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Lyrics & meaning

Malar Pol Siripathu

From Sollathan Ninaikkiren · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Sollathan Ninaikkiren1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Malar pol sirippathu pathinaaruSmiling like a flower is age sixteen
Chorus :PathinaaruChorus: Sixteen
Female :Manam pol parappathu pathinaaruFlying freely as the heart desires is age sixteen
Chorus :PathinaaruChorus: Sixteen
Female
Malar pol sirippathu pathinaaruSmiling like a flower is age sixteen
Chorus :PathinaaruChorus: Sixteen
Female :Manam pol parappathu pathinaaruFlying freely as the heart desires is age sixteen
Chorus :PathinaaruChorus: Sixteen
Female
Kannigai endroru paalaaruMaidenhood is a flowing river of milk
Kaal kondu nadakkindra pathinaaruSixteen is that river of milk walking on legs
Kannigai endroru paalaaruMaidenhood is a flowing river of milk
Kaal kondu nadakkindra pathinaaruSixteen is that river of milk walking on legs
Chorus :Sweet sixteen sweet sixteenChorus: Sweet sixteen, sweet sixteen
Female :Sweet sixteen sweet sixteenFemale: Sweet sixteen, sweet sixteen
Female
Vaa vaa endrae kooppidum vayathuIt is an age that beckons, saying 'come, come'
Elithil vasappadalaamoShould one yield to it so easily?
Pooppol ingae pooththathu penamaiWomanhood has blossomed here like a flower
Vaalipar kann padalaamoShould young men's eyes fall upon it with gaze?
Pooppol ingae pooththathu penamaiWomanhood has blossomed here like a flower
Vaalipar kann padalaamoShould young men's eyes fall upon it with gaze?
Female
Anantha raagangal aayiram mogangalJoyful melodies and a thousand desires
Eerettu vayathinil vaer vittu manathilTake root in the heart at the age of sixteen (eight plus eight)
Paruvaththai thoondumammaaIt stirs up youthful passion
Konjam kavanikka vendumammaaOne must pay careful attention to it
Chorus :Sweet sixteen sweet sixteenChorus: Sweet sixteen, sweet sixteen
Female :Sweet sixteen sweet sixteenFemale: Sweet sixteen, sweet sixteen
Female
Thoondil pottaal meengal maattumIf a hook is cast, fish will get caught
Meengalai polalla naangalWe are not like those fish
Koondai vaiththaal kuyilgal maattumIf a cage is set, cuckoos get trapped
Kuyilgalai polalla naangalWe are not like those cuckoos
Koondai vaiththaal kuyilgal maattumIf a cage is set, cuckoos get trapped
Kuyilgalai polalla naangalWe are not like those cuckoos
Female
Kadhalan kadhali aadidum naadagamThe drama played out by lovers
Paathiyil mudivathu paarththathu kettathuWe have heard and seen it end halfway
Namakkathu thevaiyillaiWe do not need such an ending
Naam naadaga paavaiyillaiWe are not theatrical puppets
Chorus :Sweet sixteen sweet sixteenChorus: Sweet sixteen, sweet sixteen
Female
Malar pol sirippathu pathinaaruSmiling like a flower is age sixteen
Chorus :PathinaaruChorus: Sixteen
Female :Manam pol parappathu pathinaaruFlying freely as the heart desires is age sixteen
Chorus :PathinaaruChorus: Sixteen
Female
Kannigai endroru paalaaruMaidenhood is a flowing river of milk
Kaal kondu nadakkindra pathinaaruSixteen is that river of milk walking on legs
Kannigai endroru paalaaruMaidenhood is a flowing river of milk
Kaal kondu nadakkindra pathinaaruSixteen is that river of milk walking on legs
Chorus :Sweet sixteen sweet sixteenChorus: Sweet sixteen, sweet sixteen
Female :Sweet sixteen sweet sixteenFemale: Sweet sixteen, sweet sixteen

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Malar Pol Sirippathu Pathinaaru' from K. Balachander's film 'Sollathan Ninaikkiren' celebrates the innocence, joy, and vulnerability of being sixteen years old ('sweet sixteen'). Through playful yet wise lyrics by Vaali, the song portrays young women acknowledging the blooming of womanhood, romantic desires, and the emotional surge characteristic of youth. However, it also cautions against falling prey to transient attractions or deceitful relationships, emphasizing self-respect, vigilance, and autonomy rather than being passive puppets in tragic love stories.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Malar pol sirippathu pathinaaru

Comparing a sixteen-year-old's smile to a blooming flower ('Malar pol sirippathu').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Kannigai endroru paalaaru

Metaphorically describing maidenhood as a river of milk walking on two legs ('Kannigai endroru paalaaru / Kaal kondu nadakkindra pathinaaru').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thoondil pottaal meengal maattum / Koondai vaiththaal kuyilgal maattum

Rhyming of the second letter 'oo' in 'Thoondil' and 'Koondai'.

Contrast / Antithesis

Meengalai polalla naangal / Kuyilgalai polalla naangal

Contrasting helpless creatures (fish caught on hooks, birds in cages) with independent young women who refuse to be trapped.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is a landmark collaboration between M. S. Viswanathan and singer Vani Jairam in early 1970s Tamil cinema. The film 'Sollathan Ninaikkiren', directed by K. Balachander, starred Kamal Haasan, Sivakumar, Jayachitra, and Srividya, and explored complex interpersonal dynamics through memorable musical sequences.

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