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Isaimozhi
Sonnadhu Nee Thanaa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Velli Nilavinile Tamil Veenai

From Sonnadhu Nee Thanaa · 1978

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Jayachandran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Sonnadhu Nee Thanaa
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
3 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Velli nilaavinilae
Thamizh veenai vandhathu
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
Velli nilaavinilae
Thamizh veenai vandhathu
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
Velli nilaavinilae
Vizhiyio kaarthigai deepam
Oli naan vaa vaa endrathu
Unakkaa ennidam kobam
Adhu thaan yen yen vandhadhu
Adikkum bothu mirugamada
Anaikkum podhu manidhanada
Deivam neeyada
Mana thaeril yeri vaa raaja
Vellinilaavinilae
Thamizh veenai vandhathu
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
Velli nilaavinilae
Unakkaen vaai mozhi ondru
Adhu thaan naan thaan allavoo
Madimel thoongadaa vandhu
Manathaal thaai naan allavoo
Viralil enna abinayamo
Vizhiyil enna kavi nayamo
Anbin deepamae innum
Aandu nooru nee vaazhga
Vellinilaavinilae
Thamizh veenai vandhathu
Adhu paadum raagam nee raja
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silver moonlight,
A Tamil veena arrived,
And you are the melody it sings, my king!
In the silver moonlight...
A Tamil veena arrived,
And you are the melody it sings, my king!
In the silver moonlight...
Your eyes are like Karthigai lamps (festival of lights),
Their light called out, "Come, come!"
Are you angry with me?
Why, oh why, did that anger arise?
When you strike, you are a wild beast,
When you embrace, you are truly human,
You are divine to me!
Come riding on the chariot of my heart, my king...
In the silver moonlight,
A Tamil veena arrived,
And you are the melody it sings, my king!
In the silver moonlight...
Why do you need spoken words?
For am I not your very voice?
Come, rest and sleep upon my lap,
For in my heart, am I not your mother?
What graceful gestures dance in your fingers!
What poetic beauty shines in your eyes!
O glowing lamp of love,
May you live for a hundred more years...
In the silver moonlight,
A Tamil veena arrived,
And you are the melody it sings, my king!
In the silver moonlight...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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