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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Nera Thendral

From Neerum Neruppum · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Neerum Neruppum1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Aa… aa….aa….aa….Aa… aa….aa….aa….
Aa….aa….aaa….aa….aa…Aa….aa….aaa….aa….aa…
Female
Maalai naera thendralWhat is the evening breeze
Enna paadudhosinging about?
En mannan engae engaeIs it searching for
Endru thaedudhowhere my king is?
Female
Maalai naera thendralWhat is the evening breeze
Enna paadudhosinging about?
En mannan engae engaeIs it searching for
Endru thaedudhowhere my king is?
Male
Manjal vanna veiyilWhere did the golden-hued evening sunlight
Engu ponadhodisappear to?
En mangai maeniLooking at my maiden's body,
Thangam endru naanudhodid it feel shy thinking it is pure gold?
Male
Manjal vanna veiyilWhere did the golden-hued evening sunlight
Engu ponadhodisappear to?
En mangai maeniLooking at my maiden's body,
Thangam endru naanudhodid it feel shy thinking it is pure gold?
Female
Poovirundha solai endru ennudhoDoes it view her like a garden filled with flowers?
Male
Indha poovai pola menmai illai endrdhoDid it say there is no softness like this flower?
Female
Maalai naera thendralWhat is the evening breeze
Enna paadudhosinging about?
En mannan engae engaeIs it searching for
Endru thaedudhowhere my king is?
Chorus
Oo….oo…oo…oo…oo…oo..ooOo….oo…oo…oo…oo…oo..oo
Male
Thanga nira kalasam eduthuCarrying a golden vessel,
Nadakkum thaerodualong with the walking chariot,
Female
Pakkam vandhu medhuvaaicome close gently
Padhamaai idhamaai uravaaduand intimately unite with comfort and tenderness.
Male
Thanga nira kalasam eduthuCarrying a golden vessel,
Nadakkum thaerodualong with the walking chariot,
Female
Pakkam vandhu medhuvaaicome close gently
Padhamaai idhamaai uravaaduand intimately unite with comfort and tenderness.
Male
AnaithaalumEven if embraced,
Female
Adangaadhowill it not be subdued?
Male
Adhu poga pogaAs time passes on,
Innum konjam vilangaadhowill it not become clearer?
Female
AnaithaalumEven if embraced,
Male
Adangaadhowill it not be subdued?
Female
Adhu poga pogaAs time passes on,
Innum konjam vilangaadhowill it not become clearer?
Male : Vilangaadho…Won't it become clear...
Male
Maalai naera thendralWhat is the evening breeze
Enna paadudhosinging about?
Female
En mannan engae engaeIs it searching for
Endru thaedudhowhere my king is?
Male
Kanmani en manamOh darling, my heart
Un vaasam vandhadhuhas caught your fragrance.
Un mandhira punnagaiyoIs it your spellbinding smile?
Un mandhira punnagaiyoIs it your spellbinding smile?
Female
Kanni en ponmugamMy maiden, my golden face
Unnidam kandadhufound itself in you.
Nee muthaadum vithaigaloAre these the playful arts of your kissing?
Male
Kai vannam ennendru sollavoHow shall I describe the magic of your hands?
Female
Kattum naerathilWhen holding close,
Pooppandhaai thullavoshall I bounce like a flower ball?
Male
Kai vannam ennendru sollavoHow shall I describe the magic of your hands?
Female
Kattum naerathilWhen holding close,
Pooppandhaai thullavoshall I bounce like a flower ball?
Male
Mella naan allavo sellamaai killavoShall I softly lift you and lovingly pinch you?
AahahaaAahahaa
Female
AahahaaAahahaa
Male
AahahaaAahahaa
Female
AahahaaAahahaa
Male
Aa… aa…Aa… aa…
Female
Maalai naera thendralWhat is the evening breeze
Enna paadudhosinging about?
En mannan engae engaeIs it searching for
Endru thaedudhowhere my king is?
Male
Manjal vanna veiyilWhere did the golden-hued evening sunlight
Engu ponadhodisappear to?
En mangai maeniLooking at my maiden's body,
Thangam endru naanudhodid it feel shy thinking it is pure gold?
Female
Poovirundha solai endru ennudhoDoes it view her like a garden filled with flowers?
Male
Indha poovai pola menmai illai endradho ho ooDid it say there is no softness like this flower?
Female
Maalai naera thendralWhat is the evening breeze
Enna paadudhosinging about?
En mannan engae engaeIs it searching for
Endru thaedudhowhere my king is?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Maalai Naera Thendral is a romantic duets from the 1971 Tamil movie Neerum Neruppum. The song depicts two lovers expressing their affection and longing for one another through nature-inspired imagery. The heroine compares the evening breeze to a messenger seeking her beloved king, while the hero marvels at her beauty, comparing her golden complexion and delicate nature to sunlight, gold, and flowers. Through playful banter, gentle touches, and poetic admiration, the song encapsulates the sweet intimacy and emotional connection shared between lovers in a serene evening setting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagarnam)

Manjal vanna veiyil... En mangai maeni Thangam endru naanudho

The evening breeze (thendral) and yellow sunlight (veiyil) are given human emotions such as singing, searching, and feeling shy (naanudho).

Simile (Uvamai)

Indha poovai pola menmai illai endrdho

The lady's softness and delicate nature are explicitly compared to a flower using 'pola' (like).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thanga nira kalasam eduthu Nadakkum thaerodu

The heroine's body is metaphorically described as a walking chariot (nadakkum thaer) carrying a golden vessel.

Emona / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Mella naan allavo sellamaai killavo

Repetition of sound patterns and internal rhyming across adjacent lines like 'padhamaai idhamaai' and 'allavo killavo'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Neerum Neruppum (1971) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) in a dual role alongside Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics were written by Vaali. This track was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, making it one of the classic romantic hit duets of the MGR-Jayalalithaa duo.

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