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Nambinal Nambungal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Malli Kothamalli Unna Thottaa

From Nambinal Nambungal · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Nambinal Nambungal
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
23 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malli koththamalli
Unna thottaa kai manakkum
Milli nooru milli
Potta maathiri kirukirukkum
Haang….malli koththamalli
Unna thottaa kai manakkum
Milli nooru milli
Potta maathiri kirukirukkum aiyyo
Enakkumthaan aasai adhapola lesaa
Mayakkam kerakkam una paaththaa kilukilukkum
Ho…meenaa kannam enna poonthenaa
Kannil un kanaa
Female :Ho jeevaa konjam konja nee vaa vee
Nee mannan allavaa
Aa…..malli koththamalli
Unna thottaa kai manakkum
Milli nooru milli
Potta maathiri kirukirukkum aa….aa…aah…aa…
Pappaali polirukku odambu
Paaththaa padapadannu thudikkuthu narambu
Thakkaali polirukku niramthaan
Una thazhuvaama ponaakka joramthaan
Koththavaalu saavadiyai suththi unakku
Kettu pochchu ippadiththaan puththi
Kaaikariyai appuramaa thallu ingae
Kaniyirukku kai niraiya alli
Haei….kadhali….
Female :Nee kadhali
Male :Haei….kadhali….
Female :Nee kadhali
Male :Poonthottam adhil neerottam
Vanthu saernthaa kondaattam
Malli koththamalli
Unna thottaa kai manakkum
Milli nooru milli
Potta maathiri kirukirukkum aiyyo aiyyo
………….
Female :…………….
Pollaatha poonjirippu edhukku
Adha sollaama puriyaatho enakku
Kannadi polirukkum kannam athu
Unnaatha thaen kuzhaiththa kinnam
Kalyaanam melamidum saththam
Adha ketkkaamal yaenguthaiyyaa siththam
Unnaal thookkamilla niththam ippo
Undaacchhu kadhalilae piththam
Haei….kadhali
Female :Nee kadhali
Male :Haei….kadhali….
Female :Nee kadhali
Male :Maanthoppu nalla poongkaththu
Onnu saernthu naalaachchu
Malli koththamalli
Male :Milli nooru milli
Jasmine, fresh coriander,
If I touch you, my hands smell sweet.
A hundred-milliliter drink,
Makes my head spin like I had a shot.
Ah... Jasmine, fresh coriander,
If I touch you, my hands smell sweet.
A hundred-milliliter drink,
Makes my head spin like I had a shot, oh my!
I too feel a slight longing just like that,
Dazed and dizzy, looking at you gives me a sweet thrill.
Oh Meena, are your cheeks sweet flower honey?
My eyes are filled with dreams of you.
Female: Oh Jeeva, come to me to cuddle a little,
Aren't you my king?
Ah... Jasmine, fresh coriander,
If I touch you, my hands smell sweet.
A hundred-milliliter drink,
Makes my head spin like I had a shot, ah... ah... ah...
Your body is ripe like a papaya,
Looking at you, my heart and nerves race!
Your skin is glowing red like a tomato,
If I do not hold you close, I will catch a fever!
From hanging around Kothaval Chavadi (vegetable market),
Your mind has been spoiled like this!
Push the vegetables aside for now,
Here is luscious fruit, take your hands full!
Hey... my darling...
Female: Love me then!
Male: Hey... my darling...
Female: Love me then!
Male: A flower garden with a flowing stream,
When we unite, it is a celebration!
Jasmine, fresh coriander,
If I touch you, my hands smell sweet.
A hundred-milliliter drink,
Makes my head spin like I had a shot, oh my, oh my!
...
Female: ...
Why that naughty, flower-like smile?
Will I not understand without you telling me?
Cheeks shining smooth like glass,
A cup of untouched honey blended sweet!
The sound of wedding drums playing,
My heart longs to hear it, my love!
Because of you, I have no sleep every night,
Now I have gone madly crazy in love!
Hey... my darling,
Female: Love me then!
Male: Hey... my darling...
Female: Love me then!
Male: A mango grove and a pleasant breeze,
It has been so long since we came together!
Jasmine, fresh coriander,
Male: A hundred-milliliter drink,
Male
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Female
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Female
Male
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Male
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Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Malli Koththamalli' is a vibrant, flirtatious, and lighthearted folk-pop duet from the 1982 film 'Nambinal Nambungal'. The lyrics feature playful banter between lovers who compare each other's beauty and physical affection to fresh herbs, sweet fruits, and intoxicating spirits. The song depicts the intoxicating feeling of attraction, full of humorous market metaphors, restless romantic anticipation, and playful teasing as the couple expresses their desire for togetherness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Pappaali polirukku odambu”

Comparing physical attributes to fruits and objects using 'polirukku' (is like) — 'Pappaali polirukku odambu' (body like a papaya) and 'Thakkaali polirukku niramthaan' (complexion like a tomato).

Onomatopoeia (Anukaranai / Erattai Kilavi)

“Paaththaa padapadannu thudikkuthu narambu”

Use of rhythmic sensory words like 'kirukirukkum' (dizzying), 'padapadannu' (throbbing/fluttering), and 'kilukilukkum' (jingling/fluttering) to evoke physical sensations.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

“Una thazhuvaama ponaakka joramthaan”

End-rhyming structure in couplets such as 'odambu' matching 'narambu', and 'niramthaan' matching 'joramthaan'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Gangai Amaran, 'Malli Koththamalli' is a popular vintage Tamil track known for its catchy market-vendor thematic lyrics penned by Vaali, playfully integrating everyday grocery items like coriander, papaya, and tomatoes into romantic metaphors.

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