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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mutrathu Maadapura

From Periya Kudumbam · 1995

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Periya Kudumbam1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mutrathu maada puraaCourtyard balcony pigeon,
Kaadhalukku thoodhonnu poi varumaaWill you go as a messenger for love and return?
Mutrathu maada puraaCourtyard balcony pigeon,
Kaadhalukku thoodhonnu poi varumaaWill you go as a messenger for love and return?
Sokkura em manasaMy heart that gets mesmerized,
Maamanukku kaadhula odhidumaaWill you whisper it in my beloved uncle's ear?
Mutha mazhaiyinil aadai kattaTo drape a garment in the rain of kisses,
Mundhiri thoppinil vaeli kattaTo build a fence in the cashew grove,
Thaamadham yaen endru keladi thaali katta oo oo…Ask her why there is delay to tie the wedding knot, oh oh...
Male
Mutrathu maada puraaCourtyard balcony pigeon,
Kaadhalukku thoodhonnu poi varumaaWill you go as a messenger for love and return?
Sokkura em manasaMy heart that gets mesmerized,
Sundharikku kaadhula odhidumaaWill you whisper it in the beautiful girl's ear?
Chorus
Thandhadhat thamdham thandhadhat thamdhamRhythm vocalizations (Thandhadhat thamdham thandhadhat thamdham)
Thandhadhat thamdham thandhadhat thamRhythm vocalizations (Thandhadhat thamdham thandhadhat tham)
Thandhadhat thamdham thandhadhat thamdhamRhythm vocalizations (Thandhadhat thamdham thandhadhat thamdham)
Thandhadhat thamdham thandhadhat thamRhythm vocalizations (Thandhadhat thamdham thandhadhat tham)
Female
Kattalaikku dhinam kattup padugiraTo me, a beauty who obeys commands every day,
Kattazhagi enakkuA beautiful girl for me,
Un kattu kadhai edharkku ohoWhy these made-up tall tales of yours, oho?
Chorus
{OhoOho
Female
Oho } (5)Oho
Female
Thottu thazhuvida sutri varugiraCircling around to touch and embrace,
Katti karumbunakkuOh solid sugarcane-like sweetheart,
Veen acham ini edharkkuWhy this futile fear anymore?
Male
Neerukkum vaerukkumBetween the water and the root,
Baedham illaiThere is no difference.
Vaeredhum naan paesa vaarthai illaiI have no other words left to speak.
Female
Aaruyir kaavalanaeOh protector of my precious soul,
Un kaaval thaedi thaanOnly seeking your protection,
Thaeyudhu vaan piraiyaeThe crescent moon in the sky melts away.
Male
Aadidum kaaviriyaeLike the dancing river Kaveri,
Nee vandhu kooda thaanOnly when you come and join,
Paadudhu vaalibamaeMy youthfulness sings!
Female
Vaa vaadidudhae vaasa mullaiCome, the fragrant jasmine is wilting!
Nee thoda thaamadham yenWhy the delay for you to touch it?
Male
Mutrathu maada puraaCourtyard balcony pigeon,
Kaadhalukku thoodhonnu poi varumaaWill you go as a messenger for love and return?
Sokkura em manasaMy heart that gets mesmerized,
Sundharikku kaadhula odhidumaaWill you whisper it in the beautiful girl's ear?
Male
Vetkam varugaiyil pathu nilavenaWhen bashfulness arrives, like ten moons glowing,
Vatta mugam sivakka andha vetti nilavedharkkuWhen your round face blushes, why need that useless sky moon?
Female
{OhoOho
Chorus
Oho} (5)Oho
Male
Mutha kadalukkumEven in the ocean of pearls,
Muthu kulithidaTo dive for pearls,
Thittam itta piragum veen vetti kadhai edharkkuAfter making plans, why engage in useless idle chatter?
Female
Raamanum seethaikku maalai idaFor Rama to put the garland on Sita,
Mandhiram sollidum vaelai idhuThis is the time when mantras are chanted!
Male
Kaeladi thaamaraiyaeListen, oh lotus-like woman,
Un naanam kaana thaanJust to behold your shyness,
Vaazhndhidum sooriyanaeThe living sun exists!
Female
Aanandha sooriyanaeThe sun of bliss!
Unnodu saera thaanJust to unite with you,
Pootthidum thaamaraiyaeThe lotus blooms!
Male
Naan ennai ingae thandhu vittenI have given myself to you right here,
Nambudee sundhariyaeTrust me, my beautiful lady!
Female
Mutrathu maada puraaCourtyard balcony pigeon,
Kaadhalukku thoodhonnu poi varumaaWill you go as a messenger for love and return?
Sokkura em manasaMy heart that gets mesmerized,
Maamanukku kaadhula odhidumaaWill you whisper it in my beloved uncle's ear?
Male
Mutha mazhaiyinil aadai kattaTo drape a garment in the rain of kisses,
Mundhiri thoppinil vaeli kattaTo build a fence in the cashew grove,
Nitham thavikkira chittukku thaali katta oo…To tie the wedding knot for the sparrow that yearns daily, oh...
Female
Mutrathu maada puraaCourtyard balcony pigeon,
Kaadhalukku thoodhonnu poi varumaaWill you go as a messenger for love and return?
Male
Sokkura em manasaMy heart that gets mesmerized,
Sundharikku kaadhula odhidumaaWill you whisper it in the beautiful girl's ear?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Mutrathu Maada Puraa' from the 1995 Tamil film 'Periya Kudumbam' is a playful and romantic duet where two lovers express their deep affection through rural and nature imagery. The song opens with a plea to a courtyard pigeon to act as a love messenger ('Thoodhu') to carry romantic whispers to the beloved. The lovers teasingly question why there should be any delay in tying the sacred wedding knot ('Thaali'). As the song progresses, the lovers compare their connection to the inseparable relationship between water and root, as well as the timeless bond between Lord Rama and Sita. They playfully exchange metaphors comparing the heroine's blushing face to multiple moons and the hero to a sun that exists only to bring out the bloom in his lotus-like beloved.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Thoodhu (Love Messenger Trope)

Mutrathu maada puraa / Kaadhalukku thoodhonnu poi varumaa

Addressing a pigeon (Puraa) to carry a message of love to the beloved is a classical Sangam literature poetic convention.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Katti karumbunakku / Kaeladi thaamaraiyae

Comparing the heroine to a lotus flower ('Thaamarai') and sweet sugarcane ('Katti karumbu'), and the hero to the radiant sun ('Aanandha sooriyan').

Alliteration (Monaai) and Rhyme (Edhukai)

Kattalaikku dhinam kattup padugira / Kattazhagi enakku / Un kattu kadhai edharkku

Repetition of initial consonant sounds and second-letter rhyming patterns across lines such as 'Kattalaikku', 'Kattazhagi', 'Kattu kadhai'.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Vetkam varugaiyil pathu nilavena / Vatta mugam sivakka

Exaggerating the heroine's blushing face as glowing like ten moons appearing at once.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although marked as unknown in some song listings, 'Periya Kudumbam' (1995) starring Prabhu and Kanaka featured a soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by R. V. Udhaya Kumar. This song in particular was sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.

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