Maalai Vanna Maalai
From Thiruvarul · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
- Details
- Thiruvarul1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maalai vanna maalai | Garland of colorful hues, evening garland |
| Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world, there are a thousand garlands |
| Maalai vanna maalai | Garland of colorful hues, evening garland |
| Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world, there are a thousand garlands |
| Maalai ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist |
| Female | |
| Thirunirai chelvikku thirumana maalai | The wedding garland for the virtuous woman |
| Thirunirai chelvikku thirumana maalai | The wedding garland for the virtuous woman |
| Dhevargal saatchiyil mangala maalai | The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses |
| Dhevargal saatchiyil mangala maalai | The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses |
| Dhevargal saatchiyil mangala maalai | The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses |
| Female | |
| Maalai vanna maalai | Garland of colorful hues, evening garland |
| Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world, there are a thousand garlands |
| Maalai ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist |
| Female | |
| Aayiram pon perum arut paa maalai | A garland of sacred verses worth a thousand gold coins |
| Aandavan adiyaarkku jaba mani maalai | A rosary of prayer beads for the devotees of God |
| Aayiram pon perum arut paa maalai | A garland of sacred verses worth a thousand gold coins |
| Aandavan adiyaarkku jaba mani maalai | A rosary of prayer beads for the devotees of God |
| Female | |
| Kavingargal soodum kavi mani maalai | The garland of poetic gems worn by poets |
| Kavingargal soodum kavi mani maalai | The garland of poetic gems worn by poets |
| Kaadhalar koodida dhinam varum maalai | The evening that arrives daily for lovers to unite |
| Kaadhalar koodida dhinam varum maalai | The evening that arrives daily for lovers to unite |
| Andha maalai andhi maalai | That evening is the twilight evening |
| Female | |
| Maalai vanna maalai | Garland of colorful hues, evening garland |
| Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world, there are a thousand garlands |
| Maalai ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist |
| Female | |
| Kalai magal tharuvadhu kalvi maalai | Goddess Saraswati gives the garland of wisdom and education |
| Thiru magal tharuvadhu selva maalai | Goddess Lakshmi gives the garland of wealth |
| Kalai magal tharuvadhu kalvi maalai | Goddess Saraswati gives the garland of wisdom and education |
| Thiru magal tharuvadhu selva maalai | Goddess Lakshmi gives the garland of wealth |
| Female | |
| Arumugan sonnadhu pranava maalai | The six-faced Lord Murugan imparted the sacred garland of Pranava |
| Arumugan sonnadhu pranava maalai | The six-faced Lord Murugan imparted the sacred garland of Pranava |
| Adhu dhaan avanadhu thiruvarul maalai | That indeed is His garland of divine grace |
| Adhu dhaan avanadhu thiruvarul maalai | That indeed is His garland of divine grace |
| Adhu dhaan muruganin thiruvarul maalai | That indeed is Lord Murugan's garland of divine grace |
| Thiruvarul maalai | The garland of divine grace |
| Female | |
| Maalai vanna maalai | Garland of colorful hues, evening garland |
| Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world, there are a thousand garlands |
| Maalai ulagathil aayiram maalai | In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist |
மாலை வண்ண மாலை
இந்த உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
மாலை வண்ண மாலை
இந்த உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
மாலை உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist
திருநிறைச் செல்விக்கு திருமண மாலை
திருநிறைச் செல்விக்கு திருமண மாலை
தேவர்கள் சாட்சியில் மங்கல மாலை....
தேவர்கள் சாட்சியில் மங்கல மாலை....
தேவர்கள் சாட்சியில் மங்கல மாலை....
The wedding garland for the virtuous woman
The wedding garland for the virtuous woman
The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses
The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses
The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses
மாலை வண்ண மாலை
இந்த உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
மாலை உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist
ஆயிரம் பொன் பெறும் அருட்பாமாலை
ஆண்டவன் அடியார்க்கு ஜெபமணி மாலை
ஆயிரம் பொன் பெறும் அருட்பாமாலை
ஆண்டவன் அடியார்க்கு ஜெபமணி மாலை
A garland of sacred verses worth a thousand gold coins
A rosary of prayer beads for the devotees of God
A garland of sacred verses worth a thousand gold coins
A rosary of prayer beads for the devotees of God
கவிஞர்கள் சூடும் கவி மணி மாலை
கவிஞர்கள் சூடும் கவி மணி மாலை
காதலர் கூடிட தினம் வரும் மாலை
காதலர் கூடிட தினம் வரும் மாலை
அந்த மாலை அந்தி மாலை.......
