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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malligai Pookka

From Amma Pillai · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Amma Pillai1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
………………….....
Female
Malligai pookkaFor jasmine to bloom,
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaaAnd Manmathan (God of Love) to watch, did it take this long?
Alli kolla koodaathaaCan't you embrace me?
Malligaiyum vaadaathaaWon't the jasmine fade away?
Female
Naan varaintha kadhal madalThe love letter I wrote
Saerumidam saernthathuHas reached its destination.
Aa….aa…..aa….aa…Aa....aa.....aa....aa…
Female
Naan varaintha kadhal madalThe love letter I wrote
Saerumidam saernthathuHas reached its destination.
Nalla badhil nee uraiththaaiYou gave a fine response,
Nandri naan eppadi sollaHow shall I express my gratitude?
Male
Malligai pookkaFor jasmine to bloom,
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaaAnd Manmathan to watch, did it take this long?
Alli kolla vanthaenaeI came to embrace you,
Achcham enna senthaenaeWhy fear, my sweet honey?
Male
Machchamulla thamaraiA lotus with a beauty spot
En maarbil tholil vanthaaduthaeDances upon my chest and shoulders.
Female :Michchamulla penmaiyaiFemale: The remainder of my womanhood,
Un kaiyil alli thanthaaduthaeI hand over into your hands.
Male
Vaanaththai paarththirunthaenI was looking at the sky,
Muththukkal veezhnthathammaaPearls came falling down.
Female :Nattathu pooch chedithaanFemale: A flowering plant was planted,
Natchaththiram pooththathaiyyaaAnd stars bloomed upon it, sir.
Male :Ondru ondrum rendaa illaiMale: One plus one is not two,
Ondraai nindrathammaaThey have united as one.
Female
Malligai pookkaFor jasmine to bloom,
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaaAnd Manmathan to watch, did it take this long?
Male :Alli kolla vanthaenaeMale: I came to embrace you,
Achcham enna senthaenaeWhy fear, my sweet honey?
Female
Unnai kanda naal mudhalFrom the day I saw you,
En kangal rendil thee moondathuA fire caught in both my eyes.
Male :Pennai kanda naal mudhalMale: From the day I saw a woman,
En nenjil yaeno por moondathuWhy did a war ignite in my heart?
Female
Unmaiyil un peyaraiIn truth, to utter your name,
Uchcharikka naanam varumShyness overcomes me.
Male :Penmaiyae un pugazhaiMale: O Womanhood, to sing your praise,
Uchcharikka nyaalam varumThe entire world will assemble.
Female :Kannaa unnai kaanaavittaalFemale: My beloved, if I do not see you,
Kannil raththam varumBlood will flow from my eyes.
Male
Malligai pookkaFor jasmine to bloom,
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaaAnd Manmathan to watch, did it take this long?
Alli kolla vanthaenaeI came to embrace you,
Achcham enna senthaenaeWhy fear, my sweet honey?
Female
Naan varaintha kadhal madalThe love letter I wrote
Saerumidam saernthathuHas reached its destination.
Male :Aa….aa…..aa….aa…Male: Aa....aa.....aa....aa…
Female
Naan varaintha kadhal madalThe love letter I wrote
Saerumidam saernthathuHas reached its destination.
Male :Nalla badhil nee uraiththaenMale: You gave a fine response,
Nandriyai muththathil solliExpressing gratitude with a kiss.
Female
Malligai pookkaFor jasmine to bloom,
Manmathan paarkka iththanai kaalamaaAnd Manmathan to watch, did it take this long?
Male :Alli kolla vanthaenaeMale: I came to embrace you,
Achcham enna senthaenae…Why fear, my sweet honey…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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