Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Ninaivu Chinnam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yele Ilangkiliye

From Ninaivu Chinnam · 1989

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ninaivu Chinnam
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
30 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yaelae ilangiliyae ennaasai paingiliyae
Paalae pasungkodiyae painthamizhin thaensuvaiyae
Yaelae ilangiliyae ennaasai paingiliyae
Paalae pasungkodiyae painthamizhin thaensuvaiyae
Nonbu pala naanirunthu vendum varam vendi nirkka
Nonbu pala naanirunthu vendum varam vendi nirkka
Dheivamthaan thanthathu unnaiththaan ilangiliyae
Yaelae ilangiliyae ennaasai paingiliyae
Paalae pasungkodiyae painthamizhin thaensuvaiyae
Kuzhalodum yaalodum isai ketta pothum
Mazhalai un sol pola isai aavathaethu
Kuzhalodum yaalodum isai ketta pothum
Mazhalai un sol pola isai aavathaethu
Yaaradi unnai padaiththaar
Annaiyum thanthaiyum illai
Unnai en kaiyil koduththaar
Dheivamaa nampavumillai
Anbilae anpai inaiththu
Vambugal seivathum enna
Unmaithaan solladi
Selvamae sirikkaathae
Yaelae ilangiliyae ennaasai paingiliyae
Paalae pasungkodiyae painthamizhin thaensuvaiyae
Malai meedhu thavazhnthaadi vilaiyaadum nadhiyae
Alai veesum kadal pola tamil paadum kodiyae
Malai meedhu thavazhnthaadi vilaiyaadum nadhiyae
Alai veesum kadal pola tamil paadum kodiyae
Moodadi vaasarkadhavai kangalthaan pattu vidumae
Paadadi paasakkavithai nenjanthaan kettu vidumae
Endraikko ezhuthi vaiththaan
Indraikku nadappathellaam
Unmaithaan mullaiyae
Ennaiyae naan maranthaen
Yaelae ilangiliyae ennaasai paingiliyae
Paalae pasungkodiyae painthamizhin thaensuvaiyae
Nonbu pala naanirunthu vendum varam vendi nirkka
Dheivamthaam thanthathu unnaiththaan ilangiliyae
Yaelae ilangiliyae ennaasai paingiliyae
Paalae pasungkodiyae painthamizhin thaensuvaiyae
Oh my young parrot, my darling green parrot,
Pure as milk, tender green vine, sweet as the honey of Tamil,
Oh my young parrot, my darling green parrot,
Pure as milk, tender green vine, sweet as the honey of Tamil,
As I observed many fasts and stood praying for a boon,
As I observed many fasts and stood praying for a boon,
It was God who gave you to me, my young parrot.
Oh my young parrot, my darling green parrot,
Pure as milk, tender green vine, sweet as the honey of Tamil,
Even when I listen to music from the flute and the harp,
Can any music equal the sweet chatter of your baby words?
Even when I listen to music from the flute and the harp,
Can any music equal the sweet chatter of your baby words?
Who was it that created you, little one?
With no mother and no father around,
They placed you into my hands;
Was it God? I can hardly believe it.
Binding love with yet more love,
Why do you get up to such playful mischief?
Tell me the truth, my dear,
Don't just laugh, my precious treasure.
Oh my young parrot, my darling green parrot,
Pure as milk, tender green vine, sweet as the honey of Tamil,
O river dancing and playing across the mountains,
O tender vine singing Tamil like the surging sea,
O river dancing and playing across the mountains,
O tender vine singing Tamil like the surging sea,
Close the front door, lest an envious eye fall upon you,
Sing a poem of affection, so my heart can listen.
He wrote it all long ago,
Everything that is happening today.
It is true, my sweet jasmine,
I have forgotten my very self.
Oh my young parrot, my darling green parrot,
Pure as milk, tender green vine, sweet as the honey of Tamil,
As I observed many fasts and stood praying for a boon,
It was God who gave you to me, my young parrot.
Oh my young parrot, my darling green parrot,
Pure as milk, tender green vine, sweet as the honey of Tamil,
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful song from 'Ninaivu Chinnam' is a tender expression of maternal or deep affectionate love, comparing the beloved child/girl to tender imagery from Tamil literature such as a parrot, sweet milk, flowing rivers, and honeyed Tamil speech. The singer expresses profound gratitude to the Divine, reflecting on how prayers and fasts culminated in receiving this precious gift.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Paalae pasungkodiyae painthamizhin thaensuvaiyae”

Compares the loved one directly to pure milk, a tender vine, and the sweet taste of Tamil honey.

Simile (Uwamai)

“Alai veesum kadal pola tamil paadum kodiyae”

Compares the grand, undulating rhythm of her singing to the waving motion of the sea using 'pola'.

Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

“Kuzhalodum yaalodum isai ketta pothum / Mazhalai un sol pola isai aavathaethu”

Repetition of consonant/vowel sound combinations at the start of poetic phrases.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Yaelae ilangiliyae ennaasai paingiliyae”

Rhyming endings 'ilangiliyae' and 'paingiliyae' create a pleasing musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ninaivu Chinnam' (1989) features a soundtrack composed by Isaignani Ilayaraja, who also penned the lyrics for this song. Performed gracefully by veteran singer P. Susheela, the song draws heavily from classical Thirukkural and Sangam Tamil literary motifs comparing child speech to musical instruments.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Kanne Kanne Song Lyrics – Visithiran2022
VisithiranDevotionParenthood
Chinna Chiru Kiliye (Sad)1987
Neethikku ThandanaiParenthoodDevotion
Chellakkiligalam Palliyiley Sad1970
Enga MamaParenthoodDevotion
Aaramuthe Durairaja1959
Sabash RamuDevotionTender
Chinna Nila Sirikkum Nila1985
NaagamDevotionTender
Kangal Neeye2011
Muppozhudhum Un KarpanaigalDevotionTender

From the same album

More songs from Ninaivu Chinnam

View album
Vaikasi Masathula Panthal1989
Ninaivu ChinnamRomantic
Soru Thinnu Naalachu1989
Ninaivu ChinnamCheerful
Singara Seemaiyile Selvangalai1989
Ninaivu ChinnamTender
Oorukkulla Ennapathi Unnapathi1989
Ninaivu ChinnamPlayful
Oorellam Thoonguthu1989
Ninaivu ChinnamMelancholic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.