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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malligai Mottu

From Sakthivel · 1994

Lyricists
Not listed
Singers
Arun Mozhi, Swarnalatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Sakthivel
Movie release year
1994
Lyrics added on
23 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Malliga mottu manasa thottu
Izhukudhadi maanae
Valaiyal mettu vayasa thottu
Valaikudhadi meenae } (2)
Mandhaara chedi orathilae
Maman nadathura paadathulae
Maanae marudhaani poosavaa ho ooh
Thaenae adaiyaalam podavaa
Malliga mottu manasa thottu
Izhukudhaiyaa maanae
Valaiyal mettu vayasai thottu
Valaikudhaiyaa meenae
…………………………….
Moodi vechu moodi vechu
Maraichu vachadhellaam
Kaathadichu kaathadichu
Kalainju ponadhenna
Paadi vechu paadi vechu
Padhuki vachadhellaam
Kaadhalika kaadhalika
Velainju vandhadhenna
Unnaala thaan unnaala thaan
Udhirndhu pochu vetkam
Kannaala thaan kaiyaala thaan
Kalandhu kitaa sorgam
Naan irundhen saami vaasalilae
Maati kitten ippo vambinilae
Naanae marudhaani poosavaaa hoooo
Neeyae adaiyaalam podavaa
Malliga mottu manasa thottu
Izhukudhadi maanae
Valaiyal mettu vayasa thottu
Valaikudhadi meenae
Mandhaara chedi orathilae
Maman nadathura paadathulae
Naanae marudhaani poosavaa ho ooh
Neeyae adaiyaalam podavaa
…………………………………..
Poovarasam poovukulla
Irupadhenna sollu
Poo parikum maapilaiku
Pasikudhamma nillu
Pooveduthu thaeneduthu
Edhuku ingae varanum
Paridhavichu pasichu ninnaa
Pandhiyum potu tharanum
Aadiyaadi paadi vandhu
Alaiyudhoru kuruvi
Keechu keechu pesudhaiyaa
Manasa konjam thuruvi
Pinju pinju viral konjudhadi
Konji konji vandhu kenjudhadi
Maanae marudhaani poosavaa ho ooh
Thaenae adaiyaalam podavaa
Malliga mottu manasa thottu
Izhukudhaiyaa maanae
Valaiyal mettu vayasai thottu
Valaikudhaiyaa meenae
Mandhaara chedi orathilae
Maman nadathura paadathulae
Naanae marudhaani poosavaa ho ooh
Neeyae adaiyaalam podavaa
Malliga mottu manasa thottu
Izhukudhadi maanae
Valaiyal mettu vayasai thottu
Valaikudhaiyaa meenae
The jasmine bud touches the heart
and pulls me in, my deer,
the tune of your bangles touches your youth
and captures you, my fish-eyed girl.
Beside the flowering mandharai bush,
in the lessons this lover is teaching you,
my deer, shall I apply henna? Oh,
my sweet honey, shall I leave a love mark?
The jasmine bud touches the heart
and pulls me in, my love,
the chime of bangles touches my youth
and wins me over, my love.
...
Keeping it covered, keeping it covered,
everything that I kept hidden—
the wind blew and blew,
why has it all scattered away?
Holding it back, holding it back,
everything that was tucked away—
as love grew deeper and deeper,
how has it all ripened into desire?
Only because of you, only because of you,
all my shyness slipped away.
With just a look and the touch of a hand,
when we unite, it is heaven.
I was peacefully standing at God's doorway,
and now I am caught in this playful trouble!
Shall I put on henna myself? Oh...
Will you leave a love mark on me?
The jasmine bud touches the heart
and pulls me in, my deer,
the tune of your bangles touches your youth
and captures you, my fish-eyed girl.
Beside the flowering mandharai bush,
in the lessons this lover is teaching you,
shall I put on henna myself? Oh,
will you leave a love mark on me?
...
Inside the portia flower,
tell me, what is hidden?
For the groom who comes to pluck the blossom,
hunger has struck, so wait!
Gathering the flower and taking its nectar,
why must you come here?
If you stand there hungry and yearning,
a feast must be laid out for you.
Dancing and singing its song,
a little bird wanders about.
It chirps and chatters softly,
probing right into the heart.
Your tender little fingers tease and caress,
sweetly coaxing and pleading with me.
My deer, shall I apply henna? Oh,
my sweet honey, shall I leave a love mark?
The jasmine bud touches the heart
and pulls me in, my love,
the chime of bangles touches youth
and wins me over, my love.
Beside the flowering mandharai bush,
in the lessons this lover is teaching,
shall I put on henna myself? Oh,
will you leave a love mark on me?
The jasmine bud touches the heart
and pulls me in, my deer,
the chime of bangles touches youth
and wins you over, my love.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet from the film 'Sakthivel' captures the playful, teasing affection between two lovers in a rural setting. Using vibrant folk imagery—such as jasmine buds, hibiscus bushes, sparrows, and henna—the song portrays the growing intimate bond and shared longing between the couple. The lyrics highlight how romance gradually dismantles their bashfulness, leading them into a joyful celebration of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Moodi vechu moodi vechu

Words like 'Moodi vechu moodi vechu' and 'Kaathadichu kaathadichu' repeat adjacent to each other to intensify the emotional depth and rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Endearment)

Izhukudhadi maanae

Addressing the beloved as 'Maanae' (deer), 'Meenae' (fish), and 'Thaenae' (honey) uses natural metaphors to convey warmth and beauty.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Malliga mottu manasa thottu

The initial letters 'Ma' match across 'Malliga' and 'manasa', creating melodic harmony.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Malliga mottu manasa thottu / Valaiyal mettu vayasa thottu

The second consonant sound 'll' / 'l' rhymes across 'Malliga' and 'Valaiyal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Sakthivel' (1994), directed by K. S. Ravikumar and starring Selva and Kasthuri, features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, who crafted lush rural melodies characteristic of 1990s Tamil cinema.

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