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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malare Malare

From Then Nilavu · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
A. M. Rajah
Details
Then Nilavu1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
MalaraeO flower
Malarae theriyaadhoO flower, do you not know?
Manathin nilaimai puriyaadhoDo you not understand the state of my heart?
Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan arivenYou know me, and I know you
Female
KaadhalarMy lover
Unnai kaana vanthaalIf he comes to see you
Nilaiyai solvaayo enWill you tell him my state, my
Kadhaiyai solvaayoWill you tell him my story?
Female
MalaraeO flower
Malarae theriyaadhoO flower, do you not know?
Manathin nilaimai puriyaadhoDo you not understand the state of my heart?
Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan arivenYou know me, and I know you
Female
{ Kaatchigal{ Visions
Maarum naadagam polaeLike a changing play
Kaalamum maaradho…Will time not also change?...
Kaalamum maaradho } (2)Will time not also change? } (2)
Female
KaalangalalaeThrough the passage of time
Vaazhkai sellum paadhaiyumThe path on which life travels
Maaradho… paadhaiyum maaradhoWill it not change?... Will the path not change?
Female
YaarNo matter who
Maariya pothumChanges
Paavai enthanThis maiden's
Idhayam maaradhuHeart will not change
En nilaiyum maaradhuMy state too will not change
Female
MalaraeO flower
Malarae theriyaadhoO flower, do you not know?
Manathin nilaimai puriyaadhoDo you not understand the state of my heart?
Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan arivenYou know me, and I know you
Female
{ Kangalil{ In my eyes
Thondrum kaatchiyilIn the sights that appear
Ondrai kalandhaeMerged as one
Nindrarae… kalandhae nindrarae } (2)He stood... merged he stood } (2)
Female
NinaivugalMemories
Thondrum nenjil endrumIn the heart where memories arise always
{ Niraindhae nindrarae} (2){ He stood completely filling it } (2)
Female
IniHereafter
Avarudan vaazhvilIn life with him
Ondru serum thirunaalThe auspicious day of uniting
Vaaraadho en manaWill it not come, my heart's
Naal vaaraadhoDay, will it not come?
Female
MalaraeO flower
Malarae theriyaadhoO flower, do you not know?
Manathin nilaimai puriyaadhoDo you not understand the state of my heart?
Ennai nee arivaai unnai naan arivenYou know me, and I know you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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