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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthaduthey

From Nallavanukku Nallavan · 1984

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nallavanukku Nallavan1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Muththaaduthae muththaduthaeThe melody is kissing and exchanging affections
RaagamMelody
Pithanathae pithanathae dhegamThe body has become crazed and infatuated
Poovaai neeyum paarvai veesuCast your glance like a soft flower
Anbae neeyum kannaal pesuMy beloved, speak with your eyes
Female
Kani idhazhFruit-like lips
Muththaaduthae muththaaduthae raagamThe melody is kissing and exchanging affection
Pithaanathae pithaanathae dhegamThe body has become crazed and infatuated
Poovaai neeyum paarvai veesuCast your glance like a soft flower
Anbae neeyum kannaal pesuMy beloved, speak with your eyes
Male
Kani idhazhFruit-like lips
Muthaaduthae muthaaduthae raagamThe melody is kissing and exchanging affection
Chorus
………………………………....
Male
Paavai un meni kaadhal veenaiOh maiden, your body is a veena of love
Kaalai en kaigal meetum velaiWhen my hands pluck its strings in the morning
Female :Ennenna raagangal nee meetuvaaiFemale: What kind of melodies will you play?
Adhil ennenna vannangal nee kaatuvaaiWhat kind of colors will you display in them?
Male
Yedhetho raagangal naan paadalaamI may sing various random melodies
Adhu thaangaamal un meni poraadalaamUnable to bear that, your body may struggle playfully
Female :Sandhosham thaangaamal thallaadum nerathilFemale: When I stagger, unable to contain the happiness
En meni saayamal nee thaangalaam anbaeYou can hold me my beloved, so my body does not fall
Lalallaa……Lalallaa...
Male
Muththaaduthae muththaaduthaeKissing and exchanging affection
RaagamMelody
Female :Pithaanathae pithaanathaeFemale: Becoming crazed and infatuated
DhegamBody
Female
Dhegam thanneril neenthum podhuWhen the body swims in the water
Nenjil yedhetho inbam nooruA hundred different delights fill the heart
Male :Meen pola naan maari vilayadavaaMale: Shall I turn into a fish and play?
Alai neer pola un meedhu naan modhavaaShall I crash against you like wave water?
Female
En meni nogamal vilayadalaamWe can play without hurting my body
Indha idaiyodu thaalangal nee podalaamYou can set the rhythm with this waist of mine
Male :Thaalangal naan poda naanangal paranthodaMale: As I beat the rhythm, as shyness flies away
Dhegangal ilaipaara idam thedalaam amudhaeLet us search for a place for our bodies to rest, my sweet nectar
Rapa rapapaaRapa rapapaa
Female
Muththaaduthae muththaaduthaeKissing and exchanging affection
RaagamMelody
Pithaanathae pithaanathaeBecoming crazed and infatuated
DhegamBody
Male
Poovaai neeyum paarvai veesuCast your glance like a soft flower
Anbae neeyum kannaal pesuMy beloved, speak with your eyes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Muththaaduthae is a romantic duet from the 1984 Tamil film Nallavanukku Nallavan. The song expresses the intimate and playful romance between two lovers using musical and natural metaphors such as playing the veena, swimming like fish, and rhythm creation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile)

Poovaai neeyum paarvai veesu

Comparing the gaze to a flower ('Poovaai neeyum paarvai veesu') and comparing oneself to a fish ('Meen pola naan maari').

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Paavai un meni kaadhal veenai

Comparing the female lover's body to a musical instrument ('kaadhal veenai').

Monal / Rhyme (Edhukai)

Thaalangal naan poda naanangal paranthoda

Use of matching second letters in lines, creating rhythmic cadence in Tamil lyric writing.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja with iconic renditions by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki for Rajinikanth and Radhika.

Keep listening

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