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Lyrics & meaning

Malli Malli Sendu Malli

From Iravu Pookkal · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Iravu Pookkal
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
23 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malli malli sendu malli
Aala asaththuthadi
Malli malli sendu malli
Aala asaththuthadi
Adhu kili killi ennaiyumthaan
Mela osaththuthadi
Om machchanukku aasa om maela
Naan kandaen illa engum un pola
Malli malli sendu malli
Aala asaththuthaiyaa
Adhu kili killi ennaiyumthaan
Mela osaththuthaiyaa
Santhana pottukku melae
Konjam senthurukkam vechchathaala
Intha manasukku vela adhu etti parakkuthu mela
Chinna iduppula vanna udppula
Ennam thavikkuthu enna solla
Chinna iduppula vanna udppula
Ennam thavikkuthu enna solla
Manmathan ambaiyum vittu puttaan
Venthenna thottuputtaan
Indhiran kannaala suttuputtan
Inbaththa kottiputtaan
Male :Sonthamaa vantha sodiya theduthu
Solli kudukkuthu allik kudikkuthu
Malli malli sendu malli
Aala asaththuthaiyaa
Adhu kili killi ennaiyumthaan
Mela osaththuthaiyaa
Em machchaanukku aasa em mela….aa….
Naan kandaen illa engum un pola…aa…
Malli malli sendu malli
Aala asaththuthadi
Adhu kili killi ennaiyumthaan
Mela osaththuthadi
Anthi pozhuthukku melae
Antha aaththangara pakka vaaraen
Female :Sontham iruppathanaalae
En soththu sogangala thaaraen
Male :Sunthariyae kodi munthiriyae
Unna thookkittu thoppukku poraen
Sunthariyae kodi munthiriyae
Unna thookkittu thoppukku poraen
Solli parisaththa podu machchaan
Thoppukku varaen machchaan
Velliyila metti podu machchaan
Veettukku varaen machchaan
Vekkaththaal iva vegamum thaagamum
Vedikka kaattuthu vaadikkai aaguthu
Malli malli sendu malli
Aala asaththuthadi
Female :Adhu kili killi ennaiyumthaan
Mela osaththuthaiyaa
Male :Om machchanukku aasa om maela
Female :Naan kandaen illa engum un pola….aa…
Malli malli sendu malli
Aala asaththuthadi
Female :Adhu kili killi ennaiyumthaan
Mela osaththuthaiyaa…aa…..
Jasmine flower, bright marigold,
It sweeps me off my feet, girl!
Jasmine flower, bright marigold,
It sweeps me off my feet, girl!
Like a parrot nipping at me,
It lifts my spirits high, girl!
Your sweetheart longs for you deeply,
I have never seen anyone like you anywhere!
Jasmine flower, bright marigold,
It sweeps me off my feet, my man!
Like a parrot nipping at me,
It lifts my spirits high, my man!
Above the sandalwood mark,
Because of the dab of red sindoor,
My heart has caught fire, soaring high into the sky!
At your slender waist and colourful clothes,
My thoughts are restless, what can I say?
At your slender waist and colourful clothes,
My thoughts are restless, what can I say?
Manmathan (god of love) has shot his arrow,
And touched my burning heart,
Indran (king of gods) has struck with his gaze,
And showered endless bliss!
Male: Seeking the partner who became my own,
Teaching love and drinking up all the sweetness,
Jasmine flower, bright marigold,
It sweeps me off my feet, my man!
Like a parrot nipping at me,
It lifts my spirits high, my man!
My sweetheart longs for me deeply... ah...
I have never seen anyone like you anywhere... ah...
Jasmine flower, bright marigold,
It sweeps me off my feet, girl!
Like a parrot nipping at me,
It lifts my spirits high, girl!
Once twilight falls,
I will come down to the riverbank,
Female: Since we belong together,
I will give you all my riches and joys,
Male: Oh pretty girl, slender as a vine,
I will sweep you up and take you to the grove!
Oh pretty girl, slender as a vine,
I will sweep you up and take you to the grove!
Fix the marriage with bridal gifts, sweetheart,
Then I will come to the grove with you, sweetheart,
Put silver toe-rings on my feet, sweetheart,
And I will come home with you, sweetheart,
With shy bashfulness, her passion and thirst
Flare up brightly and become a sweet habit!
Jasmine flower, bright marigold,
It sweeps me off my feet, girl!
Female: Like a parrot nipping at me,
It lifts my spirits high, my man!
Male: Your sweetheart longs for you deeply,
Female: I have never seen anyone like you anywhere... ah...
Jasmine flower, bright marigold,
It sweeps me off my feet, girl!
Female: Like a parrot nipping at me,
It lifts my spirits high, my man... ah...
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Malli Malli Sendu Malli from the 1985 film Iravu Pookkal is a vibrant folk-inspired duet that captures the playful banter, romantic anticipation, and deep affection between two lovers. Using traditional metaphors of fragrant jasmine flowers, riverbanks, and bridal adornments like sandalwood bindi and silver toe-rings, the song expresses mutual adoration and marital commitment. Written by Gangai Amaran, the song blends playful teasing with tender declarations of love, depicting a romantic courtship grounded in rural South Indian culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Repetition / Anaphora

Malli malli sendu malli

The phrase 'Malli malli sendu malli' uses immediate repetition of the flower name to emphasize fragrance, freshness, and beauty.

Monorhyme / End Rhyme (Iyaipu)

Manmathan ambaiyum vittu puttaan / Venthenna thottuputtaan / Indhiran kannaala suttuputtan / Inbaththa kottiputtaan

The rapid repetition of 'puttaan' endings creates a playful rhythmic drive in the verse.

Metaphor

Sunthariyae kodi munthiriyae

Comparing the heroine to a 'kodi munthiri' (cashew vine) evokes sweetness, grace, and delicateness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1985 film Iravu Pookkal, the lyrics feature regional Tamil dialect expressions such as 'asaththuthadi' and 'osaththuthaiyaa', which are typical of rural folk romantic duets popular in 1980s Tamil cinema.

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