Mellapo Mellapo
From Kaavalkaaran · 1967
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Kaavalkaaran1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mellapo mellapo | Go slowly, go slowly |
| Melidaiyaalae mellapo | Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly |
| Sollipo sollipo solvadhai | Go tell, go tell what is to be said |
| Kannaal sollipo malligaiyae | Speak it through your eyes, oh jasmine flower |
| Male | |
| Mellapo mellapo | Go slowly, go slowly |
| Melidaiyaalae mellapo | Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly |
| Female | |
| { Odaiyil neeralai | { Water ripples in the stream |
| Medaiyil thendralin naadagam | The drama of the gentle breeze on stage |
| Ethanai aayiram } (2) | How many thousands! } (2) |
| Female | |
| Thottil katti | Tying a cradle |
| Podum poonkodi | The flowering vine sways |
| Palli kolla paarkum painkili | The green parrot seeks to rest |
| Female | |
| Andhi maalaiyil | In the dusk of the evening |
| Indha solaiyae sorkamaagumo | Does this garden turn into heaven? |
| Female | |
| Mella thaan | Gently indeed |
| Mella thaan mayangi | Gently swooning |
| Nadanthaal maadhu | As the maiden walked |
| Female | |
| Sollathaan sollathaan | To express, to express |
| Thayangi varainthaal | She hesitated and drew |
| Thoodhu ippozhudhae | A message right now |
| Male | |
| MellapoFemale :Mella thaan | Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed |
| Male | |
| Hmm sollipo | Hmm, go tell |
| Female | |
| Aahaan sollithaan | Aha, having spoken |
| Female | |
| …………………….. | .................. |
| Male | |
| { Semmaankani | { Like a sweet red fruit |
| Punnagai naloviyam | Her smile is a fine painting |
| Sevvidhazh thenmaadhulai | Red lips like honeyed pomegranate |
| Ponmozhi soloviyam } (2) | Her golden speech is a poetic portrait } (2) |
| Male | |
| Sinthu nadai | Walking with a swinging rhythm |
| Podum paarkudam | Like a vessel carrying milk |
| Chinna vizhi paarvai poocharam | The glance of her small eyes is a garland of flowers |
| Male | |
| Enna meniyo | What a wondrous form! |
| Innum paadavo | Shall I sing more? |
| Thamizh thedavo | Shall I search for sweet Tamil words? |
| Male | |
| MellapoFemale :Mella thaan | Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed |
| Male | |
| Ponezhil | Golden beauty |
| Thamarai poovinaal | Like a lotus flower |
| Female | |
| Mannavan kanvizhi | The king's eyes |
| Poigaiyil mevinaal muthu | Resting in the pond, she is like a pearl |
| Thamizh paadum poonkuyil | A flower cuckoo singing in Tamil |
| Male | |
| Mutham ondru | A single kiss |
| Vendum aan kuyil | Is desired by the male cuckoo |
| Female | |
| Andha paadalil | In that song |
| Anbu oodalil mangai naaninaal | In loving feigned anger, the maiden blushed |
| Male | |
| Mellapo mellapo | Go slowly, go slowly |
| Melidaiyaalae mellapo | Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly |
| Sollipo sollipo solvadhai | Go tell, go tell what is to be said |
| Kannaal sollipo malligaiyae | Speak it through your eyes, oh jasmine flower |
| Male | |
| MellapoFemale :Mella thaan | Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed |
| Male | |
| Hmm sollipo | Hmm, go tell |
| Female | |
| Aahaan sollithaan | Aha, having spoken |
மெல்லப் போ
மெல்லப் போ மெல்லிடையாளே
மெல்லப் போ சொல்லிப் போ
சொல்லிப் போ சொல்வதைக்
கண்ணால் சொல்லிப் போ
மல்லிகையே
Go slowly, go slowly
Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly
Go tell, go tell what is to be said
Speak it through your eyes, oh jasmine flower
மெல்லப் போ
மெல்லப் போ மெல்லிடையாளே
மெல்லப் போ
Go slowly, go slowly
Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly
{ ஓடையில் நீரலை
மேடையில் தென்றலின்
நாடகம் எத்தனை ஆயிரம் } (2)
{ Water ripples in the stream
The drama of the gentle breeze on stage
How many thousands! } (2)
தொட்டில் கட்டிப்
போடும் பூங்கொடி பள்ளி
கொள்ள பார்க்கும் பைங்கிளி
Tying a cradle
The flowering vine sways
The green parrot seeks to rest
அந்தி மாலையில்
இந்த சோலையே
சொர்க்கமாகுமோ
In the dusk of the evening
Does this garden turn into heaven?
மெல்லத் தான்
மெல்லத் தான் மயங்கி
நடந்தாள் மாது
Gently indeed
Gently swooning
As the maiden walked
சொல்லத்தான்
சொல்லத்தான் தயங்கி
வரைந்தாள் தூது
இப்பொழுதே
To express, to express
She hesitated and drew
A message right now
மெல்லப் போ
மெல்ல தான்
ஹம்ம்
சொல்லிப் போ
ஆஹான்
சொல்லி தான்
Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed
......................
Hmm, go tell
{ செம்மாங்கனி
புன்னகை நல்லோவியம்
செவ்விதழ்தேன்மாதுளை
பொன்மொழி சொல்லோவியம் } (2)
Aha, having spoken
சிந்து நடை
போடும் பாற்குடம்
சின்ன விழிப் பார்வை
பூச்சரம்
..................
என்ன மேனியோ
இன்னும் பாடவோ
தமிழ் தேடவோ
{ Like a sweet red fruit
Her smile is a fine painting
Red lips like honeyed pomegranate
Her golden speech is a poetic portrait } (2)
மெல்லப் போ
மெல்ல தான்
Walking with a swinging rhythm
Like a vessel carrying milk
The glance of her small eyes is a garland of flowers
பொன் எழில்
தாமரைப் பூவினாள்
What a wondrous form!
