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Madhavi Vanthal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Muthu Maalai

From Madhavi Vanthal · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, Chandrabose
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Madhavi Vanthal
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
30 Apr 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………….
Maalai muththu maalai kondu
Maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum
Kaalam
Male :Laal laa
Female :Sanga kaalam
Male :Laal laa
Female :Angu kaaviya poonguyil paaduthammaa
Maalai muththu maalai…..
…………………
Naadaga maadhu
Male :Laal laalaa
Female :Kadhalin thoothu
Male :Laal laalaa
Female :Naal padumpothu kaninthathammaa
Aadaatha oonjal
Male :Laal laalaa
Female :Kovalan tholil
Male :Laal laalaa
Female :Anantha paarvai kalanthathammaa
Ezhunthaal malarnthaal
Siriththaal anaiththaal
Eduththaal koduththaal
Than manamedaiyai
Maalai muththu maalai kondu
Maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum
Maalai muththu maalai……
……………….
Deviyinaalae
Male :Laal laalaa
Female :Kaaviyam maari
Male :Laal laalaa
Female :Silappathikaram thirumputhammaa
Kovil vaazhum
Male :Laal laalaa
Female :Kulamagal nenjam
Male :Laal laalaa
Female :Vilaimagal endrae mayanguthammaa
Ivarae kanavu ivarae ninaivu
Indrae ulagam pon mayamaanthu
Maalai
Male :Laalaa
Female :Muththu maalai
Male :Laalaa
Female :Kondu maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum
Kaalam
Male :Laal laa
Female :Sanga kaalam
Male :Laal laa
Female :Angu kaaviya poonguyil paaduthammaa
Maalai muththu maalai…..
...
Bringing a garland of pearls,
Madhavi has come once again.
The era...
Male: Lal la
Female: The Sangam era (ancient Tamil classical age),
Male: Lal la
Female: Where the poetic cuckoo sings!
Garland, a garland of pearls...
...
The maiden of dance,
Male: Lal la la
Female: A messenger of love,
Male: Lal la la
Female: Has ripened with the passing days!
A motionless swing,
Male: Lal la la
Female: Upon Kovalan's shoulders,
Male: Lal la la
Female: Met with joyful glances!
She rose, she blossomed,
She smiled, she embraced,
She offered and gave away,
The stage of her heart!
Bringing a garland of pearls,
Madhavi has come once again.
Garland, a garland of pearls...
...
Because of the goddess,
Male: Lal la la
Female: The epic takes a turn,
Male: Lal la la
Female: The tale of Silappathikaram returns!
Dwelling pure as a temple,
Male: Lal la la
Female: The noble woman's heart,
Male: Lal la la
Female: Swoons in love like a courtesan!
He is my dream, he is my waking thought,
Today, the world has turned to gold!
Garland...
Male: La la
Female: A garland of pearls...
Male: La la
Female: Carrying it, Madhavi has come once again!
The era...
Male: Lal la
Female: The Sangam era,
Male: Lal la
Female: Where the poetic cuckoo sings!
Garland, a garland of pearls...
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Maalai Muththu Maalai' draws rich literary allegories to the Tamil epic Silappathikaram and the classical Sangam era. Kannadasan poetically frames the heroine's rebirth of love as Madhavi returning with a pearl garland to reunite with Kovalan. The song captures the themes of destiny, devotion, and the blurring lines between virtuous duty and romantic passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Aalumaai)

“Silappathikaram thirumputhammaa”

Direct literary references to the ancient Tamil epic 'Silappathikaram' and classical figures Kovalan, Madhavi, and the Sangam era.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Parallellism)

“Ezhunthaal malarnthaal / Siriththaal anaiththaal”

Rhythmic repetition of verb endings '-aal' across sequential short phrases to create musical movement.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Angu kaaviya poonguyil paaduthammaa”

Comparing the melodious singer or heroine to a sweet-voiced cuckoo bird of poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features music composed by Chandrabose, who also sang the male humming portions alongside legendary playback singer P. Susheela. The lyrics by Kannadasan playfully re-imagine Silappathikaram's classic conflict between virtuous homemaker and courtesan in a modern cinematic context.

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