Melathai Mella Thattu Mama
From Idhaya Kamalam · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Idhaya Kamalam1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaaaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aa..aaa…aa… | Vocalizing melody (Aaaaa...) |
| Hooo…ooo.oo..oo…ooo.ooo…oooo…oo…ooo…ooo…ooo.. | Vocalizing melody (Hooo...) |
| Hooo ooo oooo…huaaa…ooo oooo | Vocalizing melody (Hooo ooo...) |
| Female | |
| Melatha mella thattu maamaa | Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle/man |
| Melatha mella thattu maamaa | Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle/man |
| Un thaalam enna sari thaana | Is your rhythm really correct? |
| Un thaalam enna sari thaana | Is your rhythm really correct? |
| Female | |
| Melatha mella thattu maamooi | Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle |
| Un thaalam enna sari thaana | Is your rhythm really correct? |
| Un thaalam enna sari thaana | Is your rhythm really correct? |
| Female | |
| Thandaikaal sandai ida | As ankleted legs clash playfully |
| Thangamani osai ida | As golden bells make sound |
| Munn azhagum pinn azhagum | As front beauty and back beauty |
| Thallaada thallaada thallaada..aaa… | Sway, stumble and move gracefully... |
| Ohoo hoooii | Ohoo hoooii |
| Female | |
| {Aarambha kaalathil | In the initial stages |
| Medhuva poganum chinnaiyaa | One must proceed slowly, young sir |
| Yedhum ariyaatha ponnukitta | With a young girl who knows nothing |
| Vegu vegam povadhu ennaiyaa} (2) | Why are you rushing with such extreme speed? (Repeated) |
| Female | |
| Aambala manasu | A man's mind |
| Avasaram perusu | Is in a massive hurry |
| Aambala manasu | A man's mind |
| Avasaram perusu | Is in a massive hurry |
| Aiyaiyoo podhum podhum | Oh my, enough, enough! |
| Aththodu nillaiyaa | Stop right there, sir! |
| Maa maa maa maa maa maa ohh hoooii | Uncle, uncle, uncle... oh hoooii |
| Female | |
| Melatha melatha melatha | The drum, the drum, the drum |
| Mella thattu maamooi | Beat it gently, my dear uncle |
| Un thaalam enna sari thaana | Is your rhythm really correct? |
| Un thaalam enna sari thaana | Is your rhythm really correct? |
| Female | |
| Kann aada kani aada | As eyes sway and fruit-like lips sway |
| Kattazhagu penn aada | As the beautiful shapely woman dances |
| Onnodu onnaaga ovvonnum | One along with another, everything |
| Sernthaada sernthaada aaaa….. | Dances together in harmony... |
| Ohoohooo hoooii | Ohoohooo hoooii |
| Female | |
| Aattamum thaalamum | The dance and the beat |
| Onnaaga seranum illaiyaa | Shouldn't they merge as one? |
| Nee adikadi thadumaari | You frequently stumble |
| Edam maari povadhum ennaiyaa | Why do you keep losing your spot? |
| Aattamum thaalamum | The dance and the beat |
| Onnaaga seranum illaiyaa | Shouldn't they merge as one? |
| Nee adikadi thadumaari | You frequently stumble |
| Edam maari povadhum ennaiyaa | Why do you keep losing your spot? |
| Female | |
| Aasaigal perusu anubavam sirusu | Desires are grand, but experience is small |
| Aiyaiyoo podhum podhum | Oh my, enough, enough! |
| Aththodu nillaiyaa | Stop right there, sir! |
| Maa maa maa maa maa maa ohh hoooii | Uncle, uncle, uncle... oh hoooii |
| Female | |
| Melatha melatha melatha | The drum, the drum, the drum |
| Mella thattu maamooi | Beat it gently, my dear uncle |
| Un thaalam enna sari thaana | Is your rhythm really correct? |
| Un thaalam enna sari thaana | Is your rhythm really correct? |
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
ஹோ......ஓஒ......ஓ....ஓ.....ஓஒ....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ.....ஓ....ஓஒ....ஓஒ...ஓஒ
ஹோ ஓஒ ஓஓ.....ஹுஆ....ஓஒ....ஓஒ
Vocalizing melody (Aaaaa...)
Vocalizing melody (Hooo...)
Vocalizing melody (Hooo ooo...)
