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Kalaivanan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Nerathile

From Kalaivanan · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
P. Susheela, Ghantasala
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Movie name
Kalaivanan
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
11 Feb 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilae
Haa..aa..aaa..aa..
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilae
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilae
Vazhi melae vzhi veithae
Vaadi nindraal raadhai
Vaarayoo nandha murari
Muagm paarayoo giridhaari
Haa..aa..aaa..aa..
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilae
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilae
Vazhi melae vizhi veithae..ye
Vazhi melae vizhi veithae
Vaadi nindraal raadhai
Malai nerathilae ….
Maaya jaalam yen kanna
Neela megha vanna..aa..aa
Maaya jaalam yen kanna
Neela megha vanna
Neeyilladha en vaazhvu
Nilavilladha vaanam androo
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilae
Malai nerathilae yamuna theerathilae
Maadhavan unnalae
Vaadigindren thanimaiyilae
Malai nerathilae ….
Kallathanam naan ariven
Kanna nee poo poo
Sollai meeri nee yaaridam
Pallai katti nindraai
Andha kanniyidam poo poo
Kaanadha podhu thabama
Neril kandalae kobama
Neril kandalae kobama
Ponaana maarbil nagakuri indru
Undaana vidham enna
Sollu muraari
Undaana vidham enna
Sollu muraari
Sandhegam yenadi en kanne
Indha pudhar mulai paradi un munnae
Indha pudhar mulai paradi un munnae
Female :Podhum podhumaiyaa
Podhum podhumaiyaa veliveshamae
Indha pedhaiyai seiyaadhae moosame
En solali keladi inbamae
Indha madhavanum unakkaethaan sondhame
{Maadhava
Male :Kanmani} (4)
In the evening hours, on the banks of the Yamuna,
Ha... aa... aaaa... aa...
In the evening hours, on the banks of the Yamuna,
In the evening hours, on the banks of the Yamuna,
Keeping her eyes fixed on the path,
Radha stood wilting in longing.
Won't you come, son of Nanda, Murari?
Won't you look at my face, Giridhari?
Ha... aa... aaaa... aa...
In the evening hours, on the banks of the Yamuna,
In the evening hours, on the banks of the Yamuna,
Keeping her eyes fixed on the path...
Keeping her eyes fixed on the path,
Radha stood wilting in longing.
In the evening hours...
Why these magical tricks, Krishna?
O one with the colour of blue clouds...
Why these magical tricks, Krishna?
O one with the colour of blue clouds,
Without you, my life
is like a sky without the moon, isn't it?
In the evening hours, on the banks of the Yamuna,
In the evening hours, on the banks of the Yamuna,
Because of you, Madhava,
I am wilting away in loneliness.
In the evening hours...
I know your deceitful ways,
Krishna, go away, just go!
Disobeying my words, with whom
did you stand flashing that smile?
Go away to that girl, just go!
When I'm away, you pine for me,
but when we meet face to face, you show anger?
But when we meet face to face, you show anger?
On your golden chest today, these scratch marks...
how did they happen?
Tell me, Murari!
How did they happen?
Tell me, Murari!
Why this doubt, my love?
Look at this thorny bush right before you!
Look at this thorny bush right before you!
Female: Enough, it is enough, my lord!
Enough of this false pretense!
Do not deceive this innocent girl!
Listen to what I say, my delight,
this Madhava belongs only to you!
{Madhava...
Male: My beloved} (x4)
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Did you know?

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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