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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mella Mella

From Saradha · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Saradha1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mella mella arugil vandhuSlowly, slowly coming near,
Menmaiyaana kaiyai thottuTouching your delicate hand,
Alli alli anaikka thaavuvenI will leap to gather and embrace you,
Neeyum achathodu vilagi oduvaai mm…And you will run away in fear, mm...
Male
Mella mella arugil vandhuSlowly, slowly coming near,
Menmaiyaana kaiyai thottuTouching your delicate hand,
Alli alli anaikka thaavuvenI will leap to gather and embrace you,
Neeyum achathodu vilagi oduvaai …And you will run away in fear...
Male
Thulli odum maanai paarthuLooking at the bounding deer,
Thudiyidaiyil kai saerthuPlacing my hand on your slender waist,
Thulli odum maanai paarthuLooking at the bounding deer,
Thudiyidaiyil kai saerthuPlacing my hand on your slender waist,
Pillai pola thookki kolluvenI will lift you up like a child,
Koondhal pinnalinaal vilangu poduvenI will shackle you with your own braided hair.
Male
Pattu methai manjathin melUpon the soft silk mattress,
Pavalam pondra unnai vaithuPlacing you who are precious like coral,
Paaindhu sendru kadhavai mooduvenI will rush and close the door.
Male
Pattu methai manjathin melUpon the soft silk mattress,
Pavalam pondra unnai vaithuPlacing you who are precious like coral,
Paaindhu sendru kadhavai mooduvenI will rush and close the door.
Vandhu pakkathilae amarndhu kolluvenI will come and sit right beside you,
Vandhu pakkathilae amarndhu kolluven mm…I will come and sit right beside you, mm...
Male
Mella mella arugil vandhuSlowly, slowly coming near,
Menmaiyaana kaiyai thottuTouching your delicate hand,
Alli alli anaikka thaavuvenI will leap to gather and embrace you,
Neeyum achathodu vilagi oduvaai …And you will run away in fear...
Male
Ilamaiyaana kili iranduTwo youthful parrots,
Urimaiyaana uravu konduForming a rightful relationship,
Inbamodu vaazhvai rasikkumWill relish life with joyful delight.
Ilamaiyaana kili iranduTwo youthful parrots,
Urimaiyaana uravu konduForming a rightful relationship,
Inbamodu vaazhvai rasikkumWill relish life with joyful delight.
Andha ninaivinilae ullam inikkumIn that sweet memory, the heart grows sweet,
Andha ninaivinilae ullam inikkum mm…In that sweet memory, the heart grows sweet, mm...
Male
Mella mella arugil vandhuSlowly, slowly coming near,
Menmaiyaana kaiyai thottuTouching your delicate hand,
Alli alli anaikka thaavuvenI will leap to gather and embrace you,
Neeyum achathodu vilagi oduvaai …And you will run away in fear...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Saradha (1962) captures a playful, tender romantic reverie between two lovers. The protagonist imagines approaching his beloved step-by-step, gently touching her hands, and playfully capturing her as she coyly shies away. He paints vivid pictures of lifting her like a tender child, affectionately binding her with her own silky hair, and sharing quiet, intimate moments together away from the world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodaru (Repetition for emphasis)

Mella mella arugil vandhu

Words like 'Mella mella' (slowly, slowly) and 'Alli alli' (gathering repeatedly) are repeated consecutively to enhance rhythm and heighten emotional softness.

Upamai (Simile)

Pillai pola thookki kolluven

The speaker compares lifting the heroine gently to lifting a child ('Pillai pola'), and compares her beauty and value to coral ('Pavalam pondra').

Uvamaani / Metaphor

Ilamaiyaana kili irandu

The couple is poetically metaphorized as 'two youthful parrots' ('Ilamaiyaana kili irandu') enjoying their deep relationship.

Moona / Initial Rhyme (Alliteration)

Pattu methai manjathin mel / Pavalam pondra unnai vaithu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Pattu', 'Pavalam', and 'Paaindhu', contributing to the musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Mella Mella Arugil Vandhu' from Saradha (1962) was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan. The film stars S. S. Rajendran and C. R. Vijayakumari in key roles.

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