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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aasai Oru Mani

From Maalai Sooda Vaa · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Vijaya Bhaskar
Details
Maalai Sooda Vaa1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ahaaa…ohooo…laalaa..Vocalizations: Ahaaa… ohooo… laalaa..
Hm..mmVocalizations: Hm..mm
Female
Ahaaa…ohooo…laalaa..Vocalizations: Ahaaa… ohooo… laalaa..
Hm..mmVocalizations: Hm..mm
Male
Aasai oru mani muthamDesire for a precious kiss,
Padhithida aasaiI long to imprint it.
Female :Osai malar udhatinilFemale: A sound, from flower-soft lips,
Pirandhidum osaia sound is born.
Male
Aasai oru mani muthamDesire for a precious kiss,
Padhithida aasaiI long to imprint it.
Female :Osai malar udhatinilFemale: A sound, from flower-soft lips,
Pirandhidum osaia sound is born.
Male
Orutharam ammammaa orutharamJust once, oh my, just once!
Female :Avasaram appappaa avasaramFemale: Such haste, oh dear, such haste!
Male :Orutharam please oraetharamMale: Just once, please, just a single time!
Female :Avasaram appappaa avasaramFemale: Such haste, oh dear, such haste!
Male
Aasai oru mani muthamDesire for a precious kiss,
Padhithida aasaiI long to imprint it.
Female :Osai malar udhatinilFemale: A sound, from flower-soft lips,
Pirandhidum osaia sound is born.
Male
Thalai mudhal kaal varaiFrom head to toe,
Thazhuvi kolvenI will embrace you.
Ilaimarai kanigalaiThe fruits hidden behind leaves,
Thirudi selvenI will steal away.
Female
Iruppadhai udai konduWhatever I have, with my attire
Maraithu veippenI shall keep hidden.
Edukkaiyil enai konjamWhen you take it, I will forget myself
Maranthu nirppenand stand mesmerized.
Male
Naal paarkavoShall I look for an auspicious date?
Female :Andha aal paarkavooFemale: Should we check with that astrologer?
Male :Naal paarkavoMale: Shall I look for an auspicious date?
Female :Andha aal paarkavooFemale: Should we check with that astrologer?
Male
Aasai oru mani muthamDesire for a precious kiss,
Padhithida aasaiI long to imprint it.
Female :Osai malar udhatinilFemale: A sound, from flower-soft lips,
Pirandhidum osaia sound is born.
Male
Orutharam ammammaa orutharamJust once, oh my, just once!
Female :Avasaram appappaa avasaramFemale: Such haste, oh dear, such haste!
Male
Aasai oru mani muthamDesire for a precious kiss,
Padhithida aasai haanI long to imprint it, ah!
Female :Osai malar udhatinilFemale: A sound, from flower-soft lips,
Pirandhidum osaia sound is born.
Male
Ilamaiyin balam konduWith the strength of youth,
Katti pidippenI will hold you tight.
Idhayathil ooduruviPenetrating your heart,
Idam pidippenI will capture a place.
Female
Naal vagai gunathaiyumThe four traditional womanly virtues,
Kaaval veippenI shall keep guarded.
Naalaikku maalaittuTomorrow, after exchanging garlands,
Kai pidippenI will take your hand.
Male
Naal paarkavo haanShall I look for an auspicious date, ah?
Female :Andha aal paarkavooFemale: Should we check with that astrologer?
Male :Naal paarkavoMale: Shall I look for an auspicious date?
Female :Andha aal paarkavooFemale: Should we check with that astrologer?
Male
Aasai oru mani muthamDesire for a precious kiss,
Padhithida aasaiI long to imprint it.
Female :Osai malar udhatinilFemale: A sound, from flower-soft lips,
Pirandhidum osaia sound is born.
Male
Orutharam please oraetharamJust once, please, just a single time!
Female :Avasaram appappaa avasaramFemale: Such haste, oh dear, such haste!
Male
Aasai oru mani muthamDesire for a precious kiss,
Padhithida aasaiI long to imprint it.
Female :Osai malar udhatinilFemale: A sound, from flower-soft lips,
Pirandhidum osaia sound is born.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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).

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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.

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