மேளத்த மெல்ல தட்டு மாமா
மேளத்த மெல்ல தட்டு மாமா
உன் தாளம் என்ன சரிதானா
உன் தாளம் என்ன சரிதானா
Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle/man
Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle/man
Is your rhythm really correct?
Is your rhythm really correct?
மேளத்த மெல்ல தட்டு மாமா
உன் தாளம் என்ன சரிதானா
உன் தாளம் என்ன சரிதானா
Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle
Is your rhythm really correct?
Is your rhythm really correct?
தண்டைக்கால் சண்டை இட
தங்கமணி ஓசை இட
முன் அழகும் பின் அழகும்
தாலாட தாலாட தாலாட.....ஆஅ....
ஓஹோ ஹோய்
As ankleted legs clash playfully
As golden bells make sound
As front beauty and back beauty
Sway, stumble and move gracefully...
Ohoo hoooii
{ஆரம்ப காலத்தில்
மெதுவா போகணும் சின்னையா
ஏதும் அறியாத பொண்ணுகிட்ட
வெகு வேகம் போவது என்னய்யா} (2)
In the initial stages
One must proceed slowly, young sir
With a young girl who knows nothing
Why are you rushing with such extreme speed? (Repeated)
ஆம்பள மனசு
அவசரம் பெருசு
ஆம்பள மனசு
அவசரம் பெருசு
அய்யய்யோ போதும் போதும்
அத்தோடு நில்லையா
மா மா மா மா மா மா ஓ ஹோய்
A man's mind
Is in a massive hurry
A man's mind
Is in a massive hurry
Oh my, enough, enough!
Stop right there, sir!
Uncle, uncle, uncle... oh hoooii
மேளத்த மேளத்த மேளத்த
மெல்ல தட்டு மாமோய்
உன் தாளம் என்ன சரிதானா
உன் தாளம் என்ன சரிதானா
The drum, the drum, the drum
Beat it gently, my dear uncle
Is your rhythm really correct?
Is your rhythm really correct?
கண் ஆட கன்னி ஆட
கட்டழகு பெண் ஆட
ஒன்னோடு ஒன்னாக ஒவ்வொன்னும்
சேர்ந்தாட சேர்ந்தாட ஆஅ.....
ஓஹோஹோ ஹோய்
As eyes sway and fruit-like lips sway
As the beautiful shapely woman dances
One along with another, everything
Dances together in harmony...
Ohoohooo hoooii
ஆட்டமும் தாளமும்
ஒண்ணாக சேரனும் இல்லையா
நீ அடிகடி தடுமாறி
எடம் மாறி போவதும் என்னய்யா
ஆட்டமும் தாளமும்
ஒண்ணாக சேரனும் இல்லையா
நீ அடிகடி தடுமாறி
எடம் மாறி போவதும் என்னய்யா
The dance and the beat
Shouldn't they merge as one?
You frequently stumble
Why do you keep losing your spot?
The dance and the beat
Shouldn't they merge as one?
You frequently stumble
Why do you keep losing your spot?
ஆசைகள் பெருசு அனுபவம் சிறுசு
அய்யய்யோ போதும் போதும்
அத்தோடு நில்லையா
மா மா மா மா மா மா ஓ ஹோய்
Desires are grand, but experience is small
Oh my, enough, enough!
Stop right there, sir!
Uncle, uncle, uncle... oh hoooii
மேளத்த மேளத்த மேளத்த
மெல்ல தட்டு மாமோய்
உன் தாளம் என்ன சரிதானா
உன் தாளம் என்ன சரிதானா
The drum, the drum, the drum
Beat it gently, my dear uncle
Is your rhythm really correct?
Is your rhythm really correct?
Aaaaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aa..aaa…aa…
Vocalizing melody (Aaaaa...)
Hooo…ooo.oo..oo…ooo.ooo…oooo…oo…ooo…ooo…ooo..
Vocalizing melody (Hooo...)
Hooo ooo oooo…huaaa…ooo oooo
Vocalizing melody (Hooo ooo...)
Melatha mella thattu maamaa
Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle/man
Melatha mella thattu maamaa
Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle/man
Un thaalam enna sari thaana
Is your rhythm really correct?
Un thaalam enna sari thaana
Is your rhythm really correct?
Melatha mella thattu maamooi
Beat the drum gently, my dear uncle
Un thaalam enna sari thaana
Is your rhythm really correct?
Un thaalam enna sari thaana
Is your rhythm really correct?
