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Malligai Poo album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Potta Mookkuthi

From Malligai Poo · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Malligai Poo
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
16 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkam
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkam
Male :Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkam
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkam
Un peru thangam un manasum thangam
Un peru thangam un manasum thangam
Maanikkaththai eduthaen
Intha thangaththilae padhiththaen
Maanikkaththai eduthaen
Intha thangaththilae padhiththaen
Intha thangaththilae padhiththaen
Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkam
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkam
Paavaadai melaakku pottu vantha pallaakku
Pennaaga edhiril vanthu kannaalae pesuthu
Paavaadai melaakku pottu vantha pallaakku
Pennaaga edhiril vanthu kannaalae pesuthu
Aanazhagu paathi tholazhagu paathi
Aanazhagu paathi tholazhagu paathi
Kootti vanthu ennai vaattuvathu enna
Kootti vanthu ennai vaattuvathu enna
Alli alli eduppaen
Naan solli solli koduppaen
Alli alli eduppaen
Naan solli solli koduppaen
Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkam
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkam
Poevara idamindri poongaattru yaenguthu
Otti konda ullam rendum
Onnai onnu thaanguthu
Poevara idamindri poongaattru yaenguthu
Otti konda ullam rendum
Onnai onnu thaanguthu
Kannaalae eesan sutterichcha pothum
Kannaalae eesan sutterichcha pothum
Manmathanin sontham mangai rathithaanae
Manmathanin sontham mangai rathithaanae
Kadavul potta kanakku
Intha kanni endrum unakku
Kadavul potta kanakku
Intha kanni endrum unakku
Intha kanni endrum unakku
Nee potta mookkuththiyo maanikkam
Female :Naan paarththa maappillaiyum maanikkam
Oo…..ooh….ooh….oo….
Female :Aa….aah…aah…..aa….aa….
Male :Oo…..ooh….ooh….oo….
Female :Aa….aah…aah…..aa….aa….
The nose stud you wear is a ruby
And the groom I chose is a gem as well
The nose stud you wear is a ruby
And the groom I chose is a gem as well
Your name is gold, and your heart is pure gold
Your name is gold, and your heart is pure gold
I took the ruby
And set it into this gold
I took the ruby
And set it into this gold
Set it into this gold
The nose stud you wear is a ruby
And the groom I chose is a gem as well
Dressed in a skirt and drape, a graceful palanquin
Has come before me as a woman, speaking with her eyes
Dressed in a skirt and drape, a graceful palanquin
Has come before me as a woman, speaking with her eyes
Half your manly charm and half your strong shoulders
Half your manly charm and half your strong shoulders
Why do they join together to tease and torment me?
Why do they join together to tease and torment me?
I will gather you into my arms
And teach you love, bit by bit
I will gather you into my arms
And teach you love, bit by bit
The nose stud you wear is a ruby
And the groom I chose is a gem as well
With no space to slip between us, the gentle breeze yearns
Two hearts joined so close
Hold and comfort each other
With no space to slip between us, the gentle breeze yearns
Two hearts joined so close
Hold and comfort each other
Even when Lord Shiva burned him with His eye of fire,
Even when Lord Shiva burned him with His eye of fire,
Manmatha (god of love) still belonged only to Rati
Manmatha (god of love) still belonged only to Rati
It is the design made by God
This girl belongs to you forever
It is the design made by God
This girl belongs to you forever
This girl belongs to you forever
The nose stud you wear is a ruby
And the groom I chose is a gem as well
Ooh... ooh... ooh... ooh...
Aah... aah... aah... aah... aah...
Ooh... ooh... ooh... ooh...
Aah... aah... aah... aah... aah...
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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