Madhavanam Raghuraman
From Thaai Paasam · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Thaai Paasam1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maadhavanaam raghuraman | Was Raghurama, who is Madhava, born again? |
| Marupadiyum pirandhaano | Was he reborn once again? |
| Mana kadhavai moodaamal | Without closing the door of his heart, |
| Enakaaga thirandhaano | Did he open it for me? |
| Female | |
| Malligai poomalai | A garland of jasmine flowers, |
| Ennai soodum manam vaazhga | Long live the heart that adorns me with it! |
| Maanikka pon veenai | A ruby-studded golden veena, |
| Ennai meettum viral vaazhga | Long live the fingers that pluck my strings! |
| Female | |
| Kangalil neer vazhindhaal | If tears flow from my eyes, |
| Thudaikkum kaigalai vaazhthugiren | I bless the hands that wipe them away. |
| Mai vizhi paarvaiyinaal unakku | With the gaze of my kohl-rimmed eyes, for you, |
| Nei vilakkettrugiren | I light a ghee lamp. |
| Female | |
| Malligai poomalai ennai | A garland of jasmine flowers, |
| Soodum manam vaazhga | Long live the heart that adorns me! |
| Female | |
| Kaalamellaam thalaivaa un | For all of time, my leader, |
| Kaaladiyil iruppenae | I will remain at your feet. |
| Kavalaigalae ariyaamal | Knowing no worries at all, |
| Mugam paarthu sirippenae | I will look at your face and smile. |
| Female | |
| Manjalum maangalyamum | The auspicious turmeric and sacred wedding thread, |
| Mannava nee thandha selvam | Oh King, are the wealth you bestowed upon me. |
| Ondralla ooraayiram | Not just one, but a town full of thousands— |
| Ammamma naan konda inbam | Oh my, the endless bliss I have received! |
| Female | |
| Malligai poomalai ennai | A garland of jasmine flowers, |
| Soodum manam vaazhga | Long live the heart that adorns me! |
| Male | |
| Naayagiyae unai vaazhthi | Oh lady of my life, praising you, |
| Nalam paadum idhayam idhu | This heart sings for your well-being. |
| Naal muzhudhum anbae un | All day long, my beloved, |
| Ninavaalae iyanguvadhu | It functions solely on thoughts of you. |
| Male | |
| Kangalil neeroottam yen | Why are there tears flowing in your eyes, |
| Kaigalil naan thaangum bothu | When I hold you in my arms? |
| Nenjilae porattam yen | Why is there a struggle in your heart, |
| Ennuyir neeyaagum bothu | When my very life is you? |
| Female | |
| Malligai poomalai | A garland of jasmine flowers, |
| Ennai soodum manam vaazhga | Long live the heart that adorns me! |
| Maanikka pon veenai | A ruby-studded golden veena, |
| Ennai meettum viral vaazhga | Long live the fingers that pluck my strings! |
| Male | |
| Kangalil neer vazhindhaal | If tears flow from my eyes, |
| Thudaikkum kaigalai vaazhthugiren | I bless the hands that wipe them away. |
| Mai vizhi paarvaiyinaal unakku | With the gaze of my kohl-rimmed eyes, for you, |
| Nei vilakkettrugiren | I light a ghee lamp. |
| Female | |
| Malligai poomalai ennai | A garland of jasmine flowers, |
| Soodum manam vaazhga | Long live the heart that adorns me! |
பெண்
: மாதவனாம் ரகுராமன்
மறுபடியும் பிறந்தானோ
மனக் கதவை மூடாமல்
எனக்காக திறந்தானோ
Was Raghurama, who is Madhava, born again?
Was he reborn once again?
Without closing the door of his heart,
Did he open it for me?
பெண்
: மல்லிகை பூமாலை
என்னை சூடும் மனம் வாழ்க
மாணிக்க பொன் வீணை
என்னை மீட்டும் விரல் வாழ்க
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Long live the heart that adorns me with it!
A ruby-studded golden veena,
Long live the fingers that pluck my strings!
பெண்
: கண்களில் நீர் வழிந்தால் துடைக்கும்
கைகளை வாழ்த்துகிறேன்
மை விழிப் பார்வையினால் உனக்கு
நெய் விளக்கேற்றுகிறேன்
If tears flow from my eyes,
I bless the hands that wipe them away.
With the gaze of my kohl-rimmed eyes, for you,
I light a ghee lamp.
பெண்
: மல்லிகை பூமாலை என்னை
சூடும் மனம் வாழ்க....
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Long live the heart that adorns me!
பெண்
: காலமெல்லாம் தலைவா உன்
காலடியில் இருப்பேனே
கவலைகளே அறியாமல்
முகம் பார்த்து சிரிப்பேனே
For all of time, my leader,
I will remain at your feet.
Knowing no worries at all,
I will look at your face and smile.
பெண்
: மஞ்சளும் மாங்கல்யமும்
மன்னவா நீ தந்த செல்வம்
ஒன்றல்ல ஓராயிரம் அம்மம்மா
நான் கொண்ட இன்பம்
The auspicious turmeric and sacred wedding thread,
Oh King, are the wealth you bestowed upon me.
Not just one, but a town full of thousands—
Oh my, the endless bliss I have received!
பெண்
: மல்லிகை பூமாலை என்னை
சூடும் மனம் வாழ்க
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Long live the heart that adorns me!
ஆண்
: நாயகியே உனை வாழ்த்தி
நலம் பாடும் இதயம் இது
நாள் முழுதும் அன்பே உன்
நினைவாலே இயங்குவது
Oh lady of my life, praising you,
This heart sings for your well-being.
All day long, my beloved,
It functions solely on thoughts of you.
