Moongil Mara
From Azhagu Nila · 1962
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Azhagu Nila1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Moongil mara kattinilae | In the forest of bamboo trees, |
| Ketkkum oru naadham | A musical sound is heard. |
| Muthamidum thendralinaal | Created by the kissing southern breeze, |
| Undaagum sangeetham | Music is born. |
| Moongil mara kattinilae | In the forest of bamboo trees... |
| Ketkkum oru naadham | In the forest of bamboo trees, |
| Muthamidum thendralinaal | A musical sound is heard. |
| Undaagum sangeetham | Created by the kissing southern breeze, |
| Moongil mara kattinilae … | Music is born. |
| Female | |
| Moongil mara kattinilae | In the forest of bamboo trees... |
| Ketkkum oru naadham | In the forest of bamboo trees, |
| Muthamidum thendralinaal | A musical sound is heard. |
| Undaagum sangeetham | Created by the kissing southern breeze, |
| Moongil mara kattinilae | Music is born. |
| Ketkkum oru naadham | In the forest of bamboo trees, |
| Muthamidum thendralinaal | A musical sound is heard. |
| Undaagum sangeetham | Created by the kissing southern breeze, |
| Moongil mara kattinilae … | Music is born. |
| Male | |
| {Naadhamillai endraal | In the forest of bamboo trees... |
| Geetham kidaiyaadhu | Without musical sound, |
| Female :Ragam illai endraal | There is no song. |
| Thaalam kidaiyaadhu} (2) | Female: Without melody, |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal illaiyendraal | There is no rhythm. (Repeated) |
| Ulagam kidaiyaadhu | Without love, |
| Kaadhal illaiyendraal | There is no world. |
| Ulagam kidaiyaadhu | Without love, |
| Female :Kangal illaiyendraal | There is no world. |
| Kaatchiyum kidaiyaadhu | Female: Without eyes, |
| Kangal illaiyendraal | There is no sight. |
| Kaatchiyum kidaiyaadhu | Female: Without eyes, |
| Male | |
| Moongil mara kattinilae | There is no sight. |
| Ketkkum oru naadham | In the forest of bamboo trees, |
| Female :Muthamidum thendralinaal | A musical sound is heard. |
| Undaagum sangeetham | Female: Created by the kissing southern breeze, |
| Both :Moongil mara kattinilae … | Music is born. |
| Male | |
| {Kangal irundhenna | Both: In the forest of bamboo trees... |
| Kaatchiyum irundhenna | What is the use of having eyes, |
| Konjum mozhiyum illai | What is the use of having sight, |
| Kurippum theriyavillai} (2) | When there are no tender words spoken, |
| Female | |
| Pinjum kaaiyaagum | And no subtle hints understood? (Repeated) |
| Kaayum kaniyaagum | A tender bud becomes an unripe fruit, |
| Pinjum kaaiyaagum | An unripe fruit becomes a ripe fruit. |
| Kaayum kaniyaagum | A tender bud becomes an unripe fruit, |
| Kaniyil suvai irukkum | An unripe fruit becomes a ripe fruit. |
| Kaalam vandhaal palan kodukkum | The ripe fruit contains sweetness, |
| Kaniyil suvai irukkum | When the right time comes, it yields its reward. |
| Kaalam vandhaal palan kodukkum | The ripe fruit contains sweetness, |
| Male | |
| Moongil mara kattinilae | When the right time comes, it yields its reward. |
| Ketkkum oru naadham | In the forest of bamboo trees, |
| Female :Muthamidum thendralinaal | A musical sound is heard. |
| Undaagum sangeetham | Female: Created by the kissing southern breeze, |
| Both :Moongil mara kattinilae | Music is born. |
| Male | |
| {Kaalam varuvadhendru | Both: In the forest of bamboo trees... |
| Kaayum kanivadhendru | When will the right time arrive? |
| Kangal malarvadhendru | When will the unripe fruit ripen? |
| Inbam valarvadhendru} (2) | When will the eyes blossom? |
| Female | |
| Aakka porutha manam | When will true joy grow? (Repeated) |
| Aara porukkalaiyae | The mind that waited for the food to be cooked, |
| Paarkkum paarvaiyilae | Could not wait for it to cool down! |
| Nokkam puriyalaiyae | In the glance being exchanged, |
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே
கேட்குமொரு நாதம்
முத்தமிடும் தென்றலினால்
உண்டாகும் சங்கீதம்
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே
கேட்குமொரு நாதம்
முத்தமிடும் தென்றலினால்
உண்டாகும் சங்கீதம்
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே ஏ..
