- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Dr. Siva
- Movie release year
- 1975
- Lyrics added on
- 21 Oct 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic song compares a newlywed bride or daughter to the 'Kurinji' flower, an auspicious bloom that appears only once every twelve years in Tamil tradition, symbolizing rare and precious grace. The lyrics express warm blessings for her marital life, noting that her holy wedding thread ('Thirumaangalyam') signifies her union as her husband's life partner and shadow. It further reflects on life's deep bonds, highlighting that while one may possess hundreds of maternal relatives, the true 'empire of relationships' is built upon the foundational love and devotion shared with one's chosen life partner.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Malarae… kurinji malarae…”
Compares the bride/daughter to the rare 'Kurinji' flower, which blooms once every 12 years, elevating her value and uniqueness.
Metaphor
“Uravennum saamraajiyam”
Describes family and love as a 'saamraajiyam' (empire), giving an expansive, grand status to emotional bonds.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Naayagan nizhalae naayagi ennum”
Repetition of the initial 'Na' sound across complementary terms 'Naayagan' (hero) and 'Naayagi' (heroine).
Refrain (Irattakilavi / Anaphora)
“Malarae… kurinji malarae…”
Repetition of the phrase 'Malarae kurinji malarae' throughout the song to reinforce the central theme and musical motif.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song from the 1975 movie 'Dr. Siva' starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, sung by K. J. Yesudas and Vani Jairam. The 'Kurinji' flower holds immense significance in ancient Sangam Tamil poetry (Kurinji-thinai) where it represents the mountainous landscape and is revered as a symbol of rare, enduring affection.
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