Skip to content
Isaimozhi
En Thambi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ayyaiya Mella Thattu

From En Thambi · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
En Thambi
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
18 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Lallala lala lala lala lala laa
Lallala lala lala lala lala laa
Aiyaiyaa mella thattu
Aiyaiyaa mella thattu
Kannam vali edukkum
Nenjam thudi thudikkum
Aasai perugi vidum
Angam sivandhu vidum
Aiyaiyaa mella thattu
Vanna kandaangi kondadum
Kannaatti unnodu
Sandhosha sallaabam
Ullaasam kaanaamal
Theeraadhu ennaasai
Theeradhu singaari
Singaari chinna chittu
Singaari chinna chittu
Chella kili allavo
Sevvandhi poovallavo
Manjal niramallavo
Vaira nagai allavo
Aiyaiyaa mella thattu
Nadakkum paadhai ondraanadhu
Mayakkum bodhai undaanadhu
Sirikkum maeni chendaanadhu
Aahaa mella thattu aahaa mella thattu
Aahaa mella thattu mella thattu
Mella thattu …..
Enakkum yedho undaanadhu
Idharkum melae ennaavadhu
Idharkum melae ennaavadhu
Adi sithaadai paavaadai
Melaadum mundhaanai
Kothodu kothaaga
Kollaamal allaamal
Vittaalum theeradhu
Suttaalum maaradhadi
Aiyaiyaa mella thattu
Singaari chinna chittu
Allippoo neerodai arugirukka
Mullaippoo thaer polae mugamirukka
Solla thaan koodaadha sugam kodukka
Adi kattaani muthae nee
Kannodu kannaaga
Senthaazham poovaaga
Sevvaazhai thandaaga
Sendhoora pottodu
Vandhaalum vandhaaiyadi
Singaari chinna chittu
Singaari chinna chittu
Chella kili allavo
Sevvandhi poovallavo
Manjal niramallavo
Vaira nagai allavo
Aiyaiyaa mella thattu
Kannam vali edukkum
Nenjam thudi thudikkum
Aasai perugi vidum
Angam sivandhu vidum
Aiyaiyaa mella thattu
Lallala lala lala lala lala laa
Lallala lala lala lala lala laa
Oh my, touch me gently
Oh my, touch me gently
My cheeks will start to ache
My heart will flutter fast
Desire will overflow
My body will blush red
Oh my, touch me gently
Draped in a colorful Kandangi saree (traditional woven cotton saree)
With you, my pretty-eyed girl
Sharing joyful, playful romance
Without tasting this delight
My desire will never be satisfied
It will never end, my charming girl
You stylish girl, my little sparrow
You stylish girl, my little sparrow
Aren't you my darling parrot?
Aren't you a chrysanthemum flower?
Aren't you glowing with a golden complexion?
Aren't you a sparkling diamond jewel?
Oh my, touch me gently
The path we walk has become one
An intoxicating feeling has taken hold
Your laughing body has become a bouquet of flowers
Aha, touch gently, aha, touch gently
Aha, touch gently, touch gently
Touch gently...
Something has stirred within me too
What will happen beyond this?
What will happen beyond this?
Oh, your patterned skirt
And the saree pallu fluttering above
Gathering all in bunches
Tormenting me without killing me
Even if let go, it will not fade
Even if tested by fire, it will never change
Oh my, touch me gently
You stylish girl, my little sparrow
With a stream of water lilies nearby
With a face like a chariot of jasmine flowers
Giving sweet pleasures words cannot describe
Oh, my flawless pearl
Looking right into my eyes
Like a fragrant red screw-pine flower
Like a tender red banana stalk
Adorned with a red bindi
You have come to me at last, my love
You stylish girl, my little sparrow
You stylish girl, my little sparrow
Aren't you my darling parrot?
Aren't you a chrysanthemum flower?
Aren't you glowing with a golden complexion?
Aren't you a sparkling diamond jewel?
Oh my, touch me gently
My cheeks will start to ache
My heart will flutter fast
Desire will overflow
My body will blush red
Oh my, touch me gently
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic duet from the film En Thambi (1968) expresses playful intimacy, affectionate banter, and deep romantic longing between two lovers. The heroine teasingly asks her lover to touch or tap her gently, warning that excessive passion will make her blush and heart race, while the hero shower her with romantic compliments, admiring her grace, traditional attire, and beauty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Mullaippoo thaer polae mugamirukka

Compares the heroine's face to a chariot made of jasmine flowers ('Mullaippoo thaer polae mugamirukka').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Chella kili allavo / Sevvandhi poovallavo

Metaphorically addresses the heroine as a golden parrot, chrysanthemum flower, and diamond ornament.

Edhugai (Rhyme on second letter)

Kannam vali edukkum / Nenjam thudi thudikkum

Use of the second consonant 'n' rhyming across adjacent lines (Kannam / Nenjam).

Refrain / Anaphora

Aiyaiyaa mella thattu

The repetitive phrase 'Aiyaiyaa mella thattu' creates a rhythmic, musical hook emphasizing playful romance.

Did you know?

Trivia

En Thambi (1968) stars Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. The film's music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by the legend Kannadasan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from En Thambi

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.