Muthu Pavalam Mukkani
From Arunodhayam · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Arunodhayam1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai | Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar... |
| Moodi vaikkalaamaa | Should they be kept hidden and covered? |
| Female | |
| Mottu malargal kattum munnae | Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms... |
| Mogam kollalaamaa | Can one be overcome with desire? |
| Male | |
| Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai | Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar... |
| Moodi vaikkalaamaa | Should they be kept hidden and covered? |
| Female | |
| Mottu malargal kattum munnae | Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms... |
| Mogam kollalaamaa | Can one be overcome with desire? |
| Male | |
| Ammammaa | Oh my! |
| Female | |
| Ammammammaa | Oh dear! |
| Male | |
| Ammammaa | Oh my! |
| Female | |
| Ammammammaa | Oh dear! |
| Male | |
| Sempattu mugathil | On that soft crimson silk-like face... |
| Kan pattu konjam | Now that my eyes have caught yours... |
| Saevai seiyalaamaa | May I perform a little loving service? |
| Female | |
| Saevayil irangi | Stepping into this service... |
| Paavaiyai anaikkum | To embrace this young damsel... |
| Thaevaiyai sollalaamaa | Shall I express my deep desire? |
| Male | |
| Sempattu mugathil | On that soft crimson silk-like face... |
| Kan pattu konjam | Now that my eyes have caught yours... |
| Saevai seiyalaamaa | May I perform a little loving service? |
| Female | |
| Saevayil irangi | Stepping into this service... |
| Paavaiyai anaikkum | To embrace this young damsel... |
| Thaevaiyai sollalaamaa | Shall I express my deep desire? |
| Male | |
| Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai | Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar... |
| Moodi vaikkalaamaa | Should they be kept hidden and covered? |
| Female | |
| Mottu malargal kattum munnae | Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms... |
| Mogam kollalaamaa | Can one be overcome with desire? |
| Male | |
| Karumbil inippadhu | If sugarcane is sweetest... |
| Adi pakkam endraal | At its bottom root end... |
| Kaadhalil endha pakkamo | Which side is sweeter in love? |
| Female | |
| Kadaisi thuli varai | Until the very last drop... |
| Suvaippadhu thaan | To relish completely... |
| Inba kaadhal kal allavo | Is not sweet love like intoxicating wine? |
| Male | |
| Karumbil inippadhu | If sugarcane is sweetest... |
| Adi pakkam endraal | At its bottom root end... |
| Kaadhalil endha pakkamo | Which side is sweeter in love? |
| Female | |
| Kadaisi thuli varai | Until the very last drop... |
| Suvaippadhu thaan | To relish completely... |
| Inba kaadhal kal allavo | Is not sweet love like intoxicating wine? |
| Male | |
| Ilamaiyum koduthu | Giving us youthfulness... |
| Thanimaiyum kodutha | And giving us solitude... |
| Iraivanin ennam ennavo | What was God's intention? |
| Female | |
| Idam konjam koduthaal | If given a little space... |
| Yedhu varai pogum | How far will it go? |
| Enbadhai kandu kollavo | Shall we find out? |
| Male | |
| Ammammaa | Oh my! |
| Female | |
| Ammammammaa | Oh dear! |
| Male | |
| Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai | Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar... |
| Moodi vaikkalaamaa | Should they be kept hidden and covered? |
| Female | |
| Mottu malargal kattum munnae | Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms... |
| Mogam kollalaamaa | Can one be overcome with desire? |
| Male | |
| Ammammaa | Oh my! |
| Female | |
| Ammammammaa | Oh dear! |
| Male | |
| Ammammaa | Oh my! |
| Female | |
| Ammammammaa | Oh dear! |
முத்து பவளம் முக்கனி சர்க்கரை
மூடி வைக்கலாமா
Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar...
Should they be kept hidden and covered?
மொட்டு மலர்கள் கட்டும் முன்னே
மோகம் கொள்ளலாமா
Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms...
Can one be overcome with desire?
