Velli Malarae
From Jodi · 1999
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Jodi1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| { Velli malarae … velli malarae } (2) | O silver flower... O silver flower (2) |
| Netru varai nee neduvanam kandaai | Until yesterday, you looked at the high sky, |
| Otrai kaalil uyarathil nindraai | Standing tall on a single leg, |
| Manjal maalai mazhaiyil nanaindhaai | Drenched in the yellow evening rain, |
| Sithirai maadham veyilum sumandhaai | Enduring the heat of the month of Chithirai, |
| Ithanai thavangal yen thaan seidhaayo | Why on earth did you perform such penance? |
| Thaen sidharum manmadha malarae indrae solvaayo | O sweet flower of Cupid, tell me today! |
| Female | |
| Ohhh…ohh..ohh | Ohhh... ohh.. ohh |
| Male | |
| Velli malarae …. velli malarae | O silver flower... O silver flower |
| Female | |
| Yehh … yehhh … yehhh …yehhh … yehhh | Yehh... yehhh... yehhh... yehhh... yehhh |
| Male | |
| Minnoliyil malarvana thaazham pookkal | Screwpine flowers bloom in the flash of lightning, |
| Kannoliyil malarvana kaadhal pookkal | Flowers of love bloom in the light of the eyes, |
| Nenjudaindha poovae nil | Stop, O flower with a broken heart! |
| Female | |
| Yehh … vetkangetta thendralukku velai illai | Yehh... there is no need for this shameless breeze, |
| Thendralukkum ungalukkum pedhamillai | There is no difference between the breeze and you, |
| Aadai kolla paarpeer ayyo thalli nil nil | You try to undress me with your eyes, oh stand far away! |
| Male | |
| Vaan vittu vaaraai siragulla nilavae | Come down from the sky, O winged moon, |
| Thaen vittu pesaai uyir ulla malarae | Speak dropping honey, O living flower, |
| Unnai kandu uyir thaen sottudhae sottudhae | Seeing you, my life's nectar drips and drips, |
| Female | |
| { Velli malarae … velli malarae } (2) | O silver flower... O silver flower (2) |
| Female | |
| Vanangalil poondhalir thedum podhum | Even when searching for tender shoots in forests, |
| Nadhigalil neer kudaindhaadum podhum | Even when bathing and playing in rivers, |
| Undhan dhisai thedum vizhigal | My eyes keep searching in your direction, |
| Male | |
| Tholaivinil tharai thottu aadum megam | The cloud that touches the ground and dances in the distance, |
| Aruginil sella sella odi pogum | Runs away as I get closer and closer, |
| Neeyum megam thaana nenjai thottu chol sol | Are you a cloud too? Touch your heart and tell me, |
| Female | |
| Mazhaiyilum koovum maragadha kuyil naan | I am an emerald cuckoo that sings even in the rain, |
| Iravilum adikkum punnagai veyil naan | I am a smiling sunshine that shines even at night, |
| Un nenjil vasikkum innoru uyir naan | I am another soul residing within your heart, |
| Male | |
| Velli malarae …. velli malarae | O silver flower... O silver flower |
| Female | |
| Netru varai nee neduvanam kandaai | Until yesterday, you looked at the high sky, |
| Otrai kaalil uyarathil nindraai | Standing tall on a single leg, |
| Manjal maalai mazhaiyil nanaindhaai | Drenched in the yellow evening rain, |
| Sithirai maadham veyilum sumandhaai | Enduring the heat of the month of Chithirai, |
| Ithanai thavangal yen thaan seidhaayo | Why on earth did you perform such penance? |
| Thaen sidharum manmadha malarae indrae solvaayo | O sweet flower of Cupid, tell me today! |
| Male | |
| Ilandhalirae … ilandhalirae | O tender shoot... O tender shoot, |
| Velli malar andru iyatriya thavam edharkku | Why did the silver flower perform penance back then? |
| Pen mangai undhan koondhal servadharkku | To adorn the hair of you, a young woman! |
| Velli malarae …. velli malarae | O silver flower... O silver flower |
....................................
...
