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Lyrics & meaning

Azhagana Malarae

From Thendral Veesum · 1962

Lyricist
Mayavanathan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Thendral Veesum1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Azhagaana malarae arivaana porulaeOh beautiful flower, oh wise essence!
Thelivaana thelivae senchaanthu manamaeOh clear clarity, oh mind fragrant like red sandalwood!
Azhagaana malarae arivaana porulaeOh beautiful flower, oh wise essence!
Thelivaana thelivae senchaanthu manamaeOh clear clarity, oh mind fragrant like red sandalwood!
Un kannil ennai naan kandu kondaenIn your eyes, I discovered myself.
Un kannil ennai naan kandu kondaenIn your eyes, I discovered myself.
En kannil magalae nee kandadhennaMy daughter, what is it that you saw in my eyes?
Azhagaana malarae arivaana porulaeOh beautiful flower, oh wise essence!
Thelivaana thelivae senchaanthu manamaeOh clear clarity, oh mind fragrant like red sandalwood!
Male
Vilayaadum kaalo kavipaadum naavoAre these playful feet or a tongue singing poetry?
Sendaadum kodiyo nindraadum oliyoIs it a dancing creeper or a standing beam of light?
Aval thandha paadal naan paadugindraenI am singing the song given to me by her (your mother).
En paadal polae un paadal vaendaamMay your song not be sorrowful like my song.
Male
Azhagaana malarae arivaana porulaeOh beautiful flower, oh wise essence!
Thelivaana thelivae senchaanthu manamaeOh clear clarity, oh mind fragrant like red sandalwood!
Male
Unakkaaga azhudhaal enakkaga sirithaalShe wept for your sake, and she smiled for my sake.
Vizhi pona pinnaal vazhiyaaga nindraalEven after her eyes left this world, she remained as my guiding light.
Kannaaga neeyum kalayaaga thaayumWhen you are my eyes and your mother is the art...
Irukkindra podhu yaenindha vizhigal...why do these eyes still shed tears?
Male
Azhagaana malarae arivaana porulaeOh beautiful flower, oh wise essence!
Thelivaana thelivae senchaanthu manamaeOh clear clarity, oh mind fragrant like red sandalwood!
Un kannil ennai naan kandu kondaenIn your eyes, I discovered myself.
En kannil magalae nee kandadhennaMy daughter, what is it that you saw in my eyes?
Aaraariraaro aaraariraaroLullaby... Aaraariraaro aaraariraaro...
Aaraariraaro aaraariraaroLullaby... Aaraariraaro aaraariraaro...
Aaraariraaro aaraariraaroLullaby... Aaraariraaro aaraariraaro...
Hmmhmmhmm hmmmhmmhmmmHmmhmmhmm hmmmhmmhmmm

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This moving lullaby from the movie 'Thendral Veesum' (1962) expresses a father's profound love for his young daughter while honoring the memory and sacrifices of her mother. The father praises the child's purity, beauty, and wisdom, seeing his reflection and hope for the future in her innocent eyes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Azhagaana malarae arivaana porulae

Compares the child directly to a beautiful flower (Azhagaana malarae), clarity (Thelivaana thelivae), and red sandalwood (senchaanthu) to highlight her innocence and value.

Contrast / Parallelism (Muran / Ezhuthu)

Unakkaaga azhudhaal enakkaga sirithaal

Contrasts the mother weeping for the child's sake and smiling for the father's sake, highlighting emotional balance and selflessness.

Rhetorical Question

En kannil magalae nee kandadhenna

The speaker asks his daughter what she observes in his eyes and questions why tears fall when he has her and her mother's memory.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics written by Mayavanathan, 'Azhagaana Malarae' is a classic paternal lullaby beautifully rendered by P. B. Sreenivas, known for his soft, soothing vocal texture.

Keep listening

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