Malai Poluthin
From Bhagyalakshmi · 1961
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Bhagyalakshmi1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Maalai | In the evening |
| Pozhuthin mayakathilae | In the spellbinding twilight intoxication, |
| Naan kanavu kanden thozhi } (2) | I saw a dream, my dear friend. (2) |
| Female | |
| Manadhil | In my heart |
| Irundhum vaarthaigal | Though thoughts exist, words |
| Illai kaaranam yen thozhi | Are missing—why is that, my friend? |
| Kaaranam yen thozhi aa aa aa | Why is that, my friend? Ah ah ah |
| Female | |
| Maalai | In the evening |
| Pozhuthin mayakathilae | In the spellbinding twilight intoxication, |
| Naan kanavu kanden thozhi | I saw a dream, my dear friend. |
| Female | |
| Inbam silanaal | Joy lasts for a few days, |
| Thunbam silanaal endravar | Sorrow lasts for a few days—who said this, |
| Yaar thozhi | Who said this, my friend? |
| Female | |
| Inbam kanavil | Joy is seen in dreams, |
| Thunbam ethiril kaanbathu | While sorrow is faced in reality— |
| Yen thozhi kaanbathu yen | Why is it so, my friend, why is it so, |
| Thozhi aa aa aa | My friend? Ah ah ah |
| Female | |
| Maalai | In the evening |
| Pozhuthin mayakathilae | In the spellbinding twilight intoxication, |
| Naan kanavu kanden thozhi | I saw a dream, my dear friend. |
| Female | |
| Manamudithavar | Like a groom wedded to me, |
| Pol aruginilae oar vadivu | I saw a figure nearby, |
| Kanden thozhi mangai en | I saw him, my friend; he placed vermilion |
| Kaiyil kungumam thandhaar | In my young hands, |
| Maalai ittaar thozhi | And garlanded me, my friend. |
| Female | |
| Vazhi | Losing my |
| Marantheno vandhavar | Way, I leaned against the chest |
| Nenjil saainthuvitten thozhi | Of the one who arrived, my friend. |
| Female | |
| Avar | He said, |
| Maraven maraven | "I will never forget, never forget," |
| Endrar udanae marandhu | Yet he instantly forgot |
| Vittar thozhi paranthu | Me, my friend; he flew away |
| Vittar thozhi aa aa aa | From me, my friend. Ah ah ah |
| Female | |
| Maalai | In the evening |
| Pozhuthin mayakathilae | In the spellbinding twilight intoxication, |
| Naan kanavu kanden thozhi | I saw a dream, my dear friend. |
| Female | |
| Kanavil | In the dream, |
| Vanthavar yarena keten | I asked the visitor who he was; |
| Kanavar endrar thozhi | "Your husband," he declared, my friend. |
| Female | |
| Kanavar | If he was my |
| Endral avar kanavu | Husband, why did he separate |
| Mudinthadhum pirinthadhu | When the dream ended, |
| Yen thozhi | Why, my friend? |
| Female | |
| Ilamai ellam | All of youth |
| Verum kanavu mayam | Is merely an illusion of dreams; |
| Idhil marainthadhu sila kaalam | A portion of time vanished within it. |
| Female | |
| Thelivum | Without clarity |
| Ariyathu mudivum | And without knowing the end, |
| Theriyathu mayankuthu ethirkaalam | The future stands bewildered and blurred. |
| Mayankuthu ethirkaalam aa aa aa | The future stands bewildered. Ah ah ah |
| Female | |
| Maalai | In the evening |
| Pozhuthin mayakathilae | In the spellbinding twilight intoxication, |
| Naan kanavu kanden thozhi | I saw a dream, my dear friend. |
| Female | |
| Manadhil | In my heart |
| Irundhum vaarthaigal | Though thoughts exist, words |
| Illai kaaranam yen thozhi | Are missing—why is that, my friend? |
| Kaaranam yen thozhi aa aa aa | Why is that, my friend? Ah ah ah |
| Female | |
| Maalai | In the evening |
| Pozhuthin mayakathilae | In the spellbinding twilight intoxication, |
| Naan kanavu kanden thozhi | I saw a dream, my dear friend. |
{ மாலை பொழுதின்
மயக்கத்திலே நான் கனவு
கண்டேன் தோழி } (2)
In the evening
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
I saw a dream, my dear friend. (2)
மனதில் இருந்தும்
வார்த்தைகள் இல்லை
காரணம் ஏன் தோழி
காரணம் ஏன் தோழி
ஆ ஆ ஆ
In my heart
Though thoughts exist, words
Are missing—why is that, my friend?
