Melam Kotta
From Lakshmi (1979) · 1979
- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singer
- B. S. Sasirekha
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Lakshmi (1979)1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mmm…mm…mm…mm… | Humming sounds |
| Mm…mm…mm..mm… | Humming sounds |
| Rarirariraa rarirariraa rarirariraa rarirariraa | Lullaby rhythm sounds |
| Female | |
| Melam kotta neram varum | The time will come to beat the drums |
| Poongodiyae | Oh flowering vine |
| Melam kotta neram varum poongodiyae | The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine |
| Annamae sornamae andru thaan | Oh swan, oh precious gold, only on that day |
| Indha oorvalam | Will this wedding procession take place |
| Female | |
| Melam kotta neram varum | The time will come to beat the drums |
| Poongodiyae | Oh flowering vine |
| Melam kotta neram varum poongodiyae | The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine |
| Female | |
| Aala vattam podudhadi | It circles around in the sky |
| Nellu payiru | The paddy crop |
| Aala vattam podudhadi | It circles around in the sky |
| Kalla paarundhu | The sly kite bird |
| Female | |
| Maalai ida poravana | The one who is going to place the garland around her neck |
| Kannil alandhu | Measuring him carefully with her eyes |
| Mangai manam alaiyudhadi | The young maiden's heart wanders |
| Mella parandhu | Flying away gently |
| Thangamae vairamae ilam kiliyae | Oh gold, oh diamond, oh young parrot |
| Kuyilae mayilae idhu unmaiyadi | Oh cuckoo, oh peacock, this is indeed the truth |
| Female | |
| Melam kotta neram varum | The time will come to beat the drums |
| Poongodiyae | Oh flowering vine |
| Melam kotta neram varum poongodiyae | The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine |
| Female | |
| Oorukkellaam paakku vechu | I will invite the entire village with betel nuts |
| Kaathiruppen | And I will wait |
| Oorai ellaam paakka vechu | Making the whole village witness the grand moment |
| Manam mudippen | I will tie the sacred marital knot |
| Female | |
| Koora chaela sarasarakka | With the traditional bridal saree rustling soft sound |
| Anji nadappen | I will walk forward timidly with modesty |
| Kondavanin gunam arindhu | Understanding the good nature of my groom |
| Konji sirippen | I will smile tenderly and affectionately |
| Ammammaa ennammaa inba mayakkam | Oh my, oh my, what a blissful intoxicating feeling |
| Enakkum porakkum pudhu sogam irukkum | A new delicate sadness and joy will blossom in me too |
| Female | |
| Melam kotta neram varum | The time will come to beat the drums |
| Poongodiyae | Oh flowering vine |
| Annamae sornamae andru thaan | Oh swan, oh precious gold, only on that day |
| Indha oorvalam | Will this wedding procession take place |
| Female | |
| Melam kotta neram varum | The time will come to beat the drums |
| Poongodiyae | Oh flowering vine |
| Mmm…mm….mm…..mm…..mm mmm | Humming sounds |
ம்ம்..... ம்ம்..... ம்ம்..... ம்ம்ம்....
ம்ம்.....ம்ம்..... ம்ம்..... ம்ம்....
ரரிரரிரா ரரிரரார ரரிரரிரா ரரிரரா
Humming sounds
Humming sounds
Lullaby rhythm sounds
மேளம் கொட்ட நேரம் வரும்
பூங்கொடியே
மேளம் கொட்ட நேரம் வரும்
பூங்கொடியே
அன்னமே சொர்ணமே அன்றுதான்
இந்த ஊர்வலம்
The time will come to beat the drums
Oh flowering vine
The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine
Oh swan, oh precious gold, only on that day
Will this wedding procession take place
மேளம் கொட்ட நேரம் வரும்
பூங்கொடியே
மேளம் கொட்ட நேரம் வரும்
பூங்கொடியே
The time will come to beat the drums
Oh flowering vine
The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine
ஆல வட்டம் போடுதடி
நெல்லுப்பயிரு
ஆள வட்டம் போடுதடி
கள்ளப் பருந்து
It circles around in the sky
The paddy crop
It circles around in the sky
The sly kite bird
ஆல வட்டம் போடுதடி
நெல்லுப்பயிரு
ஆள வட்டம் போடுதடி
கள்ளப் பருந்து
The one who is going to place the garland around her neck
Measuring him carefully with her eyes
The young maiden's heart wanders
Flying away gently
Oh gold, oh diamond, oh young parrot
Oh cuckoo, oh peacock, this is indeed the truth
மாலையிட போறவன
கண்ணில் கலந்து
மங்கை மனம் அலையுதடி
மெல்லப் பறந்து
தங்கமே வைரமே இளங்கிளியே
குயிலே மயிலே இது உண்மையடி
The time will come to beat the drums
Oh flowering vine
The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine
மேளம் கொட்ட நேரம் வரும்
பூங்கொடியே
மேளம் கொட்ட நேரம் வரும்
பூங்கொடியே
I will invite the entire village with betel nuts
And I will wait
Making the whole village witness the grand moment
I will tie the sacred marital knot
ஊருக்கெல்லாம் பாக்கு வச்சு
காத்திருப்பேன்
ஊரையெல்லாம் பாக்க வச்சு
மணம் முடிப்பேன்
With the traditional bridal saree rustling soft sound
I will walk forward timidly with modesty
Understanding the good nature of my groom
I will smile tenderly and affectionately
Oh my, oh my, what a blissful intoxicating feeling
