Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vinnile Minmini Oorvalam

From Ival Oru Pournami · 1987

Lyricist
Manimudi
Singers
Vani Jairam, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
T. K. Ramamoorthy
Details
Ival Oru Pournami1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa….aa….a….aa….aa….Aa....aa....a....aa....aa....
Ooo…..ooo….oo….ooo….Ooo.....ooo....oo....ooo....
Ooo…..ooo…..ooo……Ooo.....ooo.....ooo......
Female
Vinnilae minmini oorvalamA procession of fireflies in the sky
Mannilae malligai poochcharamA garland of jasmine flowers on the earth
Vennilaa medaiyil moganamA sweet Mohanam melody on the moonlit stage
Ingu kaanbathu indhira sabaiyoIs what we witness here the celestial court of Indra?
Intha naal kaanave vanthatho vaanamaeDid the sky itself descend just to witness this day?
Ooo…..ooo…..ooo……Ooo.....ooo.....ooo......
Male
Vinnilum paadhaigal poduvomWe will pave pathways even in the sky
Kaigalai nambiyae vaazhvomWe will live trusting our own hands
Mannilae sorkkamae kaanuvomWe will see heaven right here on earth
Indha bhoomiyil kaaviyam padaippomWe will create an epic on this earth
Nammaiyae nambiyae ullathu dhesameThe nation believes in us and relies upon us
Ooo…..ooo…..ooo……Ooo.....ooo.....ooo......
Female
Vinnilae minmini oorvalamA procession of fireflies in the sky
Mannilae malligai poochcharamA garland of jasmine flowers on the earth
Vennilaa medaiyil moganam….A sweet Mohanam melody on the moonlit stage....
Female
Manathinil nizhalaadum kanavugal oru kodiTen million dreams shadow over my mind
Thanimaiyil adhai koora thavikkuthu manam vaadiMy wilting heart suffers to express them in solitude
Male :Ennaththai maraikkaamal solvathil thavarethuMale: What is wrong in expressing your thoughts without hiding them?
Ennidam adhai sonnaal nenjinil sumaiyaethuMale: If you tell me, why burden your heart?
Female
Eththnai naalaaga maraippathu nenjoduHow many days will you keep hiding it in your heart?
Male :Penn manam kadal aazham sollaamal puriyaathuMale: A woman's heart is deep as the ocean, hard to understand without words
Female :Eppadi athai solla vetkkamum thadai podaFemale: How can I express it when shyness acts as a barrier?
Male :Kattraval neeyandro vetkkamum varalaamoMale: Aren't you an educated woman, should shyness stop you?
Female :Uyirin uyiraai inaiyum ninaivaalFemale: With thoughts that unite as life within life
Urugidum malarukku ilanthendral thunai vendumThe melting flower needs the gentle breeze as its companion
Female
Vinnilae minmini oorvalamA procession of fireflies in the sky
Mannilae malligai poochcharamA garland of jasmine flowers on the earth
Vennilaa medaiyil moganamA sweet Mohanam melody on the moonlit stage
Ingu kaanbathu indhira sabaiyoIs what we witness here the celestial court of Indra?
Intha naal kaanave vanthatho vaanamaeDid the sky itself descend just to witness this day?
Ooo…..ooo…..ooo……Ooo.....ooo.....ooo......
Male
Uravaana malarondruOnce a beloved flower
Sirai konda pinnaalaeHas been taken into captivity
Ini veru malar thediSeeking another flower after this,
Ilanthendral pogaathuThe gentle breeze will not go
Male
Kannanukku rathai endruOnce Radha has become
Sonthamangu aana pinnaeKrishna's rightful beloved
Innoruththi kannanaiththaanFor another woman to think of Krishna
Ennuvathil labamillaiIs of no gain
Male
Nenjachaththai oru naalum kann paarkka mudiyaathuThe eyes can never see the core of the heart
Ninaivukku naam thedum uruvangal kidaiyaathuThe forms we seek in memories do not exist
Neerinil nizhal pookka parippavar yaaringaeWho here plucks shadow flowers floating on water?
Yaarukku yaar andrey ezhuthivittaan angaeHe has already written up there who belongs to whom
Iravum vaanum nilavum ondreyThe night, the sky, and the moon are united as one
Innoru nilavukku idamangu kidaiyaathaeThere is no place for another moon there
Female
Kannaa….mmm…..kannaa…..mmmm….Krishna....mmm.....Krishna.....mmmm....
Kannaa….mmmm…..Krishna....mmmm.....
Penn veenai dhinam paadum raagangal maariyathoHave the ragas played daily by the woman's veena changed?
Venn mullai kodi melae anal kaattru veesiyathoDid a scorching wind blow over the white jasmine creeper?
Aasaiyin alai melae naan kanda odamondruA boat that I saw riding on the waves of desire
Naan yaerum munnaalae neerodu ponathennaWhy did it drift away with the water before I could board it?
Female
Ovvoru iravum mella vanthathu kanavugalSlowly every night, dreams arrived
Unnudan manam purinthu kondathu ninaivugalMemories wedded themselves to you
Nenjamum unai ninaiththu anbinil malarnthirukkumMy heart blossomed in love thinking of you
Konjidum salangai oli annaiyin pugazh padikkumThe sound of caressing anklets sings the mother's glory
Ini en manathu amaithi peraveyNow for my mind to attain peace
Kalaimagal thiruvadi nizhalinil vaazhvenae….I shall live in the shadow of Goddess Saraswati's holy feet....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Vinnilae minmini oorvalam' from the 1987 film 'Ival Oru Pournami' is a poetic composition that transitions from joyous earthly celebration to deep philosophical reflection and spiritual devotion. Initially, the song presents optimistic imagery of fireflies, jasmine garlands, and celestial beauty, reflecting human ambition, self-reliance, and romantic hesitation between two lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Vinnilae minmini oorvalam / Mannilae malligai poochcharam / Vennilaa medaiyil moganam

The second letter 'n' (ன/ண) rhymes consistently across consecutive lines in the opening stanza.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Penn manam kadal aazham sollaamal puriyaathu

Comparing the depth of a woman's emotions to the vast depth of an ocean.

Imagery

Vinnilae minmini oorvalam

Evokes vivid natural visual imagery of fireflies forming a procession across the night sky.

Rhetorical Question

Naan yaerum munnaalae neerodu ponathenna

The character questions fate, asking why a boat of desires drifted away before she could board it.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ival Oru Pournami' (1987) is a lesser-known Tamil feature film featuring lyrics written by poet Manimudi. The song captures a blend of Carnatic musical elements (referencing Raga Mohanam) and traditional Tamil poetic meter.

Keep listening

More from Ival Oru Pournami