Alila Thaliyumaai Varu Ne - Mizhirandilum

Alila Thali – Mizhirandilum

Composition – Raveendran

Lyrics – Vayalar Sharath Chandra Varma

Singer – P Jayachandran 

Prelude – The song “ Alilala Thaliyumaai Varu Nee “ from “ Mizhirandilum” adorned the lips of every Keralite in 2003 when the film was released . Set in raag Sudha Saveri and penned by Vayalar Sharath Chandra , the song uses the metaphor of the moon and the water lily to depict a celestial wedding . When I was in the 9th standard, its meaning was far beyond my understanding . 

Alila thaliyumay varu nee thinkale ithile ithile

Oh moon ! Come with a sacred nuptial thread made of banyan leaves .

Avani poyakayil nanam olum ambalo vadhuvaay arike

The water lily shyly stands near as a bride in the pond during the month of Avani ( The month of Chingam,starting  from mid-August to mid- September when the Onam festival is celebrated)

Manathaay mukil akale marayum

The cloud vanishes far away in the sky.

Oru yamathil anuraagam aliyum

The couple is immersed in love at night . 

Oru mangalyam raavil

There is a wedding at night .

Mele malikayil ninnum rathameri vanna mani maran

Manavattiyay vara manjulankiyude swanthamaay nimisham

The moment when the groom descended the chariot from the attic of the firmament and became one the great bride with a beautiful body is cherished. 

Varavelkku myneh nira mangalam arulu kokilame

Oh Mynah ! Welcome the couple , Oh cuckoo ! Sing auspicious songs filled with best wishes to the groom and bride .

Surabhila maai oru maniyara meneyu madhuvan manasame

Oh mind ,  like the sacred grove in Vrindavan ( One of the twelve principal forests of Vrindavan , situated on the western side of the river Yamuna where lord Shri Krishna performed pastimes and where the demon Madhu was killed)  ! Make a fragrant wedding night chamber for the groom and bride .

Chandana kuri aninnum naru kumkumathil akam ode

Kanakankuliyam aniyunna devsavidhe vilola neeye

You are the celestial nymph nearby who moves with a golden ring in her finger , sandalwood paste mark on her forehead and a heart as good as the vermillion.

Ithal aniyunello kumudiniyude kanavu nilav oliyil

The dreams of the water lily are blooming in the presence of the moon's radiant light . 

Puthiyaoru jeevitha vanikayil unaru kurumozhi mullakale

Oh jasmine flowers ! Awake with a new life in the garden( the groom and bride are given greetings to embark on a new journey of love after exchanging wedding vows )

Postlude – Raag Suddha Saveri captures the beats of the throbbing heart of the moon at night . The lyricist has tried to bring in the motifs associated with the life of Lord Krishna when he appears as a child on a banyan leaf floating in the torrents of water with the whole world safely inside his body during the dissolution of the universe to renew it afterwards with purity .  “ Madhuvan “ is a forest where Lord Krishna spent his days grazing cows and enjoying with his mates .