ஆண்
: கண்களில் நீரோட்டம் ஏன்
கைகளில் நான் தாங்கும்போது
நெஞ்சிலே போராட்டம் ஏன்
என்னுயிர் நீயாகும்போது
Why are there tears flowing in your eyes,
When I hold you in my arms?
Why is there a struggle in your heart,
When my very life is you?
பெண்
: மல்லிகை பூமாலை
என்னை சூடும் மனம் வாழ்க
மாணிக்க பொன் வீணை
என்னை மீட்டும் விரல் வாழ்க
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Long live the heart that adorns me!
A ruby-studded golden veena,
Long live the fingers that pluck my strings!
ஆண்
: கண்களில் நீர் வழிந்தால்
துடைக்கும் கைகளை வாழ்த்துகிறேன்
மை விழிப் பார்வையினால் உனக்கு
நெய் விளக்கேற்றுகிறேன்
If tears flow from my eyes,
I bless the hands that wipe them away.
With the gaze of my kohl-rimmed eyes, for you,
I light a ghee lamp.
பெண்
: மல்லிகை பூமாலை
என்னை சூடும் மனம் வாழ்க....
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Long live the heart that adorns me!
Maadhavanaam raghuraman
Was Raghurama, who is Madhava, born again?
Marupadiyum pirandhaano
Was he reborn once again?
Mana kadhavai moodaamal
Without closing the door of his heart,
Enakaaga thirandhaano
Did he open it for me?
Malligai poomalai
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Ennai soodum manam vaazhga
Long live the heart that adorns me with it!
Maanikka pon veenai
A ruby-studded golden veena,
Ennai meettum viral vaazhga
Long live the fingers that pluck my strings!
Kangalil neer vazhindhaal
If tears flow from my eyes,
Thudaikkum kaigalai vaazhthugiren
I bless the hands that wipe them away.
Mai vizhi paarvaiyinaal unakku
With the gaze of my kohl-rimmed eyes, for you,
Nei vilakkettrugiren
I light a ghee lamp.
Malligai poomalai ennai
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Soodum manam vaazhga
Long live the heart that adorns me!
Kaalamellaam thalaivaa un
For all of time, my leader,
Kaaladiyil iruppenae
I will remain at your feet.
Kavalaigalae ariyaamal
Knowing no worries at all,
Mugam paarthu sirippenae
I will look at your face and smile.
Manjalum maangalyamum
The auspicious turmeric and sacred wedding thread,
Mannava nee thandha selvam
Oh King, are the wealth you bestowed upon me.
Ondralla ooraayiram
Not just one, but a town full of thousands—
Ammamma naan konda inbam
Oh my, the endless bliss I have received!
Malligai poomalai ennai
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Soodum manam vaazhga
Long live the heart that adorns me!
Naayagiyae unai vaazhthi
Oh lady of my life, praising you,
Nalam paadum idhayam idhu
This heart sings for your well-being.
Naal muzhudhum anbae un
All day long, my beloved,
Ninavaalae iyanguvadhu
It functions solely on thoughts of you.
Kangalil neeroottam yen
Why are there tears flowing in your eyes,
Kaigalil naan thaangum bothu
When I hold you in my arms?
Nenjilae porattam yen
Why is there a struggle in your heart,
Ennuyir neeyaagum bothu
When my very life is you?
Malligai poomalai
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Ennai soodum manam vaazhga
Long live the heart that adorns me!
Maanikka pon veenai
A ruby-studded golden veena,
Ennai meettum viral vaazhga
Long live the fingers that pluck my strings!
Kangalil neer vazhindhaal
If tears flow from my eyes,
Thudaikkum kaigalai vaazhthugiren
I bless the hands that wipe them away.
Mai vizhi paarvaiyinaal unakku
With the gaze of my kohl-rimmed eyes, for you,
Nei vilakkettrugiren
I light a ghee lamp.
Malligai poomalai ennai
A garland of jasmine flowers,
Soodum manam vaazhga
Long live the heart that adorns me!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Malligai Poomalai' is a tender, romantic duet from the 1988 Tamil film 'Thaai Paasam', composed by Chandrabose and written by legendary lyricist Vaali. The song celebrates marital devotion, mutual respect, and deep affection between a husband and wife. The heroine lovingly compares her husband to Lord Rama and expresses gratitude for the sacred marriage bond ('manjal' and 'maangalyam') that brought immense bliss into her life. In response, the hero reaffirms his love, reassuring her that she is his ultimate life force and comfort. Through exquisite traditional imagery—such as jasmine garlands, ruby veenas, and lighting ghee lamps—the song beautifully encapsulates conjugal harmony and emotional sanctuary.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Maanikka pon veenai / Ennai meettum viral vaazhga”
The heroine compares her soul/body to a ruby-studded golden veena that comes alive with music when touched by her husband's caring fingers.
Monaï (First-letter Alliteration)
“Manjalum maangalyamum / Mannava nee thandha selvam”
Repetition of the initial 'Ma' consonant sound across words ('Manjalum', 'maangalyamum', 'Mannava') creates a melodic rhythm.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kaalamellaam thalaivaa un / Kaaladiyil iruppenae”
The second letter 'la' (ல) rhymes between 'Kaalamellaam' and 'Kaaladiyil' across adjacent lines.
Visual Imagery
“Mai vizhi paarvaiyinaal unakku / Nei vilakkettrugiren”
The lyricist creates a vivid romantic image of lighting a auspicious ghee lamp using the brightness and deep love of kohl-lined eyes.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Chandrabose, a prominent music director of 1980s Tamil cinema, 'Malligai Poomalai' is renowned for combining classical vocal elegance (sung by K.J. Yesudas and Vani Jayaram) with lyricist Vaali's signature devotional-romantic style.
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