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Isaimozhi
Then Nilavu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Malare Malare

From Then Nilavu · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
A. M. Rajah
Movie name
Then Nilavu
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
11 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malarae
Malarae theriyaadho
Manathin nilaimai puriyaadho
Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan ariven
Kaadhalar
Unnai kaana vanthaal
Nilaiyai solvaayo en
Kadhaiyai solvaayo
Malarae
Malarae theriyaadho
Manathin nilaimai puriyaadho
Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan ariven
{ Kaatchigal
Maarum naadagam polae
Kaalamum maaradho…
Kaalamum maaradho } (2)
Kaalangalalae
Vaazhkai sellum paadhaiyum
Maaradho… paadhaiyum maaradho
Yaar
Maariya pothum
Paavai enthan
Idhayam maaradhu
En nilaiyum maaradhu
Malarae
Malarae theriyaadho
Manathin nilaimai puriyaadho
Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan ariven
{ Kangalil
Thondrum kaatchiyil
Ondrai kalandhae
Nindrarae… kalandhae nindrarae } (2)
Ninaivugal
Thondrum nenjil endrum
{ Niraindhae nindrarae} (2)
Ini
Avarudan vaazhvil
Ondru serum thirunaal
Vaaraadho en mana
Naal vaaraadho
Malarae
Malarae theriyaadho
Manathin nilaimai puriyaadho
Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan ariven
O flower,
O flower, don't you know?
Don't you understand the state of my heart?
You know me, and I know you.
If my lover
comes to see you,
will you tell him my condition? My
story, will you tell him?
O flower,
O flower, don't you know?
Don't you understand the state of my heart?
You know me, and I know you.
{ Like a play
where the scenes keep changing,
won't time change as well?...
Won't time change as well? } (2)
With the changing times,
won't the path of life
change too?... Won't the path change too?
Even if anyone else
changes,
this girl's
heart will never change,
and my feelings will never change!
O flower,
O flower, don't you know?
Don't you understand the state of my heart?
You know me, and I know you.
{ In every sight
that appears before my eyes,
he became one with it...
He became one with it! } (2)
In the heart where memories
arise, he has forever
{ filled it completely! } (2)
From now on,
to unite with him in life,
won't that blessed day
come? Won't my wedding
day come?
O flower,
O flower, don't you know?
Don't you understand the state of my heart?
You know me, and I know you.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Malare Malare Theriyadho is a soulful romantic song from the 1961 Tamil film Then Nilavu. The protagonist addresses a flower as her silent confidante, pouring out her feelings of love and yearning. She asks the flower to convey her emotional plight to her lover if he ever visits, drawing a parallel between shifting life circumstances and a changing dramatic play. Despite the changing times and world around her, she remains deeply devoted to her lover, holding on to the hope of their eventual reunion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification / Apostrophe

Malarae theriyaadho

Addressing an inanimate flower ('Malarae') directly as a living confidante capable of understanding emotion and passing messages.

Simile (Upamai)

Maarum naadagam polae

Comparing the changing phases of life to a dynamic theatrical play using 'polae'.

Chiasmus / Antimetabole

Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan ariven

Inverting words for poetic rhythm and balance ('Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan ariven').

Rhetorical Question

Kaalamum maaradho…

Expressing deep yearning through open-ended questions about time and destiny.

Did you know?

Trivia

Then Nilavu (1961), directed by C. V. Sridhar, was one of the earliest Tamil feature films extensively shot on location in Jammu and Kashmir. The music was composed by A. M. Rajah, and this popular track was sung by P. Susheela.

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