Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthupal Sirippennavo

From Pookkari · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Pookkari1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Thanga paalam pol unthan angamoIs your body like a bridge made of gold?
Male
Thaththaikku thavippennavoWhy is the little parrot yearning?
Meththaikku vara sollavoShall I ask her to come to the bed?
Thaththaikku thavippennavoWhy is the little parrot yearning?
Meththaikku vara sollavoShall I ask her to come to the bed?
Thottu pesum nal allavoIs today not a good day to touch and converse?
Male
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Thanga paalam pol unthan angamoIs your body like a bridge made of gold?
Female
Sevvalli kai thottuTouching the hands red like water lilies,
Silai vanna mei thottuTouching the body resembling a colorful statue,
Santhiththa inbangal noorallavoAre these not a hundred pleasures we experienced?
Female
Sevvalli kai thottuTouching the hands red like water lilies,
Silai vanna mei thottuTouching the body resembling a colorful statue,
Santhiththa inbangal noorallavoAre these not a hundred pleasures we experienced?
Female
Kannaa un thol thottuOh my beloved, touching your shoulders,
Kadhai sollum naal thottuSince the day we shared stories,
Kaanaatha anantham verennavoWhat other unseen bliss could there be?
Female
Muthangal ida sollavoShall I ask you to give kisses?
Saththangal varum allavoWon't sounds be made?
Muthangal ida sollavoShall I ask you to give kisses?
Saththangal varum allavoWon't sounds be made?
Intha mogam yaar thanthatho…ooo….oooWho gave this intense desire... ooo... ooo...
Female
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Male :Thanga paalam polMale : Like a bridge of gold,
Unthan angamo….oo…..oo…..Is your body... oo... oo...
Male
Javvaathu pottiyittuAdorned with a mark of civet perfume,
Sathiraadum poonjittuA dancing little bird,
Sevaazhai maeniyilOn a body like a golden banana tree,
Thaen sinthutho….Is honey dripping...?
Male
Javvaathu pottiyittuAdorned with a mark of civet perfume,
Sathiraadum poonjittuA dancing little bird,
Sevaazhai maeniyilOn a body like a golden banana tree,
Thaen sinthutho….Is honey dripping...?
Male
Angangae naan thottuTouching you here and there,
Adaiyaalam thaanittuLeaving my marks,
Aasaigal aayiram ver vittathoHave a thousand desires taken root?
Male
Kannenna kalai koodamoAre your eyes an art gallery?
Pennenna pazha thottamoIs this woman a fruit orchard?
Kannenna kalai koodamoAre your eyes an art gallery?
Pennenna pazha thottamoIs this woman a fruit orchard?
Vanna thogai en sonthamoIs this colorful peacock mine?
Female
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Thanga paalam pol unthan angamo….Is your body like a bridge made of gold...
Female
Kannangal thennangalCheeks like sweet young coconuts,
Kanivodu unnungalFeast on them with tenderness,
Kaalangal thorum nam kaaviyangaOur epics will endure through the ages,
Female
Kannangal thennangalCheeks like sweet young coconuts,
Kanivodu unnungalFeast on them with tenderness,
Kaalangal thorum nam kaaviyangaOur epics will endure through the ages,
Male
Muppaalil moondraam paalOut of the three parts of Thirukkural, the third section,
Uruvaagum un anbaalIs created by your love,
Mogangal kaattu un pun sirippaalShow your passion through your gentle smile,
Female
Ammammaa thudippathennavoOh my, why this throbbing pulsation?
Male :Appappaa nadippennavoMale : Oh my, what dramatic acting is this?
Female :Ammammaa thudippathennavoFemale : Oh my, why this throbbing pulsation?
Male :Appappaa nadippennavoMale : Oh my, what dramatic acting is this?
Both :Intha vegam yaen vanthatho…ooo….oo…Both : Why has this urgency come... ooo... oo...
Female
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Muththu pal sirippennavoIs that a smile with pearl-like teeth?
Mullai poo virippallavoIs it not a bed of blossoming jasmine flowers?
Male :Thanga paalam polMale : Like a bridge of gold,
Unthan angamo….oo…..oo…..Is your body... oo... oo...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Muththu Pal Sirippennavo is a classic romantic duet from the 1973 movie Pookkari, featuring music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The song expresses intimate, romantic playful banter between two lovers praising each other's beauty, gentle touch, and passion. The lyricist Vaali blends traditional Tamil literary imagery with sensual romance, comparing features to pearls, jasmine blossoms, statues, and young coconuts. In the final stanza, the lyricist poetically invokes 'Muppaal' (referring to the Thirukkural), noting that the third section 'Inbathupal' (the chapter on Love and Pleasure) is brought to life through their mutual affection. The playful dynamic between the male and female leads emphasizes love as a timeless epic created by their union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Thanga paalam pol unthan angamo

Compares the beloved's body to a bridge made of gold using the explicit comparative word 'pol'.

Moonaal (Initial Alliteration / Monai)

Muththu pal sirippennavo / Mullai poo virippallavo

Repetition of the initial letter 'Mu' in consecutive words across lines.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Kannenna kalai koodamo

Metaphorically equates eyes to an art gallery ('kalai koodam') and cheeks to tender sweet coconuts ('thennangal').

Literary Allusion

Muppaalil moondraam paal / Uruvaagum un anbaal

Refers to Thirukkural's three divisions (Aram, Porul, Inbam/Muppaal), highlighting Inbathupal (the section on love and romance).

Did you know?

Trivia

Pookkari (1973) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa. The song is renowned for M. S. Viswanathan's lush melody, utilizing classical Tamil poetic tropes composed by Vaali, and stands out as one of the quintessential romantic duets of Tamil cinema from the 1970s.

Keep listening

More from Pookkari