Maalai En Vethanai
From Sethu · 1999
- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Singers
- Unnikrishnan, Arun Mozhi, S. N. Surendar
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Sethu1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Maalai en vedhanai | The evening increases my pain |
| Kootuthadi | Increases it indeed |
| Kaadhal than velaiyai | Love is playing its game |
| Kaatuthadi | Showing its effect |
| Male | |
| Ennai vaattum velai yenadi | Why this torture at this hour? |
| Nee solvaai kanmani | You tell me, my precious one |
| Mugam kaattu en pournami | Show your face, my full moon |
| En kaadhal veenai nee | You are my lute of love |
| Male | |
| Vedhanai sollidum | In the melody |
| Raagathilae | That speaks of agony |
| Veguthae en manam | My heart burns |
| Mogathilae…ae… | In desire and longing |
| Male | |
| Maalai en vedhanai | The evening increases my pain |
| Kootuthadi | Increases it indeed |
| Kaadhal than velaiyai | Love is playing its game |
| Kaatuthadi | Showing its effect |
| Male | |
| Kaadhalil thoatravar | Those who failed in love |
| Kadhai undu ingae aayiram | There are a thousand stories here |
| Mmm…mmm…mmm… | Mmm... mmm... mmm... |
| Male | |
| Vendaatha pechukkal | Unnecessary talk |
| Yendaa ambii | Why, my brother? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhalum poiyum illai | Love is not a lie |
| Unmai kadhai mannil aayiram | There are a thousand true stories on this earth |
| Mmm…mmm…mmm… | Mmm... mmm... mmm... |
| Male | |
| Un kaadhal suspence-u | Your love is full of suspense |
| Enna ambii | What is it, brother? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal senjaa paavam | Is committing love a sin? |
| Andha aadhaam kaalathil | Since the time of Adam |
| Male :Edhukku veenaa sogam | Male: Why unnecessary sorrow |
| Kadhaiya mudidaa nerathil | When it is time to wrap up the story? |
| Male | |
| Poongili kaivarum | The sweet songbird will come to your hands |
| Naal varuma…aa | Will that day arrive? |
| Boomiyil sorgamum | A heaven on earth |
| Thondridumaa…aaa… | Will it appear? |
| Male | |
| Maalai en vedhanai | The evening increases my pain |
| Kootuthadi | Increases it indeed |
| Kaadhal than velaiyai | Love is playing its game |
| Kaatuthadi | Showing its effect |
| Male | |
| Kaatru vidum kelvikku | To the question asked by the wind |
| Malar sollum badhil ennavo | What is the flower's reply? |
| Mmm…mmm…mmm… | Mmm... mmm... mmm... |
| Male | |
| Vaasangal pesaatha | Is fragrance an unspoken |
| Badhilaa thambi | Reply, brother? |
| Male | |
| Megam vidum kelvikku | To the question asked by the cloud |
| Vennilavin badhil ennavo | What is the moon's reply? |
| Mmm…mmm…mmm… | Mmm... mmm... mmm... |
| Male | |
| Kadal aadum alai kooda | Even the wave dancing in the sea |
| Bathilthaan thambi | Is a reply, brother |
| Male | |
| Avalin mounam paarthu | Seeing her silence |
| Pathai pathaikkum en manam | My heart trembles in deep anxiety |
| Female | |
| Vendaatha ennam | Unwanted thoughts arise |
| Varum kaadhal thirumanam | Love marriage will come |
| Male | |
| Mogamul nenjilae | The thorn of desire in my heart |
| Paaigirathe | Pierces through |
| En manam aval madi | My heart leans |
| Saaigirathae | Upon her lap |
| Male | |
| Maalai en vedhanai | The evening increases my pain |
| Kootuthadi | Increases it indeed |
| Kaadhal than velaiyai | Love is playing its game |
| Kaatuthadi | Showing its effect |
| Male | |
| Ennai vaattum velai yenadi | Why this torture at this hour? |
| Nee solvaai kanmani | You tell me, my precious one |
| Mugam kaattu en pournami | Show your face, my full moon |
| En kaadhal veenai nee | You are my lute of love |
| Male | |
| Vedhanai sollidum | In the melody |
| Raagathilae | That speaks of agony |
| Veguthae en manam | My heart burns |
| Mogathilae…ae… | In desire and longing |
| Male | |
| Maalai en vedhanai | The evening increases my pain |
| Kootuthadi | Increases it indeed |
| Kaadhal than velaiyai | Love is playing its game |
| Kaatuthadi | Showing its effect |
மற்றும் எஸ். என். சுரேந்தர்
The evening increases my pain
Increases it indeed
Love is playing its game
Showing its effect
மாலை என் வேதனை
கூட்டுதடி
காதல் தன் வேலையை
காட்டுதடி
Why this torture at this hour?
