Maalai Nera Kaatre
From Agal Vilakku · 1979
- Lyricist
- Muthulingam
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Agal Vilakku1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maalai nerakkaattrae | Oh evening breeze, |
| Mounam raagam yeno | Why this silent melody? |
| Un kaadhal tholvi dhaano | Is it because your love failed? |
| Un aasai yaagam veeno | Was your ritual of desire in vain? |
| Maalai nerakkaattrae | Oh evening breeze, |
| Mounam raagam yeno | Why this silent melody? |
| Female | |
| Isai paadum neram | When music is sung, |
| Thaalam maarum kaalam | This is a time when the beat changes. |
| Isai paadum neram | When music is sung, |
| Thaalam maarum kaalam | This is a time when the beat changes. |
| Thuyar enum kadalinil | In this ocean of sorrow, |
| Idhayam neendhum neram | It is the time when the heart swims. |
| Manam enum malarilae | In this flower-like mind, |
| Mullum kaayum kaalam | It is a time when even thorns get scorched. |
| Female | |
| Maalai nerakkaattrae | Oh evening breeze, |
| Mounam raagam yeno | Why this silent melody? |
| Un kaadhal tholvi dhaano | Is it because your love failed? |
| Un aasai yaagam veeno | Was your ritual of desire in vain? |
| Maalai nerakkaattrae | Oh evening breeze, |
| Female | |
| Penmaan seedhai polae | Like Sita, who was gentle as a doe, |
| Paavai naanae aanen | I too have become a helpless figure. |
| Penmaan seedhai polae | Like Sita, who was gentle as a doe, |
| Paavai naanae aanen | I too have become a helpless figure. |
| Neruppilae kulirkkavae | To bathe in fire, |
| Ramam sonnaan andru | Rama commanded back then. |
| Kadhaiyilae nadandhadhu | What occurred in mythological lore, |
| Endhan vaazhvil undu | Has now manifest in my own life. |
| Female | |
| Maalai nerakkaattrae | Oh evening breeze, |
| Mounam raagam yeno | Why this silent melody? |
| Un kaadhal tholvi dhaano | Is it because your love failed? |
| Un aasai yaagam veeno | Was your ritual of desire in vain? |
| Maalai nerakkaattrae | Oh evening breeze, |
| Mounam raagam yeno | Why this silent melody? |
மாலை நேரக் காற்றே
மெளனம் ராகம் ஏனோ....
உன் காதல் தோல்வி தானோ
உன் ஆசை யாவும் வீணோ
Oh evening breeze,
Why this silent melody?
Is it because your love failed?
Was your ritual of desire in vain?
Oh evening breeze,
Why this silent melody?
மாலை நேரக் காற்றே
மெளனம் ராகம் ஏனோ......
When music is sung,
This is a time when the beat changes.
When music is sung,
This is a time when the beat changes.
In this ocean of sorrow,
It is the time when the heart swims.
In this flower-like mind,
It is a time when even thorns get scorched.
இசை பாடும் நேரம்
தாளம் மாறும் காலம்
இசை பாடும் நேரம்
தாளம் மாறும் காலம்
Oh evening breeze,
Why this silent melody?
Is it because your love failed?
Was your ritual of desire in vain?
Oh evening breeze,
துயரெனும் கடலினில்
இதயம் நீந்தும் நேரம்
மனம் என்னும் மலரிலே
முள்ளும் காயும் காலம்
Like Sita, who was gentle as a doe,
I too have become a helpless figure.
Like Sita, who was gentle as a doe,
I too have become a helpless figure.
To bathe in fire,
Rama commanded back then.
What occurred in mythological lore,
Has now manifest in my own life.
மாலை நேரக் காற்றே
மெளனம் ராகம் ஏனோ......
உன் காதல் தோல்வி தானோ
உன் ஆசை யாகம் வீணோ
Oh evening breeze,
Why this silent melody?
Is it because your love failed?
Was your ritual of desire in vain?
Oh evening breeze,
Why this silent melody?
