Velli Odam Pole
From Nalla Theerppu · 1959
- Lyricist
- Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Nalla Theerppu1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanniyin nenjilae minni arumbidum | Like a dream of imagination that flashes and buds |
| Karpanai kanavu polae | in the heart of a young maiden, |
| Kaarirul vaanilae perezhil nettriyai | displaying its gorgeous forehead |
| Kaattum pirai nilaavae | in the dark night sky, O crescent moon! |
| Female | |
| Velli odam polae vinnin melae | Like a silver boat high up in the sky, |
| Vinthai kaatti sinthai allum | displaying wonders and captivating the mind, |
| Pirai nilaavae pirai nilaavae | O crescent moon, O crescent moon! |
| Pirar vedhanai nee ariyaayo pirai nilaavae | Do you not know the pain of others, O crescent moon? |
| Female | |
| Velli odam polae vinnin melae | Like a silver boat high up in the sky, |
| Vinthai kaatti sinthai allum | displaying wonders and captivating the mind, |
| Pirai nilaavae pirai nilaavae | O crescent moon, O crescent moon! |
| Female | |
| Vennmugilin panjanaiyil thoongugiraai | You sleep on a soft bed of white clouds, |
| Vennmugilin panjanaiyil thoongugiraai | You sleep on a soft bed of white clouds, |
| Unai ennai enni allai magal yaengugiraal | thinking of you and me, the night-lady yearns, |
| Un anbu endru muzhu nilavaai valarumo | When will your love grow into a full moon? |
| Aval aasaiyenum arumbu mugam malarumo | Will her bud-like face of desire blossom? |
| Aasaiyenum arumbu mugam malarumo… | Will her bud-like face of desire blossom? |
| Female | |
| Velli odam polae vinnin melae | Like a silver boat high up in the sky, |
| Vinthai kaatti sinthai allum | displaying wonders and captivating the mind, |
| Pirai nilaavae pirai nilaavae | O crescent moon, O crescent moon! |
| Female | |
| Mangiyathor punnaigaiyai veesugiraai | You cast a faint, delicate smile, |
| Mantha maaruthamaai mounamozhi pesugiraai | like a gentle breeze, you speak a silent language, |
| Un pongi varum inba oli theendumo | Will your overflowing light of joy touch her? |
| Alli pudhu malaraai manam peravum thoondumo | Will it inspire the lily to bloom and spread new fragrance? |
| Pudhu malaraai manam peravum thoondumo… | Will it inspire it to bloom and spread new fragrance? |
| Female | |
| Velli odam polae vinnin melae | Like a silver boat high up in the sky, |
| Vinthai kaatti sinthai allum | displaying wonders and captivating the mind, |
| Pirai nilaavae pirai nilaavae | O crescent moon, O crescent moon! |
கன்னியின் நெஞ்சிலே மின்னி அரும்பிடும்
கற்பனைக் கனவு போலே
காரிருள் வானிலே பேரெழில் நெற்றியை
காட்டும் பிறை நிலாவே........
Like a dream of imagination that flashes and buds
in the heart of a young maiden,
displaying its gorgeous forehead
in the dark night sky, O crescent moon!
வெள்ளி ஓடம் போலே விண்ணின் மேலே
விந்தை காட்டி சிந்தை அள்ளும்
பிறை நிலாவே பிறை நிலாவே
பிறர் வேதனை நீ அறியாயோ பிறை நிலாவே
Like a silver boat high up in the sky,
displaying wonders and captivating the mind,
O crescent moon, O crescent moon!
Do you not know the pain of others, O crescent moon?
வெள்ளி ஓடம் போலே விண்ணின் மேலே.......
விந்தை காட்டி சிந்தை அள்ளும்
பிறை நிலாவே பிறை நிலாவே
Like a silver boat high up in the sky,
displaying wonders and captivating the mind,
O crescent moon, O crescent moon!
வெண்முகிலின் பஞ்சணையில் தூங்குகிறாய்
வெண்முகிலின் பஞ்சணையில் தூங்குகிறாய்
உனை எண்ணி எண்ணி அல்லி மகள் ஏங்குகிறாள்
உன் அன்பு என்று முழுநிலவாய் வளருமோ
அவள் ஆசையெனும் அரும்பு முகம் மலருமோ
ஆசையெனும் அரும்பு முகம் மலருமோ
You sleep on a soft bed of white clouds,
You sleep on a soft bed of white clouds,
thinking of you and me, the night-lady yearns,
When will your love grow into a full moon?
Will her bud-like face of desire blossom?
Will her bud-like face of desire blossom?
வெள்ளி ஓடம் போலே விண்ணின் மேலே.......
விந்தை காட்டி சிந்தை அள்ளும்
பிறை நிலாவே பிறை நிலாவே
Like a silver boat high up in the sky,
displaying wonders and captivating the mind,
O crescent moon, O crescent moon!
