Malare Oh Malare
From Veettu Mappillai · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- A. M. Raja
- Music director
- A. M. Raja
- Details
- Veettu Mappillai1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Malarae oo malarae | Oh flower, oh flower |
| Nee en malaralla | You are not my flower |
| Male | |
| Malarae oo malarae | Oh flower, oh flower |
| Nee en malaralla | You are not my flower |
| Naanum vandalla | Nor am I the bee |
| Un maanam kaaval kondaen | I took up the guard of your honor |
| Endru kadhal kondaen…. | When did I fall in love? |
| Endru kadhal kondaen…. | When did I fall in love? |
| Male | |
| Malarae oo malarae | Oh flower, oh flower |
| Nee en malaralla | You are not my flower |
| Male | |
| Draupathi maanam kaaththaanae | Lord Krishna saved Draupadi's honor |
| Antha kannan avalathu kadhalanaa | Was that Krishna her lover? |
| Draupathi maanam kaaththaanae | Lord Krishna saved Draupadi's honor |
| Antha kannan avalathu kadhalanaa | Was that Krishna her lover? |
| Male | |
| Thediya neraththil vanthaenae | I arrived at the moment you sought help |
| Naan kaavalanaa illai kadhalanaa | Am I a protector or a lover? |
| Naan kaavalanaa illai kadhalanaa | Am I a protector or a lover? |
| Male | |
| Malarae oo malarae | Oh flower, oh flower |
| Nee en malaralla | You are not my flower |
| Male | |
| Kadamai kattiya thaliyammaa | The thali tied out of duty, my lady |
| Un kanneer thavirththa veliyammaa | It is a protective fence that spared your tears, my lady |
| Urimai kondaada ninaithaenaa | Did I ever think of claiming rights over you? |
| Un uravil aasai valarththaenaa | Did I nurture desire in our relationship? |
| Male | |
| Manjal thanthathu manam kaakka | Turmeric was given to protect your heart |
| Naan maalai thanthathu un maanam kakka | I gave the garland to protect your honor |
| Kungumam thanthathu kulam kaakka | Vermilion was given to protect your family's name |
| Indru kumbittu nirpathu unai kaakka | Today I stand with folded hands to protect you |
| Indru kumbittu nirpathu unai kaakka | Today I stand with folded hands to protect you |
| Male | |
| Malarae oo malarae | Oh flower, oh flower |
| Nee en malaralla | You are not my flower |
| Naanum vandalla | Nor am I the bee |
| Un maanam kaaval kondaen | I took up the guard of your honor |
| Endru kadhal kondaen…. | When did I fall in love? |
| Endru kadhal kondaen…. | When did I fall in love? |
| Male | |
| Malarae oo malarae | Oh flower, oh flower |
| Nee en malaralla…. | You are not my flower... |
மலரே ஓ.....மலரே
நீ என் மலரல்ல
Oh flower, oh flower
You are not my flower
மலரே ஓ.....மலரே
நீ என் மலரல்ல
நானும் வண்டல்ல
உன் மானம் காவல் கொண்டேன்
என்று காதல் கொண்டேன்......
என்று காதல் கொண்டேன்......
Oh flower, oh flower
You are not my flower
Nor am I the bee
I took up the guard of your honor
When did I fall in love?
When did I fall in love?
மலரே ஓ.....மலரே
நீ என் மலரல்ல
Oh flower, oh flower
You are not my flower
திரௌபதி மானம் காத்தானே
அந்தக் கண்ணன் அவளது காதலனா
திரௌபதி மானம் காத்தானே
அந்தக் கண்ணன் அவளது காதலனா
Lord Krishna saved Draupadi's honor
Was that Krishna her lover?
Lord Krishna saved Draupadi's honor
Was that Krishna her lover?
தேடிய நேரத்தில் வந்தேனே
நான் காவலனா இல்லை காதலனா......
நான் காவலனா இல்லை காதலனா......
I arrived at the moment you sought help
Am I a protector or a lover?
Am I a protector or a lover?
மலரே ஓ.....மலரே
நீ என் மலரல்ல
Oh flower, oh flower
You are not my flower
கடமை கட்டிய தாலியம்மா
உன் கண்ணீர் தவிர்த்த வேலியம்மா
உரிமை கொண்டாட நினைத்தேனா
உன் உறவில் ஆசை வளர்த்தேனா...
The thali tied out of duty, my lady
It is a protective fence that spared your tears, my lady
Did I ever think of claiming rights over you?
Did I nurture desire in our relationship?
