Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malaiyoram Veesum Kaatru

From Paadu Nilave · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paadu Nilave1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaVocalizing melodic notes.
Aaaa aaaa aaa aah aaa aah aaa aahMelodic vocalization continuing.
Male
{ Malaiyoram veesum kaathuThe breeze blowing along the mountainside,
Manasodu paadum paatu kekudha kekudha } (2)Do you hear the song singing to the heart, do you hear it?
Male
Aararo paadinalum aararo aagathammaWhoever sings a lullaby, it cannot become a true mother's lullaby.
Sonthangal thedinalum thandhai thaai aagathammaEven if you search among all relatives, none can replace a father and mother.
Ennoda thaai thantha paatu thaanammaThis is the song bestowed upon me by my mother.
Male
Malaiyoram veesum kaathuThe breeze blowing along the mountainside,
Manasodu paadum paatu kekudha kekudhaDo you hear the song singing to the heart, do you hear it?
Male
Vaan parantha thaen sittu naan pudika vaarathaWill the sunbird flying in the sky not come into my hands so I can catch it?
Kallirukum rosa poo kaikalaka koodathaCan the rose holding sweet nectar not mingle with my hands?
Raapozhuthu aanaa un raagangal thaanaaWhen night falls, is it only your melodies that resonate?
Anbae sol naana thoda aagatha aanaaTell me, my love, is it forbidden for me to touch you?
Male
Ull moochu vaanginenaeI gasped deep within my breath,
Mul meethu thoonginenaeI slept on a bed of thorns,
Illaatha baramellam nenjodu thaanginenaeI bore all non-existent heavy burdens in my heart.
Nilava naalum thedum vaanam naanI am the sky that searches daily for its moon.
Male
Malaiyoram veesum kaathuThe breeze blowing along the mountainside,
Manasodu paadum paatu kekudha kekudhaDo you hear the song singing to the heart, do you hear it?
Male
Kuthaalathu thaen aruvi sitaada thaan kattaadhaDoesn't the sweet waterfall of Kuttralam drape itself in a skirt?
Sitaadaiya katti ezha kaiyil vanthu kittaadhaDraped in a traditional skirt, won't it come close to this poor soul's hands?
Male
Aathoram nana poongathodu aadaTo dance with the gentle wet breeze along the riverbank,
Aavaram poovil athu dhevaaram paadaTo sing holy hymns upon the yellow Aavaram flowers,
Ingae naan kaathiruka en paarvai poothirkaWhile I wait here with eyes blooming in anticipation,
Engeyo nee irunthu en meethu porthodukaYou wrap yourself around me from somewhere far away.
Kollaadhae pavam intha jeevan thaanDo not kill me, for this soul is pitiable.
Male
{ Malaiyoram veesum kaathuThe breeze blowing along the mountainside,
Manasodu paadum paatu kekudha kekudha } (2)Do you hear the song singing to the heart, do you hear it?
Male
Aararo paadinalum aararo aagathammaWhoever sings a lullaby, it cannot become a true mother's lullaby.
Sonthangal thedinalum thandhai thaai aagathammaEven if you search among all relatives, none can replace a father and mother.
Ennoda thaai thantha paatu thaanammaThis is the song bestowed upon me by my mother.
Male
Malaiyoram veesum kaathuThe breeze blowing along the mountainside,
Manasodu paadum paatu kekudha kekudhaDo you hear the song singing to the heart, do you hear it?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Malaiyoram Veesum Kaathu from Paadu Nilave (1987) is a soulful Tamil song that weaves nature imagery with tender longing and deep filial emotion. The narrator compares the gentle mountain wind to a song that speaks directly to the soul, reflecting on how no love or lullaby in the world can equal that of a parent. It serves as an emotional anchor connecting the singer to motherly affection while expressing a painful yearning for a distant beloved. Through poetic allegories—sleeping on thorns, a sky yearning for its moon, and the wind singing devotional hymns on wild blossoms—lyricist Vaali conveys an unrequited desire and vulnerability. The composition paints a serene yet bittersweet portrait of love, memory, and emotional solitude.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Nilava naalum thedum vaanam naan

The speaker directly compares themselves to a moonless sky constantly longing for the moon to complete it.

Personification (தற்காப்பிய உருவகம்)

Aavaram poovil athu dhevaaram paada

The wind is personified as a devotee singing sacred Dhevaaram hymns on Aavaram flowers.

Ethugai / Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை)

Ull moochu vaanginenae / Mul meethu thoonginenae

Repetition of the second consonant 'll' (ள்/ல்) across consecutive lines creates rhythmic harmony.

Monai / Alliteration (மோனை)

Malaiyoram veesum kaathu / Manasodu paadum paatu

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' (ம) across words in the line gives a soothing musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the film Paadu Nilave (1987), this song features exceptional renditions by singer Mano and S. Janaki. Mano delivered one of his career's defining early performances with this track, closely mirroring SPB's vocal style as required for the lead character played by Mohan.

Keep listening

More from Paadu Nilave