Malare Oru Varthai
From Poomagal Oorvalam · 1999
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- Siva
- Details
- Poomagal Oorvalam1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Malarae oru vaarthai pesu | Oh flower, speak a single word, |
| Ippadikku poongaartu | Yours truly, the gentle breeze. |
| Malarae oru vaarthai pesu | Oh flower, speak a single word, |
| Ippadikku poongaartu | Yours truly, the gentle breeze. |
| Male | |
| Kaatru vanthu kaadhu kadithum | Even after the wind comes and whispers in your ears, |
| Innum enna mounamo | Why is there still this silence? |
| Modhi vanthu muthamittal | If I bump into you and kiss you, |
| Mounam theerumo… | Will this silence end...? |
| Male | |
| Achcham thaan un aadaiyo | Is fear itself your garment? |
| Vetkkam thaan mundhaanaiyo | Is shyness your veil? |
| Mounam thaan un veliyo | Is silence your fence? |
| Sempoovae vaa vaa vaa vaa | Oh red flower, come, come, come, come! |
| Female | |
| Vizhiyae oru varthaiyaanal | If eyes could speak a word, |
| Mozhi enbathu vendamae | There would be no need for language. |
| Male | |
| Vaarthaiyaadi paartha pothu | When we tried playing with words, |
| Kaadhal varavillai | Love did not arrive. |
| Kaadhal vanthu serntha pothu | When love finally arrived, |
| Vaarthai varavillai | Words failed to come. |
| Female | |
| Nangu kangal pesum pothu | When four eyes converse, |
| Thaai mozhikku idamillai | There is no room even for the mother tongue. |
| Mounam paadum paadal polae | Like a song sung by silence, |
| Manathukku sugamillai | There is no greater comfort for the heart. |
| Male | |
| Malargalai eripathu muraiyillai | Plucking flowers is not right, |
| Mounathai udaipathu sariyillai | Breaking silence is not proper. |
| Mounathin osaigal kelamal | Without hearing the sounds of silence, |
| Vaarthaigal purivathu ezhithillai | Understanding words is not easy. |
| Female | |
| Kannil aasai thudikkuthae | Desire throbs in your eyes, |
| Anbae anbae | My love, my love. |
| Nenju pidikithu mullai veliyil sollavillai | My heart catches fire like a thorn fence, yet I haven't expressed it. |
| Male | |
| Vetkka padatha pookkalum | Flowers that feel no shyness, |
| Vandugal thodathadi | Bumblebees will not touch, my dear. |
| Mutham tharamal vetkkam | Without giving a kiss, shyness |
| Sayam pogathadi | Will not fade in color, my dear. |
| Malarae oru vaarthai pesu | Oh flower, speak a single word, |
| Ippadikku poongaartu | Yours truly, the gentle breeze. |
| Female | |
| Pennidathil ullathellam | All that resides within a woman, |
| Pennukku theriyaathu | Is not known even to that woman herself. |
| Orr aanin kaigal theendu mattum | Until a man's hands touch her, |
| Avasiyam puriyaathu | Its true necessity is not understood. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal mangai sonna vaarthai | The words spoken by a loving maiden |
| Kavithaiyil kidaiyaathu | Are not found even in poetry. |
| Ada kaadhalikkum aatkkal polae | Ah, like the people who fall in love, |
| Kavinjargal kidaiyaathu | Poets themselves do not exist. |
| Female | |
| Iravilae thaamarai malaraathu | The lotus does not bloom at night, |
| Pagalilae alliyum avizhaathu | And the lily does not open during the day. |
| Idhayappoo eppothu malarum endru | When the flower of the heart will bloom, |
| Ithuvarai sonnavar kidaiyaathu | No one has ever been able to tell till today. |
