Velli Nilavinile Tamil Veenai
From Sonnadhu Nee Thanaa · 1978
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Sonnadhu Nee Thanaa1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Thamizh veenai vandhathu | A Tamil veena has arrived |
| Adhu paadum raagam nee raja | The melody it plays is you, my king |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Thamizh veenai vandhathu | A Tamil veena has arrived |
| Adhu paadum raagam nee raja | The melody it plays is you, my king |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Male | |
| Vizhiyio kaarthigai deepam | Is the eye a lamp of Kaarthigai? |
| Oli naan vaa vaa endrathu | Its light beckoned, 'Come, come' |
| Unakkaa ennidam kobam | Are you angry with me? |
| Adhu thaan yen yen vandhadhu | Why did that anger arise? |
| Male | |
| Adikkum bothu mirugamada | When striking out, one is a beast |
| Anaikkum podhu manidhanada | When embracing, one is a human |
| Deivam neeyada | You are a god itself |
| Mana thaeril yeri vaa raaja | Mount the chariot of the mind and come, my king |
| Male | |
| Vellinilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Thamizh veenai vandhathu | A Tamil veena has arrived |
| Adhu paadum raagam nee raja | The melody it plays is you, my king |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Male | |
| Unakkaen vaai mozhi ondru | Why do you need spoken words? |
| Adhu thaan naan thaan allavoo | Am I not your voice itself? |
| Madimel thoongadaa vandhu | Come and sleep upon my lap |
| Manathaal thaai naan allavoo | Am I not a mother in my heart? |
| Male | |
| Viralil enna abinayamo | What gestures of expression in your fingers! |
| Vizhiyil enna kavi nayamo | What poetic charm in your eyes! |
| Anbin deepamae innum | Oh lamp of divine love |
| Aandu nooru nee vaazhga | May you live for another hundred years! |
| Male | |
| Vellinilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
| Thamizh veenai vandhathu | A Tamil veena has arrived |
| Adhu paadum raagam nee raja | The melody it plays is you, my king |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silver moonlight |
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
தமிழ் வீணை வந்தது
அது பாடும் ராகம் நீ ராஜா
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே........
தமிழ் வீணை வந்தது
அது பாடும் ராகம் நீ ராஜா
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே........
In the silver moonlight
A Tamil veena has arrived
The melody it plays is you, my king
In the silver moonlight
A Tamil veena has arrived
The melody it plays is you, my king
In the silver moonlight
விழியோ கார்த்திகை தீபம்
ஒளி நான் வா வா என்றது
உனக்கா என்னிடம் கோபம்
அதுதான் ஏன் ஏன் வந்தது
Is the eye a lamp of Kaarthigai?
Its light beckoned, 'Come, come'
Are you angry with me?
Why did that anger arise?
அடிக்கும்போது மிருகமடா
அணைக்கும்போது மனிதனடா
தெய்வம் நீயடா
மனத் தேரில் ஏறி வா ராஜா.........
When striking out, one is a beast
When embracing, one is a human
You are a god itself
Mount the chariot of the mind and come, my king
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
தமிழ் வீணை வந்தது
அது பாடும் ராகம் நீ ராஜா
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே........
In the silver moonlight
A Tamil veena has arrived
The melody it plays is you, my king
In the silver moonlight
உனக்கேன் வாய்மொழி ஒன்று
அதுதான் தான் நான்தான் அல்லவோ
மடிமேல் தூங்கடா வந்து
மனத்தால் தாய் நான் அல்லவோ
Why do you need spoken words?
Am I not your voice itself?
Come and sleep upon my lap
Am I not a mother in my heart?
விரலில் என்ன அபிநயமோ
விழியில் என்ன கவி நயமோ
அன்பின் தீபமே இன்னும்
ஆண்டு நூறு நீ வாழ்க.......
What gestures of expression in your fingers!
What poetic charm in your eyes!
Oh lamp of divine love
May you live for another hundred years!
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே
தமிழ் வீணை வந்தது
அது பாடும் ராகம் நீ ராஜா
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே........
In the silver moonlight
A Tamil veena has arrived
The melody it plays is you, my king
In the silver moonlight
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Thamizh veenai vandhathu
A Tamil veena has arrived
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
The melody it plays is you, my king
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Thamizh veenai vandhathu
A Tamil veena has arrived
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
The melody it plays is you, my king
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Vizhiyio kaarthigai deepam
Is the eye a lamp of Kaarthigai?
Oli naan vaa vaa endrathu
Its light beckoned, 'Come, come'
Unakkaa ennidam kobam
Are you angry with me?
Adhu thaan yen yen vandhadhu
Why did that anger arise?
Adikkum bothu mirugamada
When striking out, one is a beast
Anaikkum podhu manidhanada
When embracing, one is a human
Deivam neeyada
You are a god itself
Mana thaeril yeri vaa raaja
Mount the chariot of the mind and come, my king
Vellinilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Thamizh veenai vandhathu
A Tamil veena has arrived
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
The melody it plays is you, my king
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Unakkaen vaai mozhi ondru
Why do you need spoken words?
Adhu thaan naan thaan allavoo
Am I not your voice itself?
Madimel thoongadaa vandhu
Come and sleep upon my lap
Manathaal thaai naan allavoo
Am I not a mother in my heart?
Viralil enna abinayamo
What gestures of expression in your fingers!
Vizhiyil enna kavi nayamo
What poetic charm in your eyes!
Anbin deepamae innum
Oh lamp of divine love
Aandu nooru nee vaazhga
May you live for another hundred years!
Vellinilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Thamizh veenai vandhathu
A Tamil veena has arrived
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
The melody it plays is you, my king
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song is a poetic and soulful expression of love, devotion, and maternal tenderness toward a beloved partner. Using metaphors of musical instruments, light, and divinity, the narrator admires the lover's beauty, artistic grace, and complex emotional nature—transitioning from fierce emotion to warm humanity, and ultimately elevating him to divine status.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)
“Thamizh veenai vandhathu / Adhu paadum raagam nee raja”
Compares the beloved's presence to a musical ragam played by a Tamil veena in the moonlight.
Contrast / Anthesis
“Adikkum bothu mirugamada / Anaikkum podhu manidhanada / Deivam neeyada”
Contrasts anger/violence ('beast') with affection ('human/god') to highlight emotional duality.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Viralil enna abinayamo / Vizhiyil enna kavi nayamo”
The second consonant sound 'ra' matches across adjacent words ('Viralil' and 'Vizhiyil').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by poet Pulamaipithan, the song uses classical imagery—such as 'Kaarthigai deepam', 'Abinayam' (dance gestures), and 'Veenai'—to convey deep emotional devotion infused with classical aesthetics.
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