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Isaimozhi
Solla Marandha Kadhai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Gundu Malli

From Solla Marandha Kadhai · 2002

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
Harish Raghavendra, Shreya Ghoshal
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Solla Marandha Kadhai
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
6 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Gundu malli gundu malli
Gundu malli gundu malli
Thendral kaathu adichadhum
Kannu thorakkudhu
Kannan kannu pada thaenu sorakkudhu
Kaiyil nee eduthu mella tholil maalai kattu
Kaiyil nee eduthu tholil maalai kattu
Gundu malli gundu malli
Thendral kaathu adichadhum
Kannu thorakkudhu
Kannan kannu pada thaenu sorakkudhu
Kaiyil nee eduthu mella tholil maalai kattu
Aa manjal nilaa vaanathilae
Andhiyilae ottikkichu
Kungumamum saendhukkichu
Thaangidumaa pinju nenju
Gundu malli gundu malli
Thendral kaathu adichadhum
Kannu thorakkudhu
Kannan kannu pada thaenu sorakkudhu
Kaiyil nee eduthu mella tholil maalai kattu
Alli thandu viral mella mella thodum
Veenai narambinilae ho ho oo…
Nenjam killum isai thulli vandhu thodum
Endhan narambinilae ho ho oo…
Kaattu kuzhalin ottaiyilae
Kanda padi un kai padudhae
Moodi thirakkum maayaiyilae
Mella en moochai thaan thodudhae
Kaamanum indha kaattinilaa
Vedikkai paarkkudhu manjal nilaa
Mega pennae vandhu moodi kollu
Gundu malli gundu malli
Thendral kaathu adichadhum
Kannu thorakkudhu
Kannan kannu pada thaenu sorakkudhu
Kaiyil nee eduthu mella tholil maalai kattu
Sirppathilum chinna pennidathil
Indha vetkam therigiradhae ho ho oo…
Sirppi seidha andha chella pennukkavan
Ennam purigiradhae ho ho oo…
Inba kalaigal ethanaiyo
Adhu endru thodangiyadhaar arivaar
Solli tharavum meedham undo
Indha sorga sugangal thandhadhu yaar
Kaalangal engae nindradhvo
Kan kondu kaadhalar kandadhuvo
Minminyae niram enna sollu
Gundu malli gundu malli
Thendral kaathu adichadhum
Kannu thorakkudhu
Kannan kannu pada thaenu sorakkudhu
Kaiyil nee eduthu mella tholil maalai kattu
Aa manjal nilaa vaanathilae
Andhiyilae ottikkichu
Kungumamum saendhukkichu
Thaangidumaa pinju nenju
Round jasmine, round jasmine,
Round jasmine, round jasmine!
As the gentle breeze blows,
Its eyes open wide.
As Kannan's gaze falls on it, sweet nectar flows.
Take it in your hands and gently weave a garland for my shoulders.
Take it in your hands and weave a garland for my shoulders.
Round jasmine, round jasmine,
As the gentle breeze blows,
Its eyes open wide.
As Kannan's gaze falls on it, sweet nectar flows.
Take it in your hands and gently weave a garland for my shoulders.
Ah, the yellow moon in the sky
Has clung to the evening sky,
And the red glow of kumkum has joined it too.
Can my tender heart bear all this?
Round jasmine, round jasmine,
As the gentle breeze blows,
Its eyes open wide.
As Kannan's gaze falls on it, sweet nectar flows.
Take it in your hands and gently weave a garland for my shoulders.
Fingers like tender lily stalks softly, gently touch,
Upon the strings of the veena, ho ho oh...
A stirring tune leaps up and touches
Every single nerve in me, ho ho oh...
Over the holes of the wild flute,
Your fingers wander as they please,
In the magic of closing and opening,
You gently touch my very breath.
Is the god of love here in this forest?
The yellow moon is watching the show!
O cloud girl, come and cover it up!
Round jasmine, round jasmine,
As the gentle breeze blows,
Its eyes open wide.
As Kannan's gaze falls on it, sweet nectar flows.
Take it in your hands and gently weave a garland for my shoulders.
In sculpted stone, and in this young girl,
This same shyness can be seen, ho ho oh...
To that sweet girl created by the sculptor,
His innermost thoughts are understood, ho ho oh...
How many arts of pleasure exist!
Who knows when they first began?
Is there anything left to be taught?
Who gave us these heavenly joys?
Where did time come to a standstill?
Is this what lovers saw with their eyes?
Little firefly, tell me, what color are you?
Round jasmine, round jasmine,
As the gentle breeze blows,
Its eyes open wide.
As Kannan's gaze falls on it, sweet nectar flows.
Take it in your hands and gently weave a garland for my shoulders.
Ah, the yellow moon in the sky
Has clung to the evening sky,
And the red glow of kumkum has joined it too.
Can my tender heart bear all this?
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

"Gundu Malli" from the film 'Solla Marandha Kadhai' (2002) is a soft, poetic romantic duet expressing the deep sensory awakening and intimate beauty of newfound love. Using the metaphor of plump jasmine blossoms (Gundu Malli) opening in the cool evening breeze, the song illustrates how a beloved's glance causes sweetness and passion to overflow. The twilight sky, painted with yellow moonlight and vermilion sunset hues, sets a serene, romantic backdrop for the couple. As the song unfolds, musical metaphors dominate the imagery—slender fingers touching veena strings and playing a wild flute parallel the delicate touch and shared breath of the lovers. The couple marvelling at timeless love, art, and nature asks the clouds to gently shield their intimate moments, reflecting an overwhelming, blissful experience of heavenly love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Alli thandu viral mella mella thodum”

Compares soft, tender fingers to flexible lotus stalks ('Alli thandu') to convey delicacy and grace.

Personification

“Vedikkai paarkkudhu manjal nilaa”

Attributes human behavior (watching the lovers playfully) to the celestial yellow moon.

Monai (Initial Rhyming / Alliteration)

“Kannan kannu pada thaenu sorakkudhu”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ka' ('Kannan', 'kannu') creating rhythmic melodic harmony.

Iyaipu (End Rhyming)

“Andhiyilae ottikkichu / Kungumamum saendhukkichu”

The matching end sound '-ichu' links the twilight setting and vermilion color scheme together poetic rhythmically.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Solla Marandha Kadhai' (2002) was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Thangar Bachan and starred director Cheran in his lead acting debut. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, who also penned the lyrics for this track. 'Gundu Malli' features vocals by Vijay Yesudas and Shreya Ghoshal, capturing a quintessential rural-folk classical melody signature to Ilaiyaraaja's style.

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