Malligai Mottu
From Oru Viral · 1965
- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- S. Vedhachalam
- Details
- Oru Viral1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa….aahaa…aaa…aa… | Ah... Aahaa... Ah... Ah... |
| Hmm mm mm hmm mm mm | Hmm mm mm hmm mm mm |
| Female | |
| Malligai mottu sangeduthu | Taking the jasmine bud as a conch, |
| Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai | Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music, |
| Paaduthamma …paduthammaa | It sings, oh it sings! |
| Malligai mottu sangeduthu | Taking the jasmine bud as a conch, |
| Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai | Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music, |
| Paaduthamma… paduthammaa | It sings, oh it sings! |
| Female | |
| Melliya thendral odi vandhu | The gentle breeze comes running, |
| Endhan mannan varavai | And announces the arrival of my king, |
| Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa | It announces, oh it announces! |
| Melliya thendral odi vandhu | The gentle breeze comes running, |
| Endhan mannan varavai | And announces the arrival of my king, |
| Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa | It announces, oh it announces! |
| Female | |
| Malligai mottu sangeduthu | Taking the jasmine bud as a conch, |
| Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai | Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music, |
| Paaduthamma …paduthammaa | It sings, oh it sings! |
| Female | |
| {Odi varum nadhigalukku | For the rivers that come running, |
| Kadalae medai | The ocean is the stage, |
| Dhinam unna varum kiligalukku | For the parrots that come daily to eat, |
| Kaniyae medai} (2) | The fruit is the stage, |
| Female | |
| {Aadi varum aasaikkelllamm | For all the desires that come dancing, |
| Manamae maedai} (2) | The heart is the stage, |
| Endhan anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku | For my loving heart to live, |
| Anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku | For my loving heart to live, |
| Avanae maedai | He alone is the stage, |
| Endhan anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku | For my loving heart to live, |
| Avanae maedai…. | He alone is the stage... |
| Female | |
| Malligai mottu sangeduthu | Taking the jasmine bud as a conch, |
| Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai | Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music, |
| Paaduthamma …paduthammaa | It sings, oh it sings! |
| Female | |
| {Kaaveri nadhi polae idaiyaadum | My waist sways like the Kaaveri river, |
| Endhan kaal viral nilathilae padam podum} (2) | My toe draws patterns on the ground, |
| Oviya vizhi irandum nilam paarkkum | My picture-like eyes look down at the ground, |
| Oviya vizhi irandum nilam paarkkum | My picture-like eyes look down at the ground, |
| Avan azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu | His handsome face comes close, |
| Azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu | His handsome face comes close, |
| Sugam ketkkum | And asks for pleasure, |
| Avan azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu | His handsome face comes close, |
| Sugam ketkkum | And asks for pleasure, |
| Female | |
| Malligai mottu sangeduthu | Taking the jasmine bud as a conch, |
| Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai | Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music, |
| Paaduthamma …paduthammaa | It sings, oh it sings! |
| Female | |
| Melliya thendral odi vandhu | The gentle breeze comes running, |
| Endhan mannan varavai | And announces the arrival of my king, |
| Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa | It announces, oh it announces! |
| Female | |
| Malligai mottu sangeduthu | Taking the jasmine bud as a conch, |
| Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai | Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music, |
| Paaduthamma …paduthammaa | It sings, oh it sings! |
ஆ......ஆஹா.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
Ah... Aahaa... Ah... Ah...
Hmm mm mm hmm mm mm
மல்லிகை மொட்டு சங்கெடுத்து
சங்கெடுத்து வண்டு மங்கல இசை
பாடுதம்மா பாடுதம்மா
மல்லிகை மொட்டு சங்கெடுத்து
சங்கெடுத்து வண்டு மங்கல இசை
பாடுதம்மா பாடுதம்மா
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
It sings, oh it sings!
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
It sings, oh it sings!
மெல்லிய தென்றல் ஓடி வந்து
எந்தன் மன்னன் வரவை
கூறுதம்மா கூறுதம்மா
மெல்லிய தென்றல் ஓடி வந்து
எந்தன் மன்னன் வரவை
கூறுதம்மா கூறுதம்மா
The gentle breeze comes running,
And announces the arrival of my king,
It announces, oh it announces!
The gentle breeze comes running,
And announces the arrival of my king,
It announces, oh it announces!
மல்லிகை மொட்டு சங்கெடுத்து
சங்கெடுத்து வண்டு மங்கல இசை
பாடுதம்மா பாடுதம்மா
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
It sings, oh it sings!
