Maalaiya Katta Sollu
From Veerapandiyan · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Veerapandiyan1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maalaiyai katta sollu | Ask them to string the garland |
| Thaalaththa thatta sollu | Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm |
| Unnaalae niththirai illa | I have lost my sleep because of you |
| Machchaanae allanum mella | Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently |
| Maththatha enna solla | What else is there to say? |
| Veththila eppa killa | When do we pinch the betel leaf to seal our love? |
| Maththatha enna solla | What else is there to say? |
| Veththila eppa killa….. | When do we pinch the betel leaf... |
| Female | |
| Maalaiyai katta sollu | Ask them to string the garland |
| Thaalaththa thatta sollu | Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm |
| Unnaalae niththirai illa | I have lost my sleep because of you |
| Machchaanae allanum mella | Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently |
| Maththatha enna solla | What else is there to say? |
| Veththila eppa killa | When do we pinch the betel leaf? |
| Female | |
| Maalaiyai katta sollu | Ask them to string the garland |
| Thaalaththa thatta sollu…. | Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm.... |
| Female | |
| {Santhana pottukkum | {For the sandalwood bindi |
| Chinnaala pattukkum | And the fine Chinnalapatti silk saree |
| Aasaiya vachchupputtaen | I have set my heart with longing |
| Pinjithu muththala thanththu paththala | Is it tender or mature? What you gave was not enough |
| Ullatha solliputtaen} (2) | I have spoken my mind openly} (2) |
| Female | |
| Vekkaththa vittuputten | I cast away all my shyness |
| Naan sikkinnu kattikittaen | I wrapped myself tightly around you |
| Vekkaththa vittuputtaen | I cast away all my shyness |
| Naan sikkinnu kattikittaen | I wrapped myself tightly around you |
| Allunga killunga aasaipatta raja | Gather me, pinch me gently, my desired king |
| Female | |
| Maalaiyai katta sollu | Ask them to string the garland |
| Thaalaththa thatta sollu…. | Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm.... |
| Unnaalae niththirai illa | I have lost my sleep because of you |
| Machchaanae allanum mella | Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently |
| Maththatha enna solla | What else is there to say? |
| Veththila eppa killa | When do we pinch the betel leaf? |
| Female | |
| Maalaiyai katta sollu | Ask them to string the garland |
| Thaalaththa thatta sollu…. | Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm.... |
| Female | |
| {Manjal polunnai | {Like turmeric, you |
| Nenjil thaeikkanum | Must be rubbed against my heart |
| Naanum kulikkaiyilae | Even when I take a bath |
| Manjaththilae unga nenjaththilae | On the marriage bed and upon your chest |
| Thenam naanum irukkaiyilae} (2) | As I stay every single day} (2) |
| Female | |
| Paalum pulikkuthaiyaa | Even milk tastes sour to me, my lord |
| Pattu paayum verukkuthaiyaa | Even the fine silk mat feels repulsive, my lord |
| Paalum pulikkuthaiyaa | Even milk tastes sour to me, my lord |
| Pattu paayum verukkuthaiyaa | Even the fine silk mat feels repulsive, my lord |
| Viragam naragam virunthonnu thaanga | Pining in separation is hell, grant me a feast of intimacy |
| Female | |
| Maalaiyai katta sollu | Ask them to string the garland |
| Thaalaththa thatta sollu…. | Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm.... |
| Unnaalae niththirai illa | I have lost my sleep because of you |
| Machchaanae allanum mella | Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently |
| Maththatha enna solla | What else is there to say? |
| Veththila eppa killa | When do we pinch the betel leaf? |
| Female | |
| Maalaiyai katta sollu | Ask them to string the garland |
| Thaalaththa thatta sollu…. | Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm.... |
| Laalallalaa laalallalaa….. | Laalallalaa laalallalaa..... |
மாலையை கட்டச் சொல்லு
தாளத்த தட்டச் சொல்லு
உன்னாலே நித்திரை இல்ல
மச்சானே அள்ளணும் மெல்ல
மத்தத என்ன சொல்ல......
வெத்தில எப்பக் கிள்ள
மத்தத என்ன சொல்ல......
வெத்தில எப்பக் கிள்ள
Ask them to string the garland
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm
I have lost my sleep because of you
Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently
What else is there to say?
When do we pinch the betel leaf to seal our love?
