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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mayile Mayile

From Kadavul Amaitha Medai · 1979

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Sailaja, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kadavul Amaitha Medai1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mayilae mayilae un thogai ingaeOh peacock, peacock, your feathers are here
Oyilae oyilae un oonjal ingaeOh beauty, beauty, your swing is here
Kulir kaalamallavo thanimaiyil vizhalaamoIsn't it cold season, should we fall into loneliness?
Thalir udal thodalaamoMay I touch your tender body?
Male
Mayilae mayilae… mayilae mayilae…Peacock, peacock... peacock, peacock...
Female
Mayilae mayilae un thogai ingaeOh peacock, peacock, your feathers are here
Oyilae oyilae un oonjal ingaeOh beauty, beauty, your swing is here
Oru sondhamillaiyo uravugal valaraadhoIsn't there a relationship, won't bonds grow?
Ninaivugal malaraadhoWon't memories blossom?
Female
Mayilae mayilae… mayilae mayilae…Peacock, peacock... peacock, peacock...
Male
Thendral thaalaatta thennai irukkaAs the breeze lulls, the coconut tree stands
Adhu thannai marakkaForgetting itself
Thendral thaalaatta thennai irukkaAs the breeze lulls, the coconut tree stands
Adhu thannai marakkaForgetting itself
Female
Nee anaikka naan irukkaWhile you embrace, and I am here
Naal muzhukka thaenalakkaLapping up sweetness all day long
Male
Panivaai malarae pala naal ninaivaeDew-soft flower, memory of many days
Varavaa tharavaa peravaa naa thodavaaShall I come, shall I give, shall I receive, shall I touch?
Female
Mayilae mayilae un thogai ingaeOh peacock, peacock, your feathers are here
Male
Oyilae oyilae un oonjal ingaeOh beauty, beauty, your swing is here
Female
Oru sondhamillaiyo uravugal valaraadhoIsn't there a relationship, won't bonds grow?
Ninaivugal malaraadhoWon't memories blossom?
Male
Mayilae mayilae… mayilae mayilae…Peacock, peacock... peacock, peacock...
Female
Manjal maangalyam mannan vazhangaAs the king presents the sacred yellow thread
Getti maelam muzhangaWhile the wedding drums resound loudly
Manjal maangalyam mannan vazhangaAs the king presents the sacred yellow thread
Getti maelam muzhangaWhile the wedding drums resound loudly
Male
Poonguzhalil thaenaruvi tholirandumA stream of honey in floral tresses, both shoulders
Naan thazhuviAs I embrace
Female
Varum naal oru naal adhu thaan thirunaalThe day that comes, one day, that is the auspicious day
Uravaai uyiraai nizhalaai naan varuvaenI will come as a relation, as life, as a shadow
Male
Mayilae mayilae un thogai ingaeOh peacock, peacock, your feathers are here
Female
Oyilae oyilae un oonjal ingaeOh beauty, beauty, your swing is here
Male
Kulir kaalamallavo thanimaiyil vizhalaamoIsn't it cold season, should we fall into loneliness?
Thalir udal thodalaamoMay I touch your tender body?
Female
Mayilae mayilae… mayilae mayilae…Peacock, peacock... peacock, peacock...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mayilae Mayilae is a classic romantic song from the film Kadavul Amaitha Medai (1979). The song captures a hero expressing his intense romantic affection to his beloved, lovingly addressing her as a graceful peacock ('Mayil') and admiring her beauty. He muses on how the chilly season calls for togetherness rather than solitary suffering. Throughout the verses, the lyricist paints vivid pictures of nature—like the gentle breeze swaying coconut palms—as metaphors for intimacy and ecstasy. The lover envisions an impending sacred wedding day marked by traditional marriage drums ('Getti maelam') and promises to stay by her side forever as a soulmate, shadow, and life companion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Mayilae mayilae un thogai ingae

Addressing the beloved as a 'Mayil' (Peacock), attributing the beauty and grace of peacock feathers to her.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Oru sondhamillaiyo uravugal valaraadho / Ninaivugal malaraadho

Rhyming sentence endings using matching suffix sounds 'illaiyo', 'valaraadho', and 'malaraadho'.

Monai (Alliteration)

Thendral thaalaatta thennai irukka

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Th' in 'Thendral' and 'thennai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and was sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam along with Jency Anthony. Vaali's lyrics beautifully weave nature imagery with traditional Tamil matrimonial metaphors.

Keep listening

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