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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malligai Mottu

From Oru Viral · 1965

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Movie name
Oru Viral
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
7 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa….aahaa…aaa…aa…
Hmm mm mm hmm mm mm
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Paaduthamma… paduthammaa
Melliya thendral odi vandhu
Endhan mannan varavai
Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa
Melliya thendral odi vandhu
Endhan mannan varavai
Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
{Odi varum nadhigalukku
Kadalae medai
Dhinam unna varum kiligalukku
Kaniyae medai} (2)
{Aadi varum aasaikkelllamm
Manamae maedai} (2)
Endhan anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku
Anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku
Avanae maedai
Endhan anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku
Avanae maedai….
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
{Kaaveri nadhi polae idaiyaadum
Endhan kaal viral nilathilae padam podum} (2)
Oviya vizhi irandum nilam paarkkum
Oviya vizhi irandum nilam paarkkum
Avan azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu
Azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu
Sugam ketkkum
Avan azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu
Sugam ketkkum
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
Melliya thendral odi vandhu
Endhan mannan varavai
Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
Ah... Aaha... Aa... Aa...
Mmm mm mm mmm mm mm
Holding a jasmine bud like a conch,
holding it like a conch, the beetle
sings an auspicious melody... sings an auspicious melody!
Holding a jasmine bud like a conch,
holding it like a conch, the beetle
sings an auspicious melody... sings an auspicious melody!
A gentle breeze comes rushing by
to announce the arrival
of my beloved king... of my beloved king!
A gentle breeze comes rushing by
to announce the arrival
of my beloved king... of my beloved king!
Holding a jasmine bud like a conch,
holding it like a conch, the beetle
sings an auspicious melody... sings an auspicious melody!
For the running rivers,
the sea is the stage.
For the parrots that come daily to eat,
the sweet fruit is the stage.
For all dancing desires,
the heart is the stage.
For my loving heart... to live its life,
for my loving heart... to live its life,
he alone is the stage.
For my loving heart... to live its life,
he alone is the stage...
Holding a jasmine bud like a conch,
holding it like a conch, the beetle
sings an auspicious melody... sings an auspicious melody!
My waist sways gently like the Cauvery river,
and my toes draw shy patterns on the ground.
My picture-perfect eyes look down at the ground,
my picture-perfect eyes look down at the ground,
while his handsome face draws near,
his handsome face draws near,
asking for sweet romance.
While his handsome face draws near,
asking for sweet romance.
Holding a jasmine bud like a conch,
holding it like a conch, the beetle
sings an auspicious melody... sings an auspicious melody!
A gentle breeze comes rushing by
to announce the arrival
of my beloved king... of my beloved king!
Holding a jasmine bud like a conch,
holding it like a conch, the beetle
sings an auspicious melody... sings an auspicious melody!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Malligai Mottu Sangeduthu is a poetic Tamil romantic song expressing a young woman's joyful anticipation of her beloved's arrival. She perceives nature as actively celebrating her romance—visualizing a beetle using a jasmine bud as a conch to play auspicious music, and feeling the gentle breeze rush in like a messenger heralding her lover's approach. In the stanzaic reflections, she draws elegant parallels to show that every natural occurrence has its rightful sanctuary: rivers belong to the sea, parrots belong to sweet fruits, desires belong to the mind, and her loving heart belongs entirely to her partner.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Malligai mottu sangeduthu

Comparing a closed jasmine bud to a conch (sangu) played by a buzzing beetle to create auspicious music.

Personification

Melliya thendral odi vandhu endhan mannan varavai koorudhamma

Attributing human traits to the breeze, depicting it as running fast to convey news of her lover's arrival.

Simile (Upamai)

Kaaveri nadhi polae idaiyaadum

Comparing the graceful movement of the heroine's waist to the gentle flow of the Kaaveri river.

Anaphora / Structural Parallelism

Kadalae medai... Kaniyae medai... Manamae maedai

Repetition of 'medai' (stage/platform) across lines to establish various natural relationships.

Did you know?

Trivia

Oru Viral (1965), directed by C. M. Trivedi, is historically celebrated as the first full-length thriller/horror film in Tamil cinema history. Despite the film's suspenseful theme, this track composed by Vedha with lyrics by Aalangudi Somu remains a sweet and enduring romantic classic.

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