- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Movie name
- Ranga Raattinam
- Movie release year
- 1971
- Lyrics added on
- 23 May 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Oru Malligai Mottu' is a poetic and romantic track from the 1971 Tamil film 'Ranga Raattinam', penned by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of rain and cold winds, the lyrics use vivid sensory imagery of nature to express romantic desire and intimacy between lovers. The opening metaphor compares a blooming jasmine bud touched by rain to a woman awakening to love, attracting the cool breeze like a yearning lover. As the song unfolds, the lyricist blends intimacy with playful candidness. The protagonist acknowledges his notorious past as a thief who stole wealth and gold, but pivots to express a natural, human hunger for romance and love. He invites his beloved to surrender to passion, framing romance as a feast for the soul. Kannadasan's signature style shines through the seamless integration of natural elements, romantic craving, and rich Tamil metaphors.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Thalir pondra ila maeni thodum aasai kondu”
The word 'pondra' explicitly compares the softness and freshness of the young woman's body ('ila maeni') to a tender plant sprout ('thalir').
Personification / Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Adhan punnagai pattu than manam kettu / Konjida vandhadhu kulir kaatru”
The blooming of the flower petals is personified as a 'smile' ('punnagai'), and the wind is personified as a lover coming to caress ('konjida') the flower.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Oru malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu”
The repetition of the 'M' sound in 'malligai', 'mottu', and 'mazhai' creates a pleasant auditory flow at the beginning of the song.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Porulukkaaga ponnukkaaga / Thiruda ponadhundu”
The rhythmic rhyming ending sound '-kaaga' creates musical cadence in the stanza.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the iconic Kaviarasu Kannadasan for the 1971 movie 'Ranga Raattinam', this song showcases his mastery in weaving romantic metaphors through nature imagery like rain, flowers, and wind. Kannadasan frequently used the metaphor of rain touching a jasmine bud across his career to symbolize sensory awakening and romantic intimacy.
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