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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mayiliragae

From Anbe Aaruyire · 2005

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Naresh Iyer, Madhushree
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Anbe Aaruyire2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mmmm mmm mmm mmmm mmmm mmmmMmmm mmm mmm mmmm mmmm mmmm
Male
Mayiliragae mayiliragae varudugiraai mellaO peacock feather, O peacock feather, you stroke me gently.
Mazhai nilavae mazhai nilavaeO rain moon, O rain moon,
Vizhiyil ellam un ulaaIn my eyes, it is entirely your procession.
Female
Uyirai thodarndhu varumThat comes following life itself,
Nee thaanae mei ezhuthuYou are the true consonant,
Naan podum kai ezhuthu anbaeAnd I am the signature I write, my love.
Female
Uzhaga mozhiyil varumEverything that comes in world languages
Ellaamae ner ezhuthuIs straight text,
Kaadhal thaan kal ezhuthu anbaeBut love alone is carved in stone, my love.
Female
Mayiliragaai mayiliragaai varudugiraai mellaLike a peacock feather, like a peacock feather, you stroke me gently.
Male
Mazhai nilavae mazhai nilavaeO rain moon, O rain moon,
Vizhiyil ellam un ulaaIn my eyes, it is entirely your procession.
Female
Madhurai padhiyai marandhuForgetting its home city of Madurai,
Un madiyinil paaindhadhu vaigaiThe Vaigai river has rushed into your lap.
Medhuvaa medhuvaa medhuvaaGently, gently, gently,
Indha vaigaiyil vaithidu kaiPlace your hand upon this Vaigai river.
Male
Podhigai malaiyai piridhuSeparating from the Podhigai mountain,
En paarvaiyil neendhudhu thendralThe southern breeze swims in my sight.
Adhai naan adhai naan pidithuCatching that, catching that,
Mella adaithen mana chiraiyilI gently imprisoned it in the prison of my heart.
Female
Oar ilakiyam nam kaadhalOur love is a classical literary work,
Male
Vaan ulla varai vaazhum paadalA song that lives as long as the sky exists.
Female
Mayiliragaai mayiliragaai varudugiraai mellaLike a peacock feather, like a peacock feather, you stroke me gently.
Mazhai nilavaai mazhai nilavaaiLike a rain moon, like a rain moon,
Vizhiyil ellam un ulaaIn my eyes, it is entirely your procession.
Male
Uyirai thodarndhu varumThat comes following life itself,
Nee thaanae mei ezhuthuYou are the true consonant,
Naan podum kai ezhuthu anbaeAnd I am the signature I write, my love.
Male
Uzhaga mozhiyil varumEverything that comes in world languages
Ellaamae ner ezhuthuIs straight text,
Kaadhal thaan kal ezhuthu anbaeBut love alone is carved in stone, my love.
Female
Thamizhaa thamizhaa thamizhaaO Tamilian, O Tamilian, O Tamilian,
Un thamizh ingu selaiyil varudhaaIs your Tamil language caressing here wrapped in a saree?
Amirdhaai amirdhaai amirdhaaiLike sweet nectar, like sweet nectar, like sweet nectar,
Kavi aarthida nee varuvaaiYou come to quench the poet's spirit.
Male
Ondraai irandaai moondraaiOne, two, and three,
Andha valluvan thandhadhu mupaalThat sage Valluvar gave the three-part treatise.
Unakum enakum virupamThe desire shared between you and me,
Andha moondraam paal allavaaIs that third book of love, isn't it?
Female
Paal vilakangal nee kooruExplain the interpretations of those sections to me,
Male
Oor urangatum uraipen keluLet the town sleep, and listen as I tell you.
Male
Mayiliragae mayiliragae varudugiraai mellaO peacock feather, O peacock feather, you stroke me gently.
Mazhai nilavae mazhai nilavaeO rain moon, O rain moon,
Vizhiyil ellam un ulaaIn my eyes, it is entirely your procession.
Female
Uyirai thodarndhu varumThat comes following life itself,
Nee thaanae mei ezhuthuYou are the true consonant,
Naan podum kai ezhuthu anbaeAnd I am the signature I write, my love.
Female
Uzhaga mozhiyil varumEverything that comes in world languages
Ellaamae ner ezhuthuIs straight text,
Kaadhal thaan kal ezhuthu anbaeBut love alone is carved in stone, my love.
Mayiliragaai mayiliragaai varudugiraai mellaLike a peacock feather, like a peacock feather, you stroke me gently.
Male
Varudugiraai mellaFemale :Varudugiraai mellaYou caress gently; Female: You caress gently
Male
Varudugiraai mellaFemale :Varudugiraai mellaYou caress gently; Female: You caress gently

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Mayiliragae' is a sensual romantic duet from the 2005 Tamil film 'Anbe Aaruyire'. Written by Vaali and composed by A.R. Rahman, the song masterfully weaves classical Tamil literary concepts with intimate romantic expressions. The lovers express their deep affection using poetic metaphors such as the soft touch of a peacock feather, the refreshing nature of a rain moon, and references to Tamil heritage including the river Vaigai, the Podhigai mountains, and Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Mayiliragaai mayiliragaai varudugiraai mella

Compares the delicate and gentle touch of the lover to the softness of a peacock feather moving against the skin.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Nee thaanae mei ezhuthu / Naan podum kai ezhuthu anbae

Compares the lover to a pure consonant ('mei ezhuthu') and oneself to handwriting ('kai ezhuthu'), using grammar terms to symbolize eternal bond.

Personification

Madhurai padhiyai marandhu / Un madiyinil paaindhadhu vaigai

Personifies the river Vaigai as a lover leaving Madurai to flow into her partner's lap.

Literary Allusion

Andha valluvan thandhadhu mupaal ... Andha moondraam paal allavaa

Refers directly to Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural and its third book 'Inbathupaal' (the chapter on romantic love and pleasure).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman and written by legendary lyricist Vaali, this song is famous for introducing singer Naresh Iyer to Tamil cinema, winning him immense acclaim. Vaali's lyrics brilliantly connect classical Tamil literary history (such as 'Moondraam Paal' of Thirukkural) with contemporary romantic expressions.

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