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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Marghazhi Poove

From May Madham · 1994

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Shoba Shankar, Chorus
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
May Madham1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maargazi poovae maargazi poovaeOh flower of Margazhi, oh flower of Margazhi
Unmadi melae oridam vendumI need a place upon your lap
Maargazi poovae maargazi poovaeOh flower of Margazhi, oh flower of Margazhi
Unmadi melae oridam vendumI need a place upon your lap
Female
Meththai mel kangal moodavum illaiMy eyes do not close on a soft mattress
Un madi sernthaal kanavugal kollaiIf I reach your lap, dreams will be boundless
Meththai mel kangal moodavum illaiMy eyes do not close on a soft mattress
Un madi sernthaal kanavugal kollaiIf I reach your lap, dreams will be boundless
Female
Maargazi poovae maargazi poovaeOh flower of Margazhi, oh flower of Margazhi
Unmadi melae oridam vendumI need a place upon your lap
Aaa….aaaa….aaa…ahaaa….aaa…ahaaa(Vocalizations)
Aaaa…aaa…..aaaa…aaaa….aaa…aaa…(Vocalizations)
Female
Pookkalai piriththuPlucking flowers
Puththagam padippenI will read books
Pulveli kandaal muyal pol kuthippenIf I see a grassy lawn, I will leap like a rabbit
Naan mattum iravil thanimaiyil nadappenI will walk alone in the night by myself
Nadaipaadhai kadayil thaeneer kudippenI will drink tea at a roadside stall
Female
Vaazkaiyin oru paadhiOne half of my life
Naan endru vasippenI will live as myself
Vaazkaiyin maru paadhiThe other half of my life
Naan endru rasippenI will cherish as myself
Kaatril varum megam polaeLike a cloud floating in the wind
Naan endrum midhappenI will float forever
Female
Maargazi poovae maargazi poovaeOh flower of Margazhi, oh flower of Margazhi
Unmadi melae oridam vendumI need a place upon your lap
Chorus
{Venpaa paadi varum vandukkuTo the beetle that comes singing Venpa poetry
Sendhaen thandhuvidum sempookkalRed flowers offer sweet honey
Konjam paada varum pennukkuTo the girl who comes to sing a little
Sandham thandhu vidum mainaakkal} (2)Myna birds offer rhythm
Female
Kaveri manalil nadanthathum illaiI have never walked on the sands of Kaveri
Kadarkarai alaiyil kaal vaithathillaiI have never stepped into the waves of the beach
Suthanthira vaanil paranthathum illaiI have never flown in the sky of freedom
Suda chuda mazhayil nanainthathum illaiI have never drenched in hot rain
Female
Salaiyil naanaga ponathum illaiI have never walked on the road as myself
Samayathil aanaga aanathum illaiI have never turned into a boy when needed
Ezhai manam kaanum inbamThe happiness that a simple heart experiences
Naan kaanavillaiI have not experienced
Chorus
Margazhi poovae margazhi poovaeOh flower of Margazhi, oh flower of Margazhi
Female :Unmadi melae oridam vendumFemale: I need a place upon your lap
Chorus :Margazhi poovae margazhi poovaeChorus: Oh flower of Margazhi, oh flower of Margazhi
Unmadi melae oridam vendumI need a place upon your lap
Female
Aaaaa…..aaaa…..aaa….aaa..(Vocalizations)
Aaa..aa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…(Vocalizations)
Aaa…aaa..aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa..aa…(Vocalizations)
Naaa…haa..haa..aaaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…(Vocalizations)
Chorus
{Venpaa paadi varum vandukkuTo the beetle that comes singing Venpa poetry
Sendhaen thandhuvidum sempookkalRed flowers offer sweet honey
Konjam paada varum pennukkuTo the girl who comes to sing a little
Sandham thandhu vidum mainaakkal} (2)Myna birds offer rhythm

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Margazhi Poove from the 1994 Tamil film May Madham, with music by A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Vairamuthu, is a deeply expressive song about a young woman longing for freedom, emotional solace, and simple joys. Despite living in luxury, she finds no peace on soft beds and yearns for the comforting lap of nature represented by the chilly, auspicious month of Margazhi. She dreams of simple pleasures like walking on the beach, drinking tea at a roadside stall, reading books, and living authentically without restrictions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Pulveli kandaal muyal pol kuthippen

Compares her desire for lighthearted freedom to a rabbit jumping on grass and floating like a cloud in the breeze.

Personification

Venpaa paadi varum vandukku Sendhaen thandhuvidum sempookkal

Attributes human poetic and musical traits to nature, describing red flowers giving honey to bees singing Venpa meter and myna birds giving rhythm to a singing girl.

Refrain / Repetition (Anaphora)

Maargazi poovae maargazi poovae

Repetition of the phrase 'Margazhi poove' reinforces the central metaphor of seeking gentle sanctuary and maternal peace.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was composed by A. R. Rahman and rendered by classical singer Shobana Vignesh (famously known as Mahanadhi Shobana) when she was a teenager, making it one of the most memorable Carnatic-pop fusion tracks of 90s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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