Why is that, my friend? Ah ah ah
மாலை பொழுதின்
மயக்கத்திலே நான் கனவு
கண்டேன் தோழி
In the evening
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
இன்பம் சிலநாள்
துன்பம் சிலநாள் என்றவர்
யார் தோழி
Joy lasts for a few days,
Sorrow lasts for a few days—who said this,
Who said this, my friend?
இன்பம் கனவில்
துன்பம் எதிரில் காண்பது
ஏன் தோழி காண்பது ஏன்
தோழி ஆ ஆ ஆ
Joy is seen in dreams,
While sorrow is faced in reality—
Why is it so, my friend, why is it so,
My friend? Ah ah ah
மாலை பொழுதின்
மயக்கத்திலே நான் கனவு
கண்டேன் தோழி
In the evening
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
மணமுடித்தவர்
போல் அருகினிலே ஓர்
வடிவு கண்டேன் தோழி
மங்கை என் கையில்
குங்குமம் தந்தார் மாலை
இட்டார் தோழி
Like a groom wedded to me,
I saw a figure nearby,
I saw him, my friend; he placed vermilion
In my young hands,
And garlanded me, my friend.
வழி மறந்தேனோ
வந்தவர் நெஞ்சில் சாய்ந்து
விட்டேன் தோழி
Losing my
Way, I leaned against the chest
Of the one who arrived, my friend.
அவர் மறவேன்
மறவேன் என்றார் உடனே
மறந்து விட்டார் தோழி
பறந்து விட்டார் தோழி
ஆ ஆ ஆ
He said,
"I will never forget, never forget,"
Yet he instantly forgot
Me, my friend; he flew away
From me, my friend. Ah ah ah
மாலை பொழுதின்
மயக்கத்திலே நான் கனவு
கண்டேன் தோழி
In the evening
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
கனவில் வந்தவர்
யாரென கேட்டேன் கணவர்
என்றார் தோழி
In the dream,
I asked the visitor who he was;
"Your husband," he declared, my friend.
கணவர் என்றால்
அவர் கனவு முடிந்ததும்
பிரிந்தது ஏன் தோழி
If he was my
Husband, why did he separate
When the dream ended,
Why, my friend?
இளமை எல்லாம்
வெறும் கனவு மயம் இதில்
மறைந்தது சில காலம்
All of youth
Is merely an illusion of dreams;
A portion of time vanished within it.
தெளிவும் அறியாது
முடிவும் தெரியாது மயங்குது
எதிர்காலம் மயங்குது
எதிர்காலம் ஆ ஆ ஆ
Without clarity
And without knowing the end,
The future stands bewildered and blurred.
The future stands bewildered. Ah ah ah
மாலை பொழுதின்
மயக்கத்திலே நான் கனவு
கண்டேன் தோழி
In the evening
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
மனதில் இருந்தும்
வார்த்தைகள் இல்லை
காரணம் ஏன் தோழி
காரணம் ஏன் தோழி
ஆ ஆ ஆ
In my heart
Though thoughts exist, words
Are missing—why is that, my friend?
Why is that, my friend? Ah ah ah
மாலை பொழுதின்
மயக்கத்திலே நான் கனவு
கண்டேன் தோழி
In the evening
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
{ Maalai
In the evening
Pozhuthin mayakathilae
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
Naan kanavu kanden thozhi } (2)
I saw a dream, my dear friend. (2)
Manadhil
In my heart
Irundhum vaarthaigal
Though thoughts exist, words
Illai kaaranam yen thozhi
Are missing—why is that, my friend?
