Oru Malligai Mottu
From Ranga Raattinam · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Ranga Raattinam1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oru malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu | A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain, |
| Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu | Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals, |
| Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu | Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals. |
| Adhan punnagai pattu than manam kettu | Enchanted by its smile and losing its mind, |
| Konjida vandhadhu kulir kaatru | The chilly breeze came to caress it, |
| Konjida vandhadhu kulirk kaatru | The chilly breeze came to caress it. |
| Male | |
| Malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu | A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain, |
| Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu | Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals, |
| Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu | Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals. |
| Male | |
| Kodai mazhaiyil vaadai kaatril | In the summer rain and northern breeze, |
| Kuliredukkira maadhu | Here is a woman shivering from the cold; |
| Aadai konjam vilagi nindru | As her dress slips slightly aside, |
| Azhagai kaattum podhu | Revealing her beauty, |
| Male | |
| Kodai mazhaiyil vaadai kaatril | In the summer rain and northern breeze, |
| Kuliredukkira maadhu | Here is a woman shivering from the cold; |
| Aadai konjam vilagi nindru | As her dress slips slightly aside, |
| Azhagai kaattum podhu | Revealing her beauty, |
| Thalir pondra ila maeni thodum aasai kondu | Desiring to touch her young, tender body like a fresh sprout, |
| Kuliraamal thudikkindra manam ondru undu | There is a heart aching with passion, unfazed by the cold. |
| Male | |
| Malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu | A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain, |
| Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu | Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals, |
| Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu | Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals. |
| Male | |
| Oorarindha thirudan endru | Known as a thief to the whole town, |
| Paer eduthadhundu | I have earned that reputation; |
| Porulukkaaga ponnukkaaga | For wealth and for gold, |
| Thiruda ponadhundu | I have gone stealing before. |
| Male | |
| Oorarindha thirudan endru | Known as a thief to the whole town, |
| Paer eduthadhundu | I have earned that reputation; |
| Porulukkaaga ponnukkaaga | For wealth and for gold, |
| Thiruda ponadhundu | I have gone stealing before. |
| Udalodu uruvaana pasi ondru undu | There is a hunger born along with this body; |
| Virundhaaga nee unnai parimaaru indru | Serve yourself as a feast today! |
| Male | |
| Malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu | A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain, |
| Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu | Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals, |
| Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu | Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals. |
ஒரு மல்லிகை மொட்டு மழைத் துளி பட்டு
ஜில்லென பூத்தது இதழ் விட்டு
ஜில்லென பூத்தது இதழ் விட்டு
அதன் புன்னகை பட்டு தன் மனம் கெட்டு
கொஞ்சிட வந்தது குளிர்க் காற்று
கொஞ்சிட வந்தது குளிர்க் காற்று
A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain,
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals,
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals.
Enchanted by its smile and losing its mind,
The chilly breeze came to caress it,
The chilly breeze came to caress it.
மல்லிகை மொட்டு மழைத் துளி பட்டு
ஜில்லென பூத்தது இதழ் விட்டு
ஜில்லென பூத்தது இதழ் விட்டு
A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain,
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals,
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals.
கோடை மழையில் வாடைக் காற்றில்
குளிரெடுக்கிற மாது
ஆடை கொஞ்சம் விலகி நின்று
அழகைக் காட்டும் போது
In the summer rain and northern breeze,
Here is a woman shivering from the cold;
As her dress slips slightly aside,
Revealing her beauty,
கோடை மழையில் வாடைக் காற்றில்
குளிரெடுக்கிற மாது
ஆடைக் கொஞ்சம் விலகி நின்று
அழகைக் காட்டும் போது
தளிர் போன்ற இளமேனி தொடும் ஆசை கொண்டு
குளிராமல் துடிக்கின்ற மனம் ஒன்று உண்டு
In the summer rain and northern breeze,
Here is a woman shivering from the cold;
As her dress slips slightly aside,
Revealing her beauty,
Desiring to touch her young, tender body like a fresh sprout,
There is a heart aching with passion, unfazed by the cold.
மல்லிகை மொட்டு மழைத் துளி பட்டு
ஜில்லென பூத்தது இதழ் விட்டு
ஜில்லென பூத்தது இதழ் விட்டு
A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain,
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals,
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals.
ஊரறிந்த திருடன் என்று
பேர் எடுத்ததுண்டு
பொருளுக்காக பொன்னுக்காக
திருடப் போனதுண்டு
Known as a thief to the whole town,
I have earned that reputation;
For wealth and for gold,
I have gone stealing before.
ஊரறிந்த திருடன் என்று
பேர் எடுத்ததுண்டு
பொருளுக்காக பொன்னுக்காக
திருடப் போனதுண்டு
உடலோடு உருவான பசி ஒன்று உண்டு
விருந்தாதாக நீ உன்னை பரிமாறு இன்று
Known as a thief to the whole town,
I have earned that reputation;
For wealth and for gold,
I have gone stealing before.
There is a hunger born along with this body;
Serve yourself as a feast today!
மல்லிகை மொட்டு மழைத் துளி பட்டு
ஜில்லென பூத்தது இதழ் விட்டு
ஜில்லென பூத்தது இதழ் விட்டு
A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain,
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals,
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals.
Oru malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu
A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain,
Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals,
Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals.
Adhan punnagai pattu than manam kettu
Enchanted by its smile and losing its mind,
Konjida vandhadhu kulir kaatru
The chilly breeze came to caress it,
Konjida vandhadhu kulirk kaatru
The chilly breeze came to caress it.
Malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu
A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain,
Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals,
Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals.
Kodai mazhaiyil vaadai kaatril
In the summer rain and northern breeze,
Kuliredukkira maadhu
Here is a woman shivering from the cold;
Aadai konjam vilagi nindru
As her dress slips slightly aside,
Azhagai kaattum podhu
Revealing her beauty,
Kodai mazhaiyil vaadai kaatril
In the summer rain and northern breeze,
Kuliredukkira maadhu
Here is a woman shivering from the cold;
Aadai konjam vilagi nindru
As her dress slips slightly aside,
Azhagai kaattum podhu
Revealing her beauty,
Thalir pondra ila maeni thodum aasai kondu
Desiring to touch her young, tender body like a fresh sprout,
Kuliraamal thudikkindra manam ondru undu
There is a heart aching with passion, unfazed by the cold.
Malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu
A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain,
Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals,
Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals.
Oorarindha thirudan endru
Known as a thief to the whole town,
Paer eduthadhundu
I have earned that reputation;
Porulukkaaga ponnukkaaga
For wealth and for gold,
Thiruda ponadhundu
I have gone stealing before.
Oorarindha thirudan endru
Known as a thief to the whole town,
Paer eduthadhundu
I have earned that reputation;
Porulukkaaga ponnukkaaga
For wealth and for gold,
Thiruda ponadhundu
I have gone stealing before.
Udalodu uruvaana pasi ondru undu
There is a hunger born along with this body;
Virundhaaga nee unnai parimaaru indru
Serve yourself as a feast today!
Malligai mottu mazhai thuli pattu
A jasmine bud, touched by a drop of rain,
Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals,
Chillena poothadhu idhazh vittu
Bloomed with a cool breeze, opening its petals.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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