வெள்ளி மலரே
வெள்ளி மலரே வெள்ளி
மலரே வெள்ளி மலரே
நேற்றுவரை நீ நெடுவனம்
கண்டாய் ஒற்றைக்காலில்
உயரத்தில் நின்றாய் மஞ்சள்
மாலை மழையில் நனைந்தாய்
சித்திரை மாதம் வெயிலும்
சுமந்தாய் இத்தனை தவங்கள்
ஏன்தான் செய்தாயோ தேன்சிதறும்
மன்மத மலரே இன்றே சொல்வாயோ
O silver flower... O silver flower (2)
Until yesterday, you looked at the high sky,
Standing tall on a single leg,
Drenched in the yellow evening rain,
Enduring the heat of the month of Chithirai,
Why on earth did you perform such penance?
O sweet flower of Cupid, tell me today!
{ இளந்தளிரே
இளந்தளிரே வெள்ளி
மலரன்று இயற்றிய
தவம் எதற்கு பெண்மங்கை
உந்தன் கூந்தல் சோ்வதற்கு } (2)
Ohhh... ohh.. ohh
ஓ....ஓ....ஓ...
O silver flower... O silver flower
வெள்ளி மலரே
வெள்ளி மலரே
Yehh... yehhh... yehhh... yehhh... yehhh
....................................
Screwpine flowers bloom in the flash of lightning,
Flowers of love bloom in the light of the eyes,
Stop, O flower with a broken heart!
மின்னொளியில்
மலா்வன தாழம்பூக்கள்
கண்ணொளியில் மலா்வன
காதல் பூக்கள் நெஞ்சுடைந்த
பூவே நில்
Yehh... there is no need for this shameless breeze,
There is no difference between the breeze and you,
You try to undress me with your eyes, oh stand far away!
ஏ வெட்கங்கெட்ட
தென்றலுக்கு வேலையில்லை
தென்றலுக்கும் உங்களுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை ஆடைகொள்ளப்
பாா்ப்பீா் ஐயோ தள்ளி நில் நில்
Come down from the sky, O winged moon,
Speak dropping honey, O living flower,
Seeing you, my life's nectar drips and drips,
வான்விட்டு வாராய்
சிறகுள்ள நிலவே தேன்விட்டுப்
பேசாய் உயிருள்ள மலரே
உன்னைக்கண்டு உயிா்த்தேன்
சொட்டுதே சொட்டுதே
O silver flower... O silver flower (2)
வெள்ளி மலரே
வெள்ளி மலரே வெள்ளி
மலரே வெள்ளி மலரே
Even when searching for tender shoots in forests,
Even when bathing and playing in rivers,
My eyes keep searching in your direction,
வனங்களில் பூந்தளிா்
தேடும்போதும் நதிகளில்
நீா்க்குடைந்தாடும்போதும்
உந்தன் திசை தேடும் விழிகள்
The cloud that touches the ground and dances in the distance,
Runs away as I get closer and closer,
Are you a cloud too? Touch your heart and tell me,
தொலைவினில்
தரைதொட்டு ஆடும் மேகம்
அருகினில் செல்லச்செல்ல
ஓடிப்போகும் நீயும் மேகம்தானா
நெஞ்சைத் தொட்டுச்சொல் சொல்
I am an emerald cuckoo that sings even in the rain,
I am a smiling sunshine that shines even at night,
I am another soul residing within your heart,
மழையிலும் கூவும்
மரகதக் குயில் நான் இரவிலும்
அடிக்கும் புன்னகை வெயில் நான்
உன் நெஞ்சில் வசிக்கும் இன்னொரு
உயிா் நான்
O silver flower... O silver flower
வெள்ளி மலரே
வெள்ளி மலரே
Until yesterday, you looked at the high sky,
Standing tall on a single leg,
Drenched in the yellow evening rain,
Enduring the heat of the month of Chithirai,
Why on earth did you perform such penance?
O sweet flower of Cupid, tell me today!
நேற்றுவரை நீ நெடுவனம்
கண்டாய் ஒற்றைக்காலில்
உயரத்தில் நின்றாய் மஞ்சள்
மாலை மழையில் நனைந்தாய்
சித்திரை மாதம் வெயிலும்
சுமந்தாய் இத்தனை தவங்கள்
ஏன்தான் செய்தாயோ தேன்சிதறும்
மன்மத மலரே இன்றே சொல்வாயோ
O tender shoot... O tender shoot,
Why did the silver flower perform penance back then?
