Maalai Muthu Maalai
From Madhavi Vanthal · 1980
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Chandrabose
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Madhavi Vanthal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| …………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Maalai muththu maalai kondu | Carrying an evening garland of pearls |
| Maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum | Madhavi has returned once again |
| Female | |
| Kaalam | Era... |
| Male :Laal laa | Male: Laal laa |
| Female :Sanga kaalam | Female: The Sangam era |
| Male :Laal laa | Male: Laal laa |
| Female :Angu kaaviya poonguyil paaduthammaa | Female: There, the poetic cuckoo sings |
| Female | |
| Maalai muththu maalai….. | Evening garland of pearls... |
| Chorus | |
| ………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Naadaga maadhu | A woman of drama |
| Male :Laal laalaa | Male: Laal laalaa |
| Female :Kadhalin thoothu | Female: A messenger of love |
| Male :Laal laalaa | Male: Laal laalaa |
| Female :Naal padumpothu kaninthathammaa | Female: As days passed, love ripened |
| Female | |
| Aadaatha oonjal | A stationary swing |
| Male :Laal laalaa | Male: Laal laalaa |
| Female :Kovalan tholil | Female: On Kovalan's shoulders |
| Male :Laal laalaa | Male: Laal laalaa |
| Female :Anantha paarvai kalanthathammaa | Female: Blissful glances merged |
| Female | |
| Ezhunthaal malarnthaal | She rose, she bloomed |
| Siriththaal anaiththaal | She smiled, she embraced |
| Eduththaal koduththaal | She took, she gave |
| Than manamedaiyai | Her heart's stage |
| Female | |
| Maalai muththu maalai kondu | Carrying an evening garland of pearls |
| Maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum | Madhavi has returned once again |
| Female | |
| Maalai muththu maalai…… | Evening garland of pearls... |
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Deviyinaalae | Because of the goddess |
| Male :Laal laalaa | Male: Laal laalaa |
| Female :Kaaviyam maari | Female: The epic changes |
| Male :Laal laalaa | Male: Laal laalaa |
| Female :Silappathikaram thirumputhammaa | Female: Silappathikaram takes a new turn |
| Female | |
| Kovil vaazhum | Living in a temple |
| Male :Laal laalaa | Male: Laal laalaa |
| Female :Kulamagal nenjam | Female: The heart of a virtuous woman |
| Male :Laal laalaa | Male: Laal laalaa |
| Female :Vilaimagal endrae mayanguthammaa | Female: Confuses itself as a courtesan |
| Female | |
| Ivarae kanavu ivarae ninaivu | He alone is the dream, he alone is the memory |
| Indrae ulagam pon mayamaanthu | Today, the world has turned to gold |
| Female | |
| Maalai | Garland |
| Male :Laalaa | Male: Laalaa |
| Female :Muththu maalai | Female: Pearl garland |
| Male :Laalaa | Male: Laalaa |
| Female :Kondu maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum | Female: Madhavi has returned once again bringing it |
| Female | |
| Kaalam | Era... |
| Male :Laal laa | Male: Laal laa |
| Female :Sanga kaalam | Female: Sangam era |
| Male :Laal laa | Male: Laal laa |
| Female :Angu kaaviya poonguyil paaduthammaa | Female: There, the poetic cuckoo sings |
| Female | |
| Maalai muththu maalai….. | Evening garland of pearls... |
...........................
...
மாலை முத்து மாலை கொண்டு
மாதவி வந்தாள் மறுபடியும்
Carrying an evening garland of pearls
Madhavi has returned once again
காலம்
லால் லா
சங்க காலம்
லால் லா
அங்கு காவிய பூங்குயில் பாடுதம்மா
Era...
Male: Laal laa
Female: The Sangam era
Male: Laal laa
Female: There, the poetic cuckoo sings
மாலை முத்து மாலை....
Evening garland of pearls...
............................
...
நாடக மாது
லால் லாலா
காதலின் தூது
ஆண்
: லால் லாலா
நாள் படும்போது கனிந்ததம்மா
A woman of drama
Male: Laal laalaa
Female: A messenger of love
Male: Laal laalaa
Female: As days passed, love ripened
ஆடாத ஊஞ்சல்
லால் லாலா
கோவலன் தோளில்
லால் லாலா
ஆனந்த பார்வை கலந்ததம்மா
A stationary swing
Male: Laal laalaa
Female: On Kovalan's shoulders
Male: Laal laalaa
Female: Blissful glances merged
எழுந்தாள் மலர்ந்தாள்
சிரித்தாள் அணைத்தாள்
எடுத்தாள் கொடுத்தாள்
தன் மணமேடையை.......
