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Aruvadai Naal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Melatha Mella

From Aruvadai Naal · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Aruvadai Naal
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
17 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Melatha mella thattu
Indha melatha mella thattu
Melatha mella thattu
Indha melatha mella thattu
Anganga killikkittu
Pootti vecha veettukkul jallikkattu
Anganga killikkittu
Pootti vecha veettukkul jallikkattu
Naan thottu nee thottu
Thaappaala nee pottu
Melatha mella thattu
Female :Indha melatha mella thattu
Muthira vekkiren kannathula
Nithamum naan andha ennathula
Nithira kettadhu mothathula
Nikkiren naan unga pakkathula
Nee oru poo maala naan anaikka
Vandhadhu vandhadhu vatta nilaa
Vaaliba nenjatha sutta nilaa
Pen yena en uyir thotta nilaa
Inbatha thooriya pattu nilaa
Kodaiyila vaadaiyila
Ullatha thottadhu vellatha kottudhu
Melatha mella thattu
Indha melatha mella thattu
Melatha mella thattu
Indha melatha mella thattu
Manmadhan vittadhu baanam alla
Naan indha nerathil naanum alla
Nithirai en vizhi kaanavilla
Nenjinil koodiyum podhavilla
Aalila aadum aasa naal muzhukka
Orathula nadhi theerathula
Saarathula idhazh eerathula
Nerathula maniyaarathula
Nenjinil yeriya baarathula
Raagathula thaalathula
Saendhadhu en manam
Sonnadhu sammadham
Melatha mella thattu
Indha melatha mella thattu
Anganga killikkittu
Pootti vecha veettukkul jallikkattu
Anganga killikkittu
Pootti vecha veettukkul jallikkattu
Naan thottu nee thottu
Thaappaala nee pottu
Melatha mella thattu
Female :Indha melatha mella thattu
Beat the drum softly
Beat this drum softly
Beat the drum softly
Beat this drum softly
Pinching each other here and there
It's a jallikattu (bull-taming tussle) inside a locked house
Pinching each other here and there
It's a jallikattu (bull-taming tussle) inside a locked house
I touch you and you touch me
Bolt the door tight
Beat the drum softly
Beat this drum softly
I'll seal a kiss on your cheek
I'm lost in that thought every single day
I have completely lost my sleep
Here I stand right beside you
You are a garland of flowers for me to embrace
Here comes the round moon, it has arrived
The moon that set this youthful heart ablaze
A moon that touched my soul in the form of a woman
A silky moon that showered sweet pleasure
In the summer heat and in the chilly breeze
It touched my heart and pours down like a flood
Beat the drum softly
Beat this drum softly
Beat the drum softly
Beat this drum softly
What Manmathan (god of love) shot was no ordinary arrow
Right now, I am not even myself
My eyes haven't known any sleep
Even uniting our hearts isn't enough
Desire flutters all day like a banyan leaf in the wind
Along the edge, by the riverbank
In the sweet nectar, in the moisture of our lips
At the right time, with the pearl necklace sway
Under the heavy sweet burden weighing on the heart
To the melody and to the rhythm
My heart joined with yours
And whispered its consent
Beat the drum softly
Beat this drum softly
Pinching each other here and there
It's a jallikattu (bull-taming tussle) inside a locked house
Pinching each other here and there
It's a jallikattu (bull-taming tussle) inside a locked house
I touch you and you touch me
Bolt the door tight
Beat the drum softly
Beat this drum softly
Male
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Male
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Melatha Mella Thattu from the 1986 Tamil film Aruvadai Naal is a playful and vibrant romantic song depicting the intense intimacy and playful banter between two lovers. Using lively folk metaphors, the song compares the romantic play within the privacy of a home to a spirited bull-taming festival (jallikkattu) and gentle drumbeats. The lyrics capture the overwhelming feelings of passion, sleepless nights, and physical closeness. Throughout the track, the lyrics express how love overwhelms the senses like a flood during summer and winter alike. The song portrays mutual consent and deep emotional connection, framed around poetic imagery of the full moon, riverbanks, and rhythmic melodies.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Pootti vecha veettukkul jallikkattu”

Compares romantic play behind locked doors to 'Jallikkattu' (bull-taming festival), highlighting intense passion and excitement.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Muthira vekkiren kannathula / Nithamum naan andha ennathula / Nithira kettadhu mothathula”

The second consonant 'th' matches across consecutive lines (Muthira, Nithamum, Nithira), creating a natural lyrical flow.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Vandhadhu vandhadhu vatta nilaa”

Repetition of the starting letter 'V' across words in the line builds rhythmic momentum.

Did you know?

Trivia

Aruvadai Naal (1986) was directed by G. M. Kumar and marked the debut of actor Prabhu in a rustic lead role alongside Pallavi. The music for the film was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. The song captures the quintessential 1980s rural folk-pop sound popularized by the duo.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Melathai Mella Thattu Mama1965
Idhaya KamalamDesireCourtship
Kaveriye Kaveriye1982
Archanai PookalAttractionRomantic Union
Sri Ranga Ranganathanin1994
MahanadhiFolk InfluencedWedding Celebrations
Pattu Kannam1985
Kaakki SattaiAttractionSensual Love
Aasai Vacha Peraiyellam1989
Enna Petha RaasaAttractionDesire
Theendai Mei Theendai1999
En Swasa KaatreAttractionDesire

From the same album

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Oru Kaaviyam1986
Aruvadai NaalRomantic
Ola Kuruththola1986
Aruvadai NaalTender
Chinna Ponnu1986
Aruvadai NaalMournful
Vakkapattu1986
Aruvadai NaalCelebratory

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