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Isaimozhi
Athisaya Penn album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Makara Veenai

From Athisaya Penn · 1959

Lyricist
V. Seetharaman
Singer
A. P. Komala
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Athisaya Penn
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
10 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ooo….oo…oo….ooo….
Magara veenai thanathu madhura
Naadha magimai ariyumo
Naadha magimai ariyumo….
Magara veenai thanathu madhura
Naadha magimai ariyumo
Naadha magimai ariyumo…
Valamai kozhikkum bhoomiyin manam
Valamai kozhikkum bhoomiyin manam
Vaana mazhaikku theriyumo….
Magara veenai thanathu madhura
Naadha magimai ariyumo
Naadha magimai ariyumo….
Madhuvai unda vandin manadhu
Malarin nenjam ariyumo….
Ariyumo…..oo….
Madhuvai unda vandin manathu
Malarin nenjam ariyumo……
Mangai enthan nenjath thudippai
Avarum ariya mudiyumo….
Mangai endhan nenjath thudippai
Avarum ariya mudiyumo….
Nanmai theemai arinthidamal
Nanmai theemai arinthidamal
Naan mayangidum pothile
Thooya vazhi kaattida oru
Sotharan vanthaan
Thooya vazhi kaattida oru
Sotharan vanthaan
Oh... oh... oh... oh...
Does the veena know
The beauty of its sweet music?
Does it know the glory of its music?
Does the veena know
The beauty of its sweet music?
Does it know the glory of its music?
The sweet scent of the fertile earth,
The sweet scent of the fertile earth,
Can the rain from the skies ever know it?
Does the veena know
The beauty of its sweet music?
Does it know the glory of its music?
What the bee feels while drinking its nectar,
Can the flower's heart ever know?
Can it ever know? Oh...
What the bee feels while drinking its nectar,
Can the flower's heart ever know?
The pounding heartbeat of this young woman,
Can he ever understand it?
The pounding heartbeat of this young woman,
Can he ever understand it?
Without knowing right from wrong,
Without knowing right from wrong,
When I was lost in confusion,
To guide me onto the pure path,
A brother arrived...
To guide me onto the pure path,
A brother arrived...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poetic song uses vivid nature imagery and musical analogies to express deep, subtle emotions of love, innocence, and gratitude. The protagonist wonders if an instrument understands its own beautiful music, if the falling rain truly comprehends the fertile earth, or if a flower knows the inner mind of the honeybee feeding on it. Drawing a parallel, she wonders if her beloved can truly understand the silent flutter of her youthful heart. In the concluding lines, she reflects on her past confusion and expresses gratitude for a noble brotherly figure who arrived to guide her towards a pure and righteous path.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor and Analogy (உவமை)

Magara veenai thanathu madhura Naadha magimai ariyumo

Compares unexpressed emotions to the Veena instrument that produces sweet music without possessing consciousness of its sound, and the rain touching the earth without knowing its heart.

Rhetorical Question (வினா நவிற்சி)

Vaana mazhaikku theriyumo….

Uses repeated questioning ('Ariyumo', 'Theriyumo') to emphasize the mystery of hidden feelings and natural harmony.

Moonaai / Initial Alliteration (மோனை)

Madhuvai unda vandin manadhu Malarin nenjam ariyumo

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Ma' across words to create rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Athisaya Penn (1959) starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Vyjayanthimala. The music for this classic song was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, with lyrics penned by V. Seetharaman.

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