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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Potta Mookkuthi

From Malligai Poo · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Malligai Poo1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkamIs the nose stud you wear a ruby?
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkamThe groom I chose is also a gem.
Male :Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkamIs the nose stud you wear a ruby?
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkamThe groom I chose is also a gem.
Male
Un peru thangam un manasum thangamYour name is gold, your heart is pure gold.
Un peru thangam un manasum thangamYour name is gold, your heart is pure gold.
Female
Maanikkaththai eduthaenI took the ruby,
Intha thangaththilae padhiththaenAnd embedded it in this gold.
Maanikkaththai eduthaenI took the ruby,
Intha thangaththilae padhiththaenAnd embedded it in this gold.
Intha thangaththilae padhiththaenAnd embedded it in this gold.
Male
Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkamIs the nose stud you wear a ruby?
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkamThe groom I chose is also a gem.
Male
Paavaadai melaakku pottu vantha pallaakkuA palanquin draped in a skirt and upper garment has arrived,
Pennaaga edhiril vanthu kannaalae pesuthuAppearing before me as a woman, speaking through her eyes.
Paavaadai melaakku pottu vantha pallaakkuA palanquin draped in a skirt and upper garment has arrived,
Pennaaga edhiril vanthu kannaalae pesuthuAppearing before me as a woman, speaking through her eyes.
Female
Aanazhagu paathi tholazhagu paathiHalf masculine charm, half beauty of shoulders,
Aanazhagu paathi tholazhagu paathiHalf masculine charm, half beauty of shoulders,
Kootti vanthu ennai vaattuvathu ennaWhy do you combine them and torment me so?
Kootti vanthu ennai vaattuvathu ennaWhy do you combine them and torment me so?
Male
Alli alli eduppaenI will gather you again and again,
Naan solli solli koduppaenI will teach you lovingly time and again.
Alli alli eduppaenI will gather you again and again,
Naan solli solli koduppaenI will teach you lovingly time and again.
Male
Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkamIs the nose stud you wear a ruby?
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkamThe groom I chose is also a gem.
Female
Poevara idamindri poongaattru yaenguthuWith no space left to move around, the soft breeze yearns,
Otti konda ullam rendumThe two intertwined hearts,
Onnai onnu thaanguthuSupport each other.
Poevara idamindri poongaattru yaenguthuWith no space left to move around, the soft breeze yearns,
Otti konda ullam rendumThe two intertwined hearts,
Onnai onnu thaanguthuSupport each other.
Male
Kannaalae eesan sutterichcha pothumEven if Lord Shiva burnt him down with his third eye,
Kannaalae eesan sutterichcha pothumEven if Lord Shiva burnt him down with his third eye,
Manmathanin sontham mangai rathithaanaeLove God Manmatha's true partner remains maiden Rathi alone.
Manmathanin sontham mangai rathithaanaeLove God Manmatha's true partner remains maiden Rathi alone.
Female
Kadavul potta kanakkuIt is a destiny calculated by God,
Intha kanni endrum unakkuThis maiden is forever yours.
Kadavul potta kanakkuIt is a destiny calculated by God,
Intha kanni endrum unakkuThis maiden is forever yours.
Intha kanni endrum unakkuThis maiden is forever yours.
Male
Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkamIs the nose stud you wear a ruby?
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkamThe groom I chose is also a gem.
Male
Oo…..ooh….ooh….oo….Oo.....ooh....ooh....oo....
Female :Aa….aah…aah…..aa….aa….Aa....aah...aah.....aa....aa....
Male :Oo…..ooh….ooh….oo….Oo.....ooh....ooh....oo....
Female :Aa….aah…aah…..aa….aa….Aa....aah...aah.....aa....aa....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkam is a joyful and romantic duet from the 1973 movie Malligai Poo, featuring music composed by V. Kumar and lyrics by Vaali. The song is rendered as a sweet, playful dialogue between a couple expressing deep mutual affection and admiration. The hero compares his lover's charm and nose ring to a precious ruby set in gold, while the heroine proudly declares her groom to be a gem himself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkam / Un peru thangam un manasum thangam

Compares the nose stud and the lover directly to rubies ('maanikkam') and gold ('thangam') to emphasize precious value and radiance.

Imagery and Metaphor

Paavaadai melaakku pottu vantha pallaakku

Describing the woman draped in traditional attire as a graceful, moving palanquin ('pallaakku').

Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippu)

Kannaalae eesan sutterichcha pothum / Manmathanin sontham mangai rathithaanae

References the Hindu mythological tale of Lord Shiva burning Manmatha (Kama), emphasizing that despite all odds, Rathi and Manmatha belong together, drawing a parallel to the couple's eternal love.

Repetition for Rhythm (Adukku Thodar)

Alli alli eduppaen / Naan solli solli koduppaen

Repeated pairs of words ('alli alli', 'solli solli') create a rhythmic, melodic flow and heighten romantic intent.

Did you know?

Trivia

Malligai Poo (1973) featured memorable compositions by V. Kumar, a prominent music director in Tamil cinema during the late 1960s and 1970s. The vocal pairing of T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) and P. Susheela, combined with Vaali's playful folk-classical lyrics, made this duet a enduring radio favourite.

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