Karthik’s Tamil ballad “Oliyile Therivadhu” from “Azhagi” hums with dreamy wonder and silent yearning. Meaning “appearing in the light,” the term suggests a strange beauty that distorts truth and illusion. Before a celestial presence, Ilaiyaraaja’s lyrics weave a story of wonder and confusion. His work gently, hauntingly illuminates the writing.
| Tune | Oliyile Therivadhu |
| Film | Azhagi |
| Performers | Karthik |
| Authors | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Music Maker | Ilaiyaraaja |
| Star Cast | Parthiban, Nandita Das |
| Release Date | February 8, 2023 |
Karthik’s translation of “Oliyile Therivadhu” lyrics reveals a soul stuck between fantasy and reality, enchanted by a celestial being. Stirring curiosity and soft desire, Ilaiyaraaja creates lines that question the enigmas of life. The chorus, “Oliyile Therivadhu Devathaiya,” means “Is that an angel appearing in the light?”
Azhagi Movie’s Oliyile Therivadhu Lyrics English (Translation)
Oliyile therivadhu devathaiya
Is that truly an angel I see emerging from the light?
Oliyile therivadhu devathaiya
Could it really be an angel glowing in the light?
Uyiril kalandhadhu nee illaiya
Aren’t you the one who quietly became part of my soul?
Idhu nesama nesam illaiya
Is this genuine love, or just a figment of my heart’s longing?
Ninaivukku theriyalaiya
Why can’t my memory make sense of it?
Kanavile nadakkudha
Is this whole moment unfolding only in a dream?
Kangalum kaangiradha, kaangiradha
Are my eyes truly witnessing this, or are they just lost in wonder?
Oliyile therivadhu devathaiya
Is that really an angel appearing before me in the light?
Devathaiya devathaiya
An angel… a heavenly vision.
Chinna manasuku vilangavillaiye
My young heart cannot seem to grasp it all.
Nadappadhu ennanu
What is it that’s really happening around me?
Enna enniyum puriyavillaiye
No matter how much I try, I just can’t figure it out.
Nadandhadhu ennanu
What exactly has taken place? I remain puzzled.
Kovil maniyai yaaru adikkira
Who is striking the bell in the temple now?
Thoonga vilakka yaaru ethura
Who is keeping the eternal flame burning through the night?
Oru pothum anaiyama Nindru oliranum
Let it never flicker—this brightness must never fade.
Oliyile therivadhu nee illaiya
Aren’t you the one shimmering in the light?
Nee illaiya nee illaiya
Isn’t that you? Or am I mistaken?
Putham pudhiyathor Ponnin silai onnu
A radiant beauty, like a fresh sculpture made of gold—
Kulikkudhu manjalile
She’s bathed in turmeric, glowing with purity.
Poova pola oru Chinna meniyum
Her delicate form is like a flower, soft and tender.
Kalandhadhu poovukkulle
She has become one with the blossom itself.
Ariya vayasu kelvi ezhupudhu
At this tender age, questions quietly begin to rise.
Nadandha theriyum ezhuthi vachadhu
What happened feels fated, as if written long ago.
Ezhudhiyadhai padichalum edhum puriyala
But even as I read the lines of destiny, nothing feels clear.
Oliyile therivadhu devathaiya
Is that really an angel shining in the light?
Uyiril kalandhadhu nee illaiya
Aren’t you the one who gently entered my soul?
Idhu nesama nesam illaiya
Is this a true connection, or a dream I long to believe?
Ninaivukku theriyalaiya
Why is my mind still lost in confusion?
Kanavile nadakkudha
Could it all be happening inside a dream?
Kangalum kaangiradha, kaangiradha
Are my eyes truly seeing this wonder?
Oliyile therivadhu devathaiya
Is that really an angel in the light?
Devathaiya devathaiya
An angel… so divine.
Translated by: Sakthimahi
Oliyile Therivadhu Music Video
See the attached above Tamil music video for “Oliyile Therivadhu”. Directed by Thangar Bachan, Nandita Das and Parthiban’s sensitive performances convey the song’s ethereal appeal.