Mottu Vitta Vasanai
From Garuda Saukiyama · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- P. Jayachandran, S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Garuda Saukiyama1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mottu vitta vaasanai malli | A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded, |
| Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli | Gathered with deep desire and brought to you. |
| Mottu vitta vaasanai malli | A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded, |
| Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli | Gathered with deep desire and brought to you. |
| Male | |
| Kayil pattaal nogumendru kaambinai killi | Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem, |
| Ullangkayil thanthaanadi un peyar solli | And placed it in my palm while uttering your name. |
| Kayil pattaal nogumendru kaambinai killi | Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem, |
| Ullangkayil thanthaanadi un peyar solli | And placed it in my palm while uttering your name. |
| Male | |
| Mottu vitta vaasanai malli | A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded, |
| Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli | Gathered with deep desire and brought to you. |
| Female | |
| {Ezhuthi vaiththaen kaditham ondru | I wrote a love letter to you, |
| Innum anjal seiyyavillai illai | Yet I have not mailed it so far, no. |
| Adhilae unthan peyarai thavira | In that letter, except for your name, |
| Anbaeveru vaarththai illai illai} (2) | My beloved, there are no other words at all. |
| Male | |
| Paavai unthan koondhal meedhu poovai vaikkiraai | Oh maiden, you place flowers upon your hair, |
| Yaezhai nenjil mattum theeyai vaikkiraai | Yet in my poor heart, you light a burning fire. |
| Paavai unthan koondhal meedhu poovai vaikkiraai | Oh maiden, you place flowers upon your hair, |
| Yaezhai nenjil mattum theeyai vaikkiraai | Yet in my poor heart, you light a burning fire. |
| Female | |
| Thalaiyanai panjil vaiththatho illai | Is this pillow filled with soft cotton, |
| Neruppinai alli vaiththatho | Or is it filled with gathered embers of fire? |
| Male | |
| Mottu vitta vaasanai malli | A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded, |
| Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli | Gathered with deep desire and brought to you. |
| Kayil pattaal nogumendru | Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, |
| Male :Kaambinai killi | Plucking it by the stem, |
| Ullangkayil thanthaanadi | He placed it tenderly in my palm, |
| Female :En peyar solli | Whispering my name. |
| Male | |
| {Nenjil ulla aasai ondrai | A deep desire hidden within my heart, |
| Ingae solliyaaga vendum vendum | Must be expressed right here, right now. |
| Kannae unthan kannam thannil | My dear, upon your delicate cheek, |
| Naanoru pulliyaaga vendum vendum} (2) | I wish to become a tiny beauty mark. |
| Female | |
| {Thoodhu solla sellum | Those clouds drifting in the high sky, |
| Antha vaanin megangal | Traveling as messengers of our love, |
| Paadhi vazhiyil karainthu ponaal | If they melt away midway, |
| Enna laabangal} (2) | What gain would come out of it? |
| Male | |
| Yaenguthu raja devathai konjam | The king yearns, and his angel has slightly... |
| Ilaiththathu eera thamarai…. | Withered away like a delicate, wet lotus flower. |
| Female | |
| Mottu vitta vaasanai malli | A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded, |
| Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli | Gathered with deep desire and brought to you. |
| Male :Kayil pattaal nogumendru kaambinai killi | Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem, |
| Ullangkayil thanthaanadi un peyar solli | And placed it in my palm while uttering your name. |
மொட்டு விட்ட வாசனை மல்லி
வாங்கி வந்து ஆசையில் அள்ளி
மொட்டு விட்ட வாசனை மல்லி
வாங்கி வந்து ஆசையில் அள்ளி
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
கையில் பட்டால் நோகுமென்று காம்பினைக் கிள்ளி
உள்ளங்கையில் தந்தானடி உன் பெயர் சொல்லி
கையில் பட்டால் நோகுமென்று காம்பினைக் கிள்ளி
உள்ளங்கையில் தந்தானடி உன் பெயர் சொல்லி
Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem,
And placed it in my palm while uttering your name.
Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem,
And placed it in my palm while uttering your name.
மொட்டு விட்ட வாசனை மல்லி
வாங்கி வந்து ஆசையில் அள்ளி
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
{எழுதி வைத்தேன் கடிதம் ஒன்று
இன்னும் அஞ்சல் செய்யவில்லை இல்லை
அதிலே உந்தன் பெயரை தவிர
அன்பே வேறு வார்த்தை இல்லை இல்லை} (2)
I wrote a love letter to you,
Yet I have not mailed it so far, no.
In that letter, except for your name,
My beloved, there are no other words at all.
பாவை உந்தன் கூந்தல் மீது பூவை வைக்கிறாய்
ஏழை நெஞ்சில் மட்டும் ஏனோ தீயை வைக்கிறாய்
பாவை உந்தன் கூந்தல் மீது பூவை வைக்கிறாய்
ஏழை நெஞ்சில் மட்டும் ஏனோ தீயை வைக்கிறாய்
Oh maiden, you place flowers upon your hair,
Yet in my poor heart, you light a burning fire.
Oh maiden, you place flowers upon your hair,
Yet in my poor heart, you light a burning fire.
தலையணை பஞ்சில் வைத்ததோ இல்லை
நெருப்பினை அள்ளி வைத்ததோ
Is this pillow filled with soft cotton,
Or is it filled with gathered embers of fire?
மொட்டு விட்ட வாசனை மல்லி
வாங்கி வந்து ஆசையில் அள்ளி
கையில் பட்டால் நோகுமென்று
காம்பினைக் கிள்ளி
உள்ளங்கையில் தந்தானடி
என் பெயர் சொல்லி
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
Fearing it would hurt if touched directly,
Plucking it by the stem,
He placed it tenderly in my palm,
Whispering my name.
{நெஞ்சில் உள்ள ஆசை ஒன்றை
இங்கே சொல்லியாக வேண்டும் வேண்டும்
கண்ணே உந்தன் கன்னம் தன்னில்
நானொரு புள்ளியாக வேண்டும் வேண்டும்} (2)
A deep desire hidden within my heart,
Must be expressed right here, right now.
My dear, upon your delicate cheek,
I wish to become a tiny beauty mark.
{தூது சொல்ல செல்லும்
அந்த வானின் மேகங்கள்
பாதி வழியில் கரைந்து போனால்
என்ன லாபங்கள்} (2)
Those clouds drifting in the high sky,
Traveling as messengers of our love,
If they melt away midway,
What gain would come out of it?
ஏங்குது ராஜ தேவதை கொஞ்சம்
இளைத்தது ஈரத் தாமரை......
The king yearns, and his angel has slightly...
Withered away like a delicate, wet lotus flower.
மொட்டு விட்ட வாசனை மல்லி
வாங்கி வந்து ஆசையில் அள்ளி
கையில் பட்டால் நோகுமென்று காம்பினைக் கிள்ளி
உள்ளங்கையில் தந்தானடி உன் பெயர் சொல்லி
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem,
And placed it in my palm while uttering your name.
மொட்டு விட்ட வாசனை மல்லி
வாங்கி வந்து ஆசையில் அள்ளி
Mottu vitta vaasanai malli
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
Mottu vitta vaasanai malli
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
Kayil pattaal nogumendru kaambinai killi
Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem,
Ullangkayil thanthaanadi un peyar solli
And placed it in my palm while uttering your name.
Kayil pattaal nogumendru kaambinai killi
Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem,
Ullangkayil thanthaanadi un peyar solli
And placed it in my palm while uttering your name.
Mottu vitta vaasanai malli
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
{Ezhuthi vaiththaen kaditham ondru
I wrote a love letter to you,
Innum anjal seiyyavillai illai
Yet I have not mailed it so far, no.
Adhilae unthan peyarai thavira
In that letter, except for your name,
Anbaeveru vaarththai illai illai} (2)
My beloved, there are no other words at all.
