- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Kay Kay, Mahalakshmi Iyer
- Music director
- Harris Jayaraj
- Movie name
- 12B
- Movie release year
- 2001
- Lyrics added on
- 11 Mar 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Muththam Muththam' from the movie 12B is an energetic and passionate duet celebrating romantic intimacy and the electrifying sensation of a kiss. The lyrics metaphorically equate a kiss to intense forces of nature—comparing its thrill to high voltage electricity, a thousand snakebites, or even a global war—highlighting how overwhelming and intoxicating desire can be. Throughout the track, the lovers engage in a playful lyrical duel. The female lead boasts about the power of her kiss, while the male lead describes the visceral, mind-bending impact it has on him, humorously claiming that a single kiss can kill and resurrect a person multiple times a day.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Atishayokthi (Hyperbole)
“Moondraam ulaga yuthamaa / Aayiram paambukal kothumaa”
Exaggerating the intensity of a kiss by comparing it to the Third World War ('Moondraam ulaga yuthamaa') and a thousand snakebites ('Aayiram paambukal kothumaa').
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kottum ariviyil / Vettum minnalil”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines, seen with 'tt' in 'Kottum' and 'Vettum'.
Neologism / Wordplay
“Minsaarathaal adi... Intha pensaarathaal”
Coining the word 'Pensaarathaal' (woman-electricity) to rhyme with and contrast 'Minsaarathaal' (electricity).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Harris Jayaraj for his debut year album 12B (2001), this track features upbeat vocals by KK and Vasundhara Das. Vairamuthu's lyrics cleverly blend modern scientific terms like 'voltage', 'bauthiga maattram' (physical change), and 'saivam/asaivam' (veg/non-veg) to give the romantic duet a contemporary pop culture feel.
Keep listening
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