Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Makaali Madhuneeli

From Sarvam Sakthi Mayam · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Ben Surendar
Movie name
Sarvam Sakthi Mayam
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
10 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maakaali madhuneeli
Ongaari thirisooli
Koduthaai enna ninaithaai
Pillai pirithaai aangaari
Paarpaai pillai ezhundhae vara
Kadaikann arul maari
Enaipaar ini enakkaar thunai
En saei uuyir thaa nee
Enaipaar ini enakkaar thunai
En saei uuyir thaa nee
Sirumaavadu vizhithae ezha olithaa devi
Konji kulaviya pinju magal thanai
Nanju kondu pomo
Vanjanai ennidam vaithathennadi
Ranjitha komala maari
Venjinam pokkidu nanjinai neekkidu
Nal vazhi kaatitidu thaayae
Vaendinen unnai vaendinen
En pillai uyir thara vaendinen oo oo oo
Vaendinen unnai vaendinen
En pillai uyir thara vaendinen
Uyir thara vaendinen
Uyir thara vaendinen
O Mahakali, O dark Goddess,
O primal power of Om, bearer of the trident!
You gave me a child, what changed your mind?
You snatched my child away, O fierce one!
Look at us so my child can wake and rise,
Shower your grace with a glance, O Goddess Mari!
Look at me, who else do I have to turn to?
Give my child back their life!
Look at me, who else do I have to turn to?
Give my child back their life!
Grant your light, O Goddess, so those tender eyes may open!
My sweet little daughter who cuddled and played,
Can poison really take her away?
Why have you played this cruel trick on me,
O lovely, gentle Goddess Mari?
Calm your fierce anger, take away the poison,
and show us a path of hope!
I beg of you, I pray to you,
I beg you to give my child back their life, oh!
I beg of you, I pray to you,
I beg you to give my child back their life,
I beg you to give back life,
I beg you to give back life...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant devotional song from 'Sarvam Sakthi Mayam' (1986) portrays a heart-wrenching maternal lament directed at Goddess Kali/Mariamman. A desperate mother stands over her young daughter who has succumbed to poison, questioning the Goddess's cruelty in granting a child only to snatch her away. Switching between despair, outrage, and utmost devotion, she implores the fierce yet compassionate divine mother to neutralize the venom, calm her divine rage, and resurrect the little girl.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagathai)

Sirumaavadu vizhithae ezha olithaa devi

'Sirumaavadu' compares the child's small, delicate eyes to tender raw mango buds ('maavadu').

Emoni / End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Maakaali madhuneeli / Ongaari thirisooli

Rhyming endings 'madhuneeli' and 'thirisooli' create a rhythmic, ritualistic chant effect.

Internal Rhyme (Edhugai / Iyaibu)

Venjinam pokkidu nanjinai neekkidu

Internal rhyming of 'Venjinam' (intense anger) and 'nanjinai' (poison) links the divine wrath directly with the cause of tragedy.

Repetition / Anaphora (Pinvarunilai Ani)

Vaendinen unnai vaendinen

Repetition of 'Vaendinen' emphasizes the intense desperation and persistent prayer of the mother.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sarvam Sakthi Mayam' (1986) is a classic Tamil devotional drama film directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. Lyricist Vaali is renowned for crafting emotionally charged devotional songs in Tamil cinema that blend deep scriptural epithets of Goddess Sakthi with raw human sorrow.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Sarvam Sakthi Mayam

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.