Muthu Muthu Punnagaiyo
From Santhosa Kanavugal · 1985
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Shyam
- Details
- Santhosa Kanavugal1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo | Is it a pearl-like smile? |
| Mottu vitta malligaiyoo | Is it a budding jasmine flower? |
| Vetti vecha thangam | Like finely sculpted gold, |
| Yaar kotti vecha angam | Whose body is poured out like treasure? |
| Male | |
| Thulli varum sorgam | A leaping, bounding heaven, |
| Kai thottu konda pakkam | Standing side by side touching hands, |
| Katti kolla va arugae | Come closer to embrace me. |
| Female | |
| Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo | Is it a pearl-like smile? |
| Mottu vitta malligaiyoo | Is it a budding jasmine flower? |
| Vetti vecha thangam | Like finely sculpted gold, |
| Yaar kotti vecha angam | Whose body is poured out like treasure? |
| Thulli varum sorgam | A leaping, bounding heaven, |
| Kai thottu konda pakkam | Standing side by side touching hands, |
| Katti kolla va arugae | Come closer to embrace me. |
| Female | |
| Paravaiyum naanum oru jaadhi | The birds and I belong to the same species, |
| Paaravaiyil kaadhal pasiyaari | Satisfying the hunger of love through a mere glance. |
| Nammai naam marappom | Let us forget ourselves, |
| Nadhi mel neerilum naam nadappom | We shall even walk across the river's water! |
| Male | |
| Kangal naangum sivakkum | All four eyes will turn red with passion, |
| Kaadhal veadham padikkum | Reciting the sacred scriptures of love. |
| Katti konda kaiyum | Hands that hold each other tightly, |
| Otti konda nenjum | Hearts that cling together, |
| Kodi yugam serndhirukkum | Will remain united for ten million eons. |
| Female | |
| Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo | Is it a pearl-like smile? |
| Mottu vitta malligaiyoo | Is it a budding jasmine flower? |
| Vetti vecha thangam | Like finely sculpted gold, |
| Yaar kotti vecha angam | Whose body is poured out like treasure? |
| Thulli varum sorgam | A leaping, bounding heaven, |
| Kai thottu konda pakkam | Standing side by side touching hands, |
| Katti kolla va arugae | Come closer to embrace me. |
| Male | |
| Mangaiyin dhegam rojapoo | The maiden's body is a rose flower, |
| Mani vizhi rendum ootha poo | Her two gem-like eyes are purple blossoms, |
| Paadham thamaraipoo | Her feet are lotus flowers, |
| Idhazhil ennadi pun sirippu | What is this sweet smile playing on your lips? |
| Female | |
| Paartha kangal padumo | Will the eyes that watch us cast an evil glance? |
| Paarvai ennai sudumoo | Or will your gaze scorch me with passion? |
| Kalla vizhi pattu kanni ilanjittu | Touched by those mischievous eyes, this young maiden, |
| Naani nilam paarthirukkum | Blushes and gazes down at the ground. |
| Male | |
| Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo | Is it a pearl-like smile? |
| Mottu vitta malligaiyoo | Is it a budding jasmine flower? |
| Vetti vecha thangam | Like finely sculpted gold, |
| Yaar kotti vecha angam | Whose body is poured out like treasure? |
| Female :Thulli varum sorgam | Female: A leaping, bounding heaven, |
| Kai thottu konda pakkam | Standing side by side touching hands, |
| Katti kolla va arugae | Come closer to embrace me. |
| Male :…………………….. | Male: [Vocalizing] |
| Female :…………………. | Female: [Vocalizing] |
முத்து முத்து புன்னகையோ
மொட்டு விட்ட மல்லிகையோ
வெட்டி வச்ச தங்கம்
யார் கொட்டி வச்ச அங்கம்
Is it a pearl-like smile?
Is it a budding jasmine flower?
Like finely sculpted gold,
Whose body is poured out like treasure?