To adorn the hair of you, a young woman!
O silver flower... O silver flower
இளந்தளிரே
இளந்தளிரே வெள்ளி
மலரன்று இயற்றிய
தவம் எதற்கு பெண்மங்கை
உந்தன் கூந்தல் சோ்வதற்கு
வெள்ளி மலரே வெள்ளி மலரே
…………………
...
{ Velli malarae … velli malarae } (2)
O silver flower... O silver flower (2)
Netru varai nee neduvanam kandaai
Until yesterday, you looked at the high sky,
Otrai kaalil uyarathil nindraai
Standing tall on a single leg,
Manjal maalai mazhaiyil nanaindhaai
Drenched in the yellow evening rain,
Sithirai maadham veyilum sumandhaai
Enduring the heat of the month of Chithirai,
Ithanai thavangal yen thaan seidhaayo
Why on earth did you perform such penance?
Thaen sidharum manmadha malarae indrae solvaayo
O sweet flower of Cupid, tell me today!
Ohhh…ohh..ohh
Ohhh... ohh.. ohh
Velli malarae …. velli malarae
O silver flower... O silver flower
Yehh … yehhh … yehhh …yehhh … yehhh
Yehh... yehhh... yehhh... yehhh... yehhh
Minnoliyil malarvana thaazham pookkal
Screwpine flowers bloom in the flash of lightning,
Kannoliyil malarvana kaadhal pookkal
Flowers of love bloom in the light of the eyes,
Nenjudaindha poovae nil
Stop, O flower with a broken heart!
Yehh … vetkangetta thendralukku velai illai
Yehh... there is no need for this shameless breeze,
Thendralukkum ungalukkum pedhamillai
There is no difference between the breeze and you,
Aadai kolla paarpeer ayyo thalli nil nil
You try to undress me with your eyes, oh stand far away!
Vaan vittu vaaraai siragulla nilavae
Come down from the sky, O winged moon,
Thaen vittu pesaai uyir ulla malarae
Speak dropping honey, O living flower,
Unnai kandu uyir thaen sottudhae sottudhae
Seeing you, my life's nectar drips and drips,
{ Velli malarae … velli malarae } (2)
O silver flower... O silver flower (2)
Vanangalil poondhalir thedum podhum
Even when searching for tender shoots in forests,
Nadhigalil neer kudaindhaadum podhum
Even when bathing and playing in rivers,
Undhan dhisai thedum vizhigal
My eyes keep searching in your direction,
Tholaivinil tharai thottu aadum megam
The cloud that touches the ground and dances in the distance,
Aruginil sella sella odi pogum
Runs away as I get closer and closer,
Neeyum megam thaana nenjai thottu chol sol
Are you a cloud too? Touch your heart and tell me,
Mazhaiyilum koovum maragadha kuyil naan
I am an emerald cuckoo that sings even in the rain,
Iravilum adikkum punnagai veyil naan
I am a smiling sunshine that shines even at night,
Un nenjil vasikkum innoru uyir naan
I am another soul residing within your heart,
Velli malarae …. velli malarae
O silver flower... O silver flower
Netru varai nee neduvanam kandaai
Until yesterday, you looked at the high sky,
Otrai kaalil uyarathil nindraai
Standing tall on a single leg,
Manjal maalai mazhaiyil nanaindhaai
Drenched in the yellow evening rain,
Sithirai maadham veyilum sumandhaai
Enduring the heat of the month of Chithirai,
Ithanai thavangal yen thaan seidhaayo
Why on earth did you perform such penance?
Thaen sidharum manmadha malarae indrae solvaayo
O sweet flower of Cupid, tell me today!
Ilandhalirae … ilandhalirae
O tender shoot... O tender shoot,
Velli malar andru iyatriya thavam edharkku
Why did the silver flower perform penance back then?
Pen mangai undhan koondhal servadharkku
To adorn the hair of you, a young woman!
Velli malarae …. velli malarae
O silver flower... O silver flower
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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