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Rowthiram album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Mangum Neram

From Rowthiram · 2011

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singer
Ranina Reddy
Music director
Prakash Nikki
Movie name
Rowthiram
Movie release year
2011
Lyrics added on
16 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maalai mangum neram
Oru mogam kannin oram
Unnai paarthu kondae nindraalum
Podhum endru thondrum
Kaalai vandhaal enna
Veyil etti paarthaal enna
Gadikaaram kaattum neram
Adhai namba matten naanum
Poongaattrum porvai ketkum neram neram
Theeyaai maarum dhegam dhegam
Un kaigal ennai thottu kolam podum
Vaazhvin ellai thedum thedum
Maalai mangum neram
Oru mogam kannin oram
Unnai paarthu kondae nindraalum
Podhum endru thondrum
Oru veetil naam irunthu
Orr ilaiyil nam virunthu
Iru thookkam oru kanavil
Moozhgi vaazhkai thodangum
Naan samaiyal seidhiduven
Nee vandhu anaithiduvaai
En pasiyum un pasiyum sernthae
Ondraai adangum
Naan kettu aasai patta paadal nooru
Neeyum naanum sernthae ketpom
Thaalaattai kannil sonna aanum nee thaan
Kaalam neram thaandi vaazhvom
Maalai mangum neram
Oru mogam kannin oram
Unnai paarthu kondae nindraalum
Podhum endru thondrum
Kaalai vandhaal enna
Veyil etti paarthaal enna
Gadikaaram kaattum neram
Adhai namba matten naanum
Paal sindhum pournamiyil
Naam nanaivom pani iravil
Nam moochu kaaichalil
Indha paniyum nadungum
Veedengum un porutkal
Asainthaadum un udaigal
Thaniyaaga naan illai
Endrae solli sinungum
Theendaamal theendi pogum
Vaadai kaatrae
Thookkam theernthu naatkal aachu
Un vaasam ennil pattum
Vaadi ponen
Vaasal thoonaai naanum aanen
Maalai mangum neram
Oru mogam kannin oram
Unnai paarthu kondae nindraalum
Podhum endru thondrum
Kaalai vandhaal enna
Veyil etti paarthaal enna
Gadikaaram kaattum neram
Adhai namba matten naanum
In this fading evening light,
Desire awakens in the corner of my eye.
Even if I just keep gazing at you,
It feels like more than enough.
What if morning arrives?
What if the sunlight peeks in?
The time shown by the clock,
I won't believe it anyway.
It is a time when even the breeze asks for a blanket,
As the body turns into fire.
Your hands touch me and trace patterns,
Searching for the very edge of life.
In this fading evening light,
Desire awakens in the corner of my eye.
Even if I just keep gazing at you,
It feels like more than enough.
With both of us living in one home,
Sharing our feast on a single leaf,
Two slumbers diving into a single dream,
Our life together will begin.
I will do the cooking,
You will come and wrap your arms around me,
And both our hungers, joining together,
Will be satisfied as one.
The hundred songs I have longed to hear,
You and I will listen to them together.
You are the man who sang a lullaby with your eyes,
We will live beyond the bounds of time.
In this fading evening light,
Desire awakens in the corner of my eye.
Even if I just keep gazing at you,
It feels like more than enough.
What if morning arrives?
What if the sunlight peeks in?
The time shown by the clock,
I won't believe it anyway.
Under the full moon spilling its milky light,
We will be drenched in the chilly night.
In the feverish warmth of our breath,
Even this cold mist will shiver.
Your belongings all over the house,
And your clothes swaying gently,
Saying, "You are not alone,"
Tease and whisper softly.
Touching me without truly touching,
Oh, cold winter wind!
It has been days since sleep left me.
Even with your fragrance touching me,
I have withered away,
Standing frozen like a pillar at the doorway.
In this fading evening light,
Desire awakens in the corner of my eye.
Even if I just keep gazing at you,
It feels like more than enough.
What if morning arrives?
What if the sunlight peeks in?
The time shown by the clock,
I won't believe it anyway.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maalai Mangum Neram is a soulful romantic track expressing deep intimacy, yearning, and domestic bliss between two lovers. The protagonist speaks of timeless love where hours and clocks lose significance in the warmth of companionship. She envisions a simple, beautiful life together—sharing a home, dining on a single leaf, cooking, embracing, and experiencing shared dreams.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uvamaani)

Veedengum un porutkal / Asainthaadum un udaigal / Thaniyaaga naan illai / Endrae solli sinungum

In 'Veedengum un porutkal... Thaniyaaga naan illai Endrae solli sinungum', the protagonist's belongings and clothes are personified as comforting entities that whisper to her that she is never alone.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Nam moochu kaaichalil / Indha paniyum nadungum

In 'Nam moochu kaaichalil indha paniyum nadungum', the warmth of their passionate breath is poetically exaggerated as being hot enough to make the winter frost shiver.

Etugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Oru veetil naam irunthu / Orr ilaiyil nam virunthu

The second letters 'ru' in 'Oru' and 'Orr' create a rhythmic Tamil poetic symmetry.

Oxymoron / Contrast

Theendaamal theendi pogum

The line 'Theendaamal theendi pogum' uses contradictory terms (touching without touching) to depict the subtle, delicate feel of the wind.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Prakash Kumar (G. V. Prakash Kumar) with lyrics penned by celebrated lyricist Thamarai, 'Maalai Mangum Neram' from the movie Rowthiram (2011) was rendered by singer Ranina Reddy and became an instant chartbuster for its soothing melody and expressive lyrical imagery.

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