மாலை நேரக் காற்றே
பெண் மான் சீதை போலே
பாவை நானே ஆனேன்
பெண் மான் சீதை போலே
பாவை நானே ஆனேன்
நெருப்பிலே குளிக்கவே
ராமன் சொன்னான் அன்று
கதையிலே நடந்தது
எந்தன் வாழ்வில் உண்டு
மாலை நேரக் காற்றே
மெளனம் ராகம் ஏனோ......
உன் காதல் தோல்வி தானோ
உன் ஆசை யாகம் வீணோ
மாலை நேரக் காற்றே
மெளனம் ராகம் ஏனோ......
Maalai nerakkaattrae
Oh evening breeze,
Mounam raagam yeno
Why this silent melody?
Un kaadhal tholvi dhaano
Is it because your love failed?
Un aasai yaagam veeno
Was your ritual of desire in vain?
Maalai nerakkaattrae
Oh evening breeze,
Mounam raagam yeno
Why this silent melody?
Isai paadum neram
When music is sung,
Thaalam maarum kaalam
This is a time when the beat changes.
Isai paadum neram
When music is sung,
Thaalam maarum kaalam
This is a time when the beat changes.
Thuyar enum kadalinil
In this ocean of sorrow,
Idhayam neendhum neram
It is the time when the heart swims.
Manam enum malarilae
In this flower-like mind,
Mullum kaayum kaalam
It is a time when even thorns get scorched.
Maalai nerakkaattrae
Oh evening breeze,
Mounam raagam yeno
Why this silent melody?
Un kaadhal tholvi dhaano
Is it because your love failed?
Un aasai yaagam veeno
Was your ritual of desire in vain?
Maalai nerakkaattrae
Oh evening breeze,
Penmaan seedhai polae
Like Sita, who was gentle as a doe,
Paavai naanae aanen
I too have become a helpless figure.
Penmaan seedhai polae
Like Sita, who was gentle as a doe,
Paavai naanae aanen
I too have become a helpless figure.
Neruppilae kulirkkavae
To bathe in fire,
Ramam sonnaan andru
Rama commanded back then.
Kadhaiyilae nadandhadhu
What occurred in mythological lore,
Endhan vaazhvil undu
Has now manifest in my own life.
Maalai nerakkaattrae
Oh evening breeze,
Mounam raagam yeno
Why this silent melody?
Un kaadhal tholvi dhaano
Is it because your love failed?
Un aasai yaagam veeno
Was your ritual of desire in vain?
Maalai nerakkaattrae
Oh evening breeze,
Mounam raagam yeno
Why this silent melody?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Maalai Nera Kaattrae from Agal Vilakku (1979) is a poignant song where the female protagonist addresses the evening breeze, projecting her personal grief and heartbreak onto nature. She questions whether the breeze is silent because its own hopes and love have failed, drawing a metaphor between life's shifting rhythms and swimming through an endless ocean of despair. In the later verses, she compares her tragic plight to that of Sita from the Ramayana who was subjected to the trial by fire. She laments that the sorrows described in ancient tales have become her own reality, conveying profound melancholy and feelings of betrayal.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Maalai nerakkaattrae / Mounam raagam yeno”
The evening breeze is addressed as a sentient being capable of feeling heartbreak and singing a silent melody.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thuyar enum kadalinil”
Sorrow is metaphorically framed as a vast ocean ('Thuyar enum kadal') through which the heart must swim.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Manam enum malarilae”
The mind is described as a tender flower ('Manam enum malar').
Simile (Uvamai)
“Penmaan seedhai polae”
The speaker compares herself to Sita, who was as gentle and innocent as a doe.
Mythological Allusion
“Neruppilae kulirkkavae / Ramam sonnaan andru”
Refers to the epic Ramayana where Rama instructed Sita to undergo the fire trial (Agnipravesham).
Did you know?
Trivia
Agal Vilakku (1979) stars Vijayakanth and Shoba in lead roles. The film's musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring soulful renditions including vocal performances by S. Janaki.
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