lamp of love!
May you live for a hundred more years!
உனக்கேன் வாய்மொழி ஒன்று
அதுதான் தான் நான்தான் அல்லவோ
மடிமேல் தூங்கடா வந்து
மனத்தால் தாய் நான் அல்லவோ
In the silver moonlight
A Tamil veena has arrived
The melody it sings is you, my king
விரலில் என்ன அபிநயமோ
விழியில் என்ன கவி நயமோ
அன்பின் தீபமே......
இன்னும் ஆண்டு நூறு நீ வாழ்க........
In the silver moonlight...
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
தமிழ் வீணை வந்தது
அது பாடும் ராகம் நீ ராஜா
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Tamil veenai vanthathu
A Tamil veena has arrived
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
The melody it sings is you, my king
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Tamil veenai vanthathu
A Tamil veena has arrived
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
The melody it sings is you, my king
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Vizhiyo karthigai deepam
Your eyes are like Karthigai lamps
Oli naan vaa vaa endrathu
The light said, come, come
Unakkaa ennidam kobam
Are you angry with me?
Adhuthaan yaen yaen vanthathu
Why did that anger even come?
Adikkumpothu mirugamadaa
When striking out, one is a beast
Anikkumpothu manithanadaa
When embracing with love, one is a human
Deivam neeyadaa
You are a divine soul!
Mana theril yaeri vaa raja
Ascend and come upon the chariot of my heart, my king
Unakken vaaimozhai ondru
Is there a word of promise for you?
Adhuthaan naanthaan allavo
Is that promise not me?
Madimale thoongadaa vanthu
Come and sleep upon my lap
Manaththaal thaai naan allavaa
Am I not a mother to you in my heart?
Viralil enna abhinayamaa
What expressive gestures lie in your fingers!
Vizhiyil enna kavi nayamo
What poetic grace lies in your eyes!
Anbil deepamae
O lamp of love!
Innum aandu nooru nee vaazhga
May you live for a hundred more years!
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Tamil veenai vanthathu
A Tamil veena has arrived
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
The melody it sings is you, my king
Velli nilaavinilae…..
In the silver moonlight...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Velli Nilaavinilae is a gentle and affectionate Tamil song composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by P. Jayachandran, featuring lyrics by Pulamaipithan. The song expresses deep, tender love and maternal affection toward a cherished loved one (addressed as 'raja'). The singer paints a picture of serene silver moonlight and compares the subject's eyes to radiant Karthigai lamps, inviting them to rest peacefully. The lyrics also contain philosophical reflections on human nature, contrasting animalistic aggression with human compassion and divinity. Ultimately, the song serves as a heartfelt wish for longevity, love, and emotional solace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Imagery
“Velli nilaavinilae Tamil veenai vanthathu”
Creates a serene visual picture of silver moonlight and musical elegance.
Metaphor
“Vizhiyo karthigai deepam”
Compares the brightness and divine warmth of the eyes directly to Karthigai festival lamps.
Antithesis / Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Adikkumpothu mirugamadaa / Anikkumpothu manithanadaa”
Contrasts the nature of cruelty (animalistic) with affection (humanity) using rhythmic Tamil second-letter rhyming ('di' in Adikkumpothu and 'ni' in Anikkumpothu).
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Viralil enna abhinayamaa / Vizhiyil enna kavi nayamo”
Uses matching initial consonants 'Vi' in Viralil and Vizhiyil to enhance lyrical flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track showcases P. Jayachandran's unique vocal warmth in early Ilaiyaraaja collaborations. Lyricist Pulamaipithan blends traditional Tamil poetic imagery, such as 'Karthigai Deepam' and 'Abhinayam', with deeply comforting maternal themes within a romantic melody.
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