| Male | |
| Ye raajamohini ramba ramba | Oh royal enchantress, beautiful maiden, |
| Un edaikku edai thangam | Gold equal to your weight, |
| Tharathudikkum nenjam | My heart throbs to give you. |
| Female | |
| Kaigal thodamal kangalal | Without touching with hands, with your eyes, |
| Nenjai pandhaadinaai | You played with my heart like a ball. |
| Ratham varamaal paarvaiyaal | Without shedding blood, with just your gaze, |
| Ennai thundaainaai | You chopped me into pieces. |
| Male | |
| Malarae oru vaarthai pesu | Oh flower, speak a single word, |
| Ippadikku poongaartu | Yours truly, the gentle breeze. |
| Malarae oru vaarthai pesu | Oh flower, speak a single word, |
| Ippadikku poongaartu | Yours truly, the gentle breeze. |
| Male | |
| Kaatru vanthu kaadhu kadithum | Even after the wind comes and whispers in your ears, |
| Innum enna mounamo | Why is there still this silence? |
| Modhi vanthu muthamittal | If I bump into you and kiss you, |
| Mounam theerumo… | Will this silence end...? |
| Male | |
| Achcham thaan un aadaiyo | Is fear itself your garment? |
| Vetkkam thaan mundhaanaiyo | Is shyness your veil? |
| Mounam thaan un veliyo | Is silence your fence? |
| Sempoovae vaa vaa vaa vaa | Oh red flower, come, come, come, come! |
| Male | |
| Malarae oru vaarthai pesu | Oh flower, speak a single word, |
| Ippadikku poongaartu | Yours truly, the gentle breeze. |
மலரே ஒரு வார்த்தை பேசு
இப்படிக்கு பூங்காற்று
மலரே ஒரு வார்த்தை பேசு
இப்படிக்கு பூங்காற்று
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
காற்று வந்து காது கடித்தும்
இன்னும் என்ன மௌனமோ
மோதி வந்து முத்தமிட்டால்
மௌனம் தீருமோ
Even after the wind comes and whispers in your ears,
Why is there still this silence?
If I bump into you and kiss you,
Will this silence end...?
அச்சம்தான் உன் ஆடையோ
வெட்கம் தான் முந்தானையோ
மௌனம் தான் உன் வேலியோ
செம்பூவே வா வா வா வா
Is fear itself your garment?
Is shyness your veil?
Is silence your fence?
Oh red flower, come, come, come, come!
விழியே ஒரு வார்த்தையானால்
மொழி என்பது வேண்டாமே
If eyes could speak a word,
There would be no need for language.
வார்த்தையாடி பார்த்த போது
காதல் வரவில்லை
காதல் வந்து சேர்ந்தபோது
வார்த்தை வரவில்லை
When we tried playing with words,
Love did not arrive.
When love finally arrived,
Words failed to come.
நான்கு கண்கள் சேர்ந்தபோது
தாய்மொழிக்கு இடமில்லை
மௌனம் பாடும் பாடல் போலே
மனதுக்கு சுகமில்லை
When four eyes converse,
There is no room even for the mother tongue.
Like a song sung by silence,
There is no greater comfort for the heart.
மலர்களை எறிப்பது முறையில்லை
மௌனத்தை உடைப்பது சரியில்லை
மௌனத்தின் ஓசைகள் கேளாமல்
வார்த்தைகள் புரிவது எளிதில்லை
Plucking flowers is not right,
Breaking silence is not proper.
Without hearing the sounds of silence,
Understanding words is not easy.
கண்ணில் ஆசை துடிக்குதே
அன்பே அன்பே
நெஞ்சு பிடிக்குது முல்லை
வெளியில் சொல்லவில்லை
Desire throbs in your eyes,
My love, my love.
My heart catches fire like a thorn fence, yet I haven't expressed it.
வெட்க படாத பூக்களை
வண்டுகள் தொடாதடி
முத்தம் தராமல் வெட்கம்
சாயம் போகாதடி
மலரே ஒரு வார்த்தை பேசு
இப்படிக்கு பூங்காற்று
Flowers that feel no shyness,
Bumblebees will not touch, my dear.
Without giving a kiss, shyness
Will not fade in color, my dear.
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
பெண்ணிடத்தில் உள்ளதெல்லாம்
பெண்ணுக்கு தெரியாது
ஓர் ஆணின் கைகள் தீண்ட மட்டும்
அவசியம் புரியாது
All that resides within a woman,
Is not known even to that woman herself.