She rose, she bloomed
She smiled, she embraced
She took, she gave
Her heart's stage
மாலை முத்து மாலை கொண்டு
மாதவி வந்தாள் மறுபடியும்
Carrying an evening garland of pearls
Madhavi has returned once again
மாலை முத்து மாலை.....
Evening garland of pearls...
............................
...
தேவியினாலே
லால் லாலா
காவியம் மாறி
லால் லாலா
சிலப்பதிகாரம் திரும்புதம்மா
Because of the goddess
Male: Laal laalaa
Female: The epic changes
Male: Laal laalaa
Female: Silappathikaram takes a new turn
கோவில் வாழும்
லால் லாலா
குலமகள் நெஞ்சம்
லால் லாலா
விலைமகள் என்றே மயங்குதம்மா
Living in a temple
Male: Laal laalaa
Female: The heart of a virtuous woman
Male: Laal laalaa
Female: Confuses itself as a courtesan
இவரே கனவு இவரே நினைவு
இன்றே உலகம் பொன் மயமானது
He alone is the dream, he alone is the memory
Today, the world has turned to gold
மாலை
லாலா
முத்து மாலை
லாலா
கொண்டு மாதவி வந்தாள் மறுபடியும்
Garland
Male: Laalaa
Female: Pearl garland
Male: Laalaa
Female: Madhavi has returned once again bringing it
காலம்
லால் லா
சங்க காலம்
லால் லா
அங்கு காவிய பூங்குயில் பாடுதம்மா
Era...
Male: Laal laa
Female: Sangam era
Male: Laal laa
Female: There, the poetic cuckoo sings
மாலை முத்து மாலை......
Evening garland of pearls...
………………….
...
Maalai muththu maalai kondu
Carrying an evening garland of pearls
Maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum
Madhavi has returned once again
Kaalam
Era...
Male :Laal laa
Male: Laal laa
Female :Sanga kaalam
Female: The Sangam era
Male :Laal laa
Male: Laal laa
Female :Angu kaaviya poonguyil paaduthammaa
Female: There, the poetic cuckoo sings
Maalai muththu maalai…..
Evening garland of pearls...
…………………
...
Naadaga maadhu
A woman of drama
Male :Laal laalaa
Male: Laal laalaa
Female :Kadhalin thoothu
Female: A messenger of love
Male :Laal laalaa
Male: Laal laalaa
Female :Naal padumpothu kaninthathammaa
Female: As days passed, love ripened
Aadaatha oonjal
A stationary swing
Male :Laal laalaa
Male: Laal laalaa
Female :Kovalan tholil
Female: On Kovalan's shoulders
Male :Laal laalaa
Male: Laal laalaa
Female :Anantha paarvai kalanthathammaa
Female: Blissful glances merged
Ezhunthaal malarnthaal
She rose, she bloomed
Siriththaal anaiththaal
She smiled, she embraced
Eduththaal koduththaal
She took, she gave
Than manamedaiyai
Her heart's stage
Maalai muththu maalai kondu
Carrying an evening garland of pearls
Maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum
Madhavi has returned once again
Maalai muththu maalai……
Evening garland of pearls...
……………….
...
Deviyinaalae
Because of the goddess
Male :Laal laalaa
Male: Laal laalaa
Female :Kaaviyam maari
Female: The epic changes
Male :Laal laalaa
Male: Laal laalaa
Female :Silappathikaram thirumputhammaa
Female: Silappathikaram takes a new turn
Kovil vaazhum
Living in a temple
Male :Laal laalaa
Male: Laal laalaa
Female :Kulamagal nenjam
Female: The heart of a virtuous woman
Male :Laal laalaa
Male: Laal laalaa
Female :Vilaimagal endrae mayanguthammaa
Female: Confuses itself as a courtesan
Ivarae kanavu ivarae ninaivu
He alone is the dream, he alone is the memory
Indrae ulagam pon mayamaanthu
Today, the world has turned to gold
Maalai
Garland
Male :Laalaa
Male: Laalaa
Female :Muththu maalai
Female: Pearl garland
Male :Laalaa
Male: Laalaa
Female :Kondu maadhavi vanthaal marupadiyum
Female: Madhavi has returned once again bringing it
Kaalam
Era...
Male :Laal laa
Male: Laal laa
Female :Sanga kaalam
Female: Sangam era
Male :Laal laa
Male: Laal laa
Female :Angu kaaviya poonguyil paaduthammaa
Female: There, the poetic cuckoo sings
Maalai muththu maalai…..
Evening garland of pearls...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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