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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oho Oho Thottu Pesungal

From Magaraasi · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Magaraasi1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oh o o ho thottu pesungalOh, speak to me with a gentle touch
Oh o o ho thottu pesungalOh, speak to me with a gentle touch
En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittuPlacing a golden garland upon my shoulders
En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittuPlacing a golden garland upon my shoulders
Female
Oh o o ho thottu pesungalOh, speak to me with a gentle touch
En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittuPlacing a golden garland upon my shoulders
En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittuPlacing a golden garland upon my shoulders
Oh o o ho thottu pesungalOh, speak to me with a gentle touch
Female
Paalena minnum kannamCheeks gleaming brightly like milk
Mel oru kaadhal vannamPainted over with the color of love
Paalena minnum kannamCheeks gleaming brightly like milk
Mel oru kaadhal vannamPainted over with the color of love
Ezhudhi paarthu thirumba kettuWriting it down and asking to hear it again
Nilavai suvaiyakkavaaShall I make the moon taste sweet?
Ezhudhi paarthu thirumba kettuWriting it down and asking to hear it again
Nilavai suvaiyakkavaa hoi hoi hoiShall I make the moon taste sweet? Hoi hoi hoi
Siriya pooavi arugil serthuBringing a soft small flower closer
Perugum thaenai parugi paarkkumTasting the overflowing honey within
Uravu neeyallavaa..hoAren't you the companion of such a bond?
Uravu neeyallavaa…Aren't you the companion of such a bond?
Female
Oh o o ho thottu pesungalOh, speak to me with a gentle touch
En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittuPlacing a golden garland upon my shoulders
En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittuPlacing a golden garland upon my shoulders
Oh o o ho thottu pesungalOh, speak to me with a gentle touch
Female
Melliya kaadhal medaiA soft stage crafted for love
Malligai poovin vaadaiFilled with the fragrance of jasmine blossoms
Melliya kaadhal medaiA soft stage crafted for love
Malligai poovin vaadaiFilled with the fragrance of jasmine blossoms
Mayangum manjam unadhu sondhamThis enchanting bed belongs to you
Iniyum naan sollavaaShould I still need to explain?
Mayangum manjam unadhu sondhamThis enchanting bed belongs to you
Hoi hoi hoi…Hoi hoi hoi...
Iniyum naan sollavaaShould I still need to explain?
Neram poga neram pogaAs time slips away and night goes on
Ninaivillamal palavum pesumTalking about many things without conscious thought
Kanavai nee sollavaaWill you share that sweet dream?
Iniyum naan sollavaaShould I still need to explain?
Female
Oh o o ho thottu pesungalOh, speak to me with a gentle touch
En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittuPlacing a golden garland upon my shoulders
En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittuPlacing a golden garland upon my shoulders
Oh o o ho thottu pesungalOh, speak to me with a gentle touch

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Thottu Pesungal" is a classic romantic melody from the 1967 Tamil film 'Magaraasi', composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and rendered by P. Susheela. The heroine affectionately invites her lover to express his affection through gentle touch, comparing his warm embrace around her shoulders to an exquisite golden garland. Rich in sensory imagery, Kannadasan's lyrics depict soft jasmine flowers, milk-white cheeks blushing in love, and late-night dreamlike conversations, capturing the playful intimacy and poetic romance between lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Paalena minnum kannam

Compares the smooth, glowing complexion of the cheek to the pure brightness of milk ('Paalena minnum kannam').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En thozhgalilae ponn maalaiyittu

Metaphorically describes the lover's arms wrapped around the heroine's shoulders as a golden garland ('ponn maalaiyittu').

Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethugai)

Melliya kaadhal medai / Malligai poovin vaadai

The second consonant 'l' repeats across adjacent lines ('Melliya' / 'Malligai'), creating a rhythmic musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Magaraasi' (1967) stars Gemini Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The song is one of the memorable early compositions of Shankar-Ganesh, featuring P. Susheela's soothing vocals that beautifully captured Jayalalithaa's screen presence.

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