Maalai Muthal Kaalai
From Unnai Thedi Varuven · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Unnai Thedi Varuven1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maalai Mudhal kaalai | From evening until morning, |
| Manmathanin leelai | It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan). |
| Maalai Mudhal kaalai | From evening until morning, |
| Manmathanin leelai | It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan). |
| Maedai mael naan aada | As I dance upon the stage, |
| Mayakkam varum vaelai | It is a time when an intoxicating trance arrives. |
| Veru enna velai…… | What other work is there... |
| Female | |
| Maalai Mudhal kaalai | From evening until morning, |
| Manmathanin leelai…… | It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)... |
| Female | |
| Vaalibam vanthaalae | Once youth arrives, |
| Vaasalgal moodaathu | The doors will not stay closed. |
| Malligaiyil paai podum | Making a bed out of jasmine flowers, |
| Maaligai veraethu | What other palace is needed? |
| Female | |
| Vilakkettrinaal naan tharum | When the lamp is lit, the treats I offer |
| Virunthugal yaeraalam | Are endless and abundant. |
| Maraikkaamalae yaaaiyum | Without hiding anything, |
| Koduppathil thaaraalam | Generous in giving everything. |
| Sugangalum suvaigalum naanthaan | I am the pleasures and the flavors, |
| Vazhangavum mayangavum naal yaedhu…. | Which specific day is needed to offer and be enchanted? |
| Female | |
| Maalai Mudhal kaalai | From evening until morning, |
| Manmathanin leelai…… | It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)... |
| Female | |
| Aadaigal melaaga | Over the garments, |
| Moodidum maanthottam | A mango orchard that veils and covers. |
| Kallanaigal theendaatha | Untouched by any dams or barriers, |
| Kaaviri neerottam | The free flow of the Cauvery river. |
| Female | |
| Kadai kangalin jaadaiyil | In the subtle glance of the corner of the eyes, |
| Kavi kuyil paadaatho | Will the poetic cuckoo bird not sing? |
| Thalaikerum podhaiyil | In the intoxication that rushes to the head, |
| Thalirkodi aadaatho | Will the tender creeper vine not dance? |
| Arinthavan purinthavan yaaro | Whoever understands and knows this, |
| Valaikkaram valaiththada vaaratho… | Will they not come to embrace with bangled hands? |
| Female | |
| Maalai Mudhal kaalai | From evening until morning, |
| Manmathanin leelai | It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan). |
| Maedai mael naan aada | As I dance upon the stage, |
| Mayakkam varum vaelai | It is a time when an intoxicating trance arrives. |
| Veru enna velai…… | What other work is there... |
| Female | |
| Maalai Mudhal kaalai | From evening until morning, |
| Manmathanin leelai…… | It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)... |
மாலை முதல் காலை
மன்மதனின் லீலை
மாலை முதல் காலை
மன்மதனின் லீலை
மேடை மேல் நான் ஆட
மயக்கம் வரும் வேளை
வேறு என்ன வேலை......
From evening until morning,
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan).
From evening until morning,
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan).
As I dance upon the stage,
It is a time when an intoxicating trance arrives.
What other work is there...
மாலை முதல் காலை
மன்மதனின் லீலை.....
From evening until morning,
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)...
வாலிபம் வந்தாலே
வாசல்கள் மூடாது
மல்லிகையில் பாய் போடும்
மாளிகை வேறேது
Once youth arrives,
The doors will not stay closed.
Making a bed out of jasmine flowers,
What other palace is needed?
விளக்கேற்றினால் நான் தரும்
விருந்துகள் ஏராளம்
மறைக்காமலே யாவையும்
கொடுப்பதில் தாராளம்
சுகங்களும் சுவைகளும் நான்தான்
வழங்கவும் மயங்கவும் நாள் ஏது.....
When the lamp is lit, the treats I offer
Are endless and abundant.
Without hiding anything,
Generous in giving everything.
I am the pleasures and the flavors,
Which specific day is needed to offer and be enchanted?
மாலை முதல் காலை
மன்மதனின் லீலை.....
From evening until morning,
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)...
ஆடைகள் மேலாக
மூடிடும் மாந்தோட்டம்
கல்லணைகள் தீண்டாத
காவிரி நீரோட்டம்
Over the garments,
A mango orchard that veils and covers.
Untouched by any dams or barriers,
The free flow of the Cauvery river.
கடைக் கண்களின் ஜாடையில்
கவிக் குயில் பாடாதோ
தலைக்கேறும் போதையில்
தளிர்க் கொடி ஆடாதோ
அறிந்தவன் புரிந்தவன் யாரோ
வளைக் கரம் வளைத்திட வாராதோ....
