Maalai Sevvaanam
From Ilaiyarajavin Rasigai · 1979
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singers
- Ilayaraja, S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ilaiyarajavin Rasigai1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano | Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork? |
| Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano | Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork? |
| Vaanam adhu naalum | The painting that the sky draws |
| Ezhudhum oviyam un ezhil aagumo | Every day, can it ever match your grace? |
| Ezhudhum oviyam un ezhil aagumo | Every day, can it ever match your grace? |
| Female | |
| Naalai poo maalai en tholil aadum | Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders |
| Naalai poo maalai en tholil aadum | Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders |
| Anbum thamizh panbum | Love and Tamil virtue |
| Thalaivan unnidam ennaiyae thandhadhu | Surrendered me completely to you, my lord |
| Thalaivan unnidam ennaiyae thandhadhu | Surrendered me completely to you, my lord |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Vaigai ennum nadhi karaiyil | On the banks of the river named Vaigai |
| Mangai kaadhal neeraaduvaal | The young woman bathes in love |
| Female | |
| Ingum aasai nadhi karaiyil | Here too, on the banks of the river of desire |
| Endrum unnai naan thaeduvaen | I will forever search for you |
| Male | |
| Nadhi neeyae kadal naanae | You are the river, and I am the sea |
| Female | |
| Manmadha sangamam ingae | Here lies the divine confluence of love |
| Male | |
| Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano | Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork? |
| Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano | Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork? |
| Vaanam adhu naalum | The painting that the sky draws |
| Ezhudhum oviyam un ezhil aagumo | Every day, can it ever match your grace? |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………….. | ... |
| Male | |
| Dhevan vaazhum aalayangal | In the holy temples where God resides |
| Thaedi povaal kannaalanai | She goes searching for her beloved |
| Female | |
| Naanum vandhen thirukkoyil | I too have arrived at the sacred shrine |
| Naalum kaadhal aaraadhanai | Offering daily worship of love |
| Male | |
| Mani osai idhazh osai | The sound of temple bells and the soft murmur of lips |
| Female | |
| Mangala kaaviya naadham | A sacred, epic musical melody |
| Female | |
| Naalai poo maalai en tholil aadum | Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders |
| Naalai poo maalai en tholil aadum | Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders |
| Anbum thamizh panbum | Love and Tamil virtue |
| Thalaivan unnidam ennaiyae thandhadhu | Surrendered me completely to you, my lord |
மாலைச் செவ்வானம் உன் கோலம் தானோ
மாலைச் செவ்வானம் உன் கோலம் தானோ
வானம் அது நாளும்
எழுதும் ஓவியம் உன் எழில் ஆகுமோ
எழுதும் ஓவியம் உன் எழில் ஆகுமோ
Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork?
Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork?
The painting that the sky draws
Every day, can it ever match your grace?
Every day, can it ever match your grace?
நாளை பூ மாலை என் தோளில் ஆடும்
நாளை பூ மாலை என் தோளில் ஆடும்
அன்பும் தமிழ்ப் பண்பும்
தலைவன் உன்னிடம் என்னையே தந்தது
தலைவன் உன்னிடம் என்னையே தந்தது
Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders
Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders
Love and Tamil virtue
Surrendered me completely to you, my lord
Surrendered me completely to you, my lord
................................
...
வைகை என்னும் நதிக் கரையில்
மங்கை காதல் நீராடுவாள்
On the banks of the river named Vaigai
The young woman bathes in love
இங்கும் ஆசை நதிக் கரையில்
என்றும் உன்னை நான் தேடுவேன்
Here too, on the banks of the river of desire
I will forever search for you
நதி நீயே கடல் நானே
You are the river, and I am the sea
மன்மத சங்கமம் இங்கே
Here lies the divine confluence of love
மாலைச் செவ்வானம் உன் கோலம் தானோ
மாலைச் செவ்வானம் உன் கோலம் தானோ
வானம் அது நாளும்
எழுதும் ஓவியம் உன் எழில் ஆகுமோ
Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork?
Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork?
The painting that the sky draws
Every day, can it ever match your grace?
................................
...