You tell me, my precious one
Show your face, my full moon
You are my lute of love
என்னை வாட்டும் வேலை ஏனடி
நீ சொல்வாய் கண்மணி
முகம் காட்டு எந்தன் பௌர்ணமி
என் காதல் வீணை நீ
In the melody
That speaks of agony
My heart burns
In desire and longing
வேதனை சொல்லிடும்
ராகத்திலே
வேகுதே என் மனம்
மோகத்திலே...ஏ
The evening increases my pain
Increases it indeed
Love is playing its game
Showing its effect
மாலை என் வேதனை
கூட்டுதடி
காதல் தன் வேலையை
காட்டுதடி
Those who failed in love
There are a thousand stories here
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
காதலில் தோற்றவர்
கதை உண்டு இங்கே ஆயிரம்
ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்ம்...
Unnecessary talk
Why, my brother?
வேண்டாத பேச்சுக்கள்
ஏன்டா அம்பி
Love is not a lie
There are a thousand true stories on this earth
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
காதலும் பொய்யும் இல்லை
உண்மை கதை மண்ணில் ஆயிரம்
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...
Your love is full of suspense
What is it, brother?
உன் காதல் சஸ்பென்ஸ்
என்ன அம்பி
Is committing love a sin?
Since the time of Adam
Male: Why unnecessary sorrow
When it is time to wrap up the story?
காதல் செஞ்சா பாவம்
அந்த ஆதாம் காலத்தில்
எதுக்கு வீணா சோகம்
கதைய முடிடா நேரத்தில்
The sweet songbird will come to your hands
Will that day arrive?
A heaven on earth
Will it appear?
பூங்கிளி கைவரும்
நாள் வருமா...ஆ
பூமியில் சொர்கமும்
தோன்றிடுமா...ஆஅ...
The evening increases my pain
Increases it indeed
Love is playing its game
Showing its effect
மாலை என் வேதனை
கூட்டுதடி
காதல் தன் வேலையை
காட்டுதடி
To the question asked by the wind
What is the flower's reply?
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
காற்று விடும் கேள்விக்கு
மலர் சொல்லும் பதில் என்னவோ
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...
Is fragrance an unspoken
Reply, brother?
வாசங்கள் பேசாத
பதிலா தம்பி..
To the question asked by the cloud
What is the moon's reply?
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
மேகம் விடும் கேள்விக்கு
வெண்ணிலவின் பதில் என்னவோ
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...
Even the wave dancing in the sea
Is a reply, brother
கடல் ஆடும் அலை கூட
பதில்தான் தம்பி..
Seeing her silence
My heart trembles in deep anxiety
அவளின் மௌனம் பார்த்து
பதை பதிக்கும் என் மனம்
Unwanted thoughts arise
Love marriage will come
வேண்டாத எண்ணம் வரும்
காதல் திருமணம்
The thorn of desire in my heart
Pierces through
My heart leans
Upon her lap
மோகமுள் நெஞ்சிலே
பாய்கிறதே..
என் மனம் அவள் மடி
சாய்கிறதே
The evening increases my pain
Increases it indeed
Love is playing its game
Showing its effect
மாலை என் வேதனை
கூட்டுதடி
காதல் தன் வேலையை
காட்டுதடி
Why this torture at this hour?
You tell me, my precious one
Show your face, my full moon
You are my lute of love
என்னை வாட்டும் வேலை ஏனடி
நீ சொல்வாய் கண்மணி
முகம் காட்டு எந்தன் பௌர்ணமி
என் காதல் வீணை நீ
In the melody
That speaks of agony
My heart burns
In desire and longing
வேதனை சொல்லிடும்
ராகத்திலே
வேகுதே என் மனம்
மோகத்திலே...ஏ...
The evening increases my pain
Increases it indeed
Love is playing its game
Showing its effect
மாலை என் வேதனை
கூட்டுதடி
காதல் தன் வேலையை
காட்டுதடி
Maalai en vedhanai
The evening increases my pain
Kootuthadi
Increases it indeed
Kaadhal than velaiyai
Love is playing its game
Kaatuthadi
Showing its effect
Ennai vaattum velai yenadi
Why this torture at this hour?
