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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthu Muthu Medai

From Periya Veetu Pannakkaran · 1990

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Periya Veetu Pannakkaran1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa… aa… aa… aa…Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Aa…aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Muthu muthu maedai pottuSetting up a stage made of pearls,
Pithu kondaen raasaa raasaaI have fallen madly in love, my king, my king.
Nitham nitham onna enniThinking of you every single day,
Nenjam nondhaen raasaa raasaaMy heart aches in grief, my king, my king.
Onna eppo kaanbaen kannaalae oo…When will I see you with my own eyes? Oh...
Ullukkullaa sogam onnaala oo…Sorrow fills me inside because of you, oh...
O urugudhu uyir ingaeOh, my soul is melting here,
Nee iruppadhu thaan engaeWhere on earth are you?
Male
Muthu muthu maedai pottuSetting up a stage made of pearls,
Pithu kondaen maanae maanaeI have fallen madly in love, my dear, my dear.
Nitham nitham onna enniThinking of you every single day,
Nenjam nondhaen naanae naanaeMy heart aches in grief, all by myself.
Male
Veesum indha kaatthulaIn this blowing wind,
Andha maegam kalanju pogudhuThat cloud disperses away.
Paadum undhan paattu thaanIt is your singing voice,
Endhan kaadhil vandhu kekkudhuThat reaches my ears.
Female
Yaedho oru yaekkam thaanThere is a strange longing,
Adhu naalum enna vaattudhuThat torments me every day.
Yaedho oru yaekkam thaanThere is a strange longing,
Adhu naalum enna vaattudhuThat torments me every day.
Pona vazhi enna thonaliyaeI cannot figure out which path was taken;
Siru kuyilae kuyilae solladiLittle cuckoo, little cuckoo, please tell me.
Male
Muthu muthu maedai pottuSetting up a stage made of pearls,
Pithu kondaen maanae maanaeI have fallen madly in love, my dear, my dear.
Nitham nitham onna enniThinking of you every single day,
Nenjam nondhaen naanae naanaeMy heart aches in grief, all by myself.
Female
Jodi kili vaadudhaeThe paired parrot is languishing,
Unnai thaedi manam odudhaeMy heart runs searching for you.
Yaeno undhan nyaabagamFor some reason, your memories
Puyal polae vandhu modhudhaeStrike me like a storm.
Male
Kaalam ini maarumaaWill time change from now on?
Namma kaadhal onnaa saerumaaWill our love unite together?
Kaalam ini maarumaaWill time change from now on?
Namma kaadhal onnaa saerumaaWill our love unite together?
Aasa vecha indha ezha senjaDid this poor soul who loved you do
Thappu yaedhum undaa sollammaaAny wrong? Tell me, my lady.
Male
Muthu muthu maedai pottuSetting up a stage made of pearls,
Pithu kondaen maanae maanaeI have fallen madly in love, my dear, my dear.
Nitham nitham onna enniThinking of you every single day,
Nenjam nondhaen naanae naanaeMy heart aches in grief, all by myself.
Unna eppo kaanbaen kannaalae oo…When will I see you with my own eyes? Oh...
Ullukkullaa sogam unnaalae oo…Sorrow fills me inside because of you, oh...
Male
O urugudhu uyir ingaeOh, my soul is melting here,
Nee iruppadhu thaan engaeWhere on earth are you?
O urugudhu uyir ingaeOh, my soul is melting here,
Nee iruppadhu thaan engaeWhere on earth are you?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Muthu Muthu Maedai Pottu is a poignant romantic song expressing deep yearning, sorrow, and devotion between separated lovers. The protagonist grieves the painful separation from their beloved, describing how memories hit like a storm while every passing wind and cloud brings back echoes of the lover's voice. Questioning fate and time, the song portrays the agony of waiting and the earnest prayer for a sweet reunion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Muthu muthu maedai pottu

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'm' in 'Muthu' and 'maedai' creating a melodic rhythmic flow.

Uwamai (Simile)

Puyal polae vandhu modhudhae

Comparing the sudden, overpowering rush of memories to a storm striking ('Puyal polae').

Anaphora / Repetition

Kaalam ini maarumaa / Namma kaadhal onnaa saerumaa

Repetition of the line 'Kaalam ini maarumaa / Namma kaadhal onnaa saerumaa' to emphasize the emotional yearning and uncertainty of fate.

Did you know?

Trivia

Periya Veetu Pannakkaran (1990) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Muthulingam. The song vividly uses nature imagery like clouds, wind, and cuckoos to mirror the emotional distress of separation.

Keep listening

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