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Isaimozhi
Anbalippu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mathulam Pazhathukku

From Anbalippu · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Anbalippu
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
25 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Humming…
Maathulam pazhathukku peyar maathulam
Paruvathil varum maambazham
Rasipavan peyar kadhalan
Panthadum pazhathottam paavai meniyo
Maathulam pazhathukku peyar maathulam
Paruvathil varum maambazham
Rasipavan peyar kadhalan
Panthadum pazhathottam paavai meniyo
Illamai muluthum unathu veedu
Eduthu rasithu kavithai paadu
Illamai muluthum unathu veedu
Eduthu rasithu kavithai paadu
Paadumpothu asai nooru poga poga inbam veru
Kannangalil minnum thiratchai pazham
Vanna idazh sinthum kovaipazham
Kann irandil ulla asaipazham
Kadhal pazham adhu maathulam pazham
Female :Ahh
Maathulam pazhathukku peyar maathulam
Paruvathil varum maambazham
Rasipavan peyar kadhalan
Panthadum pazhathottam paavai meniyae
Maathulam…
Iravil nilavu sirikum pothu
Irandu uyirgal thudika vendum
Iravil nilavu sirikum pothu
Irandu uyirgal thudika vendum
Thudikum nenjam mayanga vendum
Thoongum pothu vidiya vendum
Female :Manthirathil unnai mayanga vaithen
Manjal mugam konjam sivaka vaithaai
Sangamathil naan vizhunthuvitten
Enna sugam nee vazhangi vittai ahh
Maathulam
Male :Pazhathukku peyar maathulam
Female :Paruvathil varum maambazham
Male :Rasipavan peyar kadhalan
Female :Panthadum pazhathottam paavai meniyae
Both :Maathulam
(Humming...)
The pomegranate is called a pomegranate,
A sweet mango that ripens with youth,
The one who savors it is called a lover,
Is this woman's body an orchard of ripe fruits?
The pomegranate is called a pomegranate,
A sweet mango that ripens with youth,
The one who savors it is called a lover,
Is this woman's body an orchard of ripe fruits?
All of this youth is your home,
Embrace it, enjoy it, and sing a poem!
All of this youth is your home,
Embrace it, enjoy it, and sing a poem!
As you sing, a hundred desires bloom, leading to deeper joys!
Juicy grapes glistening on the cheeks,
Colorful lips sweet as red kovai fruit,
Fruits of desire glowing in both eyes,
And the fruit of love is that pomegranate!
Female: Ah...
The pomegranate is called a pomegranate,
A sweet mango that ripens with youth,
The one who savors it is called a lover,
Truly, this woman's body is an orchard of ripe fruits!
Pomegranate...
When the moon smiles in the night sky,
Two souls must throb with passion,
When the moon smiles in the night sky,
Two souls must throb with passion,
The racing hearts should lose themselves in love,
And the dawn should break while we sleep!
Female: I cast a spell and made you swoon,
You made my glowing face blush a tender red,
I have surrendered completely to our union,
Ah, what sweet bliss you have given me!
Pomegranate...
Male: ...is the name of the fruit,
Female: A sweet mango that ripens with youth,
Male: The one who savors it is called a lover,
Female: Truly, this woman's body is an orchard of ripe fruits!
Both: Pomegranate!
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Maathulam Pazhathukku' is a classic romantic duet from the 1969 Tamil movie Anbalippu, composed by M. S. Vishwanathan and penned by Kannadasan. The song employs lush botanical allegories—comparing a young woman's youth, beauty, and emotional allure to sweet, ripening fruits like pomegranate, mango, grapes, and kovai. Through vivid poetic imagery, the couple expresses their deep intimacy, passion, and mutual admiration under the moonlit night.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Rupakam)

“Kannangalil minnum thiratchai pazham / Vanna idazh sinthum kovaipazham”

Kannadasan ingeniously metaphors the female anatomy and emotions with various sweet fruits: grapes for cheeks, kovai for lips, and pomegranate for youthful love.

Anaphora / Refrain (Ettugai / Monai)

“Maathulam pazhathukku peyar maathulam / Paruvathil varum maambazham”

Repetition of fruit imagery and rhythmic line patterns enhancing the musicality and poetic flow across verses.

Did you know?

Trivia

Anbalippu (1969) starred Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. The track highlights the unique vocal chemistry between P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela, set to M. S. Vishwanathan's melodious arrangement that relies heavily on natural fruit metaphors famously mastered by lyricist Kannadasan.

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