துள்ளி வரும் சொர்க்கம்
கை தொட்டுக் கொண்ட பக்கம்
கட்டிக் கொள்ள வா அருகே....
A leaping, bounding heaven,
Standing side by side touching hands,
Come closer to embrace me.
முத்து முத்து புன்னகையோ
மொட்டு விட்ட மல்லிகையோ
வெட்டி வச்ச தங்கம்
யார் கொட்டி வச்ச அங்கம்
துள்ளி வரும் சொர்க்கம்
கை தொட்டுக் கொண்ட பக்கம்
கட்டிக் கொள்ள வா அருகே....
Is it a pearl-like smile?
Is it a budding jasmine flower?
Like finely sculpted gold,
Whose body is poured out like treasure?
A leaping, bounding heaven,
Standing side by side touching hands,
Come closer to embrace me.
பறவையும் நானும் ஒரு ஜாதி
பார்வையில் காதல் பசியாறி
நம்மை நாம் மறப்போம்
நதி மேல் நீரிலும் நாம் நடப்போம்
The birds and I belong to the same species,
Satisfying the hunger of love through a mere glance.
Let us forget ourselves,
We shall even walk across the river's water!
கண்கள் நான்கும் சிவக்கும்
காதல் வேதம் படிக்கும்
கட்டிக் கொண்ட கையும்
ஒட்டிக் கொண்ட நெஞ்சும்
கோடி யுகம் சேர்ந்திருக்கும்..
All four eyes will turn red with passion,
Reciting the sacred scriptures of love.
Hands that hold each other tightly,
Hearts that cling together,
Will remain united for ten million eons.
முத்து முத்து புன்னகையோ
மொட்டு விட்ட மல்லிகையோ
வெட்டி வச்ச தங்கம்
யார் கொட்டி வச்ச அங்கம்
துள்ளி வரும் சொர்க்கம்
கை தொட்டுக் கொண்ட பக்கம்
கட்டிக் கொள்ள வா அருகே....
Is it a pearl-like smile?
Is it a budding jasmine flower?
Like finely sculpted gold,
Whose body is poured out like treasure?
A leaping, bounding heaven,
Standing side by side touching hands,
Come closer to embrace me.
மங்கையும் தீபம் ரோஜாப்பூ
மணி விழி ரெண்டும் ஊதாப்பூ
பாதம் தாமரைப்பூ
இதழில் என்னடி புன்சிரிப்பு
The maiden's body is a rose flower,
Her two gem-like eyes are purple blossoms,
Her feet are lotus flowers,
What is this sweet smile playing on your lips?
பார்த்த கண்கள் படுமோ
பார்வை என்னை சுடுமோ
கள்ள விழிப் பட்டு கன்னி இளஞ்சிட்டு
நாணி நிலம் பார்த்திருக்கும்...
Will the eyes that watch us cast an evil glance?
Or will your gaze scorch me with passion?
Touched by those mischievous eyes, this young maiden,
Blushes and gazes down at the ground.
முத்து முத்து புன்னகையோ
மொட்டு விட்ட மல்லிகையோ
வெட்டி வச்ச தங்கம்
யார் கொட்டி வச்ச அங்கம்
Is it a pearl-like smile?
Is it a budding jasmine flower?
Like finely sculpted gold,
Whose body is poured out like treasure?
Female: A leaping, bounding heaven,
Standing side by side touching hands,
Come closer to embrace me.
Male: [Vocalizing]
Female: [Vocalizing]
துள்ளி வரும் சொர்க்கம்
கை தொட்டுக் கொண்ட பக்கம்
கட்டிக் கொள்ள வா அருகே....
...........
.................
Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo
Is it a pearl-like smile?
Mottu vitta malligaiyoo
Is it a budding jasmine flower?
Vetti vecha thangam
Like finely sculpted gold,
Yaar kotti vecha angam
Whose body is poured out like treasure?
Thulli varum sorgam
A leaping, bounding heaven,
Kai thottu konda pakkam
Standing side by side touching hands,
Katti kolla va arugae
Come closer to embrace me.
Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo
Is it a pearl-like smile?
Mottu vitta malligaiyoo
Is it a budding jasmine flower?
Vetti vecha thangam
Like finely sculpted gold,
Yaar kotti vecha angam
Whose body is poured out like treasure?
Thulli varum sorgam
A leaping, bounding heaven,
Kai thottu konda pakkam
Standing side by side touching hands,
Katti kolla va arugae
Come closer to embrace me.
Paravaiyum naanum oru jaadhi
The birds and I belong to the same species,
Paaravaiyil kaadhal pasiyaari
Satisfying the hunger of love through a mere glance.
Nammai naam marappom
Let us forget ourselves,
Nadhi mel neerilum naam nadappom
We shall even walk across the river's water!
Kangal naangum sivakkum
All four eyes will turn red with passion,
Kaadhal veadham padikkum
Reciting the sacred scriptures of love.
Katti konda kaiyum
Hands that hold each other tightly,
Otti konda nenjum
Hearts that cling together,
Kodi yugam serndhirukkum
Will remain united for ten million eons.
Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo
Is it a pearl-like smile?
Mottu vitta malligaiyoo
Is it a budding jasmine flower?
Vetti vecha thangam
Like finely sculpted gold,
Yaar kotti vecha angam
Whose body is poured out like treasure?
Thulli varum sorgam
A leaping, bounding heaven,
Kai thottu konda pakkam
Standing side by side touching hands,
Katti kolla va arugae
Come closer to embrace me.
Mangaiyin dhegam rojapoo
The maiden's body is a rose flower,
Mani vizhi rendum ootha poo
Her two gem-like eyes are purple blossoms,
Paadham thamaraipoo
Her feet are lotus flowers,
Idhazhil ennadi pun sirippu
What is this sweet smile playing on your lips?
Paartha kangal padumo
Will the eyes that watch us cast an evil glance?
Paarvai ennai sudumoo
Or will your gaze scorch me with passion?
Kalla vizhi pattu kanni ilanjittu
Touched by those mischievous eyes, this young maiden,
Naani nilam paarthirukkum
Blushes and gazes down at the ground.
Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo
Is it a pearl-like smile?
Mottu vitta malligaiyoo
Is it a budding jasmine flower?
Vetti vecha thangam
Like finely sculpted gold,
Yaar kotti vecha angam
Whose body is poured out like treasure?
Female :Thulli varum sorgam
Female: A leaping, bounding heaven,
Kai thottu konda pakkam
Standing side by side touching hands,
Katti kolla va arugae
Come closer to embrace me.
Male :……………………..
Male: [Vocalizing]
Female :………………….
Female: [Vocalizing]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Muthu Muthu Punnagaiyoo is a romantic duet from the 1985 Tamil film Santhosa Kanavugal, composed by Shyam and penned by Pulamaipithan. The song captures a lush, poetic dialogue between lovers who express their deep physical and emotional admiration for each other. The lyricist employs traditional botanical and precious metal metaphors—comparing smiles to pearls, bodies to pure gold, and features to roses and lotus flowers—to convey ecstatic adoration and passion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Muthu muthu punnagaiyoo / Mottu vitta malligaiyoo”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('M' sound in Muthu and Mottu) creating melodic harmony across the opening couplets.
Urvagam (Metaphor)
“Mangaiyin dhegam rojapoo / Mani vizhi rendum ootha poo / Paadham thamaraipoo”
Direct comparison of various body parts to flowers (body to rose, eyes to purple flowers, feet to lotus).
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Katti konda kaiyum / Otti konda nenjum”
Matching second consonants ('tt' sound) in consecutive lines to establish rhythmic cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Music director Shyam, who enjoyed massive success in Malayalam cinema, produced several memorable romantic soundtracks in Tamil during the 1980s, with this track featuring classic vocal harmonies by SPB and Vani Jayaram.
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