Nee solvaai kanmani
You tell me, my precious one
Mugam kaattu en pournami
Show your face, my full moon
En kaadhal veenai nee
You are my lute of love
Vedhanai sollidum
In the melody
Raagathilae
That speaks of agony
Veguthae en manam
My heart burns
Mogathilae…ae…
In desire and longing
Maalai en vedhanai
The evening increases my pain
Kootuthadi
Increases it indeed
Kaadhal than velaiyai
Love is playing its game
Kaatuthadi
Showing its effect
Kaadhalil thoatravar
Those who failed in love
Kadhai undu ingae aayiram
There are a thousand stories here
Mmm…mmm…mmm…
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Vendaatha pechukkal
Unnecessary talk
Yendaa ambii
Why, my brother?
Kaadhalum poiyum illai
Love is not a lie
Unmai kadhai mannil aayiram
There are a thousand true stories on this earth
Mmm…mmm…mmm…
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Un kaadhal suspence-u
Your love is full of suspense
Enna ambii
What is it, brother?
Kaadhal senjaa paavam
Is committing love a sin?
Andha aadhaam kaalathil
Since the time of Adam
Male :Edhukku veenaa sogam
Male: Why unnecessary sorrow
Kadhaiya mudidaa nerathil
When it is time to wrap up the story?
Poongili kaivarum
The sweet songbird will come to your hands
Naal varuma…aa
Will that day arrive?
Boomiyil sorgamum
A heaven on earth
Thondridumaa…aaa…
Will it appear?
Maalai en vedhanai
The evening increases my pain
Kootuthadi
Increases it indeed
Kaadhal than velaiyai
Love is playing its game
Kaatuthadi
Showing its effect
Kaatru vidum kelvikku
To the question asked by the wind
Malar sollum badhil ennavo
What is the flower's reply?
Mmm…mmm…mmm…
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Vaasangal pesaatha
Is fragrance an unspoken
Badhilaa thambi
Reply, brother?
Megam vidum kelvikku
To the question asked by the cloud
Vennilavin badhil ennavo
What is the moon's reply?
Mmm…mmm…mmm…
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Kadal aadum alai kooda
Even the wave dancing in the sea
Bathilthaan thambi
Is a reply, brother
Avalin mounam paarthu
Seeing her silence
Pathai pathaikkum en manam
My heart trembles in deep anxiety
Vendaatha ennam
Unwanted thoughts arise
Varum kaadhal thirumanam
Love marriage will come
Mogamul nenjilae
The thorn of desire in my heart
Paaigirathe
Pierces through
En manam aval madi
My heart leans
Saaigirathae
Upon her lap
Maalai en vedhanai
The evening increases my pain
Kootuthadi
Increases it indeed
Kaadhal than velaiyai
Love is playing its game
Kaatuthadi
Showing its effect
Ennai vaattum velai yenadi
Why this torture at this hour?
Nee solvaai kanmani
You tell me, my precious one
Mugam kaattu en pournami
Show your face, my full moon
En kaadhal veenai nee
You are my lute of love
Vedhanai sollidum
In the melody
Raagathilae
That speaks of agony
Veguthae en manam
My heart burns
Mogathilae…ae…
In desire and longing
Maalai en vedhanai
The evening increases my pain
Kootuthadi
Increases it indeed
Kaadhal than velaiyai
Love is playing its game
Kaatuthadi
Showing its effect
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Maalai En Vedhanai' from the film Sethu (1999) expresses the deep emotional turmoil and aching longing of a lover as twilight sets in. The evening twilight acts as a catalyst, intensifying his feelings of solitude, desire, and anxiety regarding his beloved's silence and the uncertain future of their love. Through evocative dialogue and musical exchanges, the protagonist and his friend discuss the nature of love, drawing comparisons to natural elements like the wind, flowers, clouds, and waves to decipher the unspoken responses of his lover.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Mugam kaattu en pournami / En kaadhal veenai nee”
Comparing the beloved to the full moon ('Pournami') and a musical lute ('Kaadhal veenai').
Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Kaadhal than velaiyai / Kaatuthadi”
Repetition of the 'K' sound in 'Kaadhal', 'Kaatru', 'Kelvikku', and 'Kaatuthadi'.
Personification
“Kaatru vidum kelvikku / Malar sollum badhil ennavo”
Attributing the ability to ask questions and give answers to nature elements like wind, flowers, and clouds.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Sethu' (1999), directed by Bala, was a landmark film in Tamil cinema that catapulted actor Vikram to stardom. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with poignant lyrics penned by Arivumathi.
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