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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Sooda

From Vijeya · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Madhuri
Music director
G. Devarajan
Details
Vijeya1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
: ……………...
Male
Maalai sooda vantha mangaiThe maiden who came to wear the wedding garland
Antha mangai rathiyaalin thangaiThat maiden is like a younger sister to Rathi, goddess of beauty
Aalanthalir pondra un kaiYour hand is as soft as a tender banyan leaf shoot
Adhil alli koduththaal en pangaiIn it, she gathered and handed me my share of happiness
Male
Maalai sooda vantha mangaiThe maiden who came to wear the wedding garland
Antha mangai rathiyaalin thangaiThat maiden is like a younger sister to Rathi, goddess of beauty
Aalanthalir pondra un kaiYour hand is as soft as a tender banyan leaf shoot
Adhil alli koduththaal en pangaiIn it, she gathered and handed me my share of happiness
Male
Maalai sooda vantha mangaiThe maiden who came to wear the wedding garland
Female
Aa….aa…aaa….aa…aah….(Vocalizing)
Aa….aa…aaa….aa…aah….(Vocalizing)
Male
Paruvam sila kaalam yaengumYouth yearns for a certain period of time
Konjam pathungiyae pin vaangumIt ducked a little and stepped back
Irandum samamaaga thaangumBoth will sustain equally
Antha inimai sugaththodu thoongumIt sleeps with that sweet pleasure
Male
Maalai sooda vantha mangaiThe maiden who came to wear the wedding garland
Female
Aa….aa…aaa….aa…aah….(Vocalizing)
Male
Enna iraivaa un padaippuOh God, what a creation of yours!
Adhil engum azhagae un sirippuEverywhere in it, beauty reflects your smile
Chinna idhazhenna inippuWhat sweetness lies in those small lips!
Adhu thedum sugam enna thudippuWhat thrill lies in the joy it seeks!
Male
Maalai sooda vantha mangaiThe maiden who came to wear the wedding garland
Antha mangai rathiyaalin thangaiThat maiden is like a younger sister to Rathi, goddess of beauty
Aalanthalir pondra un kaiYour hand is as soft as a tender banyan leaf shoot
Adhil alli koduththaal en pangaiIn it, she gathered and handed me my share of happiness
Male
Maalai sooda vantha mangaiThe maiden who came to wear the wedding garland
Female
Aa….aa…aaa….aa…aah….(Vocalizing)
Aa….aa…aaa….aa…aah….(Vocalizing)
Male
Aan penn uravendra vedhamThe scripture of relationship between man and woman
Adhu adakka mudiyaatha geedhamIt is an irrepressible song
Inba sugam indru varavuJoyful pleasure is the income today
En ilamaithaan angu selavuMy youth is the expense spent there
Male
Maalai sooda vantha mangaiThe maiden who came to wear the wedding garland
Female
Aa….aa…aaa….aa…aah….(Vocalizing)
Male
Idharkku idhu vendum endruSaying that this requires that
Avan padaiththa idam kooda ondruEven the place created by Him is unique
Adharkkul vilaiyaadi sendruPlaying within that realm
Naam amaithi pera vendum indruWe must attain peace today
Male
Maalai sooda vantha mangaiThe maiden who came to wear the wedding garland
Female :Aa….aa…aa….aah….Female: (Vocalizing)
Male :Antha mangai rathiyaalin thangaiMale: That maiden is like a younger sister to Rathi, goddess of beauty
Female :Aa….aa…aa….aah….Female: (Vocalizing)
Male :Aalanthalir pondra un kaiMale: Your hand is as soft as a tender banyan leaf shoot
Adhil alli koduththaal en pangaiIn it, she gathered and handed me my share of happiness
Female
Aa….aa…aaa….aa…aah….(Vocalizing)
Male :Maalai sooda vantha mangai…Male: The maiden who came to wear the wedding garland...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Vijeya (1973) is a romantic composition celebrating intimacy, beauty, and marital union. The protagonist compares his beloved to the sister of Rathi (the divine goddess of love), praising her grace, soft demeanor, and sweet lips. The lyrics marvel at God's creation, portraying romantic union as a divine scriptural rhythm and an unstoppable song of joy. Kannadasan subtly blends philosophical nuance into the romantic theme by framing pleasure as income and youth as expenditure. The song concludes with a desire to find peaceful fulfillment through the sacred bond between a man and a woman.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Aalanthalir pondra un kai

Compares the beloved's tender hand to the delicate shoot of a banyan leaf (Aalanthalir).

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Aan penn uravendra vedham / Adhu adakka mudiyaatha geedham

Equates the relationship between a man and woman to a sacred Veda (scripture) and an uncontainable song.

Financial Metaphor

Inba sugam indru varavu / En ilamaithaan angu selavu

Uses economic concepts of income (varavu) and expenditure (selavu) to depict the give-and-take of pleasure and youth.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Paruvam sila kaalam yaengum / Konjam pathungiyae pin vaangum

Rhyming word endings across successive lines like 'yaengum', 'vaangum', 'thaangum', 'thoongum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for this song was composed by G. Devarajan, one of the most prominent legendary composers of Malayalam cinema who composed for a selective number of Tamil projects. The lyrics were written by 'Kaviarasu' Kannadasan, who masterfully balanced romantic poetry with philosophical accounting of life.

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