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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

O Malliyakka O Rojakka

From Makkalai Petra Magarasi · 1957

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
Jikki, K. Jamunarani, A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Makkalai Petra Magarasi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ooo…oo ooo…oo ooo…… malliyakkaaOoo... sister Jasmine!
Female
Ooo…oo ooo…oo ooo…… yendi rojaakkaaOoo... why, sister Rose?
Female
Malliyakkaa malliyakkaa engadi poraeSister Jasmine, sister Jasmine, where are you going?
Konjam solladiyakkaaTell me a little, sister!
Edhukku ippadi kulukki nadakkuraeWhy are you walking with such a sway?
Female
Malliyakkaa malliyakkaa engadi poraeSister Jasmine, sister Jasmine, where are you going?
Konjam solladiyakkaaTell me a little, sister!
Edhukku ippadi kulukki nadakkuraeWhy are you walking with such a sway?
Female
Naan manaavaraiyai singaarichuTo decorate the wedding dais,
Vaasanaiyai alli thelichuShower sweet fragrance all around,
Vaaravanga ellaaraiyum mayakka porenI am going to entrance everyone who arrives!
Naan mayakka porenI am going to entrance them!
Pudhu mana ponnu koondhalilaeIn the tresses of the new bride,
Manakka porenI am going to spread my scent!
Female
Nee mana ponnu thalayil mattumYou, on the bride's head alone,
Manakka poraeWill spread fragrance.
Naan maappillai kazhuthai suthiI, around the groom's neck,
Thonga porenAm going to hang as a garland!
Nee mana ponnu thalayil mattumYou, on the bride's head alone,
Manakka poraeWill spread fragrance.
Naan maappillai kazhuthai suthiI, around the groom's neck,
Thonga porenAm going to hang as a garland!
Female
Nee vaasanaiyai koduthu puttuYou, after giving away your fragrance,
Vadhanga poraeWill just wither away!
Ingae vaaravanga kaiyil ellaamIn the hands of everyone who comes here,
Surunga porae ahhaa surunga poraeYou will get crushed and shrivel, ah, shrivel away!
Female
Kallamillaa manasukkennaiAs an example of an innocent heart,
Uvamai solvaangaThey will offer me as a simile!
Perum kavinjarellaam kaaviyathilAll great poets in their epic poetry,
Idam koduppaangaWill grant me a place of honor!
Kallamillaa manasukkennaiAs an example of an innocent heart,
Uvamai solvaangaThey will offer me as a simile!
Perum kavinjarellaam kaaviyathilAll great poets in their epic poetry,
Idam koduppaangaWill grant me a place of honor!
Female
Kaathadichaa podhumJust a gentle breeze blowing is enough,
Ennai kaana thudippaangaThey will yearn to catch a glimpse of me!
Kaathadichaa podhumJust a gentle breeze blowing is enough,
Ennai kaana thudippaangaThey will yearn to catch a glimpse of me!
Unnai kandaa koodaEven if they look at you,
Mullai ninaichu mugam sulippaangaRemembering your thorns, they will frown!
Ooo….ooo…ooo…ooo..oo…Ooo...
Female
Nee malarum munnaeBefore you even bloom,
Kadaikku vandhuYou arrive at the market,
Malarum munnae kadaikku vandhuAnd get sold cheaply in bulk!
Malgi poravaBefore you even dry up,
Female
Nee ularum munnaeIf someone merely touches you,
Thottaa koodaBefore you even dry up, if someone merely touches you,
Nee ularum munnae thottaa koodaYour petals crumble and fall!
Udhirndhu poravaOh-ho!
Female
OhhoWhile growing up, you clung onto a branch for support!
Nee valarum podhae kombai thaedi pudichavaWhile growing up, you clung onto a branch for support!
Nee valarum podhae kombai thaedi pudichavaUnable to even do that,
Female
Adhukku vagaiyillaamaYou stood alone and suffered in plight!
Thanichu ninnu thavichavaUnable to even do that,
Adhukku vagaiyillaamaYou stood alone and suffered in plight!
Thanichu ninnu thavichavaHooo ooo ooo hoo ooo