In the forest of bamboo trees,
A musical sound is heard.
Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Music is born.
In the forest of bamboo trees...
In the forest of bamboo trees,
A musical sound is heard.
Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Music is born.
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே
கேட்குமொரு நாதம்
முத்தமிடும் தென்றலினால்
உண்டாகும் சங்கீதம்
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே
கேட்குமொரு நாதம்
முத்தமிடும் தென்றலினால்
உண்டாகும் சங்கீதம்
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே ..
In the forest of bamboo trees...
In the forest of bamboo trees,
A musical sound is heard.
Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Music is born.
In the forest of bamboo trees,
A musical sound is heard.
Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Music is born.
{நாதமில்லை என்றால்
கீதம் கிடையாது
ராகமில்லை என்றால்
தாளம் கிடையாது} (2)
In the forest of bamboo trees...
Without musical sound,
There is no song.
Female: Without melody,
காதல் இல்லையென்றால்
உலகம் கிடையாது
காதல் இல்லையென்றால்
உலகம் கிடையாது
There is no rhythm. (Repeated)
Without love,
There is no world.
Without love,
There is no world.
Female: Without eyes,
There is no sight.
Female: Without eyes,
கண்கள் இல்லையென்றால்
காட்சியும் கிடையாது
கண்கள் இல்லையென்றால்
காட்சியும் கிடையாது
There is no sight.
In the forest of bamboo trees,
A musical sound is heard.
Female: Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Music is born.
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே
கேட்குமொரு நாதம்
முத்தமிடும் தென்றலினால்
உண்டாகும் சங்கீதம்
இருவர் :
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே ..
Both: In the forest of bamboo trees...
What is the use of having eyes,
What is the use of having sight,
When there are no tender words spoken,
{கண்கள் இருந்தென்ன
காட்சியும் இருந்தென்ன
கொஞ்சும் மொழியில்லை
குறிப்பும் தெரியவில்லை} (2)
And no subtle hints understood? (Repeated)
A tender bud becomes an unripe fruit,
An unripe fruit becomes a ripe fruit.
A tender bud becomes an unripe fruit,
An unripe fruit becomes a ripe fruit.
The ripe fruit contains sweetness,
When the right time comes, it yields its reward.
The ripe fruit contains sweetness,
பிஞ்சும் காயாகும்
காயும் கனியாகும்
பிஞ்சும் காயாகும்
காயும் கனியாகும்
கனியில் சுவையிருக்கும்
காலம் வந்தால் பலன் கொடுக்கும்
When the right time comes, it yields its reward.
In the forest of bamboo trees,
A musical sound is heard.
Female: Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Music is born.
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே
கேட்குமொரு நாதம்
முத்தமிடும் தென்றலினால்
உண்டாகும் சங்கீதம்
இருவர் :
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே ..
Both: In the forest of bamboo trees...
When will the right time arrive?
When will the unripe fruit ripen?
When will the eyes blossom?
{காலம் வருவதென்று
காயும் கனிவதென்று
கண்கள் மலர்வதென்று
இன்பம் வளர்வதென்று} (2)
When will true joy grow? (Repeated)
The mind that waited for the food to be cooked,
Could not wait for it to cool down!
In the glance being exchanged,
ஆக்கப் பொறுத்த மனம்
ஆறப் பொறுக்கலையா
பார்க்கும் பார்வையிலே
நோக்கம் புரியல்லையா
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே
கேட்குமொரு நாதம்
முத்தமிடும் தென்றலினால்
உண்டாகும் சங்கீதம்
மூங்கில் மரக் காட்டினிலே
Moongil mara kattinilae
In the forest of bamboo trees,
Ketkkum oru naadham
A musical sound is heard.
Muthamidum thendralinaal
Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Undaagum sangeetham
Music is born.
Moongil mara kattinilae
In the forest of bamboo trees...
Ketkkum oru naadham
In the forest of bamboo trees,
Muthamidum thendralinaal
A musical sound is heard.
Undaagum sangeetham
Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Moongil mara kattinilae …
Music is born.
Moongil mara kattinilae
In the forest of bamboo trees...
Ketkkum oru naadham
In the forest of bamboo trees,
Muthamidum thendralinaal
A musical sound is heard.
Undaagum sangeetham
Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Moongil mara kattinilae
Music is born.