முத்து பவளம் முக்கனி சர்க்கரை
மூடி வைக்கலாமா
Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar...
Should they be kept hidden and covered?
மொட்டு மலர்கள் கட்டும் முன்னே
மோகம் கொள்ளலாமா
Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms...
Can one be overcome with desire?
அம்மம்மா
Oh my!
அம்மம்மம்மா
Oh dear!
அம்மம்மா
Oh my!
அம்மம்மம்மா
Oh dear!
செம்பட்டு முகத்தில்
கண் பட்டுக் கொஞ்சம்
சேவை செய்யலாமா
On that soft crimson silk-like face...
Now that my eyes have caught yours...
May I perform a little loving service?
சேவையில் இறங்கி
பாவையை அணைக்கும்
தேவையை சொல்லலாமா
Stepping into this service...
To embrace this young damsel...
Shall I express my deep desire?
செம்பட்டு முகத்தில்
கண் பட்டுக் கொஞ்சம்
சேவை செய்யலாமா
On that soft crimson silk-like face...
Now that my eyes have caught yours...
May I perform a little loving service?
சேவையில் இறங்கி
பாவையை அணைக்கும்
தேவையை சொல்லலாமா...
Stepping into this service...
To embrace this young damsel...
Shall I express my deep desire?
முத்து பவளம் முக்கனி சர்க்கரை
மூடி வைக்கலாமா
Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar...
Should they be kept hidden and covered?
மொட்டு மலர்கள் கட்டும் முன்னே
மோகம் கொள்ளலாமா
Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms...
Can one be overcome with desire?
கரும்பில் இனிப்பது
அடிப் பக்கம் என்றால்
காதலில் எந்தப் பக்கமோ
If sugarcane is sweetest...
At its bottom root end...
Which side is sweeter in love?
கடைசித் துளி வரை
சுவைப்பது தான்
இன்பக் காதல் கள் அல்லவோ
Until the very last drop...
To relish completely...
Is not sweet love like intoxicating wine?
கரும்பில் இனிப்பது
அடிப் பக்கம் என்றால்
காதலில் எந்தப் பக்கமோ
If sugarcane is sweetest...
At its bottom root end...
Which side is sweeter in love?
கடைசித் துளி வரை
சுவைப்பது தான்
இன்பக் காதல் கள் அல்லவோ
Until the very last drop...
To relish completely...
Is not sweet love like intoxicating wine?
இளமையும் கொடுத்து
தனிமையும் கொடுத்த
இறைவனின் எண்ணம் என்னவோ
Giving us youthfulness...
And giving us solitude...
What was God's intention?
இடம் கொஞ்சம் கொடுத்தால்
எது வரை போகும்
என்பதைக் கண்டு கொள்ளவோ
If given a little space...
How far will it go?
Shall we find out?
அம்மம்மா
Oh my!
அம்மம்மம்மா
Oh dear!
முத்து பவளம் முக்கனி சர்க்கரை
மூடி வைக்கலாமா
Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar...
Should they be kept hidden and covered?
மொட்டு மலர்கள் கட்டும் முன்னே
மோகம் கொள்ளலாமா
Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms...
Can one be overcome with desire?
அம்மம்மா
Oh my!
அம்மம்மம்மா
Oh dear!
அம்மம்மா
Oh my!
அம்மம்மம்மா
Oh dear!
Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai
Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar...
Moodi vaikkalaamaa
Should they be kept hidden and covered?
Mottu malargal kattum munnae
Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms...
Mogam kollalaamaa
Can one be overcome with desire?
Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai
Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar...
Moodi vaikkalaamaa
Should they be kept hidden and covered?
Mottu malargal kattum munnae
Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms...
Mogam kollalaamaa
Can one be overcome with desire?
Ammammaa
Oh my!
Ammammammaa
Oh dear!
Ammammaa
Oh my!
Ammammammaa
Oh dear!
Sempattu mugathil
On that soft crimson silk-like face...
Kan pattu konjam
Now that my eyes have caught yours...
