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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malligai Malligai

From Arasu · 2003

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
Vijay Yesudas, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
Mani Sharma
Details
Arasu2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Malligai malligai pandhalaeO jasmine, jasmine arbor!
Adi manakum malligai pandhalaeHey, fragrant jasmine arbor!
Ennai mayaki paarka vandhen endralaeShe said she came to mesmerize me,
Kangal mayangi poyi nindren thannalaeAnd on my own, my eyes got dazed and I stood still.
Female
Mundhiri mundhiri dhopulaeIn the cashew, cashew grove,
Endhan mundhaanai thirudum mapillaiThe bridegroom steals my saree's pallu.
Ival manasu sollum neethan aambaleHer heart says, 'You are the true man!'
Endhan ithazhkal pattaal inikum vepilaeEven neem leaves will taste sweet if touched by my lips.
Male
Velli kolusu polaeve kaalai urasa vandhanaeLike a silver anklet, you came to rub against my feet.
Pattu pudavai polaeve thottu thazhuva vandhanaeLike a silk saree, you came to touch and embrace me.
Female
Unnai thulasi chediyaai sutri vandhenaeI went around you as if you were a sacred basil plant.
Kannaal paarthu paarthu vetri kandanaeBy looking and looking through my eyes, I achieved victory.
Male
Malligai malligai pandhalaeO jasmine, jasmine arbor!
Adi manakum malligai pandhalaeHey, fragrant jasmine arbor!
Ennai mayaki paarka vandhen endralaeShe said she came to mesmerize me,
Kangal mayangi poyi nindren thannalaeAnd on my own, my eyes got dazed and I stood still.
Female
Seviyodu thaan kaadhal solvaai enbenaeWill you whisper your love directly into my ear?
Thayir saathamaai unnai alli thinbenaeI will scoop you up and eat you like curd rice.
Male
Penn aasaiyae illa manithan naanadiI was a man without any desire for women, my dear.
Un aasaiyal indha maatram aenadiWhy did this change happen because of your desire?
Female
Pilaiyana vaarthai polae vaazhnthu vandhanaeI lived like a misspelled word,
Unnai paartha pinnae ennai thiruthi kondanaeAfter seeing you, I corrected myself.
Male
Puriyatha kavithai polae vaazhnthu vandhanaeI lived like an incomprehensible poem,
Avai yaavum undhan kannil artham kandanaeAll of those found meaning in your eyes.
Female
Indha arugam pullin melUpon this Bermuda grass blade,
Pani thuliyaai nindrayaeYou stood like a dewdrop.
Endhan paruva tholkalilOn my youthful shoulders,
Pachai kiliyaai vaazhnthayaeYou lived like a green parrot.
Male
Ennai thulasi chediyaai sutri vandhayaeYou went around me as if I were a sacred basil plant,
Kannaal paarthu paarthu vetri kandayaeBy looking and looking through your eyes, you achieved victory.
Male
Adhikaalaiyil thondrum vellai thingalaeO white moon appearing in the early morning,
Pasi nerathil paartha thanneer pandhalaeLike a water shed seen in a time of hunger,
Female
Kalangaathe oar theppam polae vaazhndhanaeI lived unperturbed like a calm float on water,
Nee theendinaal ayyo kalangi ponanaeOh dear, when you touched me, I was stirred!
Male
Sathai moongil polae undhan dhegam paarthenaeI saw your body like solid bamboo,
Athai oothi mella naanum anainthu ponanaeBlowing onto it, I slowly melted away into your embrace.
Female
Mazhai thoorum saalai oram unnai kandanaeI saw you beside the road where it drizzled,
Kudai kulle odi vandhaai kudai saainthenaeYou ran under the umbrella, and I tilted the umbrella.
Male
Undhan vizhiyil kandanaeIn your eyes, I saw,
Endhan kanavai kandanaeI saw my dream.
Undhan uthattai kandanaeIn your lips, I saw,
Endhan unavai kandanaeI saw my nourishment.
Female
Unnai thulasi chediyaai sutri vandhanaeI went around you as if you were a sacred basil plant,
Kannaal paarthu paarthu vetri kandanaeBy looking and looking through my eyes, I achieved victory.
Male
Malligai malligai pandhalaeO jasmine, jasmine arbor!
Adi manakum malligai pandhalaeHey, fragrant jasmine arbor!
Ennai mayaki paarka vandhen endralaeShe said she came to mesmerize me,
Kangal mayangi poyi nindren thannalaeAnd on my own, my eyes got dazed and I stood still.
Female
Mundhiri mundhiri dhopulaeIn the cashew, cashew grove,
Endhan mundhaanai thirudum mapillaiThe bridegroom steals my saree's pallu.
Ival manasu sollum neethan aambaleHer heart says, 'You are the true man!'
Endhan ithazhkal pattaal inikum vepilaeEven neem leaves will taste sweet if touched by my lips.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Malligai Malligai Pandhalae is a romantic duet from the Tamil film Arasu (2003) celebrating the transformative power of love. The male protagonist reflects on his past, admitting that he once lived aimlessly like a misspelled word or an incomprehensible poem without any desire for love. Upon meeting his beloved, his life gained meaning and purpose, awakening deep emotional and physical passions within him. The female protagonist responds with playful affection, expressing how his presence intoxicates her senses and fills her world with sweetness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Pilaiyana vaarthai polae vaazhnthu vandhanae

Compares his previous aimless life to a misspelled word ('Pilaiyana vaarthai polae') and an incomprehensible poem ('Puriyatha kavithai polae').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Indha arugam pullin mel Pani thuliyaai nindrayae

Compares the beloved's gentle presence to a dewdrop resting delicately on a blade of grass.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Edhugai)

Mundhiri mundhiri dhopulae Endhan mundhaanai thirudum mapillai

Uses repetitive initial and secondary consonant sounds in 'Mundhiri' and 'Mundhaanai' to generate a rhythmic, melodic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Devi Sri Prasad for the 2003 action-drama film Arasu starring Sarathkumar and Simran. Sung by Vijay Yesudas and K. S. Chithra with lyrics by Snehan, the track remains popular for its lively folk-pop rhythm and evocative nature metaphors.

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