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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malligaa Malligaa

From Shaakuntalam · 2023

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singer
Ramya Behara
Music director
Mani Sharma
Movie name
Shaakuntalam
Movie release year
2023
Lyrics added on
9 Dec 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malligaa malligaa
Maalathi maalai thaa!
Sooda vaa! sooda vaa!
Engae en raajanae?
Malligaa malligaa
Maalathi maalai thaa!
Sooda vaa! sooda vaa!
Engae en raajanae?
Hamsikaa hamsikaa
Kaalamae neeluthae
Poyi vaa poyi vaa!
Rajanai thedi vaa!
Avanukkor kanikkai
Naan thara vendumae!
Kaathalae naanadaa
Yaadhumaai aanen
Aahaa neelaveni
Boomi pookkum kaalamae!
Rajan unai sera
Rajiyamaalum rani nee
Munikal vasikkum
Thava vanamaayin
Kaaman ambu pugumae!
Kaadhal poovin vaasam
Kaatru thaduthaal thagumo!
Swapnika chaitrika
En priyaa netrikaa
Sooda vaa! sooda vaa!
Maamalar rajanae!
Maamazhai megamae!
Maamazhai megamae!
Swamiyai kooti vaa
Vaanamae veenaiyaai
Enkadhai meettavaa!
Thozhiyae! thozhiyae!
Thalaivannal thaayaanen
Sekkiram varachcholli
Vazhiyinai kaattammaa!
Minmini polavee
Miliruthae aagaayamae!
Azhagiya vennilaa
Veguthae kaadhalae!
Ilaiyudhir kaalathalin
Aasirama vaasiyai
Aasaiyaai paarkavaa
Ennuyir rajanae!
O pani! o pani!
Yen indha kadumpani
Aayenum aayenum
Unmadai naan ini
Sirusiru pani vizhum
Azhagiya velaithan
Annavan nyabagam
Veppathai veesuthae!
Kulir vanam pogida
Malarvanam aagida
Thulirkkerenae aasaiyil
Vasanthamai naan
Kangalin thedalae
Kanumo kaachalae
Maalaiyum kaalaiyum
Mannavan nyabagam
Mallika, oh Mallika!
Give me a garland of Malati flowers!
Come, adorn me! Come, adorn me!
Where is my king?
Mallika, oh Mallika!
Give me a garland of Malati flowers!
Come, adorn me! Come, adorn me!
Where is my king?
Hamsika, oh Hamsika,
Time is stretching on endlessly...
Go and return! Go and return!
Search for my king and return!
An offering for him,
I must present!
I have become love itself,
I have become his everything!
Ah, Neelaveni!
It is the season when the earth blooms!
When the king unites with you,
You are the queen who will rule the kingdom!
Even in a forest of penance
Where sages reside,
The arrow of love will surely strike!
The sweet scent of love's flower—
Can the breeze ever hold it back?
Swapnika, Chaithrika,
My beloved Nethrika!
Come, adorn me! Come, adorn me,
Oh king among flowers!
Oh great rain cloud!
Oh great rain cloud!
Bring my lord back to me!
Treating the sky as a veena (lute),
Come, strum the song of my story!
Oh my friend! Oh my friend!
Through my lord, I have become a mother!
Tell him to come quickly,
And show him the way!
Just like sparkling fireflies,
The vast sky is glowing!
Even the lovely white moon
Burns with the heat of love!
In this season of falling leaves,
To this dweller of the hermitage,
Will you come look upon me with longing,
Oh king of my life?
Oh mist! Oh falling snow!
Why this bitter chill?
Even so, even so,
I am lost in love now!
As tiny drops of dew fall
In this beautiful moment,
The memory of him
Radiates warmth through me!
As the cold forest fades away,
Turning into a garden of blooms,
I sprout fresh leaves of desire,
Becoming spring itself!
Will this longing in my eyes
Turn into a burning fever?
Both evening and morning,
My mind is filled only with thoughts of my king!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Malligaa Malligaa' is a soulful, romantic composition from the movie Shaakuntalam, capturing Shakuntala's deep longing and aching wait for King Dushyanta. She calls out to nature—the jasmine blossoms, the swans, and the rain clouds—imploring them to carry her message and bring back her beloved king. The lyrics express her profound love, her anticipation of his arrival, and her realization that she carries his child while living in a hermitage amidst nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

“Malligaa malligaa”

Repetition of words like 'Malligaa malligaa', 'Sooda vaa! sooda vaa!', and 'Poyi vaa poyi vaa!' creates rhythmic musicality and emphasizes emotional urgency.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagathis)

“Vaanamae veenaiyaai”

The sky is metaphorically pictured as a giant Veena ('Vaanamae veenaiyaai') upon which she plays her story of yearning.

Simile (Uvamaani)

“Minmini polavee”

Stars shining in the night sky are compared to fireflies ('Minmini polavee').

Personification

“Hamsikaa hamsikaa”

Addressing the swans, mist ('O pani'), rain clouds, and jasmine flowers directly as messengers and companions.

Amoni / Rhyme (Emoni & Ethirukai)

“Kulir vanam pogida / Malarvanam aagida”

Traditional Tamil poetic rhyming structures (e.g., Kulir vanam / Malarvanam) enhancing acoustic beauty.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Mani Sharma, 'Malligaa' serves as the centerpiece emotional solo for Shakuntala in Gunasekhar's mythological drama Shaakuntalam (2023). Sung delicately by Ramya Behara with lyrics by veteran Kabilan, the track heavily draws inspiration from classical Sanskrit literature's 'Meghadootam' trope, where nature acts as a messenger between separated lovers.

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