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Mullum Malarum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Niththam Niththam

From Mullum Malarum · 1978

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Mullum Malarum
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
6 Jan 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Niththam niththam nellu choru
Nei manakkum kaththirikkai
Niththam niththam nellu choru
Nei manakkum kaththirikkai
Nethu vacha meen kozhmabu
Ennai izhukkuthaiyya
Nenjukullae andha nenappu
Vanthu mayakkuthaiyaa
Pacharisu soru ..mmm
Uppu karuvadu
Sinnammanooru vaaikka
Selu kendai meenu
Kuruththaana molai keerai
Vaadaatha siru keerai
Nenaikaiyilae enakku ippo echi ooruthu
Alli thinna aasai vanthu ennai meeruthu
Niththam niththam nellu choru
Nei manakkum kaththirikkai
Nethu vacha meen kozhmabu
Ennai izhukkuthaiyya
Nenjukullae andha nenappu
Vanthu mayakkuthaiyaa
Paavakkaa koottu
Paruppoda serthu
Pakkuvathai paathu
Aakki mudichachu
Siru kaalaan varuthaachu
Patham paathu eduthaachu
Kezh varagu koozhukathu
Romba poruthamaiyya
Thinam kudicha odambu idhu
Rombha perukkumaiyya
Niththam niththam nellu choru
Nei manakkum kaththirikkai
Nethu vacha meen kozhmabu
Ennai izhukkuthaiyya
Nenjukullae andha nenappu
Vanthu mayakkuthaiyaa
Pazhayathukku thodha
Pulichirukkum moru
Pottukadalia thenggaai
Poattaraicha thovaiyalu
Saambaaru venggayam
Salikkathu thinnaalum
Adhukku enai olagathilae illavae illai
Alli thinnen enakku innum alukkavae illai
Iththanaikum melirukku
Nenjukullae aasai onnu
Soosagamaa solla poren pombalai thaangga
Soodaaga irukkurappo saappuda vaangga
Steaming white rice every single day,
Brinjal curry fragrant with ghee,
Steaming white rice every single day,
Brinjal curry fragrant with ghee,
The fish curry cooked yesterday
Draws me in so irresistibly, my dear!
The mere thought of it in my heart
Leaves me dizzy with craving, my dear!
Freshly cooked raw rice... mmm,
And salty dried fish,
From the Chinnamanur canal,
Plump and tender carp fish,
Tender, fresh spinach greens,
Crisp and fresh amaranth leaves,
Just thinking of it makes my mouth water now,
The urge to scoop and eat it is overwhelming me!
Steaming white rice every single day,
Brinjal curry fragrant with ghee,
The fish curry cooked yesterday
Draws me in so irresistibly, my dear!
The mere thought of it in my heart
Leaves me dizzy with craving, my dear!
Bitter gourd stew
Cooked together with lentils,
Prepared with utmost care,
Is now fully cooked and ready!
Tender little mushrooms are roasted,
Taken off the flame at the perfect moment,
Paired with finger-millet porridge,
It is a match made in heaven, my dear!
If you drink it every day,
Your body will grow healthy and stout, my dear!
Steaming white rice every single day,
Brinjal curry fragrant with ghee,
The fish curry cooked yesterday
Draws me in so irresistibly, my dear!
The mere thought of it in my heart
Leaves me dizzy with craving, my dear!
To go perfectly with fermented cold rice,
There is tangy sour buttermilk,
With roasted gram and coconut
Ground into a thick spicy chutney,
And sambar loaded with shallots—
You would never grow tired of eating it!
There is nothing in this whole world to match it,
I ate heaps of it, yet I cannot get enough!
Above and beyond all of this,
There is one special desire inside my heart...
I will hint at it shyly, for I am a woman after all:
While it is still piping hot, come eat!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song celebrates the rich, rustic culinary culture of rural Tamil Nadu with exuberant passion. Through detailed descriptions of mouth-watering traditional foods—ranging from yesterday's seasoned fish curry and ghee-infused eggplant to fried mushrooms, millet porridge, and coconut chutney—the singer expresses an irresistible craving and joy for simple, wholesome home cooking. The song vividly highlights how food connects to affection, comfort, and sensory delight in everyday village life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Niththam niththam nellu choru / Nethu vacha meen kozhmabu”

Repetition of the 'N' sound at the beginning of consecutive key words creates a melodic rhythmic flow.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Pacharisu soru ..mmm / Uppu karuvadu”

Slight structural pairing and rhythmic harmony across short, punchy descriptive food items.

Sensory Imagery

“Nei manakkum kaththirikkai / Nethu vacha meen kozhmabu”

Appeals strongly to olfactory and gustatory senses by describing the rich aroma of ghee and seasoned fish curry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mullum Malarum (1978) is a landmark Tamil drama film directed by J. Mahendran, starring Rajinikanth in one of his most critically acclaimed early roles. The music for the movie was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics for this song penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. The song is celebrated for its vivid celebration of native Tamil cuisine.

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