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Annan Oru Koyil album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maligai Mullai

From Annan Oru Koyil · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Annan Oru Koyil
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
8 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malligai mullai
Pon mozhi killai
Anbukkor ellai unnai pol illai
Pon vanna radham yaeri
Im mannil engum odi
Pon vanna radham yaeri
Im mannil engum odi
Nal anbu thunai thaedi naan tharuven
Malligai mullai
Pon mozhi killai
Soodi koduthaal
Paavai padithaal
Sudaraaga ennaalum
Thamizh vaanil jolithaal
Kodhai aandaal thamizhai aandaal
Kodhai aandaal thamizhai aandaal
Gopaalan illaamal kalyaanam vaendaal
Kanni thamizh dhevi
Mai kannan aval aavi
Than kaadhal malar soodi maalaiyittaal
Thogai meenaal
Poovai aanaal
Sokkaesan thunaiyodu
Oorkoolam ponaal
Thogai meenaal
Poovai aanaal
Sokkaesan thunaiyodu
Oorkoolam ponaal
Maalai kandaal kovil kondaal
Maanikka mookkuthi
Oli veesa nindraal
Thendral thottu aada
Kan sanga thamizh paada
Than makkal vellam kooda
Kaaval kondaal
Malligai mullai
Pon mozhi killai
Maalai soodi
Vaazhndha vaelai
Vana vaasam ponaalum
Piriyaadha seethai
Maalai soodi
Vaazhndha vaelai
Vana vaasam ponaalum
Piriyaadha seethai
Raama naamam thandha raagam
Lavanaaga kusanaaga
Uruvaana geetham
Maaman endru solla
Oru annan illai angae
Andha annan undu ingae
Alli vazhanga
Malligai mullai
Pon mozhi killai
Anbukkor ellai unnai pol illai
Pon vanna radham yaeri
Im mannil engum odi
Nal anbu thunai thaedi naan tharuven
Malligai mullai
Pon mozhi killai
Like fragrant jasmine and mullai flowers,
A sweet parrot with words of gold,
There is no limit to love like yours.
Riding in a golden chariot,
Travelling everywhere across this land,
Riding in a golden chariot,
Travelling everywhere across this land,
I will find and bring you a loving companion.
Like fragrant jasmine and mullai flowers,
A sweet parrot with words of gold.
She offered the garland she had worn,
She sang the sacred Thiruppavai hymns,
And like an eternal bright flame,
She shone across the Tamil skies.
Kodhai Andal ruled with her Tamil poetry,
Kodhai Andal ruled with her Tamil poetry,
Refusing to marry anyone but Lord Krishna.
A maiden as pure as Tamil,
Dark Krishna was her very soul,
She offered her flower of love and married him.
Like a graceful peacock, Goddess Meenakshi
Blossomed into womanhood,
And beside Lord Sundareswarar,
She went in procession through the town.
Like a graceful peacock, Goddess Meenakshi
Blossomed into womanhood,
And beside Lord Sundareswarar,
She went in procession through the town.
She wore the wedding garland and made a temple her home,
While her ruby nose stud
Shone with radiant light.
With the gentle breeze swaying around her,
Her eyes singing classical Tamil poetry,
As a sea of her people gathered,
She stood watch to protect them all.
Like fragrant jasmine and mullai flowers,
A sweet parrot with words of gold.
After exchanging wedding garlands,
Throughout her married life,
Even when exiled to the forest,
Sita never left her husband's side.
After exchanging wedding garlands,
Throughout her married life,
Even when exiled to the forest,
Sita never left her husband's side.
The melody born of Rama's sacred name
Became a living song
In the form of Lava and Kusha.
To be called a loving uncle,
There was no brother for her there,
Yet that brother is right here now,
Ready to shower you with all his love.
Like fragrant jasmine and mullai flowers,
A sweet parrot with words of gold,
There is no limit to love like yours.
Riding in a golden chariot,
Travelling everywhere across this land,
I will find and bring you a loving companion.
Like fragrant jasmine and mullai flowers,
A sweet parrot with words of gold.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic Tamil song from 'Annan Oru Koyil' (1977) expresses the immense, selfless affection of a devoted brother for his beloved sister. He affectionately compares her beauty, innocence, and virtues to sweet jasmine flowers and a parrot. Drawing upon rich Tamil literary traditions and divine legends, lyricist Kannadasan weaves references to Andal (Kodhai), Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai, and Sita to portray divine devotion and marital harmony. The brother promises to travel across the earth to find her a worthy groom. Reflecting on how Sita lacked a brother to act as a loving uncle to Lava and Kusa during her exile, he reassures his sister that she will never lack a protective brother to bless and shower affection on her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Malligai mullai”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Malligai mullai'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Soodi koduthaal”

Matching of the second consonant in consecutive lines, seen in 'Soodi / Paavai'.

Metaphor (Roohakam)

“Pon mozhi killai”

Directly equating the sister's sweet voice and beauty to jasmine flowers and a golden parrot.

Mythological Allusion

“Kodhai aandaal thamizhai aandaal”

Referencing sacred figures like Kodhai (Andal), Goddess Meenakshi, and Sita to idealize womanhood and devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Annan Oru Koyil' (1977) stars Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan and Sujatha. The film's musical score was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics written by Kavignar Kannadasan. The track is sung by T. M. Soundararajan and remains one of the most celebrated songs dedicated to sibling affection in Tamil film history.

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