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Lyrics & meaning

Melakkum Lolakkum

From Kasthuri Manjal · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Kasthuri Manjal1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Melakkum lolakkumDangling her earrings and ear pendants,
Kondaadum chinnakuttyThe little girl celebrates with joy.
Female :Maeni ellam thaen olugumFemale: Her whole body oozes sweet honey,
Maama un vellakattiUncle, she is your block of jaggery!
Male
Poovum nettri pottumAdorned with flowers and a forehead bindi,
Vecha selam maambalamThis ripe mango from Salem is ready.
Female :Needhaan idha vaangi thinnuFemale: The day will come when you buy and taste it,
Pakkum naal varumAnd share it together.
Male
Pazhutha pazham enakku enakku thaanThis ripe fruit belongs only to me, only to me!
Kadicha thinna edhukku vazhakku thaanWhy argue if I bite and eat it?
Female :Kudukka oru samaiyam irukkudhuFemale: There is an appropriate time to give,
Edhukku ippo manasu parakkudhuWhy is your mind fluttering so prematurely now?
Male
Hoo melakkum lolakkumOh, dangling her earrings and ear pendants,
Kondaadum chinnakuttyThe little girl celebrates with joy.
Female :Maeni ellam thaen olugumFemale: Her whole body oozes sweet honey,
Maama un vellakattiUncle, she is your block of jaggery!
Male
Vaazhathoppu oramBeside the banana plantation grove,
Veiyil saayum neramWhen the evening sun begins to set,
VAndhaal enna vannakkiliWhy don't you come, colorful parrot,
Mundhaani thaan paai virukkaTo spread the saree veil like a bed mat?
Female
Naalu peru paarthaIf four people happen to see us,
Maanam kappal yerumMy honor will sail away on a ship!
Enmeni tahan tahandidumaeMy body will tremble and hesitate.
Ammadi nee pooparikkaOh girl, when you go to pick flowers,
Male
Munnalum pinnalum thaanFrom the front and from behind,
JolikkudhadiIt sparkles and shines bright!
Ponnaana singaaranthaanThis golden, beautiful attire,
Female
Thottaalum pattaalum thaanIf I touch it or brush against it,
Thavaru seiya thonaadhooWon't I be tempted to commit a mistake?
Inneram thaanRight at this moment,
Male
Panjanai podumpadiTo lay out a soft mattress,
Ennaiyae thoonduthadiIt stirs and incites my desires,
Manmadhan podum kanai thaanIt is the arrow shot by Cupid himself!
Female :Hmmm mmmmFemale: Hmmm mmmm
Male
Melakkum lolakkumDangling her earrings and ear pendants,
Kondaadum chinnakuttyThe little girl celebrates with joy.
Female :Maeni ellam thaen olugumFemale: Her whole body oozes sweet honey,
Maama un vellakattiUncle, she is your block of jaggery!
Female
Naalum unnai enniThinking about you every single day,
Pottu vecha kanniThis maiden wearing her bindi,
Appaadiyoo kann thoongiyaeOh goodness, it's been five or six days,
Anjaaru naal aayiduchuSince my eyes last caught any sleep!
Male
Kaadhal ennum novvuThe ache that is called love,
Nenjil konda poovuThe flower blooming inside the heart,
Kalloduthaan thallaadudhooIs it swaying like a toddy drunkard?
Ippodhu naan kaiyanaichuNow, if I embrace you with my arms,
Female
Angaeyum ingaeyum thaanHere, there, and everywhere,
Unarchi ennai andraadumEmotions torment me daily,
KondaadudhuAnd celebrate wildly!
Male
Achaaram vechaale thaanOnly if an advance token is given,
Manisil oru urchaagamA surge of enthusiasm and excitement,
UndaagudhuIs born inside the mind!
Female
Thottadhu paadhiyenaSaying half was touched,
Vittadhu meedhienaAnd the remaining half was left behind,
Suttadhu maeni enakkuMy body is burning up with feverish desire!
Male
Haa haa haaHaa haa haa
Male
Melakkum lolakkumDangling her earrings and ear pendants,
Kondaadum chinnakuttyThe little girl celebrates with joy.
Female :Maeni ellam thaen olugumFemale: Her whole body oozes sweet honey,
Maama un vellakattiUncle, she is your block of jaggery!
Male
Poovum nettri pottumAdorned with flowers and a forehead bindi,
Vecha selam maambalamThis ripe mango from Salem is ready.
Female :Needhaan idha vaangi thinnuFemale: The day will come when you buy and taste it,
Pakkum naal varumAnd share it together.
Male
Pazhutha pazham enakku enakku thaanThis ripe fruit belongs only to me, only to me!
Kadicha thinna edhukku vazhakku thaanWhy argue if I bite and eat it?
Female :Kudukka oru samaiyam irukkudhuFemale: There is an appropriate time to give,
Edhukku ippo manasu parakkudhuWhy is your mind fluttering so prematurely now?
Male
Hoo…aaaaa melakkum lolakkumHoo... aaaaa dangling her earrings and ear pendants,
Kondaadum chinnakuttyThe little girl celebrates with joy.
Female :Maeni ellam thaen olugumFemale: Her whole body oozes sweet honey,
Maama un vellakattiUncle, she is your block of jaggery!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Melakkum lolakkum' is a lively romantic folk-style duet from the 1992 Tamil film Kasthuri Manjal, composed by Deva with lyrics written by the veteran poet Vaali. The song features a playful banter between two lovers where the hero playfully teases and expresses his overwhelming physical and emotional longing, while the heroine responds with coy restraint, reminding him that there is a proper time and place for everything. Rich in traditional sensory metaphors such as ripe Salem mangoes, honey, and jaggery, Vaali weaves rural Tamil idioms into an enticing melody sung brilliantly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra. The dynamic back-and-forth captures the youthful innocence, romantic tension, and rural charm characteristic of early 1990s Tamil cinema music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை)

Maama un vellakatti

Comparing the heroine's sweetness and beauty to 'vellakatti' (jaggery block) and 'selam maambalam' (Salem mango).

Mondhai / Rhyme & Alliteration (எதுகை / மோனை)

Melakkum lolakkum

Use of matching sound patterns in 'Melakkum' and 'lolakkum', creating rhythmic folk musicality.

Hyperbole (உயர்வு நவிற்சி அணி)

Maanam kappal yerum

Exaggeration of losing sleep for days and honor sailing on a ship ('Maanam kappal yerum') to express intense romantic feelings.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva during his golden era of rural folk hits in the early 1990s, this duet highlights the iconic vocal chemistry of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra paired with Vaali's signature colloquial lyricism.

Keep listening

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