Saevai seiyalaamaa
May I perform a little loving service?
Saevayil irangi
Stepping into this service...
Paavaiyai anaikkum
To embrace this young damsel...
Thaevaiyai sollalaamaa
Shall I express my deep desire?
Sempattu mugathil
On that soft crimson silk-like face...
Kan pattu konjam
Now that my eyes have caught yours...
Saevai seiyalaamaa
May I perform a little loving service?
Saevayil irangi
Stepping into this service...
Paavaiyai anaikkum
To embrace this young damsel...
Thaevaiyai sollalaamaa
Shall I express my deep desire?
Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai
Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar...
Moodi vaikkalaamaa
Should they be kept hidden and covered?
Mottu malargal kattum munnae
Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms...
Mogam kollalaamaa
Can one be overcome with desire?
Karumbil inippadhu
If sugarcane is sweetest...
Adi pakkam endraal
At its bottom root end...
Kaadhalil endha pakkamo
Which side is sweeter in love?
Kadaisi thuli varai
Until the very last drop...
Suvaippadhu thaan
To relish completely...
Inba kaadhal kal allavo
Is not sweet love like intoxicating wine?
Karumbil inippadhu
If sugarcane is sweetest...
Adi pakkam endraal
At its bottom root end...
Kaadhalil endha pakkamo
Which side is sweeter in love?
Kadaisi thuli varai
Until the very last drop...
Suvaippadhu thaan
To relish completely...
Inba kaadhal kal allavo
Is not sweet love like intoxicating wine?
Ilamaiyum koduthu
Giving us youthfulness...
Thanimaiyum kodutha
And giving us solitude...
Iraivanin ennam ennavo
What was God's intention?
Idam konjam koduthaal
If given a little space...
Yedhu varai pogum
How far will it go?
Enbadhai kandu kollavo
Shall we find out?
Ammammaa
Oh my!
Ammammammaa
Oh dear!
Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai
Pearls, corals, the three sacred fruits, and sugar...
Moodi vaikkalaamaa
Should they be kept hidden and covered?
Mottu malargal kattum munnae
Before the flower buds bloom into blossoms...
Mogam kollalaamaa
Can one be overcome with desire?
Ammammaa
Oh my!
Ammammammaa
Oh dear!
Ammammaa
Oh my!
Ammammammaa
Oh dear!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai is a romantic duet from the 1971 Tamil film Arunodhayam. In this song, the lovers express their passion and mutual attraction through rich poetic imagery. The heroine compares her beauty and affection to valuable items like pearls, corals, sweet fruits, and sugar, asking playfully whether such gifts should remain hidden or be enjoyed in youth. The hero responds with warmth, expressing his desire to embrace her and render sweet devotion to her beauty. As the song progresses, the lovers ponder the nature of love, drawing comparisons to sugarcane (which becomes sweeter toward the bottom) and nectar-like wine that ought to be savored to the very last drop. They playfully question God's intent behind granting both youth and solitude, agreeing to yield to their feelings and see where their romantic journey takes them.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai”
Compares beauty and youthful charm directly to precious treasures like pearls (muthu), corals (pavalam), three sacred fruits (mukkani), and sugar (sarkkarai).
Initial Alliteration (Monaai)
“Muthu pavalam mukkani sarkkarai / Moodi vaikkalaamaa / Mottu malargal...”
Repetition of the 'M' sound at the beginning of consecutive lines (Muthu, Moodi, Mottu, Mogam).
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Sempattu mugathil / Kan pattu konjam”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'pattu' in 'Sempattu' and 'Kan pattu'.
Analogy / Simile (Uvamai)
“Inba kaadhal kal allavo”
Compares the sweet progression of love to the sweetness of sugarcane and intoxicating divine wine ('kal').
Did you know?
Trivia
Arunodhayam (1971) featured music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics written by the renowned poet Kannadasan. The track was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The phrase 'mukkani' refers traditionally in Tamil literature to the three iconic fruits: Mango (Maa), Banana (Pala), and Jackfruit (Vazhai).
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