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Isaimozhi
Indian album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maya Machindra

From Indian · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Indian
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
23 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………………………
Maayaa machindhraa
Macham paarka vandheeraa
Maayangal kaatti
Mosam seiyum maaveeraa
Maaran kalaikoodam manjathil
Uruvakum mesthiri kaadhal saasthiri
Female :Maarbil vilaiyaada mannan kai visaipoda
Raathiri adachee pokkiri
Urumaari urumaari oviya penn unaithedi
Varuvenae vaari tharuvenae…aee…aee…yeah
Female :Thadai thaandum padaiveeraa udaiyaaga aniveeraa
Thamburaa meettum kingaraa
Male :Unai naanum adaiyaadhu vizhivaasal adaiyaadhu
Kanjiraa thatta konjiraa
Maayaa machindhraa
Macham paarka vandharaa
Maayangal kaatti
Female :Mosam seiyum maaveeraa
…………………………………
Unnai naan sandhithaal ullathil thiththiththai
Thakadhimmi thakkadhdhimmi thaalammm….
Male :Unnai naan sindhithaal undaagum thiththippai
Udhadukkul pothi vaithaen naalummm….
Pothi vaitha thiththippai nee thandhaalenna
Muthamittu sakkarai noi vandhaal enna
Male :Dhinamum dhinamum varalaamaa
Thavanai muraiyil tharalaamaa solladi soan pappadi
Seyalil iranghu seekiramaa
Meenam mesham paakanumaa
Mennudaa ennai thinnudaa
Maayaa machindhraa
Macham paarka vandharaa
Female :Maayangal kaatti
Mosam seiyum maaveeraa
…………………………………
Anbae en perenna naan vaazhum oorenna
Ariyaamal unnai ketten naanae…
Male :Pennae en pechengae naan vaanghum moochengae
Puriyaamal thavikindrenn maanae..
Kaadhalukku kelvi kettu maalaadhaiyaa
Kaamanukku thaamadhangal aagaadhaiyaa
Kanalil paniyaai karaivomaa
Karaindhae kavidhai varaivomaa
Suttiyae kannu kuttiyae…
Unnaiyum ennaiyum punaivomaa
Ulagha padamai tharuvomaa
Hajjimaa chella bujjimaaa…
Maayaa machindhraa
Macham paarka vandheeraa
Chorus :Hei hei hei hei hei hei
Maayangal kaatti
Mosam seiyum maaveeraa
Chorus :Hei hei hei hei hei hei
Hei hei hei hei hei hei
Hei hei hei hei hei hei
...
O magical Maya Machindra,
Have you come to inspect my beauty marks?
Showing magical tricks,
O great hero who beguiles!
In Cupid's art gallery upon the bed,
A master craftsman takes shape, a scholar of love!
Female: As the king's hand presses the switch to play on my chest,
Night falls... Oh my, you rogue!
Changing forms again and again, a painted maiden seeking you,
I will come and shower you with all my love... hey... hey... yeah!
Female: O warrior who crosses all hurdles, will you wear me like a garment?
O devoted servant strumming the tanpura!
Male: Without attaining you, the gates of my eyes will not close,
O sweet coaxer playing the kanjira!
O magical Maya Machindra,
Have you come to inspect my beauty marks?
Showing magical tricks,
Female: O great hero who beguiles!
...
When I met you, my heart was filled with sweetness,
Beating to a thakadhimmi rhythm...
Male: When I think of you, the sweetness that arises,
I have kept hidden inside my lips every day...
What if you give me that stored-up sweetness?
So what if I get diabetes from kissing you?
Male: Can I come over every single day?
Can you give it in installments? Tell me, my sweet Soan Papdi!
Get into action quickly,
Do we really need to check the astrological signs?
Chew me up and devour me!
O magical Maya Machindra,
Have you come to inspect my beauty marks?
Female: Showing magical tricks,
O great hero who beguiles!
...
My love, what is my name? What is the town where I live?
Not knowing anything, I asked you...
Male: Girl, where are my words? Where is the breath I draw?
Without understanding, I am struggling, my dear...
Will asking endless questions about love ever cease?
Delays do not suit the lord of love!
Shall we melt like snow upon a flame?
Melting together, shall we compose a poem?
O naughty one, my darling little dear...
Shall we weave you and me together?
Shall we become a living portrait for the world?
O sweet darling, my dear little child...
O magical Maya Machindra,
Have you come to inspect my beauty marks?
Chorus: Hei hei hei hei hei hei
Showing magical tricks,
O great hero who beguiles!
Chorus: Hei hei hei hei hei hei
Hei hei hei hei hei hei
Hei hei hei hei hei hei
Chorus
Female
Male
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Female
Female
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Chorus
Female
Female
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Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Maya Machindra' is a playful and highly sensual romantic duet from the 1996 blockbuster Tamil film 'Indian', composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics written by Vaali and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Swarnalatha. The song depicts the romantic chemistry and intimate banter between the lead protagonists, characterized by quirky wordplay and poetic rhythm. Throughout the track, lyricist Vaali blends classical musical references (Thambura, Kanjira) with modern colloquial sweet-talk ('Soan Pappadi', 'Bujjima'). The lovers express their complete surrender to love, discarding social taboos and traditional constraints in favor of passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Maayaa machindhraa / Macham paarka vandheeraa

Repetition of the initial 'Ma' consonant sound creates a musical rhythm across lines.

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Thavanai muraiyil tharalaamaa solladi soan pappadi

The speaker playfully compares the beloved to 'Soan Pappadi' (an Indian sweet) to emphasize sweetness and affection.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kanalil paniyaai karaivomaa / Karaindhae kavidhai varaivomaa

Repetition of the 'na' sound in the second character creates structural poetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for director Shankar's hit film 'Indian' (1996), the song title 'Maya Machindra' refers to the legendary yogic magician Matsyendranath, used metaphorically here to address a lover capable of magical romantic enchantments.

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