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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malaro Nilavo Malai Magalo

From Raga Banthangal · 1982

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Jayachandran
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
Details
Raga Banthangal1982

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Malaro nilavo malaimagaloIs she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Malaro nilavo malaimagaloIs she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Devi vadivaaga amarnthaval yaaroWho is she who sits in the form of a Goddess?
Devi vadivaaga amarnthaval yaaroWho is she who sits in the form of a Goddess?
Male
Malaro nilavo malaimagaloIs she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Male
Needhaanaa azhaiththathum needhanaaIs it really you who called me, is it truly you?
Nedunaalaai niniththathum idhaithaanaaIs this what I have been thinking of for a very long time?
Needhaanaa azhaiththathum needhanaaIs it really you who called me, is it truly you?
Nedunaalaai niniththathum idhaithaanaaIs this what I have been thinking of for a very long time?
En devi unakkithu sarithaanaaMy Goddess, is this right for you to do?
En devi unakkithu sarithaanaaMy Goddess, is this right for you to do?
Male
Minnal minnum iru vizhiyilIn those twin eyes that flash like lightning,
Annai unnai idhya malarMother, upon your heart's flower,
Alli allai kavithai tharuvaenI shall shower poetry abundantly,
Thozhuthu varuvaen thodarnthu varuvaenI shall come worshiping, I shall follow you forever.
Male
Malaro nilavo malaimagaloIs she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Male
Naan oru poosaari unakkithu theriyaatho…oo…oo..oo…I am a priest, do you not know this?
Naan oru poosaari unakkithu theriyaatho…I am a priest, do you not know this?
Nadamaadum thirukoyil neeyallavoAre you not a walking sacred temple?
Nadamaadum thirukoyil neeyallavoAre you not a walking sacred temple?
Adimaiyai marakkaathae aduththathai ninaikkaathae…ae…ae…ae…Do not forget your servant, do not think of anything else...
Adimaiyai marakkaathae aduththathai ninaikkaathae…Do not forget your servant, do not think of anything else...
Male
Unnai enni urgi varumFor me who comes melting in thoughts of you,
Ennai endrum arul perugaMay your grace overflow upon me forever,
Konjum dheivam unathu thirunaalOh sweet comforting Goddess, will your holy day,
Viraivil varumo vidivu tharumoArrive soon and bring me liberation?
Male
Malaro nilavo malaimagaloIs she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Sagama…thanisa[Carnatic Swara passages: Sa-Ga-Ma... Tha-Ni-Sa]
Malaro nilavo malaimagaloIs she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Saga…sagasa nitha nisa nisani thama[Carnatic Swara passages: Sa-Ga... Sa-Ga-Sa Ni-Tha Ni-Sa Ni-Sa-Ni Tha-Ma]
Thani thanitha magasa sagama thanisa[Carnatic Swara passages: Tha-Ni Tha-Ni-Tha Ma-Ga-Sa Sa-Ga-Ma Tha-Ni-Sa]
Male
Malaro nilavo malaimagaloIs she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Male
Sagamaga magasani sagamagasani nisaga sagasanitha[Carnatic Swara passages: Sa-Ga-Ma-Ga Ma-Ga-Sa-Ni Sa-Ga-Ma-Ga-Sa-Ni Ni-Sa-Ga Sa-Ga-Sa-Ni-Tha]
Nisaga sanitha thanisa nisanithama thanisa nithama[Carnatic Swara passages: Ni-Sa-Ga Sa-Ni-Tha Tha-Ni-Sa Ni-Sa-Ni-Tha-Ma Tha-Ni-Sa Ni-Tha-Ma]
Sagamatha sagamagathani sagamathanisa[Carnatic Swara passages: Sa-Ga-Ma-Tha Sa-Ga-Ma-Ga-Tha-Ni Sa-Ga-Ma-Tha-Ni-Sa]
Male
Malaro nilavo malaimagalo….Is she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Male
Nini…sasa…gaga…sasa….sasanini…sasa…gaga…sasasa…[Carnatic Swara notations]
Madha….mani…sasa….riga….magasa…magasa…nitha…nisa….[Carnatic Swara notations]
Sasa…gaga….mama….thatha…ni….mama….thatha…nini….sasa….ga….[Carnatic Swara notations]
Mama…gaga…sasa…nini…thatha…nini….sa…[Carnatic Swara notations]
Mathani….sagasanitha….nisaga[Carnatic Swara notations]
Nisa…nisa….sagama…sa….sasa…nini…thatha….mama…[Carnatic Swara notations]
Nini…thatha….mama….gaga…thatha…mama…[Carnatic Swara notations]
Gaga…sasa…gamathani…sa….[Carnatic Swara notations]
Male
Sasa…nini..thatha..mama…nini…thatha mama…gaga[Carnatic Swara notations]
Thatha…mama…gaga…sasa…gamathani…sa…[Carnatic Swara notations]
Nisa…gasa…nisa…gasa…nini…sasa…gagama[Carnatic Swara notations]
Thani…sani…thani…sani…thatha…nini…sasaga[Carnatic Swara notations]
Sasa…gaga…mama…thatha..gaga…mama….thatha….nini…[Carnatic Swara notations]
Sasa…nithama…nini…thamaga…saga…mathani….[Carnatic Swara notations]
Male
Malaro nilavo malaimagalo….Is she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?
Devi vadivaaga amaranthaval yaaroWho is she who sits in the form of a Goddess?
Malaro nilavo malaimagalo….Is she a flower, the moon, or the daughter of the mountain?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Malaro Nilavo Malaimagalo from the film Raga Banthangal (1982) is a deeply classical, devotional-romantic composition written by Kannadasan and tuned by Kunnakudi Vaidhiyanathan. The song portrays a protagonist in deep awe of his beloved or divine mother, questioning whether she is a divine blossom, the radiant moon, or Goddess Parvathi herself. He views himself as her dedicated priest and praises her as a walking divine shrine. Rich Carnatic swara passages (solfa) are intertwined with poetic expressions of lifelong worship, yearning, and ultimate devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Nadamaadum thirukoyil neeyallavo”

Comparing the woman to a walking holy shrine ('Nadamaadum thirukoyil neeyallavo').

Imagery & Simile

“Minnal minnum iru vizhiyil”

Comparing the brightness of her eyes to flashing lightning ('Minnal minnum iru vizhiyil').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Malaro nilavo malaimagalo”

Rhyming ending syllables with 'o' sound (Malaro, nilavo, malaimagalo) creating rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary violinist and music director Kunnakudi Vaidhiyanathan, the track highlights extensive Carnatic swara (solfege) improvisations sung smoothly by P. Jayachandran, blending classical Carnatic music traditions seamlessly into Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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