Kaaranam yen thozhi aa aa aa
Why is that, my friend? Ah ah ah
Maalai
In the evening
Pozhuthin mayakathilae
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
Naan kanavu kanden thozhi
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
Inbam silanaal
Joy lasts for a few days,
Thunbam silanaal endravar
Sorrow lasts for a few days—who said this,
Yaar thozhi
Who said this, my friend?
Inbam kanavil
Joy is seen in dreams,
Thunbam ethiril kaanbathu
While sorrow is faced in reality—
Yen thozhi kaanbathu yen
Why is it so, my friend, why is it so,
Thozhi aa aa aa
My friend? Ah ah ah
Maalai
In the evening
Pozhuthin mayakathilae
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
Naan kanavu kanden thozhi
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
Manamudithavar
Like a groom wedded to me,
Pol aruginilae oar vadivu
I saw a figure nearby,
Kanden thozhi mangai en
I saw him, my friend; he placed vermilion
Kaiyil kungumam thandhaar
In my young hands,
Maalai ittaar thozhi
And garlanded me, my friend.
Vazhi
Losing my
Marantheno vandhavar
Way, I leaned against the chest
Nenjil saainthuvitten thozhi
Of the one who arrived, my friend.
Avar
He said,
Maraven maraven
"I will never forget, never forget,"
Endrar udanae marandhu
Yet he instantly forgot
Vittar thozhi paranthu
Me, my friend; he flew away
Vittar thozhi aa aa aa
From me, my friend. Ah ah ah
Maalai
In the evening
Pozhuthin mayakathilae
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
Naan kanavu kanden thozhi
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
Kanavil
In the dream,
Vanthavar yarena keten
I asked the visitor who he was;
Kanavar endrar thozhi
"Your husband," he declared, my friend.
Kanavar
If he was my
Endral avar kanavu
Husband, why did he separate
Mudinthadhum pirinthadhu
When the dream ended,
Yen thozhi
Why, my friend?
Ilamai ellam
All of youth
Verum kanavu mayam
Is merely an illusion of dreams;
Idhil marainthadhu sila kaalam
A portion of time vanished within it.
Thelivum
Without clarity
Ariyathu mudivum
And without knowing the end,
Theriyathu mayankuthu ethirkaalam
The future stands bewildered and blurred.
Mayankuthu ethirkaalam aa aa aa
The future stands bewildered. Ah ah ah
Maalai
In the evening
Pozhuthin mayakathilae
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
Naan kanavu kanden thozhi
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
Manadhil
In my heart
Irundhum vaarthaigal
Though thoughts exist, words
Illai kaaranam yen thozhi
Are missing—why is that, my friend?
Kaaranam yen thozhi aa aa aa
Why is that, my friend? Ah ah ah
Maalai
In the evening
Pozhuthin mayakathilae
In the spellbinding twilight intoxication,
Naan kanavu kanden thozhi
I saw a dream, my dear friend.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song 'Maalai Pozhuthin Mayakathilae' from the 1961 film Bhagyalakshmi captures the bittersweet emotions of a woman confiding in her female friend (thozhi). She describes a romantic dream during dusk where a beloved man appeared as her husband, adorning her with kungumam and a garland, only to vanish as the dream shattered, leaving her heartbroken in reality.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Inbam silanaal / Thunbam silanaal”
The second consonant 'n' rhymes across lines in 'Inbam' and 'Thunbam'.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Inbam kanavil / Thunbam ethiril kaanbathu”
Juxtaposition of dream-state joy (Inbam kanavil) against real-life grief (Thunbam ethiril).
Anaphora / Apostrophe
“Naan kanavu kanden thozhi”
Direct address to a female confidante ('thozhi') repeated at the end of stanzas to build intimacy and emotional gravity.
Metaphor
“Ilamai ellam verum kanavu mayam”
Comparing youth and passing time to a fleeting, illusory dream state ('Ilamai ellam verum kanavu mayam').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung soulfully by P. Susheela, this Kannadasan masterpiece remains one of Tamil cinema's most celebrated melancholy classics. Set in the melancholic raaga Chandrakauns / Suddha Dhanyasi, it brilliantly portrays the transitional, hypnotic mood of dusk ('Maalai Pozhudhu').
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