தேவன் வாழும் ஆலயங்கள்
தேடி போவாள் கண்ணாளனை
In the holy temples where God resides
She goes searching for her beloved
நானும் வந்தேன் திருக்கோயில்
நாளும் காதல் ஆராதனை
I too have arrived at the sacred shrine
Offering daily worship of love
மணி ஓசை இதழ் ஓசை
The sound of temple bells and the soft murmur of lips
மங்கல காவிய நாதம்
நாளை பூ மாலை என் தோளில் ஆடும்
நாளை பூ மாலை என் தோளில் ஆடும்
அன்பும் தமிழ்ப் பண்பும்
தலைவன் உன்னிடம் என்னையே தந்தது
A sacred, epic musical melody
லலலா லாலலா லாலலா லாலலா
லலலா லாலலா லாலலா லாலலா
Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders
Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders
Love and Tamil virtue
Surrendered me completely to you, my lord
Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano
Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork?
Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano
Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork?
Vaanam adhu naalum
The painting that the sky draws
Ezhudhum oviyam un ezhil aagumo
Every day, can it ever match your grace?
Ezhudhum oviyam un ezhil aagumo
Every day, can it ever match your grace?
Naalai poo maalai en tholil aadum
Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders
Naalai poo maalai en tholil aadum
Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders
Anbum thamizh panbum
Love and Tamil virtue
Thalaivan unnidam ennaiyae thandhadhu
Surrendered me completely to you, my lord
Thalaivan unnidam ennaiyae thandhadhu
Surrendered me completely to you, my lord
………………………
...
Vaigai ennum nadhi karaiyil
On the banks of the river named Vaigai
Mangai kaadhal neeraaduvaal
The young woman bathes in love
Ingum aasai nadhi karaiyil
Here too, on the banks of the river of desire
Endrum unnai naan thaeduvaen
I will forever search for you
Nadhi neeyae kadal naanae
You are the river, and I am the sea
Manmadha sangamam ingae
Here lies the divine confluence of love
Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano
Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork?
Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano
Is the red evening sky your traditional artwork?
Vaanam adhu naalum
The painting that the sky draws
Ezhudhum oviyam un ezhil aagumo
Every day, can it ever match your grace?
…………………………..
...
Dhevan vaazhum aalayangal
In the holy temples where God resides
Thaedi povaal kannaalanai
She goes searching for her beloved
Naanum vandhen thirukkoyil
I too have arrived at the sacred shrine
Naalum kaadhal aaraadhanai
Offering daily worship of love
Mani osai idhazh osai
The sound of temple bells and the soft murmur of lips
Mangala kaaviya naadham
A sacred, epic musical melody
Naalai poo maalai en tholil aadum
Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders
Naalai poo maalai en tholil aadum
Tomorrow, a garland of flowers will sway upon my shoulders
Anbum thamizh panbum
Love and Tamil virtue
Thalaivan unnidam ennaiyae thandhadhu
Surrendered me completely to you, my lord
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Maalai Chevvaanam' is a romantic Tamil song expressing profound love, devotion, and poetic imagery. The speaker compares her beloved's beauty to the natural splendor of the crimson evening sky, pondering whether even nature's finest daily paintings can match his elegance. The song blends classical cultural motifs such as the river Vaigai, sacred temples, and traditional marriage garlands with romantic metaphors of the river merging into the sea. Throughout the song, the protagonist surrenders her heart completely, guided by love and traditional Tamil virtues.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagham)
“Nadhi neeyae kadal naanae”
The sky's evening sunset is metaphorically compared to a 'kolam' (decorative floor art), and the speaker compares her lover to a river merging with her ocean.
Imagery
“Maalai chevvaanam un kolam thaano”
Rich visual and sensory imagery depicting the red evening sky, flowing rivers, temple worship, and melodious soundscapes.
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Vaigai ennum nadhi karaiyil”
Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines, such as 'Vaigai' and 'Ingum' or 'Nadhi' and 'Manmadha'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song uses classical Tamil literary tropes where human love (Akam poetry) is harmonized with natural elements like rivers and sunsets, alongside spiritual themes of temple worship.
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