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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yei Ilaiya Nilave

From Anbulla Kadhalukku · 1999

Lyricist
Kavi Ravi
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Deva
Details
Anbulla Kadhalukku1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yaei ilaiya nilave sogam verung kanvaeHey young moon, sorrow is just a dream
Yaei ilaiya nilave sogam verung kanvaeHey young moon, sorrow is just a dream
Male
Moondraam piraiyae moondraam piraiyaeOh crescent moon, oh crescent moon
Naalaiya nilavum neethaanYou are tomorrow's full moon as well
Maarum ulagil vaazhum vaazhvilIn life lived inside this changing world
Sogam ellaam veenthaanAll sadness is simply futile
Male
Sollaamal ennai kollathaeDo not kill me without speaking
Yaei nilave sorkkaththai thallippodaathaeHey moon, do not push away heaven
Yaei kannaalae ennai kilaathaeHey, do not pinch me with your eyes
Yaei nilavae kanneeril ennai thallaathaeHey moon, do not push me into tears
Male
Yaei ilaiya nilave sogam verung kanvaeHey young moon, sorrow is just a dream
Male
Kaathoram ketkum reengaaram ellaamAll the humming sound heard near my ears
Kadhali un suvaasa saththamMy beloved, is the sound of your breath
Neengaamal ennai thoongaamal seiyyumWithout leaving me, it keeps me awake
Neethaanae en kadhal sorkkamYou alone are my heaven of love
Male
Un vizhiyin sparisham ellaamAll the touch of your eyes
Uyir varaiyil urasuthadiGently rubs against me down to my soul, my dear
En uyirin suvaasamellaamAll the breath of my life
Un vazhiyae veesuthadiBlows through your path, my dear
Male
Intha paruvam paranthu povatharkkulBefore this youthfulness flies away
Intha kanavu kalainthu povatharkkulBefore this dream dissolves away
Naan pirantha kaaranaththai sollividuTell me the reason why I was born
Male
Sollaamal ennai kollathaeDo not kill me without speaking
Yaei nilave sorkkaththai thallippodaathaeHey moon, do not push away heaven
Kannaalae ennai kilaathaeDo not pinch me with your eyes
Yaei nilavae kanneeril ennai thallaathaeHey moon, do not push me into tears
Male
Yaei ilaiya nilave sogam verung kanvaeHey young moon, sorrow is just a dream
Male
…………………..
Male
Kanmani unthan punnaai ellaamMy darling, all of your smiles
Kannukkul padam pidiththu vaithenI captured as pictures inside my eyes
Un idhazh sinthum oosaial ellaamAll the sounds spilled from your lips
Uyirukkul olippathivu seithenI audio-recorded inside my soul
Male
Unnaamal urangaamalWithout eating and without sleeping
Uyirththirakkum vazhi kandenI found the path to stay alive
Un nizhalaai naan maariBy transforming into your shadow
Unnodu vaazhkindrenI live together with you
Male
Unnai thedi ennai kandu kondenIn search of you, I found myself
Rekkaiyindri vinnai thottuvittenWithout wings, I touched the sky
Siththamenggum sirpamaaga unai vadipenI will sculpt you as a statue across my mind
Male
Sollaamal ennai kollathaeDo not kill me without speaking
Yaei nilave sorkkaththai thallippodaathaeHey moon, do not push away heaven
Aang….kannaalae ennai kilaathaeAh... do not pinch me with your eyes
Yaei nilavae kanneeril ennai thallaathaeHey moon, do not push me into tears
Male
Yaei ilaiya nilave sogam verung kanvaeHey young moon, sorrow is just a dream
Yaei yaei ilaiya nilave sogam verung kanvaeHey hey young moon, sorrow is just a dream
Male
Moondraam piraiyae moondraam piraiyaeOh crescent moon, oh crescent moon
Naalaiya nilavum neethaanYou are tomorrow's full moon as well
Maarum ulagil vaazhum vaazhvilIn life lived inside this changing world
Sogam ellaam veenthaanAll sadness is simply futile
Male
Kanneeril Kaalam thallaathae yaei nilavaeDo not waste time in tears, oh moon
Kaalangal ponaal varaatheIf time passes by, it won't return
Hoi megangal vaanam aagaathaeOh, clouds can never become the sky
Ennaalum sogangal vaazhkkai aagaathe…..Sorrows can never become life forever...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a poetic and emotional expression of love, hope, and consolation directed at a beloved addressed metaphorically as the young crescent moon ('ilaiya nilave' / 'moondraam piraiyae'). The speaker comforts the lover, urging them not to succumb to sorrow, reminding them that current sadness is fleeting like a dream and that today's crescent moon will inevitably grow into tomorrow's full moon. Through evocative romantic imagery, the speaker describes how every whisper, breath, and glance from the beloved animates their soul, capturing memories in their heart like photos and audio recordings. Ultimately, the song celebrates love as a uplifting, transformative force that gives life purpose and transcends temporary suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Moondraam piraiyae moondraam piraiyae Naalaiya nilavum neethaan

Compares the lover in her current state to a crescent moon who holds the promise of becoming the full moon tomorrow.

Metaphor

Kannukkul padam pidiththu vaithen / Uyirukkul olippathivu seithen

Modern technological metaphors comparing visual memory to taking a picture ('padam pidiththu') and vocal memory to an audio recording ('olippathivu').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Intha paruvam paranthu povatharkkul / Intha kanavu kalainthu povatharkkul

Repetition of initial rhythm and sounds across consecutive lines ('Intha paruvam' / 'Intha kanavu').

Hyperbole

Rekkaiyindri vinnai thottuvitten

Exaggeration of joy in love: touching the sky without wings.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics of this song were penned by Kavi Ravi for the 1999 Tamil film 'Anbulla Kadhalukku'. The song uses the classic Tamil poetic motif of addressing the lover as 'Nilavu' (Moon), echoing traditional Sangam literature where celestial bodies are addressed directly as confidants in romance.

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