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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malligai Pookka

From Amma Pillai · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Amma Pillai
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
15 Aug 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………..
Malligai pookka
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaa
Alli kolla koodaathaa
Malligaiyum vaadaathaa
Naan varaintha kadhal madal
Saerumidam saernthathu
Aa….aa…..aa….aa…
Naan varaintha kadhal madal
Saerumidam saernthathu
Nalla badhil nee uraiththaai
Nandri naan eppadi solla
Malligai pookka
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaa
Alli kolla vanthaenae
Achcham enna senthaenae
Machchamulla thamarai
En maarbil tholil vanthaaduthae
Female :Michchamulla penmaiyai
Un kaiyil alli thanthaaduthae
Vaanaththai paarththirunthaen
Muththukkal veezhnthathammaa
Female :Nattathu pooch chedithaan
Natchaththiram pooththathaiyyaa
Male :Ondru ondrum rendaa illai
Ondraai nindrathammaa
Malligai pookka
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaa
Male :Alli kolla vanthaenae
Achcham enna senthaenae
Unnai kanda naal mudhal
En kangal rendil thee moondathu
Male :Pennai kanda naal mudhal
En nenjil yaeno por moondathu
Unmaiyil un peyarai
Uchcharikka naanam varum
Male :Penmaiyae un pugazhai
Uchcharikka nyaalam varum
Female :Kannaa unnai kaanaavittaal
Kannil raththam varum
Malligai pookka
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaa
Alli kolla vanthaenae
Achcham enna senthaenae
Naan varaintha kadhal madal
Saerumidam saernthathu
Male :Aa….aa…..aa….aa…
Naan varaintha kadhal madal
Saerumidam saernthathu
Male :Nalla badhil nee uraiththaen
Nandriyai muththathil solli
Malligai pookka
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaa
Male :Alli kolla vanthaenae
Achcham enna senthaenae…
...
For the jasmine to blossom
and for Manmathan (the god of love) to notice, did it take this long?
Can't you gather me in your arms?
Won't this jasmine wither away?
The love letter I wrote
has reached where it belongs.
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
The love letter I wrote
has reached where it belongs.
You gave such a sweet reply,
how can I ever thank you?
For the jasmine to blossom
and for Manmathan (the god of love) to notice, did it take this long?
I have come to hold you in my arms,
so why any fear, my sweet honey?
A lotus with a beauty mark
comes to dance upon my chest and shoulders.
All the womanhood left within me
gives itself into your hands and dances!
I was gazing at the sky,
and pearls showered down!
I only planted a flowering plant,
yet it blossomed with stars!
One and one did not make two,
they stood together as one!
For the jasmine to blossom
and for Manmathan (the god of love) to notice, did it take this long?
I have come to hold you in my arms,
so why any fear, my sweet honey?
From the day I saw you,
a fire caught in both my eyes.
From the day I saw this girl,
a war broke out inside my heart!
To tell the truth, even to speak your name,
shyness overcomes me.
O woman, to sing your praise,
the whole world will come forth.
My beloved, if I do not see you,
tears of blood will fall from my eyes.
For the jasmine to blossom
and for Manmathan (the god of love) to notice, did it take this long?
I have come to hold you in my arms,
so why any fear, my sweet honey?
The love letter I wrote
has reached where it belongs.
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
The love letter I wrote
has reached where it belongs.
I gave you a wonderful reply,
expressing my thanks with a kiss.
For the jasmine to blossom
and for Manmathan (the god of love) to notice, did it take this long?
I have come to hold you in my arms,
so why any fear, my sweet honey?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Malligai Pookka is a romantic duet from the movie Amma Pillai (1990) celebrating the sweet joy of lovers reuniting and exchanging affection. The protagonists express their long-held desire, describing their emotional connection through metaphors of blooming jasmine, letters reaching their destination, falling pearls, and stars blooming on plants. The song highlights how two individuals merge into one single soul in love, blending playful affection with passionate devotions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mōnai (Initial Alliteration)

“Malligai pookka / Manmathan paarkka”

Matching first letters in initial words of consecutive lines for musical rhythm.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Machchamulla thamarai”

Describing the lover as a lotus adorned with a beauty mark (Machchamulla thamarai) and flowers blooming like stars (Natchaththiram pooththathaiyyaa).

Uyarvu Navortchi (Hyperbole)

“Kannaa unnai kaanaavittaal / Kannil raththam varum”

Exaggerating the intensity of grief/separation by describing blood flowing from eyes if unable to see the lover.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Ondru ondrum rendaa illai / Ondraai nindrathammaa”

Rhyming the second consonant sound across lines ('n' sound in Ondru/Ondraai).

Did you know?

Trivia

Amma Pillai (1990) is a Tamil drama film directed by R. C. Sakthi, featuring music composed by Shankar-Ganesh and lyrics written by veteran poet Vaali. The film starred Ramarajan and Seetha in lead roles.

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