Malarnthum Malaraatha Lyrics Translated

This song is a classic. It is from a movie called Paasa Malar (flower or affection). I grew up listening to lots of oldies and enjoyed their high lyricism. There are three types of Tamil (apart from the ordinary spoken type): Iyal Isai and Naadagam; roughly translating to 'Literature', 'Musical or Lyrical' and 'Theatrical'. I think in the olden days, they stuck to the types so the quality of the lyrics necessarily became of a certain standard.

To put the video into perspective, the context is of a brother and sister who are singing lullabies to their children. They have been separated by circumstance. As you will observe, emotions flow freely. Movie acting styles were a lot more like theater back then, where all emotions had to be exaggerated to be captured by everyone in the crowd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6CgdE7jBNg


Malarnthum malaraatha paathi malar pola valarum vizhi vanname
Vanthu vidinthum vidiyatha kaalai pozhuthaaga vilaintha kalai anname
Nathiyil vilaiyaadai kodiyil thalai seevi nadantha ilam thendrale
Valar Pothigai malai thondri Madurai nagar kandu polintha tamizh mandrame

Like a flower that has started to bloom, like a half-bloom, a growing colourful vision,
Like a dawn that has not yet set forth, as that morning time, a grown artful swan,
You are the gently walking tender young breeze that plays in the river and combs your hair with a creeper,
You are grown in the Pothigai Hills and raised with the Tamil culture of Madurai.

Malarnthum malaraatha paathi malar pola valarum vizhi vanname
Vanthu vidinthum vidiyatha kaalai pozhuthaaga vilaintha kalai anname
Nathiyil vilaiyaadi kodiyil thalai seevi nadantha ilam thendrale
Valar Pothigai malai thondri Madurai nagar kandu polintha Tamizh mandrame

Yaanai padai kondu senai pala vendru
Aala piranthaayada – puvi aala piranthaiyada
Athai magalai manam kondu ilamai vazhi kandu
Vaazha piranthaiyada

With an army of elephants and soldiers, you were born to conquer many and rule -
You were born the rule the Earth
To wed your aunt's daughter and live a youthful life,
You were born

Athai magalai manam kondu ilamai vazhi kandu...
Vaazha piranthaiyada

Thanga kadiyaaram vaira maniyaaram thanthu
Manam pesuvaar – porul thanthu manam pesuvaar
Maaman thangai magalaana mangai unakkaga
Ulagai vilai pesuvaar

With a golden watch and a diamond beads given
He will come to arrange the wed-lock, he will give those gifts as he speaks of the arrangement
Your uncle's younger sister's daughter, dear girl for you
He would trade the world

Maaman thangai magalaana mangai unakkaga...
Ulagai vilai pesuvaar

Nathiyil vilaiyaadi kodiyil thalai seevi nadantha ilam thendrale
Valar Pothigai malai thondri Madurai nagar kandu polintha Tamizh mandrame

Play in the river and comb your hair in the creeper, as you gently walk, tender young breeze,
You are grown in the Pothigai Hills and raised with the Tamil culture of Madurai

Siragil enai moodi arumai magal pola
Valartha kathai sollavaa
Kanavil ninaiyatha kaalam idaivanthu
Piritha kathai sollavaa?

As closed under the wing, as a favourite daughter
Shall I tell you the story of how I was brought up?
Not even in a dream was it possible to imagine the circumstance
Shall I tell you the story of how we were separated?

Kannil mani pola maniyin nizhal pola
Kalanthu piranthomada
Intha mannum kadal vaanum marainthu mudinthaalum
Marakka mudiyathada
Uravai pirikka mudiyathada

Like the bead (like apple) of the eye, and as the shadow of the bead
We were brought up together
This earth, sea, and sky, though they may disappear and end
It is not possible to forget
You can't separate such bonds

Mmmmmm....
Anbe aarirararo aarirararo arirarariro
(Hums) Dear one, (lullaby syllables)


Such heart wrenching lyrics... especially the last three lines.