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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mullai Pooppole

From Nalla Mudivu · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Nalla Mudivu1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mullai pooppolaeLike jasmine flowers,
Rendu mookuthi minnuthadiTwo nose studs shine brightly, my girl!
Mullai pooppolaeLike jasmine flowers,
Rendu mookuthi minnuthadiTwo nose studs shine brightly, my girl!
Un munthaanai melaeOver your saree pallu,
Koondhal naattiyam aaduthadiYour long hair dances in rhythm, my girl!
Male
Mullai pooppolaeLike jasmine flowers,
Rendu mookuthi minnuthadiTwo nose studs shine brightly, my girl!
Female
Sithanna vaasalilaeIn the cave art of Sittanavasal,
Azhagu chithiram kaanuthaiyyaaA beautiful painting is seen, my lord.
Sithanna vaasalilaeIn the cave art of Sittanavasal,
Azhagu chithiram kaanuthaiyyaaA beautiful painting is seen, my lord.
Antha chithira maeniyilaeOn that picture-like body,
Unthan muthirai kaanuthaiyyaaYour seal is visible, my lord.
Female
Velavan vel polaeLike the sharp spear of Lord Murugan,
Rendu vizhigal minnuthaiyyaaTwo eyes gleam with radiance, my lord.
Pudhu velli radham polaeLike a brand new silver chariot,
Unthan vadivam ponguthaiyyaaYour gorgeous form overflows, my lord.
Female
Velavan vel polaeLike the sharp spear of Lord Murugan,
Rendu vizhigal minnuthaiyyaaTwo eyes gleam with radiance, my lord.
Male
Illai illai engira idaiyilAround that waist so thin it seems non-existent,
Ethanai malaradiyoHow many steps of flowers are there?
Illai illai engira idaiyilAround that waist so thin it seems non-existent,
Ethanai malaradiyoHow many steps of flowers are there?
Adhil yaedho ondru ennidam solvathuSomething among them speaks to me,
Ethanai kadhaiyadiyoOh, how many stories it tells!
Female
Nillaa iravil pollaa nilavilOn a moonlit night, under the enchanting moon,
Nerukku ner varuvaenI will come face to face with you.
Nillaa iravil pollaa nilavilOn a moonlit night, under the enchanting moon,
Nerukku ner varuvaenI will come face to face with you.
Andru ellaaa kalaiyum villaal eduthuOn that day, wielding all arts like a bow,
Velaalae tharuvaenI shall present them through my spear.
Male
Mullai pooppolaeLike jasmine flowers,
Rendu mookuthi minnuthadiTwo nose studs shine brightly, my girl!
Un munthaanai melaeOver your saree pallu,
Koondhal naattiyam aaduthadiYour long hair dances in rhythm, my girl!
Female
Velavan vel polaeLike the sharp spear of Lord Murugan,
Rendu vizhigal minnuthaiyyaaTwo eyes gleam with radiance, my lord.
Male
Pattu kaalgal pattathanaalaeBecause your soft, silky feet touched it,
Panju vilanthathadiThe soft cotton burst open into bloom, my girl.
Un chittu kaigal thottathunaalaeBecause your delicate little hands touched me,
Nenju malarnthathadiMy heart bloomed with joy, my girl.
Female
Kottu mazhaiyum paniyum thendralumThe pouring rain, the chill, and the breeze
Kanalaai kaayuthaiyyaaBurn hot like embers without you, my lord!
Unkooda irunthaal paadi magizhnthaalWhen I am with you, singing and rejoicing,
Kuliraai kuliruthaiyyaaEven the heat turns into a soothing chill, my lord!
Male
Panjanai meedhu malargalai thooviShowering fresh flowers over the soft bed,
Pazhaguvathu ennaaloWhen will the day come for us to be together?
Female :Paalum pazhamum kaiyil yaenthiFemale: Holding milk and fruits in my hands,
Varuvathum ennaaloWhen will the day come for me to step in?
Male
Panjanai meedhu malargalai thooviShowering fresh flowers over the soft bed,
Pazhaguvathu ennaalo….When will the day come for us to be together?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic duet sung by T.M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela depicts a romantic dialogue between lovers expressing deep admiration, desire, and anticipation of togetherness. The hero praises the heroine's delicate beauty—her nose studs sparkling like jasmine, her flowing hair, her slender waist, and her grace. In return, the heroine praises his majestic presence, comparing his sharp eyes to Lord Murugan's spear and his physique to a silver chariot, while expressing her eager longing for their wedding night.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Mullai pooppolae Rendu mookuthi minnuthadi

Compares the brilliance of the heroine's nose studs to delicate jasmine flowers using the explicit comparison word 'poolae'.

Cultural Allusion & Imagery

Sithanna vaasalilae Azhagu chithiram kaanuthaiyyaa

References the famous 7th-century rock-cut cave paintings at Sittanavasal to describe the heroine's classic, timeless artistic beauty.

Upamai (Simile)

Velavan vel polae Rendu vizhigal minnuthaiyyaa

Compares the sharpness and brightness of the lover's eyes to the sacred 'Vel' (spear) of Lord Murugan.

Mona (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Nillaa iravil pollaa nilavil Nerukku ner varuvaen

Use of matching initial consonants 'Ni' in 'Nillaa' and 'Nerukku' creates a melodic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sittanavasal (Sithannavasal), mentioned by Kannadasan in the song, is a prominent 2nd-century Jain complex in Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, renowned for its ancient fresco-secco paintings that are often compared to Ajanta cave paintings in artistic heritage.

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