மஞ்சள் தந்தது மணம் காக்க
நான் மாலை தந்தது உன் மானம் காக்க
குங்குமம் தந்தது குலம் காக்க
இன்று கும்பிட்டு நிற்பதும் உனைக் காக்க
இன்று கும்பிட்டு நிற்பதும் உனைக் காக்க
Turmeric was given to protect your heart
I gave the garland to protect your honor
Vermilion was given to protect your family's name
Today I stand with folded hands to protect you
Today I stand with folded hands to protect you
மலரே ஓ.....மலரே
நீ என் மலரல்ல
நானும் வண்டல்ல
உன் மானம் காவல் கொண்டேன்
என்று காதல் கொண்டேன்......
என்று காதல் கொண்டேன்......
Oh flower, oh flower
You are not my flower
Nor am I the bee
I took up the guard of your honor
When did I fall in love?
When did I fall in love?
மலரே ஓ.....மலரே
நீ என் மலரல்ல....
Oh flower, oh flower
You are not my flower...
Malarae oo malarae
Oh flower, oh flower
Nee en malaralla
You are not my flower
Malarae oo malarae
Oh flower, oh flower
Nee en malaralla
You are not my flower
Naanum vandalla
Nor am I the bee
Un maanam kaaval kondaen
I took up the guard of your honor
Endru kadhal kondaen….
When did I fall in love?
Endru kadhal kondaen….
When did I fall in love?
Malarae oo malarae
Oh flower, oh flower
Nee en malaralla
You are not my flower
Draupathi maanam kaaththaanae
Lord Krishna saved Draupadi's honor
Antha kannan avalathu kadhalanaa
Was that Krishna her lover?
Draupathi maanam kaaththaanae
Lord Krishna saved Draupadi's honor
Antha kannan avalathu kadhalanaa
Was that Krishna her lover?
Thediya neraththil vanthaenae
I arrived at the moment you sought help
Naan kaavalanaa illai kadhalanaa
Am I a protector or a lover?
Naan kaavalanaa illai kadhalanaa
Am I a protector or a lover?
Malarae oo malarae
Oh flower, oh flower
Nee en malaralla
You are not my flower
Kadamai kattiya thaliyammaa
The thali tied out of duty, my lady
Un kanneer thavirththa veliyammaa
It is a protective fence that spared your tears, my lady
Urimai kondaada ninaithaenaa
Did I ever think of claiming rights over you?
Un uravil aasai valarththaenaa
Did I nurture desire in our relationship?
Manjal thanthathu manam kaakka
Turmeric was given to protect your heart
Naan maalai thanthathu un maanam kakka
I gave the garland to protect your honor
Kungumam thanthathu kulam kaakka
Vermilion was given to protect your family's name
Indru kumbittu nirpathu unai kaakka
Today I stand with folded hands to protect you
Indru kumbittu nirpathu unai kaakka
Today I stand with folded hands to protect you
Malarae oo malarae
Oh flower, oh flower
Nee en malaralla
You are not my flower
Naanum vandalla
Nor am I the bee
Un maanam kaaval kondaen
I took up the guard of your honor
Endru kadhal kondaen….
When did I fall in love?
Endru kadhal kondaen….
When did I fall in love?
Malarae oo malarae
Oh flower, oh flower
Nee en malaralla….
You are not my flower...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In 'Malarae Oo Malarae' from the 1973 movie Veettu Mappillai, the protagonist addresses a woman to clarify the noble nature of their relationship. He uses the metaphor of a flower and a bee to state that theirs is not a conventional romantic pairing, but rather a selfless relationship built on duty, honor, and protection. He draws a classic comparison to Lord Krishna saving Draupadi's honor in the Mahabharata, emphasizing that protecting someone does not automatically imply romantic entitlement. Kannadasan's lyrics beautifully reframe traditional symbols of marriage—such as the thali (sacred thread), manjal (turmeric), maalai (garland), and kungumam (vermilion)—not as tokens of possession or romantic love, but as shields created strictly to defend her dignity and shield her from societal scorn. The song is a powerful statement on chivalry, emotional restraint, and respect.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Subverted Metaphor
“Nee en malaralla / Naanum vandalla”
The traditional romantic imagery of a flower ('malar') and a honeybee ('vandhu') is negated ('Nee en malaralla / Naanum vandalla') to reject romantic ownership in favor of platonic protection.
Mythological Allusion (Puraana Kurippeedhu)
“Draupathi maanam kaaththaanae / Antha kannan avalathu kadhalanaa”
References Lord Krishna's act of saving Draupadi's modesty to illustrate that selfless protection does not stem from romantic desire.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme & Parallelism)
“Manjal thanthathu manam kaakka / Naan maalai thanthathu un maanam kakka / Kungumam thanthathu kulam kaakka”
Use of rhythmic ending words ('kaakka') across successive lines to emphasize the theme of protection.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed and sung by A. M. Raja, this song remains one of Kannadasan's finest philosophical lyric accomplishments, exploring platonic devotion within a marriage framework.
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