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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maalaiyittu Poo

From Thalai Prasavam · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thalai Prasavam
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
25 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga
Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga
Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga
Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga
Santhaiyilae vaangiyathor vellaadu
Dheiva sannathiyai thedugindra paliyaadu
Panthayaththai poottavanum vendraanae
Idhai padaiththavanum paarththu siriththu nindraanae
Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga
Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga
Kungumaththin paaram aval nettriyilae
Oru kudumpa paaram aval nenjinilae
Thangukindra kuzhanthai sumai thaniyoru paaram
Thangukindra kuzhanthai sumai thaniyoru paaram
Ival thaayaanaal varum saabam perum paaram
Ival thaayaanaal varum saabam perum paaram
Vanthathaiyae enni enni thavippaalo
Ini varuvatharkkae kaaththirunthu thudippaalo
Santhanamaai saernthirunthu manappaalo
Oru sariththiramaai nilaiththirunthu vaazhvaalo…
Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga
Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga
Dressed as a bride with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Fate moves along in a silent procession, my friend.
Dressed as a bride with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Fate moves along in a silent procession, my friend.
Like a goat bought from the marketplace,
She is a sacrificial offering heading to the deity's shrine.
The one who laid the wager has won,
And the Creator stood by, watching and laughing at it all...
Dressed as a bride with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Fate moves along in a silent procession, my friend.
The heavy kumkum mark rests on her forehead,
The burden of a whole family weighs upon this young woman's heart.
The unborn child she carries is another burden of its own,
The unborn child she carries is another burden of its own,
And the curse that follows if she becomes a mother is the heaviest burden of all...
And the curse that follows if she becomes a mother is the heaviest burden of all...
Will she suffer in torment, constantly thinking of what has happened?
Or will she tremble in fear, waiting for what is yet to come?
Will she blend in like sweet sandalwood and spread her fragrance?
Or will she live on as an enduring story in history?...
Dressed as a bride with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Fate moves along in a silent procession, my friend.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song from 'Thalai Prasavam' (1973) reflects on the tragic destiny of a young woman bound by fate and societal duties. Lyricist Kannadasan compares the bride to a sacrificial lamb being led to an altar, highlighting how helpless human beings are against divine play and destiny. The song details the physical, social, and emotional burdens a woman carries—from marriage and family responsibilities to pregnancy and societal judgment—questioning whether she will overcome her trials to leave an enduring legacy or crumble under the agonizing weight of her life's circumstances.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Upamai)

“Dheiva sannathiyai thedugindra paliyaadu”

Compares the bride to a 'paliyaadu' (sacrificial lamb/goat), emphasizing her vulnerability and complete lack of control over her own destiny.

Parallelism & Ethirukai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Kungumaththin paaram aval nettriyilae”

Contrasts 'Kungumaththin paaram' (weight of vermilion) with 'kudumpa paaram' (weight of family responsibility) using rhyming structures to emphasize compounding hardship.

Personification

“Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga”

Personifies 'Vidhi' (Fate) as a silent traveler marching in a procession.

Repetition for Emphasis (Adukkuthodar)

“Thangukindra kuzhanthai sumai thaniyoru paaram”

Repeats lines about burdens to underline the cumulative physical and emotional strain borne by the protagonist.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thalai Prasavam' (1973) features lyrics by the legendary Kaviarasu Kannadasan set to music by M. S. Viswanathan. Kannadasan's characteristic philosophical worldview on fate ('Vidhi') and human helplessness shines through this track, rendered emotionally by singer Malaysia Vasudevan.

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