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Pasamalar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Malarnthum Malaratha

From Pasamalar · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Pasamalar
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
15 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malarndhu malaraadha
Paadhi malar polae
Valarum vizhi vannamae
Vandhu vidindhum
Vidiyaatha kaalai pozhuthaaga
Vilaindha kalai annamae
Nadhiyil vilaiyaadi
Kodiyil thalai seevi
Nadantha ilam thendralae
Valar podhigai
Malai thondri madurai
Nagar kandu pozhindha
Thamizh mandramae
Malarndhu malaraadha
Paadhi malar polae
Valarum vizhi vannamae
Vandhu vidindhum
Vidiyaatha kaalai pozhuthaaga
Vilaindha kalai annamae
Nadhiyil vilaiyaadi
Kodiyil thalai seevi
Nadantha ilam thendralae
Valar podhigai
Malai thondri madurai
Nagar kandu pozhindha
Thamizh mandramae
Yaanai padai kondu
Senai pala vendru
Aala pirandhaayada
Puvi aala pirandhaayada
Athai magalai manamkondu
Ilamai vazhi kandu
Vaazha pirandhaayada
Vaazha pirandhaayada
{ Athai magalai manamkondu
Ilamai vazhi kandu } (2)
Vaazha pirandhaayada
Thanga kadiyaaram
Vaira maniyaaram
Thandhu manam pesuvaar
Porul thandhu
Manam pesuvaar
Maman thangai magalaana
Mangai unakaaga
{ Ulagai vilai pesuvaar } (2)
{ Maman thangai magalaana
Mangai unakaaga } (2)
Ulagai vilai pesuvaar
Nadhiyil vilaiyaadi
Kodiyil thalai seevi
Nadantha ilam thendralae
Valar podhigai
Malai thondri madurai
Nagar kandu pozhindha
Thamizh mandramae
Siragil enai moodi
Arumai magal polae
Valartha kadhai sollava
Kanavil ninaiyaatha
Kaalam idai vandhu
{ Piritha kadhai sollava } (2)
Kannil mani polae
Maniyin nizhal polae
Kalandhu pirandhomada
Indha mannum kadal vaanum
Maraindhu mudinthaalum
Maraka mudiyaathada
Uravai pirika mudiyaathada
Anbae aariraaraaro
Aariraaraaro aariraaraariro
{ Anbae aariraaraariro } (2)
Like a flower that has bloomed
yet not fully opened,
O growing beauty of sweet eyes!
Like the morning that has arrived
yet has not fully turned to day,
O graceful swan born of art!
Playing in the river,
brushing your hair through the vines,
O gentle southern breeze that walked by!
Born from the high Podhigai
hills and witnessing the city of Madurai,
showering your sweet grace,
O gathering of pure Tamil!
Like a flower that has bloomed
yet not fully opened,
O growing beauty of sweet eyes!
Like the morning that has arrived
yet has not fully turned to day,
O graceful swan born of art!
Playing in the river,
brushing your hair through the vines,
O gentle southern breeze that walked by!
Born from the high Podhigai
hills and witnessing the city of Madurai,
showering your sweet grace,
O gathering of pure Tamil!
Leading an army of elephants,
conquering many battalions,
you were born to rule, my boy!
You were born to rule this world!
Marrying your aunt's daughter,
finding the sweet path of youth,
you were born to live a happy life!
You were born to live a full life!
Marrying your aunt's daughter,
and finding the sweet path of youth,
you were born to live a happy life!
Bringing a golden watch
and a necklace of diamonds,
they will come to seek a marriage alliance.
Offering riches and wealth,
they will seek your hand.
For the young girl
who is your uncle's sister's daughter,
they would offer the whole world as her worth!
For the young girl
who is your uncle's sister's daughter,
they would offer the whole world as her worth!
Playing in the river,
brushing your hair through the vines,
O gentle southern breeze that walked by!
Born from the high Podhigai
hills and witnessing the city of Madurai,
showering your sweet grace,
O gathering of pure Tamil!
Sheltering me beneath your wings,
like a precious daughter,
shall I tell the story of how you raised me?
A cruel time we never imagined even in dreams
stepped in between us,
shall I tell the story of how it tore us apart?
Like the pupil in the eye,
and the shadow within that pupil,
we were born blended together as one.
Even if this earth, the oceans, and the skies
fade away and come to an end,
this love can never be forgotten, my dear!
Our bond can never be broken!
My sweet child, aareeraaraaro...
Aareeraaraaro aareeraaraariro...
My sweet child, aareeraaraariro...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Malarndhu Malaraadha is an iconic sibling ballad and lullaby from the legendary Tamil movie Pasamalar (1961), directed by A. Bhimsingh. Composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Kannadasan, and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, the song captures the unconditional, deep bond between a brother and sister (played by Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri). Through vivid imagery comparing sibling affection to delicate flowers, soothing breezes, and sacred Tamil heritage, the song portrays high hopes for future joy and prosperity. Even as unexpected twists of fate and time bring distance between them, the song poignantly reaffirms that their soul-level bond can never be severed by any force on Earth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaik Kalai (Initial Alliteration)

“Malarndhu malaraadha / Paadhi malar polae”

Repetition of the 'Ma' sound in consecutive lines to create a soft, soothing musicality.

Personification (Uvamaani / Metaphor)

“Nadhiyil vilaiyaadi / Kodiyil thalai seevi / Nadantha ilam thendralae”

The southern breeze (thendral) is elegantly personified as playing in rivers and combing its hair through creeping plants.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Kannil mani polae / Maniyin nizhal polae”

The closeness of brother and sister is compared to the pupil of an eye and the light/reflection inside it.

Refrain / Anaphora

“Aariraaraaro aariraaraariro”

Traditional Tamil lullaby syllables (Aariraaro) repeated to evoke deep warmth and emotional comfort.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pasamalar (1961) set the ultimate gold standard for portraying sibling affection in Tamil cinema. The iconic stanza 'Nadhiyil vilaiyaadi kodiyil thalai seevi' is considered one of lyricist Kannadasan's crowning poetic achievements, beautifully personifying the southern breeze as a playful young girl.

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