Shall I sing more?
Shall I search for sweet Tamil words?
மன்னவன்
கண்விழி பொய்கையில்
மேவினாள் முத்து தமிழ்
பாடும் பூங்குயில்
Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed
முத்தம் ஒன்று
வேண்டும் ஆண் குயில்
Golden beauty
Like a lotus flower
அந்தப் பாடலில்
அன்பு ஊடலில் மங்கை
நாணினாள்
The king's eyes
Resting in the pond, she is like a pearl
A flower cuckoo singing in Tamil
மெல்லப் போ
மெல்லப் போ மெல்லிடையாளே
மெல்லப் போ சொல்லிப் போ
சொல்லிப் போ சொல்வதைக்
கண்ணால் சொல்லிப் போ
மல்லிகையே
A single kiss
Is desired by the male cuckoo
மெல்லப் போ
மெல்ல தான்
ஹம்ம்
சொல்லிப் போ
ஆஹான்
சொல்லி தான்
In that song
In loving feigned anger, the maiden blushed
Go slowly, go slowly
Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly
Go tell, go tell what is to be said
Speak it through your eyes, oh jasmine flower
Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed
Hmm, go tell
Aha, having spoken
Mellapo mellapo
Go slowly, go slowly
Melidaiyaalae mellapo
Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly
Sollipo sollipo solvadhai
Go tell, go tell what is to be said
Kannaal sollipo malligaiyae
Speak it through your eyes, oh jasmine flower
Mellapo mellapo
Go slowly, go slowly
Melidaiyaalae mellapo
Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly
{ Odaiyil neeralai
{ Water ripples in the stream
Medaiyil thendralin naadagam
The drama of the gentle breeze on stage
Ethanai aayiram } (2)
How many thousands! } (2)
Thottil katti
Tying a cradle
Podum poonkodi
The flowering vine sways
Palli kolla paarkum painkili
The green parrot seeks to rest
Andhi maalaiyil
In the dusk of the evening
Indha solaiyae sorkamaagumo
Does this garden turn into heaven?
Mella thaan
Gently indeed
Mella thaan mayangi
Gently swooning
Nadanthaal maadhu
As the maiden walked
Sollathaan sollathaan
To express, to express
Thayangi varainthaal
She hesitated and drew
Thoodhu ippozhudhae
A message right now
MellapoFemale :Mella thaan
Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed
Hmm sollipo
Hmm, go tell
Aahaan sollithaan
Aha, having spoken
……………………..
..................
{ Semmaankani
{ Like a sweet red fruit
Punnagai naloviyam
Her smile is a fine painting
Sevvidhazh thenmaadhulai
Red lips like honeyed pomegranate
Ponmozhi soloviyam } (2)
Her golden speech is a poetic portrait } (2)
Sinthu nadai
Walking with a swinging rhythm
Podum paarkudam
Like a vessel carrying milk
Chinna vizhi paarvai poocharam
The glance of her small eyes is a garland of flowers
Enna meniyo
What a wondrous form!
Innum paadavo
Shall I sing more?
Thamizh thedavo
Shall I search for sweet Tamil words?
MellapoFemale :Mella thaan
Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed
Ponezhil
Golden beauty
Thamarai poovinaal
Like a lotus flower
Mannavan kanvizhi
The king's eyes
Poigaiyil mevinaal muthu
Resting in the pond, she is like a pearl
Thamizh paadum poonkuyil
A flower cuckoo singing in Tamil
Mutham ondru
A single kiss
Vendum aan kuyil
Is desired by the male cuckoo
Andha paadalil
In that song
Anbu oodalil mangai naaninaal
In loving feigned anger, the maiden blushed
Mellapo mellapo
Go slowly, go slowly
Melidaiyaalae mellapo
Oh slender-waisted lady, go slowly
Sollipo sollipo solvadhai
Go tell, go tell what is to be said
Kannaal sollipo malligaiyae
Speak it through your eyes, oh jasmine flower
MellapoFemale :Mella thaan
Go slowly / Female: Gently indeed
Hmm sollipo
Hmm, go tell
Aahaan sollithaan
Aha, having spoken
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Mellapo Mellapo is a romantic song from the 1967 Tamil film Kaavalkaaran, composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by Vaali. The song captures a sweet, playful conversation between lovers in a serene garden. The male protagonist admires his beloved's graceful movements and asks her to convey her love through her expressive eyes, comparing her beauty to nature's elements like blooming jasmine, lotus flowers, and gentle breezes. As the song progresses, rich metaphors describe the heroine's smile as a fine painting and her red lips as honeyed pomegranates. She responds with delicate shyness and playful hesitation, creating a charming duet filled with poetic romance and classical Tamil imagery.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Mellapo mellapo / Melidaiyaalae mellapo”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds in 'Mellapo' and 'Melidaiyaalae'.
Uvamaai (Metaphor / Simile)
“Sevvidhazh thenmaadhulai”
Comparing the heroine's bright red lips to sweet honeyed pomegranate ('Sevvidhazh thenmaadhulai').
Metaphor
“Chinna vizhi paarvai poocharam”
Comparing the gaze of small eyes to a string or garland of flowers ('paarvai poocharam').
Anaphora / Repetition
“Mellapo mellapo / Sollipo sollipo solvadhai”
Rhythmic repetition of words like 'Mellapo', 'Sollipo', and 'Mella thaan' to enhance the musicality.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kaavalkaaran (1967) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and J. Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV), with lyrics penned by Vaali. The duet was sung by the iconic pair T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, becoming one of the classic romantic hit songs of 1960s Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
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