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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Nerathile

From Kalaivanan · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
P. Susheela, Ghantasala
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Details
Kalaivanan1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilaeIn the evening time, on the banks of Yamuna,
Male
Haa..aa..aaa..aa..Ah..aa..aaa..aa..
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilaeIn the evening time, on the banks of Yamuna,
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilaeIn the evening time, on the banks of Yamuna,
Vazhi melae vzhi veithaeKeeping her eyes fixed on the path,
Vaadi nindraal raadhaiRadha stood wilting.
Female
Vaarayoo nandha murariWon't you come, Nandha Murari?
Muagm paarayoo giridhaariWon't you look at my face, Giridhari?
Male
Haa..aa..aaa..aa..Ah..aa..aaa..aa..
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilaeIn the evening time, on the banks of Yamuna,
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilaeIn the evening time, on the banks of Yamuna,
Vazhi melae vizhi veithae..yeKeeping her eyes fixed on the path,
Vazhi melae vizhi veithaeKeeping her eyes fixed on the path,
Vaadi nindraal raadhaiRadha stood wilting.
Malai nerathilae ….In the evening time...
Female
Maaya jaalam yen kannaWhy these magical illusions, my Krishna?
Neela megha vanna..aa..aaOh, one with the hue of blue clouds!
Maaya jaalam yen kannaWhy these magical illusions, my Krishna?
Neela megha vannaOh, one with the hue of blue clouds!
Neeyilladha en vaazhvuMy life without you,
Nilavilladha vaanam androoIs it not like a sky without the moon?
Female
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilaeIn the evening time, on the banks of Yamuna,
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilaeIn the evening time, on the banks of Yamuna,
Maadhavan unnalaeBecause of you, Madhava,
Vaadigindren thanimaiyilaeI am wilting in solitude.
Malai nerathilae ….In the evening time...
Female
Kallathanam naan arivenI know your deceitful tricks,
Kanna nee poo pooKrishna, go away, go away!
Sollai meeri nee yaaridamDisobeying my words, with whom did you
Pallai katti nindraaiStand grinning and flirting?
Andha kanniyidam poo pooGo to that young girl, go away!
Male
Kaanadha podhu thabamaIs it longing when not seeing each other,
Neril kandalae kobamaBut anger when seeing in person?
Neril kandalae kobamaBut anger when seeing in person?
Female
Ponaana maarbil nagakuri indruA scratch mark on your golden chest today,
Undaana vidham ennaHow did it get formed?
Sollu muraariTell me, Murari!
Undaana vidham ennaHow did it get formed?
Sollu muraariTell me, Murari!
Male
Sandhegam yenadi en kanneWhy this suspicion, my dear?
Indha pudhar mulai paradi un munnaeLook at this thorn bush before you!
Indha pudhar mulai paradi un munnaeLook at this thorn bush before you!
Female :Podhum podhumaiyaaFemale: Enough, enough, sir!
Podhum podhumaiyaa veliveshamaeEnough with your outward pretenses!
Indha pedhaiyai seiyaadhae moosameDo not deceive this innocent woman.
Male
En solali keladi inbamaeListen to my words, my delight!
Indha madhavanum unakkaethaan sondhameThis Madhava belongs only to you.
Female
{Maadhava{Madhava!
Male :Kanmani} (4)Male: My darling!} (repeats 4 times)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic duet portrays a playful lovers' spat between Radha and Krishna along the banks of the Yamuna River during dusk. Radha waits longingly for Krishna, expressing how empty her life feels without him, comparing it to a night sky devoid of the moon. When Krishna finally arrives, Radha notices a mark on his chest and playfully accuses him of flirting with other village girls, turning her longing into feigned anger.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Neeyilladha en vaazhvu / Nilavilladha vaanam androo

Compares life without Krishna to a night sky without the moon ('Neeyilladha en vaazhvu, Nilavilladha vaanam androo').

Metaphor / Epithet

Neela megha vanna..aa..aa

Refers to Krishna as 'Neela megha vanna', metaphorically associating his complexion with deep blue storm clouds.

Monai (Alliteration)

Vazhi melae vzhi veithae / Vaadi nindraal raadhai

Repetition of initial 'V' sound across consecutive words ('Vazhi melae vizhi veithae / Vaadi nindraal').

Esubhasanam / Pranayakalakal (Playful Lover's Quarrel)

Ponaana maarbil nagakuri indru / Undaana vidham enna

A traditional poetic theme in Indian classical literature where the heroine feigns jealousy and anger over a scratch mark ('nagakuri') while the hero humorously blames a thorn bush.

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Trivia

This song from 'Kalaivanan' (1959) features a classic melody composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao and rendered by Ghantasala and P. Susheela. The song captures the iconic 'Ninda Stuti' and 'Sringara Rasa' traditional to Radha-Krishna lore, popularized in Tamil lyricism by A. Maruthakasi.

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