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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malarodu Malaringu

From Bombay · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Anuradha Sriram
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Bombay1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Malarodu malar inguWhen flower with flower here
Magizhnthaadum pothuDances together in joy,
Manathodu manam indruWhy does heart with heart today
Pagai kolvathyenoHarbor hatred and enmity?
Madham yennum madham oyattumLet the frenzy called religion cease,
Dhesam malar meethuLet the nation sleep peacefully
Thuyil kollattumUpon a bed of flowers.
Female
Malarodu malar inguWhen flower with flower here
Magizhnthaadum pothuDances together in joy,
Manathodu manam indruWhy does heart with heart today
Pagai kolvathyenoHarbor hatred and enmity?
Madham yennum madham oyattumLet the frenzy called religion cease,
Dhesam malar meethuLet the nation sleep peacefully
Thuyil kollattumUpon a bed of flowers.
Chorus
Vazhigindra kaneeril inam illaiyaeThere is no caste or religion in falling tears,
Udhiraththin niram ingu verillaiyaeThe color of blood is no different here.
Vazhigindra kaneeril inam illaiyaeThere is no caste or religion in falling tears,
Udhiraththin niram ingu verillaiyaeThe color of blood is no different here.
Kaattrukku dhisai illai dhesam illaiThe wind has no direction and no country,
Female
Manathodu manam serattumLet heart unite with heart.
Chorus
Malarodu malar inguWhen flower with flower here
Magizhnthaadum pothuDances together in joy,
Manathodu manam indruWhy does heart with heart today
Pagai kolvathyenoHarbor hatred and enmity?
Madham yennum madham oyattumLet the frenzy called religion cease,
Dhesam malar meethuLet the nation sleep peacefully
Thuyil kollattumUpon a bed of flowers.
Chorus
Thuli yellaam kai korthuLet all drops join hands
Kadal aagattumAnd become an ocean,
Kadalodu kadal serattumLet ocean join with ocean.
Thugal yellaam ondraagiLet all dust particles become one
Malai aagattumAnd turn into a mountain,
Vinnodu vin serattumLet sky join with sky.
Vidiyaatha iravondrum vaanil illaiThere is no night in the sky that does not see a dawn,
Oliyodu oli serattumLet light unite with light.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from the film Bombay serves as a profound humanitarian appeal for peace and unity amid religious violence. Lyricist Vairamuthu contrasts the harmony of nature—where flowers bloom together, wind flows without borders, and drops join to form oceans—with the destructive division created by human fanatism. The song emphasizes that fundamental human experiences like pain and biology transcend religion, as tears have no community and blood carries the same red color in everyone. Ultimately, the song delivers a message of hope, reminding us that no dark night lasts forever without leading to a dawn.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iratura Mozhidhal / Polysemy (Pun)

Madham yennum madham oyattum

The word 'Madham' is cleverly used twice in 'Madham yennum madham oyattum', where the first instance refers to 'religion' and the second refers to 'fanaticism/frenzy'.

Anaphora / Repetitive Coupling

Malarodu malar ingu

The poet uses parallel pairing structures like 'Malarodu malar' (flower with flower), 'Manathodu manam' (heart with heart), 'Kadalodu kadal' (ocean with ocean), and 'Oliyodu oli' (light with light) to reinforce the central theme of togetherness.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Thuli yellaam kai korthu Kadal aagattum

The joining of individual drops into an ocean and dust particles into mountains serves as a metaphor for collective human unity overcoming division.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's iconic 1995 drama 'Bombay', this musical piece features prominently in the film's climax montage depicting human unity amidst the turmoil of the Bombay riots.

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