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Periya Veetu Pannakkaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Malligaiye Malligaiye

From Periya Veetu Pannakkaran · 1990

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Periya Veetu Pannakkaran
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
12 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Malligaiyae malligaiyae thoodhaaga po
Thulli varum thendralaiyae nee saerthu po
Noi kondu naan siru noolaaginaen
Thaeiyaamalae pirai pol aagiren
Thaangaadhu in thaangaadhu
Malligaiyae malligaiyae thoodhaaga po
Thulli varum thendralaiyae nee saerthu po
Chandhiranum suttadhu ingae
Sandhanamum ponadhu engae
Chandhiranum suttadhu ingae
Sandhanamum ponadhu engae
Othaiyilae nikkiren kannae
Nithiraiyum kettadhu pennae
Othaiyilae nikkiren kannae
Nithiraiyum kettadhu pennae
Mani kuyil paadum
Kural kaettu varuvaayaa
Thanimaiyil vandhu
Ondru kaettaal tharuvaayaa
Meendum meendum nee
Adhai kaettu paarammaa
Malligaiyae malligaiyae thoodhaaga po
Thulli varum thendralaiyae nee saerthu po
Noi kondu naan siru noolaaginaen
Thaeiyaamalae pirai pol aagiren
Thaangaadhu in thaangaadhu
Malligaiyae malligaiyae thoodhaaga po
Thulli varum thendralaiyae nee saerthu po
Thanathandha thanathandha
Thanathandha thanathandha thaanaanaa
Thanathandha thanathandha
Thanathandha thanathandha naanaanaa
En manasu ennidam illai
Raathiriyil ethanai thollai
En manasu ennidam illai
Raathiriyil ethanai thollai
Senbagamum malligai mottum
Vandhu vandhu vaattudhu ennai
Senbagamum malligai mottum
Vandhu vandhu vaattudhu ennai
Kanavugal polae kannil neeyae
Varum naeram
Manadhinil paalum inba thaenum
Kalandhodum
Aadi paada thaan
Varum aasai thaerum nee
Malligaiyae malligaiyae thoodhaaga po
Male :Thulli varum thendralaiyae nee saerthu po
Female :Noi kondu naan siru noolaaginaen
Thaeiyaamalae pirai pol aagiren
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
O jasmine, O jasmine, go as a messenger!
Take the dancing southern breeze along with you!
Fevered with lovesickness, I have grown thin as a thread,
Without even waning, I have become like a crescent moon.
I can bear it no longer, oh, I cannot bear it!
O jasmine, O jasmine, go as a messenger!
Take the dancing southern breeze along with you!
Even the cool moon burns me here,
Where has the soothing sandalwood gone?
Even the cool moon burns me here,
Where has the soothing sandalwood gone?
I am standing all alone, my darling,
My sleep is completely ruined, my girl!
I am standing all alone, my darling,
My sleep is completely ruined, my girl!
Hearing the sweet koel bird sing,
will you come to me?
If I come to you in loneliness
and ask for a favor, will you give it?
Just go ahead and ask me for it,
again and again, my dear!
O jasmine, O jasmine, go as a messenger!
Take the dancing southern breeze along with you!
Fevered with lovesickness, I have grown thin as a thread,
Without even waning, I have become like a crescent moon.
I can bear it no longer, oh, I cannot bear it!
O jasmine, O jasmine, go as a messenger!
Take the dancing southern breeze along with you!
Thanathandha thanathandha
Thanathandha thanathandha thaananaa
Thanathandha thanathandha
Thanathandha thanathandha naananaa
My heart is no longer mine,
the nights bring so much restless longing!
My heart is no longer mine,
the nights bring so much restless longing!
The champak and jasmine buds
keep returning only to tease and torment me.
The champak and jasmine buds
keep returning only to tease and torment me.
Like a dream, whenever you appear
right before my eyes,
milk and sweet honey
flow together in my heart!
You are the chariot of desire
that arrives to dance and sing!
O jasmine, O jasmine, go as a messenger!
Male: Take the dancing southern breeze along with you!
Female: Fevered with lovesickness, I have grown thin as a thread,
Without even waning, I have become like a crescent moon.
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic duet expresses the deep longing, separation pain, and affectionate desire between two lovers. The protagonist implores nature—specifically the jasmine flower and the gentle breeze—to act as messengers (Thoodhu) carrying feelings to the beloved. Love-sickness has worn the lover down physically and emotionally, making usually comforting elements like cool moonlight and sandalwood feel agonizingly hot.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Thoodhu (Messenger motif)

Malligaiyae malligaiyae thoodhaaga po

A traditional Sangam poetic trope where natural elements like breeze or flowers are addressed to deliver messages to a distant lover.

Uvamaani (Simile)

Noi kondu naan siru noolaaginaen

Comparing the physical wasting away due to love-sickness to a thin thread (siru nool) and a crescent moon (pirai).

Monnai (Initial Alliteration)

Chandhiranum suttadhu ingae / Sandhanamum ponadhu engae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Ch' in Chandhiranum / Sandhanamum) creating a rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown credits in some song books, the music for 'Periya Veetu Pannakkaran' (1990) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Na. Kamarajan. The track showcases classic 90s orchestration blending folk acoustic touches with lush string arrangements.

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