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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vennilavae Vennilavae

From Minsara Kanavu · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Minsara Kanavu1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vennilavae vennilavae vinnaithaandi varuvaayaaO silver moon, O silver moon, will you come crossing the sky?
Vilaiyaada jodi thevai eehhWe need a companion to play with, eehh
Vennilavae vennilavae vinnaithaandi varuvaayaaO silver moon, O silver moon, will you come crossing the sky?
Vilaiyaada jodi thevai eehhWe need a companion to play with, eehh
Male
Vennilavae vennilavae vinnaithaandi varuvaayaaO silver moon, O silver moon, will you come crossing the sky?
Vilaiyaada jodi thevaiWe need a companion to play with
Intha boologathil yaarum paarkkum munnaeBefore anyone on this Earth sees you
Unnai athikaalai anuppi vaippomWe will send you back early in the morning
Male
Ithu irullalla athu oliyallaThis is neither darkness, nor is that light
Ithu rendodum seraatha ponneramThis is a golden time that belongs to neither
Ithu irullalla athu oliyallaThis is neither darkness, nor is that light
Ithu rendodum seraatha ponneramThis is a golden time that belongs to neither
Male
Thalai Saaiaathae vizhi moodaathaeDo not lean your head, do not close your eyes
Sila mottukkal sattendru poovaagumSome buds will suddenly bloom into flowers
Pennae.. pennae..O girl.. O girl..
Booloagam ellaamae thoongippona pinnaeAfter the entire world falls asleep
Pulloodu poo veezhum osai ketkum pennaeYou can hear the sound of a flower falling onto a blade of grass, O girl
Naam iravin madiyil pillaigal aavom paalootta nilavunduWe shall become children in the lap of the night; there is the moon to nurse us
Female
Vennilavae vennilavae vinnaithaandi varuvaayaaO silver moon, O silver moon, will you come crossing the sky?
Vilaiyaada jodi thevaiWe need a companion to play with
Intha boologathil yaarum paarkkum munnaeBefore anyone on this Earth sees you
Unnai athikaalai anuppi vaippomWe will send you back early in the morning
Female
Ettaatha uyarathil nilavai vaithavan yaaruWho placed the moon at an unreachable height?
Kaiyoodu sikkaamal kaatrai vaithavan yaaruWho made the wind elude being caught in hands?
Male :Ithai enni enni iyarkaiyai viyakkiraenMale: Thinking of these, I marvel at Nature
Ettaatha uyarathil nilavai vaithavan yaaruWho placed the moon at an unreachable height?
Female :Pennae… pennaeFemale: O girl... O girl...
Poongaatru ariyaamal poovai thirakka vendumOne must open the flower without even the gentle breeze knowing
Pookooda ariyaamal thaenai rusikka vendumOne must taste the honey without even the flower knowing
Male :Ada ulagai rasikka vendum naan un pondra pennoduMale: Ah, I wish to enjoy the world with a girl like you
Female
Ahhh ahhh ahhha hahhaahahhAhhh ahhh ahhha hahhaahahh
Ahhh ahhh ahhha hahhaahahhAhhh ahhh ahhha hahhaahahh
Male
Vennilavae vennilavae vinnaithaandi varuvaayaaO silver moon, O silver moon, will you come crossing the sky?
Vilaiyaada jodi thevaiWe need a companion to play with
Male and Female :Intha boologathil yaarum paarkkum munnaeMale and Female: Before anyone on this Earth sees you
Unnai athikaalai anuppi vaippomWe will send you back early in the morning

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Vennilavae' is a whimsical and romantic song from the movie Minsara Kanavu (1997), composed by A.R. Rahman and written by Vairamuthu. The song captures a poetic dialogue addressing the moon, inviting it down to earth to play during the quiet twilight hours before dawn breaks.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Vennilavae vennilavae vinnaithaandi varuvaayaa

Addressing the moon as a playmate ('Vennilavae... vinnaithaandi varuvaayaa') and describing night as a mother with a lap ('iravin madiyil').

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil poetry)

Ettaatha uyarathil nilavai vaithavan yaaru

Rhyming pattern using 'Ettaatha' and 'Kaiyoodu' with matching second consonant sounds or meter across lines.

Metaphor

Ithu rendodum seraatha ponneram

Describing dawn/dusk as 'ponneram' (golden hour) which is neither pure darkness nor full light.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu and sung by Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, 'Vennilavae' won National Film Awards for Best Music Direction (A.R. Rahman), Best Female Playback Singer (Sadhana Sargam), and Best Male Playback Singer (Hariharan).

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