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Lyrics & meaning

Maasi Masam Aalana Ponnu

From Dharma Durai · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, Swarnalatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Dharma Durai1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Isss…aaaa….(4)Vocalizations
Chorus
Hmmm mm mm mmHumming
Hmm mm mm mmHumming
Hmm mm mm mm mm mmHumming
Hmm mm mmmHumming
Hmm mm mm mm mm mmHumming
Hmm mm mmmHumming
Male
Maasi maasam aalana ponnuThe girl who came of age in the month of Maasi,
Maaman enakku thaanaeIs meant only for me, her uncle.
Female :Naalai enni naan kaathirunthenFemale: Counting the days, I was waiting,
Maaman unakku thaanaeOnly for you, my uncle!
Male :Poovodu oo oo oo thaenadaMale: Honey resides within the flower,
Female :Thaenodu oo oo ooo neeyaaduFemale: Play along with the honey.
Male
Hoo oo maasi maasam aalana ponnuOh, the girl who came of age in the month of Maasi,
Maaman enakku thaanaeIs meant only for me, her uncle.
Female :Naalai enni naan kaathirunthenFemale: Counting the days, I was waiting,
Maaman unakku thaanaeOnly for you, my uncle!
Female
Aasai nooraachu pongaDesires have grown a hundredfold, move along,
Nilavu vandhachu vangaThe moon has arrived, come along.
Nerunga nerunga porunga porungaAs we get closer, hold on, hold on,
Oh ho hooOh ho hoo.
Male
Ye aasai naan kondu vanthaalIf I bring forth my desire,
Alli thaenkolla vanthaalIf I come to scoop up and savor the honey,
Mayangi kiranga kirangi urangaBecoming swooned, dazed, and falling asleep,
Oh ho hooOh ho hoo.
Female
Veppam padaruthu padaruthuThe warmth is spreading, spreading,
Veppam valaruthu valaruthuThe warmth is growing, growing.
Male :Kottum paniyilae paniyilaeMale: In the pouring dew, in the dew,
Ottum uravilae uravilaeIn the clinging relationship, in the relationship.
Female :Hoooo ooo ooo ooo oooFemale: Hoooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
Male
Maasi maasam aalana ponnuThe girl who came of age in the month of Maasi,
Maaman enakku thaanaeIs meant only for me, her uncle.
Female :Naalai enni naan kaathirunthenFemale: Counting the days, I was waiting,
Maaman unakku thaanaeOnly for you, my uncle!
Chorus
………………………………..[Music Interlude]
Male
Kaamaleela vinothamThe intrigue of romantic play,
Kaadhal kavitha vilasamThe elegance of love poetry,
Padithu padithu edukka edukkaReading again and again, gathering it all,
Oh ho hooOh ho hoo.
Female
Aasai aagaa piramathamAh, desire is splendid and marvelous,
Moga kavitha piravagamAn overflowing torrent of passionate poetry,
Thoduthu thoduthu mudikka mudikkaWoven together repeatedly to complete it,
Oh ho hooOh ho hoo.
Male
Kodithan thavazhuthu thavazhuthuThe creeper vine crawls and winds,
Poo pol sirikkuthu sirikkuthuIt smiles like a flower, smiling,
Female :Uuravum nerunguthu nerukkuthuFemale: Relationship grows closer and embraces tight,
Ulagam mayangudhu uranguthuThe world grows swooned and falls asleep.
Hoooo ooo ooo ooo oooHoooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
Male
Maasi maasam aalana ponnuThe girl who came of age in the month of Maasi,
Maaman enakku thaanaeIs meant only for me, her uncle.
Female :Naalai enni naan kaathirunthenFemale: Counting the days, I was waiting,
Maaman unakku thaanaeOnly for you, my uncle!
Male
Poovodu aaa…aaa… thaenadaHoney resides within the flower,
Female :Thaenodu oo oo ooo neeyaaduFemale: Play along with the honey.
Male
Hoo oo maasi maasam aalana ponnuOh, the girl who came of age in the month of Maasi,
Maaman enakku thaanaeIs meant only for me, her uncle.
Female :Naalai enni naan kaathirunthenFemale: Counting the days, I was waiting,
Maaman unakku thaanaeOnly for you, my uncle!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Maasi Maasam Aalana Ponnu is an iconic romantic duet from the 1991 Tamil film Dharma Durai. The song explores the deep-seated intimacy and romance between two lovers, centered around the traditional Tamil trope of a maternal uncle ('Maaman') and his rightful romantic partner ('Maaman Magal'). The lyrics convey a playful exchange where both lovers express their eager anticipation and blossoming passion for each other under the moonlit night.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Epizeuxis / Word Repetition)

Nerunga nerunga porunga porunga

Repetition of words like 'nerunga nerunga' and 'porunga porunga' to add musical rhythm and emphasize emotion.

Upamai (Simile)

Poo pol sirikkuthu sirikkuthu

Comparing a smile directly to a flower using the word 'pol' ('like a flower').

Urvakam (Metaphor)

Moga kavitha piravagam

Comparing romantic desire to an overflowing torrent/river of poetry ('Moga kavitha piravagam').

Monaik Thodai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaamaleela vinotham / Kaadhal kavitha vilasam

Matching starting consonant sounds 'Ka' across consecutive phrases ('Kaamaleela' / 'Kaadhal').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as Unknown in the text, the music for this timeless hit was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with memorable vocals performed by K. J. Yesudas and Swarnalatha. The film stars Rajinikanth and Gautami in lead roles.

Keep listening

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