Until a man's hands touch her,
Its true necessity is not understood.
காதல் மங்கை சொன்ன வார்த்தை
கவிதையில் கிடையாது
அட காதலிக்கும் ஆட்கள் போலே
கவிஞர்கள் கிடையாது
The words spoken by a loving maiden
Are not found even in poetry.
Ah, like the people who fall in love,
Poets themselves do not exist.
இரவிலே தாமரை மலராது
பகலிலே அல்லியும் அவிழாது
இதயப்பூ எப்போதும் மலரும் என்று
இதுவரை சொன்னவர் கிடையாது
The lotus does not bloom at night,
And the lily does not open during the day.
When the flower of the heart will bloom,
No one has ever been able to tell till today.
ஏய் ராஜமோகினி ரம்பா ரம்பா
உன் எடைக்கெடை தங்கம்
தரத்துடிக்கும் நெஞ்சம்
Oh royal enchantress, beautiful maiden,
Gold equal to your weight,
My heart throbs to give you.
கைகள் தொடாமல் கண்களால்
நெஞ்சை பந்தாடினாய்
ரத்தம் வராமல் பார்வையால்
என்னை துண்டாடினாய்
Without touching with hands, with your eyes,
You played with my heart like a ball.
Without shedding blood, with just your gaze,
You chopped me into pieces.
மலரே ஒரு வார்த்தை பேசு
இப்படிக்கு பூங்காற்று
மலரே ஒரு வார்த்தை பேசு
இப்படிக்கு பூங்காற்று
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
காற்று வந்து காது கடித்தும்
இன்னும் என்ன மௌனமோ
மோதி வந்து முத்தமிட்டால்
மௌனம் தீருமோ
Even after the wind comes and whispers in your ears,
Why is there still this silence?
If I bump into you and kiss you,
Will this silence end...?
அச்சம்தான் உன் ஆடையோ
வெட்கம் தான் முந்தானையோ
மௌனம் தான் உன் வேலியோ
செம்பூவே வா வா வா வா
Is fear itself your garment?
Is shyness your veil?
Is silence your fence?
Oh red flower, come, come, come, come!
மலரே ஒரு வார்த்தை பேசு
இப்படிக்கு பூங்காற்று
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Malarae oru vaarthai pesu
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Ippadikku poongaartu
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Malarae oru vaarthai pesu
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Ippadikku poongaartu
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Kaatru vanthu kaadhu kadithum
Even after the wind comes and whispers in your ears,
Innum enna mounamo
Why is there still this silence?
Modhi vanthu muthamittal
If I bump into you and kiss you,
Mounam theerumo…
Will this silence end...?
Achcham thaan un aadaiyo
Is fear itself your garment?
Vetkkam thaan mundhaanaiyo
Is shyness your veil?
Mounam thaan un veliyo
Is silence your fence?
Sempoovae vaa vaa vaa vaa
Oh red flower, come, come, come, come!
Vizhiyae oru varthaiyaanal
If eyes could speak a word,
Mozhi enbathu vendamae
There would be no need for language.
Vaarthaiyaadi paartha pothu
When we tried playing with words,
Kaadhal varavillai
Love did not arrive.
Kaadhal vanthu serntha pothu
When love finally arrived,
Vaarthai varavillai
Words failed to come.
Nangu kangal pesum pothu
When four eyes converse,
Thaai mozhikku idamillai
There is no room even for the mother tongue.
Mounam paadum paadal polae
Like a song sung by silence,
Manathukku sugamillai
There is no greater comfort for the heart.
Malargalai eripathu muraiyillai
Plucking flowers is not right,
Mounathai udaipathu sariyillai
Breaking silence is not proper.
Mounathin osaigal kelamal
Without hearing the sounds of silence,
Vaarthaigal purivathu ezhithillai
Understanding words is not easy.
Kannil aasai thudikkuthae
Desire throbs in your eyes,
Anbae anbae
My love, my love.
Nenju pidikithu mullai veliyil sollavillai
My heart catches fire like a thorn fence, yet I haven't expressed it.
