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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mottu Malaradha

From Neeru Pootha Neruppu · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Stalin Varadarajan
Details
Neeru Pootha Neruppu1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mottu malaradha thaamara poo adhuIt is an unbloomed lotus flower,
Thottu parikkadhaeDo not touch and pluck it.
Machaan ennai katti pudikkadhaeDear, do not hug me tight.
Kaathu pattaalae podhumEven if a gentle breeze touches me, it is enough,
En kattu kolanjidum kitta nerungadhaeMy self-restraint will shatter; do not come near me.
Female
Mottu malaradha thaamara poo adhuIt is an unbloomed lotus flower,
Thottu parikkadhaeDo not touch and pluck it.
Female
Anju vayasula aarambicha naanuSince I was five years old,
Manja thaechu kulichenI started applying turmeric while bathing,
Unghala thaan nenjukkullae karaichenAnd I dissolved only you inside my heart.
Panjanai poiyilla kannukkulla naanuTruly, in my eyes,
Anjana maiya vechenI applied dark kohl,
Appa kooda ungalathaan nenachenEven back then, I was thinking only of you.
Male
Anju vannam ezhuRising in five radiant colors,
Konjum mugathukku anjana mai edhukkuWhy do you need kohl for a sweet, coaxing face?
Kulikkavum manja kizhangu edhukkuWhy do you need turmeric roots for bathing?
Adi panjalogam serthu senja sela koodaEven a statue crafted from five sacred metals
Minjalaiyae unakku azhagula minjalaiyae unakkuCannot surpass your beauty; it cannot excel you!
Male
Katta karuvandu vatta vizhiyalaeWith dark beetle-like round eyes,
Suttu erikkuriyaeYou scorch me with your gaze,
Aasaiya thatti ezhuppuriyaeYou awaken my hidden desires.
Mana kattuppadu enna vittu ponaaIf my self-control leaves me,
Adhan kaaranam needhaaneYou are the sole reason for it,
Adi en poorana pon maanaeOh my perfect golden deer!
Female
Mottu malaradha thaamara poo adhuIt is an unbloomed lotus flower,
Thottu parikkadhaeDo not touch and pluck it.
Female
Nandhavanathula jodi paraivaingaHearing the pair of birds in the garden
Paaduratha kettuSinging their sweet songs,
Aasai ennai vattuthunga pottuDesire torments me endlessly.
Nandhavanathula jodi paraivaingaHearing the pair of birds in the garden
Paaduratha kettuSinging their sweet songs,
Aasai ennai vattuthunga pottuDesire torments me endlessly.
Male
Sindhaiyilae andha manmadhan seidhidumIn my mind, Lord Kama performs
Sithu vilaiyattu adhu oru sithu vilaiyattuA magical trick; it is a magical trick.
Female
Vaatti vadhaikkudhu pottu midhakkudhuIt tortures, afflicts, and overwhelms me;
Yethi vacha baaram aasa motham eppodhu theerumWhen will this heavy burden of desire finally be relieved?
Male :Kotti mulangidum ketti melasathamMale: The loud sound of auspicious drums will echo,
Ettu oorum alarum thaaliya naan katta pora neramResonating across eight villages when I tie the sacred thali around your neck.
Female
Mottu malaradha thaamara poo adhuIt is an unbloomed lotus flower,
Thottu parikkadhaeDo not touch and pluck it.
Machaan ennai katti pudikkadhaeDear, do not hug me tight.
Male :Mana kattu paadu enna vittu ponaaMale: If my self-control leaves me,
Adhan kaaranam needhaanaeYou are the sole reason for it,
Adi en poorana pon maanaeOh my perfect golden deer!
Female
Mottu malaradha thaamara poo adhuIt is an unbloomed lotus flower,
Thottu parikkadhaeDo not touch and pluck it.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mottu Malaradha Thaamara Poo from the movie Neeru Pootha Neruppu (1983) is a playful and deeply expressive romantic duet. The heroine metaphorically describes herself as an unbloomed lotus bud, urging her lover to hold back his passionate advances until their marriage. She confesses that she has cherished thoughts of him since her childhood, while the hero shower praise on her natural beauty, declaring that even a sculpture made of five sacred metals cannot match her grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Mottu malaradha thaamara poo adhu

The line compares the young heroine's purity and unblemished youth to an unbloomed lotus bud.

Hyperbole (Athyukthi)

Adi panjalogam serthu senja sela kooda minjalaiyae unakku

Exaggerates the heroine's beauty by claiming even a grand statue made of panchaloha (five sacred metals) cannot surpass her natural charm.

Metaphor

Katta karuvandu vatta vizhiyalae

Compares her dark, round eyes to black beetles, emphasizing her striking gaze.

Alliteration (Monai)

Mana kattuppadu enna vittu ponaa

Repetition of consonant sounds across words enhancing the lyrical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Stalin Varadarajan with lyrics by Vaali, this duet brings together the unique vocal pair of Malaysia Vasudevan and S. P. Shailaja. Vaali masterfully incorporates folk imagery like turmeric baths, panchaloha idols, and lotus buds to ground the intense romantic mood in authentic Tamil cultural aesthetics.

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