What else is there to say?
When do we pinch the betel leaf...
மாலையை கட்டச் சொல்லு
தாளத்த தட்டச் சொல்லு
உன்னாலே நித்திரை இல்ல
மச்சானே அள்ளணும் மெல்ல
மத்தத என்ன சொல்ல....
வெத்தில எப்பக் கிள்ள
Ask them to string the garland
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm
I have lost my sleep because of you
Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently
What else is there to say?
When do we pinch the betel leaf?
மாலையை கட்டச் சொல்லு
தாளத்த தட்டச் சொல்லு....
Ask them to string the garland
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
{சந்தனப் பொட்டுக்கும்
சின்னாளப் பட்டுக்கும்
ஆசைய வச்சுப்புட்டேன்
பிஞ்சிது முத்தல தந்தது பத்தல
உள்ளத சொல்லிப்புட்டேன்} (2)
{For the sandalwood bindi
And the fine Chinnalapatti silk saree
I have set my heart with longing
Is it tender or mature? What you gave was not enough
I have spoken my mind openly} (2)
வெக்கத்த விட்டுப்புட்டேன்
நான் சிக்கின்னு கட்டிக்கிட்டேன்
வெக்கத்த விட்டுப்புட்டேன்
நான் சிக்கின்னு கட்டிக்கிட்டேன்
அள்ளுங்க கிள்ளுங்க ஆசப்பட்ட ராஜா
I cast away all my shyness
I wrapped myself tightly around you
I cast away all my shyness
I wrapped myself tightly around you
Gather me, pinch me gently, my desired king
மாலையை கட்டச் சொல்லு
தாளத்த தட்டச் சொல்லு
உன்னாலே நித்திரை இல்ல
மச்சானே அள்ளணும் மெல்ல
மத்தத என்ன சொல்ல.....
வெத்தில எப்பக் கிள்ள
Ask them to string the garland
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
I have lost my sleep because of you
Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently
What else is there to say?
When do we pinch the betel leaf?
மாலையை கட்டச் சொல்லு
தாளத்த தட்டச் சொல்லு....
Ask them to string the garland
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
{மஞ்சள போலுன்னை
நெஞ்சில தேய்க்கணும்
நானும் குளிக்கையிலே
மஞ்சத்திலே உங்க நெஞ்சத்திலே
தெனம் நானும் இருக்கையிலே} (2)
{Like turmeric, you
Must be rubbed against my heart
Even when I take a bath
On the marriage bed and upon your chest
As I stay every single day} (2)
பாலும் புளிக்குதய்யா
பட்டுப் பாயும் வெறுக்குதய்யா
பாலும் புளிக்குதய்யா பட்டுப்
பாயும் வெறுக்குதய்யா
விரகம் நரகம் விருந்தொண்ணு தாங்க
Even milk tastes sour to me, my lord
Even the fine silk mat feels repulsive, my lord
Even milk tastes sour to me, my lord
Even the fine silk mat feels repulsive, my lord
Pining in separation is hell, grant me a feast of intimacy
மாலையை கட்டச் சொல்லு
தாளத்த தட்டச் சொல்லு
உன்னாலே நித்திரை இல்ல
மச்சானே அள்ளணும் மெல்ல
மத்தத என்ன சொல்ல.....
வெத்தில எப்பக் கிள்ள
Ask them to string the garland
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
I have lost my sleep because of you
Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently
What else is there to say?
When do we pinch the betel leaf?
மாலையை கட்டச் சொல்லு
தாளத்த தட்டச் சொல்லு
லாலல்லலா லாலல்லலா.....
Ask them to string the garland
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
Laalallalaa laalallalaa.....
Maalaiyai katta sollu
Ask them to string the garland
Thaalaththa thatta sollu
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm
Unnaalae niththirai illa
I have lost my sleep because of you
Machchaanae allanum mella
Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently
Maththatha enna solla
What else is there to say?
Veththila eppa killa
When do we pinch the betel leaf to seal our love?
Maththatha enna solla
What else is there to say?
Veththila eppa killa…..
When do we pinch the betel leaf...
Maalaiyai katta sollu
Ask them to string the garland
Thaalaththa thatta sollu
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm
Unnaalae niththirai illa
I have lost my sleep because of you
Machchaanae allanum mella
Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently
Maththatha enna solla
What else is there to say?
