Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthedukkum Aasaiyile

From Neethibathi · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Neethibathi1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………….....
Male
MuththedukkumWith the desire to harvest pearls
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :AasaiyilaeMale :In desire
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :KattumaramMale :On the catamaran
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :YaerayilaeMale :As I climb
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :Thottu thazhuvuthadi kaaththuMale :The breeze touches and embraces, my girl
Male
Mungi mungiDiving and diving
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :EnthirichchaaMale :As I rise up
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :Muththukkal anga onnu inga onnu sinthuthadiMale :Pearls are scattered here and there, my girl
Male
MuththedukkumWith the desire to harvest pearls
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :AasaiyilaeMale :In desire
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :KattumaramMale :On the catamaran
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :YaerayilaeMale :As I climb
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :Thottu thazhuvuthadi kaaththuMale :The breeze touches and embraces, my girl
Chorus
………………....
Female
Aasa neranjirukkum maappillaOh groom filled with desire
Aalunga yaarumilla thoppulaThere is nobody around in this grove
Saanjukkavaa unga maarbileShall I lean upon your chest?
Santhanam polulla therilaeOn this chariot that feels like sandalwood
Male
Naan enna solla…aahhaaWhat can I say... aha
Naan enna solla yaarum paakkalaWhat can I say, nobody is watching
Aiyyo echchi ippa ooruthu naakkulaeOh my, my mouth waters right now
Ini yaekkamum thookkamum pogum neramFrom now on, it is time for longing and sleep to vanish
Female
MuththedukkumWith the desire to harvest pearls
Male :AahaahMale :Aahaah
Female :AasaiyilaeFemale :In desire
Male :AahaahMale :Aahaah
Female :KattumaramFemale :On the catamaran
Male :AahaahMale :Aahaah
Female :YaerayilaeFemale :As I climb
Male :Aa….aahaahMale :Aa....aahaah
Female :Thottu thazhuvuthunga kaaththuFemale :The breeze touches and embraces
Female
Mungi mungiDiving and diving
Male :AahaahMale :Aahaah
Female :EnthirichchaaFemale :As I rise up
Male :OhhohMale :Ohhoh
Female :Muththukkal anga onnu inga onnu sinthuthaiyyaaFemale :Pearls are scattered here and there, sir
Female
MuththedukkumWith the desire to harvest pearls
Male :AahaahMale :Aahaah
Female :AasaiyilaeFemale :In desire
Male :AahaahMale :Aahaah
Female :KattumaramFemale :On the catamaran
Male :AahaahMale :Aahaah
Female :YaerayilaeFemale :As I climb
Male :OhhohMale :Ohhoh
Female :Thottu thazhuvuthunga kaaththuFemale :The breeze touches and embraces
Female
……………...
Chorus :Yaehae yaehaeChorus :Yaehae yaehae
Male :………….Male :...
Chorus :Yaehae yaehaeChorus :Yaehae yaehae
Female
……………...
Male
Alli annaikkuthadi poo alaiThe flower-like wave gathers and embraces
Thottu thazhuvikittum pothalaTouching and embracing is still not enough
Annakkilai un tholulaOh swan-like girl, on your shoulders
Pinnikkittu naanum saayalaEntwining together, let me lean
Female
Naan chinna pullaI am a young girl
Naan chinna pulla yaedhum thonalaI am a young girl, nothing occurred to me
Intha sugam eppothum kaanalaI have never experienced such bliss before
Oru maathiri irukkuthu venaam venaamIt feels strange, no, no
Male
MuththedukkumWith the desire to harvest pearls
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :AasaiyilaeMale :In desire
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :KattumaramMale :On the catamaran
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :YaerayilaeMale :As I climb
Female :AahaahFemale :Aahaah
Male :Thottu thazhuvuthadi kaaththuMale :The breeze touches and embraces, my girl
Female
Mungi mungiDiving and diving
Male :AahaahMale :Aahaah
Female :EnthirichchaaFemale :As I rise up
Male :OhhohMale :Ohhoh
Female :Muththukkal anga onnu inga onnu sinthuthaiyyaaFemale :Pearls are scattered here and there, sir
Male
………….....
Female :……………Female :...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Muththedukkum Aasaiyilae is a romantic duet from the 1983 Tamil film Neethibathi. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, the song uses vivid coastal and sea imagery—such as riding a catamaran, diving into the ocean for pearls, and feeling the sea breeze—as extended metaphors for romantic passion, intimacy, and the excitement of newly discovered love in a secluded setting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Muththedukkum / Mungi mungi

Repetition of the initial 'M' consonant across lines 'Muththedukkum' and 'Mungi mungi'.

Uvamaikani (Metaphor/Simile)

Alli annaikkuthadi poo alai

Comparing soft, gentle ocean waves to flowers ('poo alai') and the lover's body to a sandalwood chariot ('santhanam polulla therilae').

Repetition / Anaphora

Mungi mungi

Rhythmic repetition of phrases like 'Mungi mungi' and playful call-and-response ad-libs ('Aahaah') to emphasize the musical movement of waves.

Did you know?

Trivia

Neethibathi (1983) stars Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya. Gangai Amaran composed the music as well as penned the lyrics for this track, showcasing his signature folk-inspired melody style.

Keep listening

More from Neethibathi