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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Hello My Dear Wrong Number

From Manmadha Leelai · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Manmadha Leelai1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
HelloHello
Female :HelloFemale: Hello
Male :Hello my dear wrong number..Male: Hello my dear wrong number..
Hello my dear wrong number..Hello my dear wrong number..
Ketkavae undhan kural sorgamJust listening to your voice feels like heaven
Nerilae paarthaal enna vetkamWhy be shy to meet in person?
Ketkavae undhan kural sorgamJust listening to your voice feels like heaven
Nerilae paarthaal enna vetkamWhy be shy to meet in person?
Karpanai oraayiram..A thousand imaginations...
Karpanai oraayiramA thousand imaginations
Oru murai paarthaal enna.aa..What is wrong with meeting just once?
Female
H e l l oH e l l o
Male :Hello my dear wrong number..Male: Hello my dear wrong number..
Female :Kettathum theerumFemale: Your thirst will be quenched
Ungal thaagamJust by listening;
Nerinil paarthaal enna laabamWhat is the point of meeting in person?
Kettathum theerumYour thirst will be quenched
Ungal thaagamJust by listening;
Nerinil paarthaal enna laabamWhat is the point of meeting in person?
Arputham edhum illaiThere is no miracle here,
Adhisaiya pennmai illai…helloNo extraordinary womanhood... hello
Male :Hello my dear wrong number..Male: Hello my dear wrong number..
Female :Kettathum theerumFemale: Your thirst will be quenched
Ungal thaagamJust by listening;
Nerinil paarthaal enna laabamWhat is the point of meeting in person?
Male
Kaaviriyin meenoAre you a fish from the river Kaveri?
Female :HmmFemale: Hmm
Male :Poviriyum thaenoMale: Or honey dripping from a blooming flower?
Female :Hmm mmmFemale: Hmm mmm
Male
Kaaviriyin meenoAre you a fish from the river Kaveri?
Poviriyum thaenoOr honey dripping from a blooming flower?
Devamagal thaanoAre you a divine goddess?
Thaedi varalaamoMay I come seeking you?
Female :Not yet..Female: Not yet..
Poovai ennai paarthaalIf you look at flower-like me,
Kaadhal varakkoodumLove might blossom.
Male :ReallyMale: Really?
Female :Poovai ennai paarthaalFemale: If you look at flower-like me,
Kaadhal varakkoodumLove might blossom.
Poojaiarai paarthal…If you see the inner room...
Aasai varakkoodumDesire might arise.
Male :I dont mindMale: I don't mind
Karppanai oraayiramA thousand imaginations,
Orumurai paarthaal ennaWhat is wrong with meeting just once?
Female
HelloHello
Male :Hello my dear wrong number..Male: Hello my dear wrong number..
Ketkavae undhan kural sorgamJust listening to your voice feels like heaven
Female :HmmFemale: Hmm
Male :Nerilae paarthaal enna vetkamMale: Why be shy to meet in person?
Female :Hmm mmmFemale: Hmm mmm
Female
Unnidathil kaadhalWho is the one
Ullavargal yaaroWho harbors love for you?
Male :Enna vendru solvenMale: How shall I express it,
Unnaiyandri yaaroWho else could it be besides you?
Female :Veli ulla mullaiFemale: I am a jasmine flower behind a fence,
Male :Veli enakkillaiMale: Fences don't exist for me,
Female :Veli ulla mullaiFemale: I am a jasmine flower behind a fence,
Male :Veli enakkillaiMale: Fences don't exist forInternal me,
Female :Porumaiyudan irungalFemale: Please have some patience,
Male :Mudhumai varum variyoMale: Until old age comes upon us?
Female
HelloHello
Male :Hello my dear wrong number..Male: Hello my dear wrong number..
Ketkavae undhan kural sorgamJust listening to your voice feels like heaven
Female :HmmFemale: Hmm
Male :Nerilae paarthaal enna vetkamMale: Why be shy to meet in person?
Female :Hmm mmmFemale: Hmm mmm
Male :Karpanai oraayiram..Male: A thousand imaginations...
Oru murai paarthaal enna.aa..What is wrong with meeting just once?
Female
HelloHello
Male :HelloMale: Hello

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Hello My Dear Wrong Number' is a playful, flirtatious telephonic duet from the 1976 Tamil film 'Manmadha Leelai'. The song portrays a charming conversation between a charming man who connects to a woman via a wrong phone number. Mesmerized purely by her enchanting voice, the male protagonist tries to persuade her to meet him in person, while the female character teasingly holds him off, warning him that seeing her might spark uncontrollable affection and desire. The song captures the youthful excitement, mystery, and sensual banter of modern urban romance in the 1970s. Through witty exchanges and poetic metaphors comparing her to river fish, flower honey, and fenced jasmine, the lyrics written by Kannadasan highlight the sweet tension between eager masculine persistence and playful feminine restraint.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Ketkavae undhan kural sorgam / Nerilae paarthaal enna vetkam

The second letters 't' (ட்) in 'Ketkavae' and 'r' (ற்) in 'Nerilae' follow rhythmic acoustic rhyme matching line patterns.

Iyaipu (End Rhyming)

Kaaviriyin meeno / Poviriyum thaeno / Devamagal thaano

The lines end with similar sounding rhyming words: 'meeno', 'thaeno', and 'thaano'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Veli ulla mullai

The woman compares herself to a jasmine flower protected inside a fenced yard, symbolizing her cautiousness.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)

Karpanai oraayiram

'A thousand imaginations' exaggerates the depth of creative romantic thoughts arising from a simple phone call.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manmadha Leelai' (1976) was directed by K. Balachander and starred Kamal Haasan in the lead role. The soundtrack was composed by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan. This song was sung by K. J. Yesudas and L. R. Eswari, and it became an iconic telephonic romance song in Tamil cinema history, frequently referenced for its stylish westernized rhythm and playful conversational structure.

Keep listening

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