The garland of poetic gems worn by poets
The garland of poetic gems worn by poets
The evening that arrives daily for lovers to unite
The evening that arrives daily for lovers to unite
That evening is the twilight evening
மாலை வண்ண மாலை
இந்த உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
மாலை உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist
கலைமகள் தருவது கல்வி மாலை
திருமகள் தருவது செல்வ மாலை
கலைமகள் தருவது கல்வி மாலை
திருமகள் தருவது செல்வ மாலை
Goddess Saraswati gives the garland of wisdom and education
Goddess Lakshmi gives the garland of wealth
Goddess Saraswati gives the garland of wisdom and education
Goddess Lakshmi gives the garland of wealth
ஆறுமுகன் சொன்னது பிரணவ மாலை
ஆறுமுகன் சொன்னது பிரணவ மாலை
அதுதான் அவனது திருவருள் மாலை
அதுதான் அவனது திருவருள் மாலை
அதுதான் முருகனின் திருவருள் மாலை
திருவருள் மாலை
The six-faced Lord Murugan imparted the sacred garland of Pranava
The six-faced Lord Murugan imparted the sacred garland of Pranava
That indeed is His garland of divine grace
That indeed is His garland of divine grace
That indeed is Lord Murugan's garland of divine grace
The garland of divine grace
மாலை வண்ண மாலை
இந்த உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
மாலை உலகத்தில் ஆயிரம் மாலை
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist
Maalai vanna maalai
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
Maalai vanna maalai
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
Maalai ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist
Thirunirai chelvikku thirumana maalai
The wedding garland for the virtuous woman
Thirunirai chelvikku thirumana maalai
The wedding garland for the virtuous woman
Dhevargal saatchiyil mangala maalai
The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses
Dhevargal saatchiyil mangala maalai
The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses
Dhevargal saatchiyil mangala maalai
The auspicious garland with gods as witnesses
Maalai vanna maalai
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
Maalai ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist
Aayiram pon perum arut paa maalai
A garland of sacred verses worth a thousand gold coins
Aandavan adiyaarkku jaba mani maalai
A rosary of prayer beads for the devotees of God
Aayiram pon perum arut paa maalai
A garland of sacred verses worth a thousand gold coins
Aandavan adiyaarkku jaba mani maalai
A rosary of prayer beads for the devotees of God
Kavingargal soodum kavi mani maalai
The garland of poetic gems worn by poets
Kavingargal soodum kavi mani maalai
The garland of poetic gems worn by poets
Kaadhalar koodida dhinam varum maalai
The evening that arrives daily for lovers to unite
Kaadhalar koodida dhinam varum maalai
The evening that arrives daily for lovers to unite
Andha maalai andhi maalai
That evening is the twilight evening
Maalai vanna maalai
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
Maalai ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist
Kalai magal tharuvadhu kalvi maalai
Goddess Saraswati gives the garland of wisdom and education
Thiru magal tharuvadhu selva maalai
Goddess Lakshmi gives the garland of wealth
Kalai magal tharuvadhu kalvi maalai
Goddess Saraswati gives the garland of wisdom and education
Thiru magal tharuvadhu selva maalai
Goddess Lakshmi gives the garland of wealth
Arumugan sonnadhu pranava maalai
The six-faced Lord Murugan imparted the sacred garland of Pranava
Arumugan sonnadhu pranava maalai
The six-faced Lord Murugan imparted the sacred garland of Pranava
Adhu dhaan avanadhu thiruvarul maalai
That indeed is His garland of divine grace
Adhu dhaan avanadhu thiruvarul maalai
That indeed is His garland of divine grace
Adhu dhaan muruganin thiruvarul maalai
That indeed is Lord Murugan's garland of divine grace
Thiruvarul maalai
The garland of divine grace
Maalai vanna maalai
Garland of colorful hues, evening garland
Indha ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world, there are a thousand garlands
Maalai ulagathil aayiram maalai
In this world of garlands, a thousand garlands exist
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This devotional song explores the rich polysemic Tamil word 'Maalai', which encapsulates dual meanings: a decorative garland woven with flowers or verses, and the evening twilight. Kannadasan skillfully weaves a progression of earthly, romantic, and spiritual themes using this single motif. The lyrics touch upon wedding garlands blessed by gods, sacred hymns worth gold, prayer rosaries of devotees, romantic evenings uniting lovers, and gifts of wisdom and wealth from Saraswati and Lakshmi. Ultimately, the song culminates in a spiritual crescendo, identifying the supreme 'Maalai' as the sacred knowledge of Om (Pranava) delivered by Lord Murugan, which represents His eternal garland of divine grace (Thiruvarul).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Sledai (Polysemy / Pun)
“Andha maalai andhi maalai”
The poet employs double meaning for the word 'Maalai', using it simultaneously to mean 'garland' and 'evening/dusk'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kalai magal tharuvadhu kalvi maalai”
Consecutive lines end with matching rhythm and rhyming structure ('kalvi maalai' and 'selva maalai').
Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aayiram pon perum arut paa maalai”
Repetition of initial phonetic sounds across lines ('Aayiram' and 'Aandavan') for melodious rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1975 Tamil devotional film 'Thiruvarul', which features music composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan. Lyricist Kannadasan's clever play on 'Maalai' showcases classical Tamil literary depth within mainstream cinema music.
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