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Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Mayangukindra Neram

From Maragatham · 1959

Lyricist
Shuddhananda Bharati
Singer
Radha Jayalakshmi
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Maragatham1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maalai mayangugindra neramIt is the time of enchanting dusk,
Pachai malai valarum aruviyoramBy the side of the waterfall on the green mountain,
Maalai mayangugindra neramIt is the time of enchanting dusk,
Pachai malai valarum aruviyoramBy the side of the waterfall on the green mountain,
Female
Kaalai kamala malar polae mugamalaraiWith a blossoming face like the morning lotus flower,
Kanden kadhal kondenI saw him, and I fell in love,
Kaalai kamala malar polae mugamalaraiWith a blossoming face like the morning lotus flower,
Kanden kadhal kondenI saw him, and I fell in love.
Female
Nenjam thudithudikka nindrenI stood with my heart thumping rapidly,
Iru neela karuvizhiyal vensdranHe conquered me with his two dark blue eyes,
Konjum kuyiludanae kenjum ennaiAs I pleaded alongside the cooing cuckoo bird,
Anaitha kumara avan amaranThat immortal young prince embraced me.
Female
Maalai mayangugindra neramIt is the time of enchanting dusk,
Pachai malai valarum aruviyoramBy the side of the waterfall on the green mountain,
Female
Etti parandhu sellum vin polLike the sky reaching out high,
Engo yegi parandhu vandhaan mun polHe flew in from somewhere and arrived before me as before,
Etti parandhu sellum vin polLike the sky reaching out high,
Engo yegi parandhu vandhaan mun polHe flew in from somewhere and arrived before me as before.
Female
Katti pidithini nan vittu pirivadhillai"Holding you tight, I will never part from you again,"
Katti pidithini nan vittu pirivadhillai"Holding you tight, I will never part from you again,"
Kannae endran kannan"My beloved," said my Lord Kannan,
Female
Katti pidithini nan vittu pirivadhillai"Holding you tight, I will never part from you again,"
Kannae endran kannan"My beloved," said my Lord Kannan.
Female
Udalum uyirum ena vaazhvomWe shall live together like body and soul,
Intha ulagam sezhikka nalam soozhvomWe shall foster goodness so that this world flourishes,
Udalum uyirum ena vaazhvomWe shall live together like body and soul,
Intha ulagam sezhikka nalam soozhvomWe shall foster goodness so that this world flourishes.
Female
Kadalum kadhirum ena kalithu magizhumRejoicing like the vast ocean and the sun rays,
Engal karuthil inabam nilavumEverlasting joy will prevail in our hearts,
Kadalum kadhirum ena kalithu magizhumRejoicing like the vast ocean and the sun rays,
Engal karuthil inabam nilavumEverlasting joy will prevail in our hearts.
Female
Maalai mayangugindra neramIt is the time of enchanting dusk,
Pachai malai valarum aruviyoramBy the side of the waterfall on the green mountain,
Female
Kaalai kamala malar polae mugamalaraiWith a blossoming face like the morning lotus flower,
Kanden kadhal kondenI saw him, and I fell in love.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song expresses the overwhelming joy and romantic nostalgia of a young woman meeting her beloved near a scenic mountain waterfall during sunset. She describes how his enchanting lotus-like face and blue eyes captured her heart, leading to a passionate union. The beloved assures her of eternal companionship, promising never to separate. Their deep bond is portrayed as an inseparable union of body and soul, aiming to spread happiness and bring harmony to the world around them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kaalai kamala malar polae mugamalarai

Compares the beloved's blossoming face to a lotus blooming in the morning sun.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kanden kadhal konden

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Ka' across 'Kanden' and 'Kadhal'.

Metaphor / Traditional Analogy

Udalum uyirum ena vaazhvom

Compares their eternal union to the inseparable connection between the physical body and the living soul.

Simile (Upamai)

Kadalum kadhirum ena kalithu magizhum

Compares their shared joy to the grand elements of nature—the ocean and sunlight.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were penned by the renowned philosopher, freedom fighter, and poet Kaviyogi Maharishi Shuddhananda Bharati. The music for Maragatham (1959) was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, and this song remains one of the most fondly remembered duets of the era.

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