In the subtle glance of the corner of the eyes,
Will the poetic cuckoo bird not sing?
In the intoxication that rushes to the head,
Will the tender creeper vine not dance?
Whoever understands and knows this,
Will they not come to embrace with bangled hands?
மாலை முதல் காலை
மன்மதனின் லீலை.....
மேடை மேல் நான் ஆட
மயக்கம் வரும் வேளை
வேறு என்ன வேலை......
From evening until morning,
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan).
As I dance upon the stage,
It is a time when an intoxicating trance arrives.
What other work is there...
மாலை முதல் காலை
மன்மதனின் லீலை.....
From evening until morning,
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)...
Maalai Mudhal kaalai
From evening until morning,
Manmathanin leelai
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan).
Maalai Mudhal kaalai
From evening until morning,
Manmathanin leelai
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan).
Maedai mael naan aada
As I dance upon the stage,
Mayakkam varum vaelai
It is a time when an intoxicating trance arrives.
Veru enna velai……
What other work is there...
Maalai Mudhal kaalai
From evening until morning,
Manmathanin leelai……
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)...
Vaalibam vanthaalae
Once youth arrives,
Vaasalgal moodaathu
The doors will not stay closed.
Malligaiyil paai podum
Making a bed out of jasmine flowers,
Maaligai veraethu
What other palace is needed?
Vilakkettrinaal naan tharum
When the lamp is lit, the treats I offer
Virunthugal yaeraalam
Are endless and abundant.
Maraikkaamalae yaaaiyum
Without hiding anything,
Koduppathil thaaraalam
Generous in giving everything.
Sugangalum suvaigalum naanthaan
I am the pleasures and the flavors,
Vazhangavum mayangavum naal yaedhu….
Which specific day is needed to offer and be enchanted?
Maalai Mudhal kaalai
From evening until morning,
Manmathanin leelai……
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)...
Aadaigal melaaga
Over the garments,
Moodidum maanthottam
A mango orchard that veils and covers.
Kallanaigal theendaatha
Untouched by any dams or barriers,
Kaaviri neerottam
The free flow of the Cauvery river.
Kadai kangalin jaadaiyil
In the subtle glance of the corner of the eyes,
Kavi kuyil paadaatho
Will the poetic cuckoo bird not sing?
Thalaikerum podhaiyil
In the intoxication that rushes to the head,
Thalirkodi aadaatho
Will the tender creeper vine not dance?
Arinthavan purinthavan yaaro
Whoever understands and knows this,
Valaikkaram valaiththada vaaratho…
Will they not come to embrace with bangled hands?
Maalai Mudhal kaalai
From evening until morning,
Manmathanin leelai
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan).
Maedai mael naan aada
As I dance upon the stage,
Mayakkam varum vaelai
It is a time when an intoxicating trance arrives.
Veru enna velai……
What other work is there...
Maalai Mudhal kaalai
From evening until morning,
Manmathanin leelai……
It is the play of Cupid (Manmathan)...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Maalai Mudhal Kaalai is a sensuous, nocturnal dance song from the 1985 Tamil movie Unnai Thedi Varuven, penned by lyricist Vaali. The lyrics describe the spell of youth and passion cast from evening until morning under the influence of Manmathan (the god of love). As the dancer takes the stage, she depicts how desire breaks barriers and transforms simple jasmine blooms into a luxurious palace of love. Through vivid sensual metaphors—such as an uncontained river and a delicate swaying creeper—the protagonist celebrates intimacy, generosity in affection, and the alluring trance of romance. She calls out to a discerning partner who understands love to embrace her in this nighttime celebration.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration) & Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Maalai Mudhal kaalai / Manmathanin leelai Pattern in lines 1-2 and 3-4, using initial 'Ma' sound alliteration ('Maalai', 'Mudhal', 'Manmathanin') alongside the end rhyme of 'kaalai' and 'leelai'.”
Uruvagaim (Metaphor)
“Kallanaigal theendaatha Kaaviri neerottam”
Uruvagaim (Metaphor)
“Thalirkodi aadaatho”
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)
“Kavi kuyil paadaatho”
Did you know?
Trivia
The soundtrack for Unnai Thedi Varuven (1985) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring lyrics by Vaali. Vaali was renowned for writing playful, seductive, yet poetic stage and cabaret dance numbers that seamlessly balanced Tamil classical imagery with modern rhythm.
Keep listening
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