மங்கியதோர் புன்னகையை வீசுகிறாய்
மந்த மாருதமாய் மௌனமொழி பேசுகிறாய்
உன் பொங்கி வரும் இன்ப ஒளி தீண்டுமோ
அல்லி புது மலராய் மணம் பெறவும் தூண்டுமோ....
புது மலராய் மணம் பெறவும் தூண்டுமோ....
You cast a faint, delicate smile,
like a gentle breeze, you speak a silent language,
Will your overflowing light of joy touch her?
Will it inspire the lily to bloom and spread new fragrance?
Will it inspire it to bloom and spread new fragrance?
வெள்ளி ஓடம் போலே விண்ணின் மேலே.......
விந்தை காட்டி சிந்தை அள்ளும்
பிறை நிலாவே பிறை நிலாவே
Like a silver boat high up in the sky,
displaying wonders and captivating the mind,
O crescent moon, O crescent moon!
Kanniyin nenjilae minni arumbidum
Like a dream of imagination that flashes and buds
Karpanai kanavu polae
in the heart of a young maiden,
Kaarirul vaanilae perezhil nettriyai
displaying its gorgeous forehead
Kaattum pirai nilaavae
in the dark night sky, O crescent moon!
Velli odam polae vinnin melae
Like a silver boat high up in the sky,
Vinthai kaatti sinthai allum
displaying wonders and captivating the mind,
Pirai nilaavae pirai nilaavae
O crescent moon, O crescent moon!
Pirar vedhanai nee ariyaayo pirai nilaavae
Do you not know the pain of others, O crescent moon?
Velli odam polae vinnin melae
Like a silver boat high up in the sky,
Vinthai kaatti sinthai allum
displaying wonders and captivating the mind,
Pirai nilaavae pirai nilaavae
O crescent moon, O crescent moon!
Vennmugilin panjanaiyil thoongugiraai
You sleep on a soft bed of white clouds,
Vennmugilin panjanaiyil thoongugiraai
You sleep on a soft bed of white clouds,
Unai ennai enni allai magal yaengugiraal
thinking of you and me, the night-lady yearns,
Un anbu endru muzhu nilavaai valarumo
When will your love grow into a full moon?
Aval aasaiyenum arumbu mugam malarumo
Will her bud-like face of desire blossom?
Aasaiyenum arumbu mugam malarumo…
Will her bud-like face of desire blossom?
Velli odam polae vinnin melae
Like a silver boat high up in the sky,
Vinthai kaatti sinthai allum
displaying wonders and captivating the mind,
Pirai nilaavae pirai nilaavae
O crescent moon, O crescent moon!
Mangiyathor punnaigaiyai veesugiraai
You cast a faint, delicate smile,
Mantha maaruthamaai mounamozhi pesugiraai
like a gentle breeze, you speak a silent language,
Un pongi varum inba oli theendumo
Will your overflowing light of joy touch her?
Alli pudhu malaraai manam peravum thoondumo
Will it inspire the lily to bloom and spread new fragrance?
Pudhu malaraai manam peravum thoondumo…
Will it inspire it to bloom and spread new fragrance?
Velli odam polae vinnin melae
Like a silver boat high up in the sky,
Vinthai kaatti sinthai allum
displaying wonders and captivating the mind,
Pirai nilaavae pirai nilaavae
O crescent moon, O crescent moon!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from Nalla Theerppu (1959) is a poetic apostrophe addressed to the crescent moon. The singer compares the delicate moon floating in the pitch-black sky to a silver boat sailing across the heavens, as well as to the budding, imaginative romantic dreams taking root in a young woman's heart. She questions whether the distant moon sleeping peacefully on its bed of soft white clouds is aware of the longing and anguish experienced by mortal lovers. Throughout the track, the lyricist Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam uses nature imagery—comparing love's progress to the moon waxing into full grandeur, and human desire to a budding flower waiting to bloom under the moon's soothing light and silent breeze. Sung gracefully by P. Susheela, the song captures the bittersweet mix of hope, melancholy, and romantic yearning.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Velli odam polae vinnin melae”
Compares the crescent moon floating in the night sky to a silver boat floating on an ocean.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Vennmugilin panjanaiyil thoongugiraai”
Metaphorically describes the soft white clouds as a cotton mattress ('panjanai') upon which the moon sleeps.
Personification
“Mantha maaruthamaai mounamozhi pesugiraai”
Attributes human capabilities—such as speaking a silent language and smiling—to the inanimate moon.
Moona (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kanniyin nenjilae minni arumbidum / Karpanai kanavu polae”
Uses matching initial consonants 'Ka' across consecutive words/phrases to create rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
This classic solo rendered by P. Susheela was composed by legendary music director S. M. Subbaiah Naidu for the film Nalla Theerppu (1959), which starred Gemini Ganesan and Jamuna. The song remains one of the earliest memorable moon-themed classic melodies in Tamil cinema history.
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