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Jodi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Velli Malarae

From Jodi · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Mahalakshmi Iyer
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Jodi
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
2 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………
{ Velli malarae … velli malarae } (2)
Netru varai nee neduvanam kandaai
Otrai kaalil uyarathil nindraai
Manjal maalai mazhaiyil nanaindhaai
Sithirai maadham veyilum sumandhaai
Ithanai thavangal yen thaan seidhaayo
Thaen sidharum manmadha malarae indrae solvaayo
Ohhh…ohh..ohh
Velli malarae …. velli malarae
Yehh … yehhh … yehhh …yehhh … yehhh
Minnoliyil malarvana thaazham pookkal
Kannoliyil malarvana kaadhal pookkal
Nenjudaindha poovae nil
Yehh … vetkangetta thendralukku velai illai
Thendralukkum ungalukkum pedhamillai
Aadai kolla paarpeer ayyo thalli nil nil
Vaan vittu vaaraai siragulla nilavae
Thaen vittu pesaai uyir ulla malarae
Unnai kandu uyir thaen sottudhae sottudhae
{ Velli malarae … velli malarae } (2)
Vanangalil poondhalir thedum podhum
Nadhigalil neer kudaindhaadum podhum
Undhan dhisai thedum vizhigal
Tholaivinil tharai thottu aadum megam
Aruginil sella sella odi pogum
Neeyum megam thaana nenjai thottu chol sol
Mazhaiyilum koovum maragadha kuyil naan
Iravilum adikkum punnagai veyil naan
Un nenjil vasikkum innoru uyir naan
Velli malarae …. velli malarae
Netru varai nee neduvanam kandaai
Otrai kaalil uyarathil nindraai
Manjal maalai mazhaiyil nanaindhaai
Sithirai maadham veyilum sumandhaai
Ithanai thavangal yen thaan seidhaayo
Thaen sidharum manmadha malarae indrae solvaayo
Ilandhalirae … ilandhalirae
Velli malar andru iyatriya thavam edharkku
Pen mangai undhan koondhal servadharkku
Velli malarae …. velli malarae
...
O silver flower... O silver flower! O silver flower... O silver flower!
Until yesterday, you looked up at the vast sky,
Standing tall on a single stem,
You got soaked in the golden evening rain,
You endured the heat of the summer sun.
Why did you endure such deep penance?
O flower of love dripping with nectar, won't you tell me today?
Oh... oh... oh...
O silver flower... O silver flower!
Yeah... yeah... yeah... yeah... yeah...
Fragrant screw-pine flowers bloom in flashes of lightning,
Flowers of love bloom in the sparkle of the eyes.
Wait, my tender flower!
Yeah... this shameless breeze has no other job,
And there is no difference between the breeze and you!
You keep trying to steal my clothes—oh no, stay back, stay away!
Come down from the sky, my winged moon!
Speak words of sweet honey, my living blossom!
Looking at you, my very soul drips with honey!
O silver flower... O silver flower! O silver flower... O silver flower!
Even when I search for fresh blossoms in the woods,
Even when I splash and bathe in the rivers,
My eyes keep searching in your direction.
From afar, the clouds seem to touch the ground and dance,
Yet as you go closer and closer, they run away.
Are you like a cloud too? Touch your heart and tell me!
I am an emerald cuckoo that sings even in the rain,
I am a sunny smile that shines even at night,
I am another soul living inside your heart.
O silver flower... O silver flower!
Until yesterday, you looked up at the vast sky,
Standing tall on a single stem,
You got soaked in the golden evening rain,
You endured the heat of the summer sun.
Why did you endure such deep penance?
O flower of love dripping with nectar, won't you tell me today?
O tender sprout... O gentle shoot...
Why did the silver flower perform such penance back then?
Only to find a place in your lovely hair, my girl!
O silver flower... O silver flower!
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Velli Malare is a poetic romantic song from the movie Jodi (1999) that compares the growth and resilience of a flower to a devotee performing austerity. The protagonist marvels at how a flower endures rain and scorching summer heat on a single stalk, asking why it went through such penance, only to reveal that its ultimate purpose was to adorn his beloved's hair. The song weaves vibrant nature metaphors—comparing love to blossoms ignited by eye contact, moonlight with wings, and a soulmate to a cuckoo singing in the rain—capturing the playful, deep affection between lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagappaduthal)

“Otrai kaalil uyarathil nindraai / Sithirai maadham veyilum sumandhaai”

The flower is personified as an ascetic performing penance on a single leg, enduring harsh rain and heat.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Vaan vittu vaaraai siragulla nilavae / Thaen vittu pesaai uyir ulla malarae”

The beloved is metaphorically called a 'winged moon' (siragulla nilavae) and a 'living flower' (uyir ulla malarae).

Contrast / Oxymoron

“Iravilum adikkum punnagai veyil naan”

Describing oneself as sunshine that strikes even during the night creates a striking poetic contrast emphasizing constant warmth.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Minnoliyil malarvana thaazham pookkal / Kannoliyil malarvana kaadhal pookkal”

The second letter 'n' matches across parallel lines (Minnoliyil / Kannoliyil), creating lyrical harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although credited under the film Jodi (1999) with music composed by A.R. Rahman, the soundtrack was repurposed from Rahman's Hindi and Telugu compositions (specifically reusing tunes like 'Sona Sona' from Doli Saja Ke Rakhna). 'Velli Malare' was sung by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Mahalakshmi Iyer, with lyrics by Vairamuthu.

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