{ஓடி வரும் நதிகளுக்கு
கடலே மேடை
தினம் உண்ண வரும் கிளிகளுக்கு
கனியே மேடை} (2)
For the rivers that come running,
The ocean is the stage,
For the parrots that come daily to eat,
The fruit is the stage,
{ஆடி வரும் ஆசைக்கெல்லாம்
மனமே மேடை
எந்தன் அன்பு மனம் வாழ்வதற்கு
அன்பு மனம் வாழ்வதற்கு
அவனே மேடை
For all the desires that come dancing,
The heart is the stage,
For my loving heart to live,
For my loving heart to live,
He alone is the stage,
For my loving heart to live,
He alone is the stage...
மல்லிகை மொட்டு சங்கெடுத்து
சங்கெடுத்து வண்டு மங்கல இசை
பாடுதம்மா பாடுதம்மா
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
It sings, oh it sings!
{காவிரி நதி போலே இடையாடும்
எந்தன் கால் விரல் நிலத்திலே படம் போடும்} (2)
ஓவிய விழி இரண்டும் நிலம் பார்க்கும்
ஓவிய விழி இரண்டும் நிலம் பார்க்கும்
அவன் அழகு முகம் நெருங்கி வந்து
சுகம் கேட்கும்...
அவன் அழகு முகம் நெருங்கி வந்து
சுகம் கேட்கும்...
My waist sways like the Kaaveri river,
My toe draws patterns on the ground,
My picture-like eyes look down at the ground,
My picture-like eyes look down at the ground,
His handsome face comes close,
His handsome face comes close,
And asks for pleasure,
His handsome face comes close,
And asks for pleasure,
மல்லிகை மொட்டு சங்கெடுத்து
சங்கெடுத்து வண்டு மங்கல இசை
பாடுதம்மா பாடுதம்மா
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
It sings, oh it sings!
மல்லிகை மொட்டு சங்கெடுத்து
சங்கெடுத்து வண்டு மங்கல இசை
பாடுதம்மா பாடுதம்மா
The gentle breeze comes running,
And announces the arrival of my king,
It announces, oh it announces!
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
It sings, oh it sings!
Aa….aahaa…aaa…aa…
Ah... Aahaa... Ah... Ah...
Hmm mm mm hmm mm mm
Hmm mm mm hmm mm mm
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
It sings, oh it sings!
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
Paaduthamma… paduthammaa
It sings, oh it sings!
Melliya thendral odi vandhu
The gentle breeze comes running,
Endhan mannan varavai
And announces the arrival of my king,
Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa
It announces, oh it announces!
Melliya thendral odi vandhu
The gentle breeze comes running,
Endhan mannan varavai
And announces the arrival of my king,
Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa
It announces, oh it announces!
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
It sings, oh it sings!
{Odi varum nadhigalukku
For the rivers that come running,
Kadalae medai
The ocean is the stage,
Dhinam unna varum kiligalukku
For the parrots that come daily to eat,
Kaniyae medai} (2)
The fruit is the stage,
{Aadi varum aasaikkelllamm
For all the desires that come dancing,
Manamae maedai} (2)
The heart is the stage,
Endhan anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku
For my loving heart to live,
Anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku
For my loving heart to live,
Avanae maedai
He alone is the stage,
Endhan anbu manam …vaazhvadharkku
For my loving heart to live,
Avanae maedai….
He alone is the stage...
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
It sings, oh it sings!
{Kaaveri nadhi polae idaiyaadum
My waist sways like the Kaaveri river,
Endhan kaal viral nilathilae padam podum} (2)
My toe draws patterns on the ground,
Oviya vizhi irandum nilam paarkkum
My picture-like eyes look down at the ground,
Oviya vizhi irandum nilam paarkkum
My picture-like eyes look down at the ground,
Avan azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu
His handsome face comes close,
Azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu
His handsome face comes close,
Sugam ketkkum
And asks for pleasure,
Avan azhagu mugam nerungi vandhu
His handsome face comes close,
Sugam ketkkum
And asks for pleasure,
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
It sings, oh it sings!
Melliya thendral odi vandhu
The gentle breeze comes running,
Endhan mannan varavai
And announces the arrival of my king,
Koorudhamma… koorudhammaa
It announces, oh it announces!
Malligai mottu sangeduthu
Taking the jasmine bud as a conch,
Sangeduthu vandu mangala isai
Taking the conch, the beetle sings auspicious music,
Paaduthamma …paduthammaa
It sings, oh it sings!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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