Hooo ooo ooo hoo oooLittle sister, little sister,
Female
Thangachi thangachiLittle sister Lotus,
Thaamarai thangachiWho among us is truly the best?
Engalukkullae yeva thaan sirandhavaSpeak up and tell us, little sister!
Eduthu solladi thangachiLittle sister, little sister,
Female
Thangachi thangachiLittle sister Lotus,
Thaamarai thangachiWho among us is truly the best?
Engalukkullae yeva thaan sirandhavaSpeak up and tell us, little sister!
Eduthu solladi thangachiNot everything that blooms blabbers endlessly,
Female
Malaruvadhellaam ularuvadhillaiDo not forget this, elder sisters!
Marandhida vaendaam akkachi akkachiLike certain human beings talking petty gossip,
Sila manidhrai polae vambugal paesiDo not wander around arguing, elder sisters!
Thirindhida vendaam akkachi akkachiWhat is the greatest thing in the world?
Female
Ulagil sirandhadhu ennaCharity performed by those with loving hearts.
Female
Anbu ullavar seidhidum dhaanamWhat is the greatest among all charity?
Andha dhaanathil sirandhadhu ennaPatience and composure that foster noble character.
Female
Nalla thanmai valarkkum nidhaanamWhat is the greatest thing in the world?
Female
Ulagil sirandhadhu ennaCharity performed by those with loving hearts.
Female
Anbu ullavar seidhidum dhaanamWhat is the greatest among all charity?
Andha dhaanathil sirandhadhu ennaPatience and composure that foster noble character.
Female
Nalla thanmai valarkkum nidhaanamWhat is even greater than that?
Female
Adhilum sirandhadhu ennaAs many apostles of non-violence
Female
Pala ahimsaa moorthigalAnalyzed and declared:
Aaraaindhu sonnaWorld peace, world peace!
Ulaga samaadhaanam ulaga samaadhaanamAs many apostles of non-violence
Pala agimsaa moorthigalAnalyzed and declared:
Aaraaindhu sonnaWorld peace, world peace!
Ulaga samaadhaanam ulaga samaadhaanamWe must realize that and conduct ourselves accordingly,
Female
Adhai naam unarndhu nadakka venumEveryone must remain united as one!
Ellorum onnaai irukka vaenumWe must realize that and conduct ourselves accordingly,
Adhai naam unarndhu nadakka vaenumEveryone must remain united as one!
Ellorum onnaai irukka venumOnly then will peace prevail,
Appo thaan ulavum samaadhaanamEverywhere peace will flourish!
Engum nilavum samaadhaanamPeace, peace!
Samaadhaanam samaadhaanam

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and allegorical song from 'Makkalai Petra Magarasi' (1957) features a lively debate between flowers—Jasmine (Malligai), Rose (Roja), and Lotus (Thaamarai). Jasmine and Rose vanity-trip over their respective beauty, fragrance, and roles in weddings, boasting about their superiority while mocking each other's flaws like thorns and short lifespans.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Maanidamayamaakkal)

Malliyakkaa malliyakkaa engadi porae

Flowers (Jasmine, Rose, and Lotus) are personified as arguing sisters talking about human affairs, vanity, and morals.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thangachi thangachi / Thaamarai thangachi

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound across consecutive lines and phrases creates musical harmony.

Moral / Didactic Allegory

Malaruvadhellaam ularuvadhillai... Ulaga samaadhaanam

The lyricist uses floral rivalry as a metaphor to critique human pettiness and preach Ahimsa (non-violence) and global peace.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary 'Makkal Kavignar' Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, this song exemplifies his signature style of taking everyday nature allegories and converting them into profound socio-political messages of peace, equality, and unity.

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