Veththila eppa killa
When do we pinch the betel leaf?
Maalaiyai katta sollu
Ask them to string the garland
Thaalaththa thatta sollu….
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
{Santhana pottukkum
{For the sandalwood bindi
Chinnaala pattukkum
And the fine Chinnalapatti silk saree
Aasaiya vachchupputtaen
I have set my heart with longing
Pinjithu muththala thanththu paththala
Is it tender or mature? What you gave was not enough
Ullatha solliputtaen} (2)
I have spoken my mind openly} (2)
Vekkaththa vittuputten
I cast away all my shyness
Naan sikkinnu kattikittaen
I wrapped myself tightly around you
Vekkaththa vittuputtaen
I cast away all my shyness
Naan sikkinnu kattikittaen
I wrapped myself tightly around you
Allunga killunga aasaipatta raja
Gather me, pinch me gently, my desired king
Maalaiyai katta sollu
Ask them to string the garland
Thaalaththa thatta sollu….
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
Unnaalae niththirai illa
I have lost my sleep because of you
Machchaanae allanum mella
Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently
Maththatha enna solla
What else is there to say?
Veththila eppa killa
When do we pinch the betel leaf?
Maalaiyai katta sollu
Ask them to string the garland
Thaalaththa thatta sollu….
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
{Manjal polunnai
{Like turmeric, you
Nenjil thaeikkanum
Must be rubbed against my heart
Naanum kulikkaiyilae
Even when I take a bath
Manjaththilae unga nenjaththilae
On the marriage bed and upon your chest
Thenam naanum irukkaiyilae} (2)
As I stay every single day} (2)
Paalum pulikkuthaiyaa
Even milk tastes sour to me, my lord
Pattu paayum verukkuthaiyaa
Even the fine silk mat feels repulsive, my lord
Paalum pulikkuthaiyaa
Even milk tastes sour to me, my lord
Pattu paayum verukkuthaiyaa
Even the fine silk mat feels repulsive, my lord
Viragam naragam virunthonnu thaanga
Pining in separation is hell, grant me a feast of intimacy
Maalaiyai katta sollu
Ask them to string the garland
Thaalaththa thatta sollu….
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
Unnaalae niththirai illa
I have lost my sleep because of you
Machchaanae allanum mella
Oh my beloved cousin, embrace me gently
Maththatha enna solla
What else is there to say?
Veththila eppa killa
When do we pinch the betel leaf?
Maalaiyai katta sollu
Ask them to string the garland
Thaalaththa thatta sollu….
Ask them to beat the wedding rhythm....
Laalallalaa laalallalaa…..
Laalallalaa laalallalaa.....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This sensual folk-style Tamil song portrays a young woman eagerly expressing her deep romantic longing and impatience for her lover. She calls for wedding preparations—garlands to be woven and traditional rhythms to be played—reflecting her eagerness to unite with her beloved. She describes her restless nights, casting aside shyness to express her affection and desire for physical intimacy. In the stanzas, she highlights her sensory distress caused by separation, noting how usually pleasant comforts like milk and a soft silk mat feel uninviting without him. Calling her loneliness a hellish torment, she implores her king to grace her with his affection and transform her distress into a joyful celebration.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Maalaiyai katta sollu / Thaalaththa thatta sollu”
Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'katta' and 'thatta' in lines 1 and 2.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paalum pulikkuthaiyaa / Pattu paayum verukkuthaiyaa”
Matching initial sounds across words, such as 'Paalum' and 'Pattu' in lines 40 and 41.
Metaphor & Sensual Imagery
“Manjal polunnai / Nenjil thaeikkanum”
Comparing the lover to turmeric rubbed against the skin, symbolizing deep physical closeness and intimacy.
Hyperbole & Rhyme
“Viragam naragam virunthonnu thaanga”
Exaggerating longing as hell ('naragam') and requesting intimacy as a feast ('virunthu').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by poet Vairamuthu, this song uses classical rural Tamil metaphors—such as 'veththila killa' (pinching the betel leaf as a traditional precursor to intimate celebrations) and 'Chinnaala pattu' (silk from Chinnalapatti in Dindigul district)—to convey deep romantic anticipation within a folk melody structure.
Keep listening
More from Veerapandiyan
Veerapandiyan
Veerapandiyan
Veerapandiyan
Veerapandiyan