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Isaimozhi
Karnaa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Malare Mounama

From Karnaa · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Vidyasagar
Movie name
Karnaa
Movie release year
1995
Lyrics added on
9 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malarae…. mounamaa
Mounamae… vedhamaa
Female :Malargal… pesumaa
Pesinaal ooyumaa anbae..
Malarae…. mounamaa
Mounamae… vedhamaa
Aahhhh.aaahhhhhaaa…..aaaaaaaaa…
Paadhi jeevan kondu dhegam vaazhndhu vandhadho..haan
Female :Meedhi jeevan unnai partha podhu vandhadhoo..ooo
Edho sugam ulloorudhae
Female :Enoo manam thallaadudhae
Edho sugam ulloorudhae
Female :Enoo manam thallaadudhae
Male :Viralgal thodavaa..Female :Virundhai peravaa
Male :Maarboodu kangal moodavaa..
Malarae…. mounamaa ..aaa
Female :Malargal… pesumaa
Kanavu kandu endhan kangal moodi kidandhen
Male :Kaatrai pola vandhu kangal mella thirandhen
Kaatrae enai killaadhiru
Male :Poovae ennai thallaadhiru
:Kaatrae enai killaadhiru
Male :Poovae ennai thallaadhiru
Uravil uravae…Male :Uyirin uyirae
Female :Pudhu vaazhkai thandha vallalae
Malarae…. mounamaa…ahh
Mounamae… vedhamaa
Female :Malargal… pesumaaaa.aa
Pesinaal ooyumaa anbae..
Malarae….Female :Hmm….
Male :Mounamaa…Female :Hmm….
Male :Mounamae…Female :Hmm….
Male :Vedhamaa…Female :Aahhhh…
O flower, are you silent?
Is silence your sacred truth?
Do flowers ever speak?
If they do, will they ever stop, my love?
O flower, are you silent?
Is silence your sacred truth?
Aahh...
Did this body live with only half a soul?
Did the other half arrive the moment I saw you?
A sweet joy wells up inside me...
Why does my heart sway and lose its step?
A sweet joy wells up inside me...
Why does my heart sway and lose its step?
Shall my fingers touch you? Shall I partake in this feast?
Shall I rest my head on your chest and close my eyes?
O flower, are you silent?
Do flowers ever speak?
Lost in a dream, I lay with my eyes closed.
Like the gentle breeze, I came and opened your eyes.
O breeze, do not tease me so.
O flower, do not push me away.
O breeze, do not tease me so.
O flower, do not push me away.
Closest of all kin... Soul of my very soul...
O generous one, who gifted me a brand new life...
O flower, are you silent?
Is silence your sacred truth?
Do flowers ever speak?
If they do, will they ever stop, my love?
O flower... Mmm...
Are you silent? Mmm...
Is silence... Mmm...
...your sacred truth? Aahh...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Malare Mounama is a celebrated romantic duet expressing deep emotional intimacy and transcendent love. The song metaphorically compares silence between lovers to sacred scriptures (Vedas) and addresses the beloved as a delicate flower. The lovers describe how meeting each other felt like completing a half-lived soul, bringing unprecedented joy, tender surrender, and emotional warmth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Mounamae… vedhamaa

Equating quiet intimacy and unsaid feelings to a holy scripture or truth.

Personification & Apostrophe

Malarae…. mounamaa

Addressing the flower as a sentient being capable of speech and silence.

Simile (Upamai)

Kaatrai pola vandhu kangal mella thirandhen

Comparing the lover's soft, unannounced arrival to a gentle gust of wind.

Anaphora / Alliteration (Monaai & Edhugai)

Malarae…. mounamaa / Mounamae… vedhamaa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds 'Ma' creating a soft, rhythmic lyrical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Vidyasagar for the 1995 action-drama film Karnaa, 'Malare Mounama' is widely regarded as one of the peak romantic duets in Tamil cinema. Sung legendary vocalists S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, the song won huge critical acclaim for Vidyasagar's lush lush orchestration and Vairamuthu's evocative poetic lyrics.

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