Maalaiyittu Poo
From Thalai Prasavam · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Thalai Prasavam1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga | Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair, |
| Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga | Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession. |
| Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga | Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair, |
| Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga | Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession. |
| Male | |
| Santhaiyilae vaangiyathor vellaadu | A white goat purchased from the village market, |
| Dheiva sannathiyai thedugindra paliyaadu | A sacrificial lamb seeking the sacred presence of the deity. |
| Panthayaththai poottavanum vendraanae | The one who placed the wager emerged victorious, |
| Idhai padaiththavanum paarththu siriththu nindraanae | While the Creator stood by, watching and laughing. |
| Male | |
| Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga | Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair, |
| Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga | Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession. |
| Male | |
| Kungumaththin paaram aval nettriyilae | The heavy weight of vermilion on her forehead, |
| Oru kudumpa paaram aval nenjinilae | The heavy burden of a family upon her heart, |
| Thangukindra kuzhanthai sumai thaniyoru paaram | The weight of the child she carries is another distinct burden, |
| Thangukindra kuzhanthai sumai thaniyoru paaram | The weight of the child she carries is another distinct burden, |
| Ival thaayaanaal varum saabam perum paaram | If she becomes a mother, the resulting curse is a massive burden, |
| Ival thaayaanaal varum saabam perum paaram | If she becomes a mother, the resulting curse is a massive burden. |
| Male | |
| Vanthathaiyae enni enni thavippaalo | Will she suffer constantly, reflecting upon all that has happened? |
| Ini varuvatharkkae kaaththirunthu thudippaalo | Will she tremble in fear, waiting anxiously for what lies ahead? |
| Santhanamaai saernthirunthu manappaalo | Will she remain united like fragrant sandalwood, spreading sweetness? |
| Oru sariththiramaai nilaiththirunthu vaazhvaalo… | Will she endure and live forever as a legendary story? |
| Male | |
| Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga | Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair, |
| Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga | Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession. |
மாலையிட்டு பூ முடித்த மணமகளாக
விதி மெளனமாக செல்லுதடா ஊர்வலமாக
மாலையிட்டு பூ முடித்த மணமகளாக
விதி மெளனமாக செல்லுதடா ஊர்வலமாக
Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession.
Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession.
சந்தையிலே வாங்கியதோர் வெள்ளாடு
தெய்வ சன்னிதியை தேடுகின்ற பலியாடு
பந்தயத்தை பூட்டவனும் வென்றானே
இதை படைத்தவனும் பார்த்து சிரித்து நின்றானே.....
A white goat purchased from the village market,
A sacrificial lamb seeking the sacred presence of the deity.
The one who placed the wager emerged victorious,
While the Creator stood by, watching and laughing.
மாலையிட்டு பூ முடித்த மணமகளாக
விதி மெளனமாக செல்லுதடா ஊர்வலமாக
Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession.
குங்குமத்தின் பாரம் அவள் நெற்றியிலே
ஒரு குடும்ப பாரம் பாவை அவள் நெஞ்சினிலே
தங்குகின்ற குழந்தை சுமை தனியொரு பாரம்
தங்குகின்ற குழந்தை சுமை தனியொரு பாரம்
இவள் தாயானால் வரும் சாபம் பெரும் பாரம்.....
இவள் தாயானால் வரும் சாபம் பெரும் பாரம்.....
The heavy weight of vermilion on her forehead,
The heavy burden of a family upon her heart,
The weight of the child she carries is another distinct burden,
The weight of the child she carries is another distinct burden,
If she becomes a mother, the resulting curse is a massive burden,
If she becomes a mother, the resulting curse is a massive burden.
வந்ததையே எண்ணி எண்ணி தவிப்பாளோ
இனி வருவதற்கே காத்திருந்து துடிப்பாளோ
சந்தனமாய் சேர்ந்திருந்து மணப்பாளோ
ஒரு சரித்திரமாய் நிலைத்திருந்து வாழ்வாளோ.....
Will she suffer constantly, reflecting upon all that has happened?
Will she tremble in fear, waiting anxiously for what lies ahead?
Will she remain united like fragrant sandalwood, spreading sweetness?
Will she endure and live forever as a legendary story?
மாலையிட்டு பூ முடித்த மணமகளாக
விதி மெளனமாக செல்லுதடா ஊர்வலமாக
Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession.
Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga
Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga
Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession.
Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga
Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga
Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession.
Santhaiyilae vaangiyathor vellaadu
A white goat purchased from the village market,
Dheiva sannathiyai thedugindra paliyaadu
A sacrificial lamb seeking the sacred presence of the deity.
Panthayaththai poottavanum vendraanae
The one who placed the wager emerged victorious,
Idhai padaiththavanum paarththu siriththu nindraanae
While the Creator stood by, watching and laughing.
Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga
Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga
Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession.
Kungumaththin paaram aval nettriyilae
The heavy weight of vermilion on her forehead,
Oru kudumpa paaram aval nenjinilae
The heavy burden of a family upon her heart,
Thangukindra kuzhanthai sumai thaniyoru paaram
The weight of the child she carries is another distinct burden,
Thangukindra kuzhanthai sumai thaniyoru paaram
The weight of the child she carries is another distinct burden,
Ival thaayaanaal varum saabam perum paaram
If she becomes a mother, the resulting curse is a massive burden,
Ival thaayaanaal varum saabam perum paaram
If she becomes a mother, the resulting curse is a massive burden.
Vanthathaiyae enni enni thavippaalo
Will she suffer constantly, reflecting upon all that has happened?
Ini varuvatharkkae kaaththirunthu thudippaalo
Will she tremble in fear, waiting anxiously for what lies ahead?
Santhanamaai saernthirunthu manappaalo
Will she remain united like fragrant sandalwood, spreading sweetness?
Oru sariththiramaai nilaiththirunthu vaazhvaalo…
Will she endure and live forever as a legendary story?
Maalaiyittu poo mudiththa manamagalaaga
Like a bride adorned with a garland and flowers in her hair,
Vidhi mounamaaga selluthadaa oorvalamaaga
Fate silently moves forward like a ceremonial procession.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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