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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mullil Roja Kaaloorum

From Kalaikoil · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Kalaikoil1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaaA rose among thorns, a rose sweet with nectar,
Kann padatha rojaa kanmani sarojaA rose untouched by evil eye, darling Saroja.
Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaaA rose among thorns, a rose sweet with nectar,
Kann padatha rojaa kanmani sarojaA rose untouched by evil eye, darling Saroja.
Male
Haaa…rarararara…rararararaHaaa…rarararara…rarararara
Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaaA rose among thorns, a rose sweet with nectar,
Kann padatha rojaa kanmani sarojaA rose untouched by evil eye, darling Saroja.
Female
Ennai thottu pesumThe thought of touching and speaking to me,
Ennam angae illaiIs not present over there.
Illai endru sollumThe thought of saying no,
Ennam ingae illaiIs not present over here.
Male :Sa ma ga sa sa riga rigaMale: Sa ma ga sa sa riga riga
Female
Ennai thottu pesumThe thought of touching and speaking to me,
Ennam angae illaiIs not present over there.
Illai endru sollumThe thought of saying no,
Ennam ingae illaiIs not present over here.
Female
Kalam enna neram ennaWhat matter is time or moment,
Kaadhal kollaTo indulge in love?
Yaarum illaai vaa vaa ingaeThere is no one else, come, come here,
Paadam sollaTo teach a lesson.
Unnai maranthu viduForget yourself,
Ulalm thirandhu viduOpen your heart,
Ondraai kalandhu viduMerge as one.
Female
Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaaA rose among thorns, a rose sweet with nectar,
Kann padatha rojaa kanmani sarojaA rose untouched by evil eye, darling Saroja.
Male :Haaa…rarararara…rararararaMale: Haaa…rarararara…rarararara
Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaaA rose among thorns, a rose sweet with nectar,
Kann padatha rojaa kanmani sarojaA rose untouched by evil eye, darling Saroja.
Female
Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaaA rose among thorns, a rose sweet with nectar,
Kann padatha rojaa kanmani sarojaA rose untouched by evil eye, darling Saroja.
Male :Haaa…rarararara…rararararaMale: Haaa…rarararara…rarararara
Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaaA rose among thorns, a rose sweet with nectar,
Kann padatha rojaa kanmani sarojaA rose untouched by evil eye, darling Saroja.
Female
Kattil katti kaadhal solvenI shall set up a bed and express love,
Mannan endraalIf you are the king.
Thottil katti mutham seivenI shall set up a cradle and shower kisses,
Pillai endraalIf you are a child.
Paarvai enna kelvi enna raagam paadaWhat is this glance and what is this question to sing a melody?
Acham enna vetkam enna thaalam podaWhat is this fear and what is this shyness to keep the rhythm?
Male
Rigasasasa rigasasasa rigasasadhaRigasasasa rigasasasa rigasasadha
Rigasadhaapaa ri ga sariga sariga sarigaRigasadhaapaa ri ga sariga sariga sariga
Female
Paarvai enna kelvi ennaWhat is this glance and what is this question,
Raagam paadaTo sing a melody?
Acham enna vetkam ennaWhat is this fear and what is this shyness,
Thaalam podaTo keep the rhythm?
Unnai maranthu viduForget yourself,
Ulalm thirandhu viduOpen your heart,
Ondraai kalandhu viduMerge as one.
Female
Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaaA rose among thorns, a rose sweet with nectar,
Kann padatha rojaa kanmani sarojaA rose untouched by evil eye, darling Saroja.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Kalaikoil (1964) is a romantic duet filled with playful banter and poetic endearments. The singer addresses his love as a beautiful rose that has blossomed among thorns, pristine and untouched by envy. The lovers tease each other about hesitation, desire, and surrender in love. The female protagonist expresses her devotion in versatile ways—offering romance if her beloved behaves like a king, and maternal tenderness if he behaves like a child. Ultimately, the song encourages shedding all fear, shyness, and self-restraint to open one's heart and unite completely in love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Mullil rojaa kaloorum rojaa

Comparing the beloved woman 'Saroja' to a pristine rose growing amid thorns ('Mullil rojaa').

Iyaibu (Rhyming end scheme)

Unnai maranthu vidu / Ulalm thirandhu vidu / Ondraai kalandhu vidu

The words 'maranthu vidu', 'thirandhu vidu', and 'kalandhu vidu' form a rhythmic end rhyme adding musicality.

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Kattil katti kaadhal solven / Thottil katti mutham seiven

The second consonant 'tt' rhymes across consecutive lines 'Kattil' and 'Thottil'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kalaikoil (1964), directed by C. V. Sridhar, is a music-centric Tamil film featuring a iconic soundtrack by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. This song ingeniously blends classical Carnatic solkattu (swaras) sung by P. B. Sreenivas into a romantic light-music composition.

Keep listening

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