Ketkkum oru naadham
In the forest of bamboo trees,
Muthamidum thendralinaal
A musical sound is heard.
Undaagum sangeetham
Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Moongil mara kattinilae …
Music is born.
{Naadhamillai endraal
In the forest of bamboo trees...
Geetham kidaiyaadhu
Without musical sound,
Female :Ragam illai endraal
There is no song.
Thaalam kidaiyaadhu} (2)
Female: Without melody,
Kaadhal illaiyendraal
There is no rhythm. (Repeated)
Ulagam kidaiyaadhu
Without love,
Kaadhal illaiyendraal
There is no world.
Ulagam kidaiyaadhu
Without love,
Female :Kangal illaiyendraal
There is no world.
Kaatchiyum kidaiyaadhu
Female: Without eyes,
Kangal illaiyendraal
There is no sight.
Kaatchiyum kidaiyaadhu
Female: Without eyes,
Moongil mara kattinilae
There is no sight.
Ketkkum oru naadham
In the forest of bamboo trees,
Female :Muthamidum thendralinaal
A musical sound is heard.
Undaagum sangeetham
Female: Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Both :Moongil mara kattinilae …
Music is born.
{Kangal irundhenna
Both: In the forest of bamboo trees...
Kaatchiyum irundhenna
What is the use of having eyes,
Konjum mozhiyum illai
What is the use of having sight,
Kurippum theriyavillai} (2)
When there are no tender words spoken,
Pinjum kaaiyaagum
And no subtle hints understood? (Repeated)
Kaayum kaniyaagum
A tender bud becomes an unripe fruit,
Pinjum kaaiyaagum
An unripe fruit becomes a ripe fruit.
Kaayum kaniyaagum
A tender bud becomes an unripe fruit,
Kaniyil suvai irukkum
An unripe fruit becomes a ripe fruit.
Kaalam vandhaal palan kodukkum
The ripe fruit contains sweetness,
Kaniyil suvai irukkum
When the right time comes, it yields its reward.
Kaalam vandhaal palan kodukkum
The ripe fruit contains sweetness,
Moongil mara kattinilae
When the right time comes, it yields its reward.
Ketkkum oru naadham
In the forest of bamboo trees,
Female :Muthamidum thendralinaal
A musical sound is heard.
Undaagum sangeetham
Female: Created by the kissing southern breeze,
Both :Moongil mara kattinilae
Music is born.
{Kaalam varuvadhendru
Both: In the forest of bamboo trees...
Kaayum kanivadhendru
When will the right time arrive?
Kangal malarvadhendru
When will the unripe fruit ripen?
Inbam valarvadhendru} (2)
When will the eyes blossom?
Aakka porutha manam
When will true joy grow? (Repeated)
Aara porukkalaiyae
The mind that waited for the food to be cooked,
Paarkkum paarvaiyilae
Could not wait for it to cool down!
Nokkam puriyalaiyae
In the glance being exchanged,
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Moongil Mara Kattinilae from the film Azhagu Nila (1962) is a celebrated romantic duet composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, sung by Seerkazhi Govindarajan and P. Susheela. The song draws a poetic parallel between the phenomena of nature and human affection: just as the gentle breeze brushing through bamboo stalks produces divine flute-like music, mutual love gives rhythm, warmth, and meaning to life. The lovers engage in a subtle, playful dialogue comparing love to the process of fruit ripening, emphasizing that sweet rewards require patience, while teasing each other's impatience and unspoken desires using traditional Tamil maxims.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Personification (Uvamaani)
“Muthamidum thendralinaal Undaagum sangeetham”
The lyricist personifies the southern breeze as 'kissing' the bamboo grove to produce music, symbolizing how love organically breathes life and melody into the world.
Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Moongil mara kattinilae”
Repetition of the initial 'M' sound in 'Moongil mara' creates a soothing musical cadence matching the thematic natural wind sound.
Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi Uvamai)
“Aakka porutha manam Aara porukkalaiyae”
Uses the famous Tamil folk proverb about cooking food to illustrate romantic impatience—the heart had patience while love was being formed, but cannot wait to enjoy it now.
Did you know?
Trivia
Azhagu Nila (1962) featured a timeless soundtrack by 'Thirai Isai Thilagam' K. V. Mahadevan. This song is widely recognized for lyricist A. Maruthakasi's ingenious use of the bamboo forest as a natural metaphor for the flute (pulanguzhal) made of bamboo, seamlessly blending nature imagery with romantic philosophy.
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