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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malligai Poove

From Thaniyatha Thagam · 1982

Lyricist
Uma Nagabushanam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
A. A. Raj
Details
Thaniyatha Thagam1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
…………………Aha, jasmine flower, ah, pomegranate flower!
Male
Aahaa malligaipoovae aa maadhulam poovaeAha, jasmine flower, pomegranate flower!
Aahaa malligaippoovae maadhulampoovaeChampak flower, vermillion flower!
Shenbagapoovae sendhoora poovaeMy heart dances here today, aha, oho!
En manam indru aahaa aaduthu ingae ohoMy heart dances here today,
En manam indru aaduthu ingaeRunning there in search of a woman's heart, mmheemmm...
Penn manam thedi oduthu angae mmheemmm….The girl who came riding the train,
Male
Rayilaeri vantha ponnuThe girl I thought about day and night,
Rappagalaa nenaichcha ponnuSpoke to me through her eyes,
Kannaala pesiputtaaThe beloved girl born to my aunt!
Aththa peththa aasa kannuMy heart dances, ah ha, sings a little, oh my!
Aaduthu nenjam aang haang paaduthu konjam aiyyoMy heart dances, sings a little,
Aaduthu nenjam paaduthu konjamSetting up the bed, where is the scarcity now? Mmm.
Poduthu manjam yaedhadi panjam mmmStanding in the mud,
Male
Saeththkulla ninnukittuOh fair girl planting saplings!
Naaththu naadum sevaththa ponnaeWhat is the meaning of watching,
Naaththadikkum aasa machchaanYour eager cousin who smells of seedlings? Mmm ohoi...
Paarpatharkku arththam enna mmm ohoi…Bringing fish curry rice, shyly coming girl,
Male
Meenu kari soreduththu naani naani varapullaJust thinking of dry fish roasted in ghee, my dear darling girl!
Neyill sutta karuvaatta nenaichchaalae aasa pullaeMy mouth is watering, shshh... aha, look at it salivate!
Naakkula neeru shshh…..aahaa ooruthu paaruYes, my mouth is watering, look at it salivate,
Haang naakkula neeru ooruthu paaruLook at the desire of this groom-like cousin, mmmm!
Maappilla machchaan aasaiyai paaru mmmmUntil yesterday, a lonely bird,
Male
Neththu vara thanipparavaiNever thought of her relationship,
Nenaichchathillai aval uravaiUntil yesterday, a lonely bird,
Neththu vara thanipparavaiNever thought of her relationship,
Nenaichchathillai aval uravaiShe gathered up and took away,
Male
Alli kondu sendruvittaalMy thoughts filled with desire!
Aasai konda en ninaivaiA tune of joy, aha... my body sways, aha!
Aanantha raagam aahaa…oaaduthu thegam aahaaHey, a tune of joy, my body sways,
Haei aanantha raagam paaduthu thegamPassion in the heart, an unquenchable thirst has arrived, mmmm!
Nenjaththu mogam vanthathu thaagam mmmm

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively folk song captures the joyful inner monologue of a young man deeply in love with his cousin who recently arrived by train. He praises her beauty using metaphors of vibrant flowers like jasmine, pomegranate, and champak, expressing how his heart sways and sings in excitement whenever he thinks of her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Floral Imagery

Aahaa malligaipoovae aa maadhulam poovae

Compares the maiden to various fragrant flowers such as Malligai (jasmine), Maadhulai (pomegranate flower), and Shenbagam (champak) to denote her innocence and beauty.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Neththu vara thanipparavai / Nenaichchathillai aval uravai

The second consonant sound 'th' is repeated across consecutive lines ('Neththu' and 'Nenaichchathillai').

Onomatopoeia & Sensory Imagery

Naakkula neeru shshh…..aahaa ooruthu paaru

Uses vivid conversational sounds and taste imagery ('Naakkula neeru ooruthu') to depict intense rustic yearning.

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Trivia

Composed by A. A. Raj for the 1982 film 'Thaniyatha Thagam', this track features the iconic vocal style of Malaysia Vasudevan, renowned for delivering energetic, rustic, and playful folk songs during the 1980s era of Tamil cinema.

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