- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Manorama, T. K. Kala
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Oru Marathu Paravaigal
- Movie release year
- 1980
- Lyrics added on
- 2 Aug 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Mottu Mottu Malliga Mottu is a high-energy folk-infused item dance track from the 1980 Tamil film Oru Marathu Paravaigal, composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh and penned by Vaali. Sung with distinctive theatrical vigor by legendary actress-singer Manorama along with T. K. Kala, the song presents street performers enticing their audience with seductive dance moves while extolling their own flawless beauty. They playfully boast that legendary celestial nymphs like Rambha and Urvashi are mere younger sisters compared to them, comparing their sculpted elegance to a living temple chariot of the Pallava dynasty. Underneath the celebratory beats and folk rhythm words like Kumthalakkaa and Dandanakkaa, the lyricist weaves a humorous yet sharp demand for patronage. The dancers praise patrons who shower money generously while warning penniless onlookers and misers not to expect entertainment without filling the collection plate. Through playful swagger, local metaphors, and rhythmic sound play, the song vividly showcases Tamil theatrical folk tradition.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Mottu mottu malliga motttu”
Repetition of the 'M' sound at the start of adjacent words, creating a smooth rhythmic opening.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kumthalakkaa palapalaa / Kumari ponnu thalathalaa”
Rhyming endings using rhythmic onomatopoeic words 'palapalaa' and 'thalathalaa'.
Uvamaani (Simile)
“Javvaathu pol joraa irukkurava”
Direct comparison of the maiden's vibrant fragrance to 'javvathu' (a traditional aromatic perfume paste) using the comparative suffix 'pol'.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Kattu kulaiyaathathu poovudambu”
Describing the youthful maiden's untouched physique directly as a delicate flower ('poovudambu').
Edukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Alli tharum punniyavaan / Vallalena pereduppaan”
Rhyming of the second letter 'll' across lines ('Alli' and 'Vallalena').
Did you know?
Trivia
This lively folk song features iconic legendary actress Manorama contributing lead vocals alongside T. K. Kala. Known for her flawless vocal range in folk and gaana tracks, Manorama brought authentic theatrical flair to Shankar-Ganesh's catchy rhythm compositions during the late 1970s and 1980s.
Keep listening
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