A new delicate sadness and joy will blossom in me too
ஊருக்கெல்லாம் பாக்கு வச்சு
காத்திருப்பேன்
ஊரையெல்லாம் பாக்க வச்சு
மணம் முடிப்பேன்
The time will come to beat the drums
Oh flowering vine
Oh swan, oh precious gold, only on that day
Will this wedding procession take place
கூரச்சேலை சரசரக்க
அஞ்சி நடப்பேன்
கொண்டவனின் குணம் அறிந்து
கொஞ்சி சிரிப்பேன்
அம்மம்மா என்னம்மா இன்ப மயக்கம்
எனக்கும் பொறக்கும் புது சுகம் இருக்கும்
The time will come to beat the drums
Oh flowering vine
Humming sounds
மேளம் கொட்ட நேரம் வரும்
பூங்கொடியே
அன்னமே சொர்ணமே அன்றுதான்
இந்த ஊர்வலம்
மேளம் கொட்ட நேரம் வரும்
பூங்கொடியே
ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்...ம்ம்...ம்ம்...ம்ம்....ம்ம்ம்
Mmm…mm…mm…mm…
Humming sounds
Mm…mm…mm..mm…
Humming sounds
Rarirariraa rarirariraa rarirariraa rarirariraa
Lullaby rhythm sounds
Melam kotta neram varum
The time will come to beat the drums
Poongodiyae
Oh flowering vine
Melam kotta neram varum poongodiyae
The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine
Annamae sornamae andru thaan
Oh swan, oh precious gold, only on that day
Indha oorvalam
Will this wedding procession take place
Melam kotta neram varum
The time will come to beat the drums
Poongodiyae
Oh flowering vine
Melam kotta neram varum poongodiyae
The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine
Aala vattam podudhadi
It circles around in the sky
Nellu payiru
The paddy crop
Aala vattam podudhadi
It circles around in the sky
Kalla paarundhu
The sly kite bird
Maalai ida poravana
The one who is going to place the garland around her neck
Kannil alandhu
Measuring him carefully with her eyes
Mangai manam alaiyudhadi
The young maiden's heart wanders
Mella parandhu
Flying away gently
Thangamae vairamae ilam kiliyae
Oh gold, oh diamond, oh young parrot
Kuyilae mayilae idhu unmaiyadi
Oh cuckoo, oh peacock, this is indeed the truth
Melam kotta neram varum
The time will come to beat the drums
Poongodiyae
Oh flowering vine
Melam kotta neram varum poongodiyae
The time will come to beat the drums, oh flowering vine
Oorukkellaam paakku vechu
I will invite the entire village with betel nuts
Kaathiruppen
And I will wait
Oorai ellaam paakka vechu
Making the whole village witness the grand moment
Manam mudippen
I will tie the sacred marital knot
Koora chaela sarasarakka
With the traditional bridal saree rustling soft sound
Anji nadappen
I will walk forward timidly with modesty
Kondavanin gunam arindhu
Understanding the good nature of my groom
Konji sirippen
I will smile tenderly and affectionately
Ammammaa ennammaa inba mayakkam
Oh my, oh my, what a blissful intoxicating feeling
Enakkum porakkum pudhu sogam irukkum
A new delicate sadness and joy will blossom in me too
Melam kotta neram varum
The time will come to beat the drums
Poongodiyae
Oh flowering vine
Annamae sornamae andru thaan
Oh swan, oh precious gold, only on that day
Indha oorvalam
Will this wedding procession take place
Melam kotta neram varum
The time will come to beat the drums
Poongodiyae
Oh flowering vine
Mmm…mm….mm…..mm…..mm mmm
Humming sounds
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the anticipation, joy, and emotional nuance surrounding a traditional Tamil wedding. The speaker reassures a young maiden that her special day is approaching soon, picturing the festive beating of wedding drums, the village procession, and the grand rituals. The lyrics capture the bride's shy affection, her dreams of walking in her wedding silk saree, understanding her future husband, and the mixed feelings of blissful happiness and sweet anxiety that accompany embarking on a new life journey.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Thangamae vairamae ilam kiliyae”
Addressing the young bride using metaphors of nature and beauty such as 'Poongodiyae' (flowering vine), 'Annamae' (swan), 'Thangamae' (gold), and 'Ilam kiliyae' (young parrot).
Onomatopoeia (ஒலிக்குறிப்பு)
“Koora chaela sarasarakka”
The term 'sarasarakka' mimics the crisp rustling sound made by a new bridal silk saree as the bride walks.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Oorukkellaam paakku vechu / Oorai ellaam paakka vechu”
Repetition of the initial letter/sound 'Oo' across consecutive lines ('Oorukkellaam' / 'Oorai ellaam').
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Aala vattam podudhadi / Kalla paarundhu”
Matching of the second consonant 'lla' in 'Aala' and 'Kalla'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the acclaimed Tamil lyricist Aalangudi Somu for the 1979 film Lakshmi, this song richly illustrates traditional Tamil wedding customs, such as 'paakku vechu' (extending formal invitations to villagers with betel leaf and nuts) and wearing the 'koora chaela' (traditional bride's silk saree).
Keep listening
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