- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Vijaya Bhaskar
- Movie name
- Maalai Sooda Vaa
- Movie release year
- 1975
- Lyrics added on
- 30 May 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Aasai Oru Mani Mutham' is a romantic duet from the 1975 Tamil film 'Maalai Sooda Vaa', written by the legendary lyricist Vaali. The song captures playful, affectionate banter between two lovers where the hero eagerly seeks intimacy while the heroine coyly resists, reminding him of traditional modesty and the proper sequence of courtship leading to marriage. Throughout the verses, the male lover expresses his intense longing and desire to embrace his beloved, while the female lover balances her affection with cultural restraint, mentioning the four classic virtues of womanhood (Naal Vagai Gunam: Acham, Madam, Naanam, Payirppu) and suggesting they wait for marriage before giving in to passion. The song gracefully weaves romantic urgency with traditional values in a lighthearted, musical dialogue.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Osai malar udhatinil”
'Malar udhatinil' compares lips directly to tender flowers without explicit comparative words.
Metaphor / Euphemism
“Ilaimarai kanigalai”
'Ilaimarai kanigalai' (fruits hidden behind leaves) is a poetic metaphor representing hidden physical beauty or modest feminine charms.
Alliteration (Moni)
“Ilamaiyin balam kondu”
Repetition of the 'I' sound in consecutive lines ('Ilamaiyin' and 'Idhayathil').
Cultural Allusion
“Naal vagai gunathaiyum”
'Naal vagai gunam' refers to the classic Tamil literary tradition of four virtues prescribed for women: Acham (fear), Madam (innocence), Naanam (shyness), and Payirppu (chastity/modesty).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Maalai Sooda Vaa' (1975) is a rare vintage Tamil movie featuring music composed by M. S. Viswanathan / Vijaya Bhaskar era compositions, with lyricist Vaali bringing his signature blend of accessible romantic vocabulary mixed with classic Tamil literary tropes.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Maalai Sooda Vaa
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.