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Unnai Thedi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Malavika

From Unnai Thedi · 1999

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Hariharan, Chitra
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Unnai Thedi
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
12 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maalavika maalavika
Manam parithaal maalavika
Thendral vandhu
Ennai kettu sellum sellum
Thedi vandhu
Unnai thottu sollum sollum
Nee illaamal naan illai
Naan illaamal nee illai
Maalavika maalavika
Manam parithaal maalavika
Unnai naan
Mudhal mudhalaai
Paarthenae appodhae
Pudhidhaagha naan pirandhen
Chorus :Athu sari athu sari
Athu sari athu sari
Kannaalae ennodu
Nee pesa appothae
En perai naan marandhen
Chorus :Adhisayam adhisayam
Adhisayam adhisayam
Nazhugira thaavanithaan
Vidumurai ketkum maayam enna
Female :Thaduthidave ninathaalum
Manasukkul silirkkum
Maayam enna
Udai irundhum nanaigindrom
Kaadhal mazhai pozhigirathae
Female :Nee illaamal naan illai
Naan illaamal nee illai
Maalavika maalavika
Manam pariththaal maalavika
…………………..
Nee sindhum punnagayai
Paarthaalum nenjil naan
Silayaagi povadhenna
Chorus :Athu sari athu sari
Athu sari athu sari
Un kangal en kannai
Sandhikkum neram naan
Silaiaaga aavadhenna
Chorus :Adhisayam adhisayam
Adhisayam adhisayam
Thooral thaan
Thaen aagum
Viralaal neeyum thottaalae
Mullellaam poovaagum
Undhan paarvai pattaalae
Karaigindren theigindren
Un ninaivil uraigindren
Female :Nee illaamal naan illai
Naan illaamal nee illai
Maalavika maalavika
Manam parithaal maalavika
Thendral vandhu
Ennai kettu sellum sellum
Thedi vandhu
Unnai thottu sollum sollum
Nee illaamal naan illai
Naan illaamal nee illai
Maalavika maalavika
Manam parithaal maalavika
Malavika, Malavika
Malavika stole my heart
The breeze comes,
asks of me, and goes, and goes;
searching for you, it comes,
touches you, and tells, and tells.
Without you, I do not exist;
without me, you do not exist.
Malavika, Malavika
Malavika stole my heart.
When I...
for the very first time...
saw you, right at that moment
I was born anew.
Chorus: That is right, that is right!
That is right, that is right!
With your eyes, with me
the moment you spoke, right then
I forgot my own name.
Chorus: A wonder, a wonder!
A wonder, a wonder!
The slipping half-sari
asks for a holiday—what magic is this?
Female: Even if I try to stop it,
my heart thrills within;
what magic is this?
Despite wearing clothes, we get drenched,
for a rain of love is pouring down!
Female: Without you, I do not exist;
without me, you do not exist.
Malavika, Malavika
Malavika stole my heart.
………………...
The smile that you spill,
whenever I see it, why in my heart
do I turn into a statue?
Chorus: That is right, that is right!
That is right, that is right!
The moment your eyes meet
my eyes, why do I
turn into a stone statue?
Chorus: A wonder, a wonder!
A wonder, a wonder!
Even drizzle
becomes honey
if you touch it with your finger!
Every thorn becomes a flower
if your gaze falls upon it!
I am melting, I am fading away,
I am freezing in your memories!
Female: Without you, I do not exist;
without me, you do not exist.
Malavika, Malavika
Malavika stole my heart.
The breeze comes,
asks of me, and goes, and goes;
searching for you, it comes,
touches you, and tells, and tells.
Without you, I do not exist;
without me, you do not exist.
Malavika, Malavika
Malavika stole my heart.
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Maalavika' from the 1999 movie 'Unnai Thedi' expresses the euphoric feeling of falling in love and the total interdependence between two lovers. The protagonist addresses Malavika as the one who has stolen his heart, describing how the gentle breeze acts as a messenger carrying his feelings to her. The lyrics highlight the magical transformation brought about by love—forgetting one's own identity, feeling reborn upon looking at the beloved, and experiencing nature's elements like rain and breeze in a completely new light.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

“Maalavika maalavika”

Repetition of words like 'Maalavika', 'Athu sari', and 'Adhisayam' for rhythmic emphasis and emotional resonance.

Personification

“Thendral vandhu Ennai kettu sellum sellum”

The breeze (thendral) is personified as a messenger that inquires about the lover and visits the beloved.

Metaphor

“Kaadhal mazhai pozhigirathae”

Love is portrayed as a shower of rain ('Kaadhal mazhai') that drenches them despite wearing clothes.

Hyperbole

“Mullellaam poovaagum Undhan paarvai pattaalae”

Exaggerating the effect of touch and sight, claiming drizzle turns to honey and thorns turn to flowers.

Did you know?

Trivia

Music for 'Unnai Thedi' was composed by Deva, starring Ajith Kumar and introducing actress Malavika, after whom this hit romantic song was specifically named in the movie.

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