Thandaikaal sandai ida
As ankleted legs clash playfully
Thangamani osai ida
As golden bells make sound
Munn azhagum pinn azhagum
As front beauty and back beauty
Thallaada thallaada thallaada..aaa…
Sway, stumble and move gracefully...
Ohoo hoooii
Ohoo hoooii
{Aarambha kaalathil
In the initial stages
Medhuva poganum chinnaiyaa
One must proceed slowly, young sir
Yedhum ariyaatha ponnukitta
With a young girl who knows nothing
Vegu vegam povadhu ennaiyaa} (2)
Why are you rushing with such extreme speed? (Repeated)
Aambala manasu
A man's mind
Avasaram perusu
Is in a massive hurry
Aambala manasu
A man's mind
Avasaram perusu
Is in a massive hurry
Aiyaiyoo podhum podhum
Oh my, enough, enough!
Aththodu nillaiyaa
Stop right there, sir!
Maa maa maa maa maa maa ohh hoooii
Uncle, uncle, uncle... oh hoooii
Melatha melatha melatha
The drum, the drum, the drum
Mella thattu maamooi
Beat it gently, my dear uncle
Un thaalam enna sari thaana
Is your rhythm really correct?
Un thaalam enna sari thaana
Is your rhythm really correct?
Kann aada kani aada
As eyes sway and fruit-like lips sway
Kattazhagu penn aada
As the beautiful shapely woman dances
Onnodu onnaaga ovvonnum
One along with another, everything
Sernthaada sernthaada aaaa…..
Dances together in harmony...
Ohoohooo hoooii
Ohoohooo hoooii
Aattamum thaalamum
The dance and the beat
Onnaaga seranum illaiyaa
Shouldn't they merge as one?
Nee adikadi thadumaari
You frequently stumble
Edam maari povadhum ennaiyaa
Why do you keep losing your spot?
Aattamum thaalamum
The dance and the beat
Onnaaga seranum illaiyaa
Shouldn't they merge as one?
Nee adikadi thadumaari
You frequently stumble
Edam maari povadhum ennaiyaa
Why do you keep losing your spot?
Aasaigal perusu anubavam sirusu
Desires are grand, but experience is small
Aiyaiyoo podhum podhum
Oh my, enough, enough!
Aththodu nillaiyaa
Stop right there, sir!
Maa maa maa maa maa maa ohh hoooii
Uncle, uncle, uncle... oh hoooii
Melatha melatha melatha
The drum, the drum, the drum
Mella thattu maamooi
Beat it gently, my dear uncle
Un thaalam enna sari thaana
Is your rhythm really correct?
Un thaalam enna sari thaana
Is your rhythm really correct?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Melatha Mella Thattu Maamaa is a playful, flirtatious dance track from the 1965 Tamil romantic drama Idhaya Kamalam. Woven with double entendres and clever rhythm-based metaphors, the song features the female protagonist teasing her lover about his haste and lack of composure in romance. She uses the rhythm of the drum (melam) and musical beat (thaalam) as an analogy for courtship, reminding him that true harmony requires patience, coordination, and gradual intimacy rather than overwhelming rush. Kannadasan's lyrics juxtapose male impatience ('Aambala manasu avasaram perusu') against female innocence and grace. Through playful rhythmic cues and teasing admonitions, the heroine asks her partner to slow down and match her pace so that their affection and dance merge seamlessly together.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Melatha mella thattu maamaa”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Me' in adjacent words creates a rhythmic drumming sound.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kann aada kani aada / Kattazhagu penn aada”
Repetition of 'Ka' at the start of words enhances the poetic flow of the dance description.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Thandaikaal sandai ida / Thangamani osai ida”
Matching second consonant 'nda' across lines 'Thandaikaal' and 'Thangamani'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Aattamum thaalamum / Onnaaga seranum illaiyaa”
Using musical beat (thaalam) and drumming (melam) as an extended metaphor for intimacy and physical harmony.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Aasaigal perusu anubavam sirusu”
Juxtaposing 'perusu' (big/grand) against 'sirusu' (small/slight) to highlight contrast between eagerness and experience.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed with unknown credits in some song books, 'Melatha Mella Thattu' from Idhaya Kamalam (1965) was composed by the legendary music director K. V. Mahadevan and sung by the iconic playback singer L. R. Eswari, famous for her energetic and playful cabaret and folk-dance renditions. The film starred Ravichandran and K. R. Vijaya in lead roles.
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