Vetkka padatha pookkalum
Flowers that feel no shyness,
Vandugal thodathadi
Bumblebees will not touch, my dear.
Mutham tharamal vetkkam
Without giving a kiss, shyness
Sayam pogathadi
Will not fade in color, my dear.
Malarae oru vaarthai pesu
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Ippadikku poongaartu
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Pennidathil ullathellam
All that resides within a woman,
Pennukku theriyaathu
Is not known even to that woman herself.
Orr aanin kaigal theendu mattum
Until a man's hands touch her,
Avasiyam puriyaathu
Its true necessity is not understood.
Kaadhal mangai sonna vaarthai
The words spoken by a loving maiden
Kavithaiyil kidaiyaathu
Are not found even in poetry.
Ada kaadhalikkum aatkkal polae
Ah, like the people who fall in love,
Kavinjargal kidaiyaathu
Poets themselves do not exist.
Iravilae thaamarai malaraathu
The lotus does not bloom at night,
Pagalilae alliyum avizhaathu
And the lily does not open during the day.
Idhayappoo eppothu malarum endru
When the flower of the heart will bloom,
Ithuvarai sonnavar kidaiyaathu
No one has ever been able to tell till today.
Ye raajamohini ramba ramba
Oh royal enchantress, beautiful maiden,
Un edaikku edai thangam
Gold equal to your weight,
Tharathudikkum nenjam
My heart throbs to give you.
Kaigal thodamal kangalal
Without touching with hands, with your eyes,
Nenjai pandhaadinaai
You played with my heart like a ball.
Ratham varamaal paarvaiyaal
Without shedding blood, with just your gaze,
Ennai thundaainaai
You chopped me into pieces.
Malarae oru vaarthai pesu
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Ippadikku poongaartu
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Malarae oru vaarthai pesu
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Ippadikku poongaartu
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Kaatru vanthu kaadhu kadithum
Even after the wind comes and whispers in your ears,
Innum enna mounamo
Why is there still this silence?
Modhi vanthu muthamittal
If I bump into you and kiss you,
Mounam theerumo…
Will this silence end...?
Achcham thaan un aadaiyo
Is fear itself your garment?
Vetkkam thaan mundhaanaiyo
Is shyness your veil?
Mounam thaan un veliyo
Is silence your fence?
Sempoovae vaa vaa vaa vaa
Oh red flower, come, come, come, come!
Malarae oru vaarthai pesu
Oh flower, speak a single word,
Ippadikku poongaartu
Yours truly, the gentle breeze.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic romantic duet explores the delicate dialogue between two lovers through the poetic metaphor of a gentle breeze pleading with a silent flower. The male protagonist compares his beloved to a bloom shrouded in silence, asking if her quiet reserve is woven from fear, shyness, and boundaries. In response, the dialogue shifts to the profundity of silent communication, arguing that true love needs no spoken language—when eyes meet, even mother tongues become redundant.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagam / Maanidamayamaakkal)
“Malarae oru vaarthai pesu / Ippadikku poongaartu”
The lover personifies himself as the gentle breeze ('Poongaartu') writing a letter to his beloved who is personified as a silent flower ('Malarae').
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Achcham thaan un aadaiyo / Vetkkam thaan mundhaanaiyo”
Emotions and modesty are mapped onto physical attire, portraying fear as clothing and shyness as a veil.
Paradox / Antithesis (Muraan)
“Iravilae thaamarai malaraathu / Pagalilae alliyum avizhaathu”
Contrasts natural floral cycles (lotus blooming in daylight, lily blooming at night) with the unpredictable nature of the human heart's blooming.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Ratham varamaal paarvaiyaal / Ennai thundaainaai”
Exaggerates the impact of a romantic glance, stating that a mere look tore the lover to pieces without shedding any blood.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Deva for the 1999 Tamil film 'Poomagal Oorvalam', this popular track was sung by Hariharan and Sujatha Mohan. Lyricist Vairamuthu creatively uses epistolary ending format ('Ippadikku' meaning 'Yours faithfully/truly') inside the refrain of a romantic song.
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