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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mullai Malar Mele

From Uthama Puthiran – 1958 Film · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Uthama Puthiran – 1958 Film1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mullai malar melaeLike upon a jasmine flower,
Moikum vandu polaeAs a bee hovers around,
Mullai malar melaeLike upon a jasmine flower,
Moikum vandu polaeAs a bee hovers around,
Ullam uravadudhungal anbaalaeHearts bond together through love,
Ullam uravadudhungal anbaalaeHearts bond together through love,
Female
Mullai malar melaeLike upon a jasmine flower,
Moikum vandu polaeAs a bee hovers around,
Male
Vellai alai melaeUpon the white foam waves,
Thullum kayal polaeLike a leaping carp fish,
Vellai alai melaeUpon the white foam waves,
Thullum kayal polaeLike a leaping carp fish,
Alli vizhi thaava kanden en melaeI saw lily-like eyes leap toward me,
Alli vizhi thaava kanden en melaeI saw lily-like eyes leap toward me,
Female
Mullai malar melaeLike upon a jasmine flower,
Moikum vandu polaeAs a bee hovers around,
Female
Vennilavai bhoomiyin melae…ae…The white moon upon the earth...
Vennilavai bhoomiyin melae punnagaiyalaeThe moon on earth with a gentle smile,
Vennilavai bhoomiyin melae punnagaiyalaeThe moon on earth with a gentle smile,
Kannedhiril kaanugindren premaiyinaalaeI see right before my eyes out of love,
Kannedhiril kaanugindren premaiyinaalaeI see right before my eyes out of love,
Male
Minnal urumaari mann melaeLike lightning transformed upon the earth,
Kanniyai polae…ae….ae…..ae…..ae…..As a young maiden...
Minnal urumaari mann melaeLike lightning transformed upon the earth,
Kanniyai polae…As a young maiden...
Anna nadai payila kanden aaasaiyinaalaeI saw her learn a swan's gait out of desire,
Anna nadai payila kanden aaasaiyinaalaeI saw her learn a swan's gait out of desire,
Female
Aaa….aaa….aa….aa….aa…aa..Ah... ah... ah...
Mullai malar melaeLike upon a jasmine flower,
Moikum vandu polaeAs a bee hovers around,
Female
Vindhai migum magudi munnaalaeBefore a magical snake-charmer pipe,
Nagathai polae…Like a swaying cobra...
Aaa….aaa….aa….aa….aa…aa..Ah... ah... ah...
Aaa….aaa….aa….aa…Ah... ah... ah...
Vindhai migum magudi munnaalaeBefore a magical snake-charmer pipe,
Nagathai polae…Like a swaying cobra...
Endhan manam aadakkanden inbathinaalaeI saw my heart dance with delight,
Endhan manam aadakkanden inbathinaalaeI saw my heart dance with delight,
Male
Sindhai nilai marinathaalaeAs my state of mind was transformed,
Endhan munnaalaeRight before me,
Sindhai nilai marinathaalaeAs my state of mind was transformed,
Endhan munnaalaeRight before me,
Sembavazham nerunga kanden en manam polaeI saw red coral come close, just as my heart wished,
Sembavazham nerunga kanden en manam polaeI saw red coral come close, just as my heart wished,
Female
Aaa….aaa….aa….aa….aa…aa..Ah... ah... ah...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mullai Malar Melae is a romantic duet celebrating the blissful state of falling in love. Using classic Tamil literary tropes, the lovers compare their affection and visual attraction to vivid natural phenomena—bees drawn to fresh jasmine blossoms, fish leaping over white waves, lightning taking the form of a beautiful maiden, and a heart dancing hypnotically like a cobra charmed by music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mullai malar melae / Moikum vandu polae

Comparing lovers bonding through affection to bees hovering around jasmine flowers using the explicit comparison word 'polae'.

Simile (Upamai)

Vellai alai melae / Thullum kayal polae

Comparing glance movements to carp fish leaping over white foam waves.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vennilavai bhoomiyin melae punnagaiyalae

Directly equating the beloved's smiling face to the bright moon descending onto earth.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Mullai malar melae / Vellai alai melae

Rhyming of second consonant patterns between lines ('Mullai' and 'Vellai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Uthama Puthiran (1958) starred Sivaji Ganesan in a legendary dual role. Although credited as Unknown in some archives, the film's classic music was composed by G. Ramanathan, and this duet was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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