Paavai unthan koondhal meedhu poovai vaikkiraai
Oh maiden, you place flowers upon your hair,
Yaezhai nenjil mattum theeyai vaikkiraai
Yet in my poor heart, you light a burning fire.
Paavai unthan koondhal meedhu poovai vaikkiraai
Oh maiden, you place flowers upon your hair,
Yaezhai nenjil mattum theeyai vaikkiraai
Yet in my poor heart, you light a burning fire.
Thalaiyanai panjil vaiththatho illai
Is this pillow filled with soft cotton,
Neruppinai alli vaiththatho
Or is it filled with gathered embers of fire?
Mottu vitta vaasanai malli
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
Kayil pattaal nogumendru
Fearing it would hurt if touched directly,
Male :Kaambinai killi
Plucking it by the stem,
Ullangkayil thanthaanadi
He placed it tenderly in my palm,
Female :En peyar solli
Whispering my name.
{Nenjil ulla aasai ondrai
A deep desire hidden within my heart,
Ingae solliyaaga vendum vendum
Must be expressed right here, right now.
Kannae unthan kannam thannil
My dear, upon your delicate cheek,
Naanoru pulliyaaga vendum vendum} (2)
I wish to become a tiny beauty mark.
{Thoodhu solla sellum
Those clouds drifting in the high sky,
Antha vaanin megangal
Traveling as messengers of our love,
Paadhi vazhiyil karainthu ponaal
If they melt away midway,
Enna laabangal} (2)
What gain would come out of it?
Yaenguthu raja devathai konjam
The king yearns, and his angel has slightly...
Ilaiththathu eera thamarai….
Withered away like a delicate, wet lotus flower.
Mottu vitta vaasanai malli
A fragrant jasmine flower that has just budded,
Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli
Gathered with deep desire and brought to you.
Male :Kayil pattaal nogumendru kaambinai killi
Fearing it would hurt if touched directly, he plucked the stem,
Ullangkayil thanthaanadi un peyar solli
And placed it in my palm while uttering your name.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Mottu Vitta Vaasanai Malli is a soulful romantic duet from the 1982 Tamil movie Garuda Saukiyama, composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by lyricist Vairamuthu. Sung beautifully by P. Jayachandran and S. Janaki, the song captures the delicate intimacy between two lovers who convey their affection through fragrant jasmine blossoms, unposted love letters, and playful expressions of desire. The protagonist compares his beloved's tender touch to a flower whose stem is gently plucked, wishing to become a beauty spot on her cheek, while she longs for his warmth during restless, fiery nights. Through vivid sensory imagery like wet lotuses and drifting cloud messengers, the song captures the innocence, warmth, and intense longing of romantic devotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Mottu vitta vaasanai malli / Vaangi vanthu aasaiyil alli”
The second letter rhyming between 'Malli' and 'Alli' creates a melodious rhythm in the opening couplet.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kayil pattaal nogumendru kaambinai killi / Ullangkayil thanthaanadi un peyar solli”
Rhyming between 'Killi' (plucking) and 'Solli' (saying) enhances the lyrical cadence.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Paavai unthan koondhal meedhu poovai vaikkiraai / Yaezhai nenjil mattum theeyai vaikkiraai”
Contrasts placing soft flowers on her hair with lighting a fire in his longing heart.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Thalaiyanai panjil vaiththatho illai / Neruppinai alli vaiththatho”
Exaggerating restless nights of love by asking if the pillow is made of cotton or embers of fire.
Personification
“Thoodhu solla sellum / Antha vaanin megangal”
Attributing the role of a messenger carrying love letters to the clouds drifting across the sky.
Did you know?
Trivia
Garuda Saukiyama (1982) is a Tamil drama starring Sivaji Ganesan and Sujatha. The soundtrack composed by M. S. Viswanathan features timeless tracks, with this song standing out as one of Vairamuthu's early poetic highlights showcasing delicate sensory metaphors.
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