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Lyrics & meaning

Oru Mugathil Yean

From Thulli Odum Pulliman · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thulli Odum Pulliman
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
23 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam
Adhai ovvondraai solluvathae pengal subaavam
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam
Adhai ovvondraai solluvathae pengal subaavam
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam
Nilam paarkkum pothil adhil naanam naanam
Kangal mugam paarkkumpothu adhu kadhal kadhal
Nilam paarkkum pothil adhil naanam naanam
Kangal mugam paarkkumpothu adhu kadhal kadhal
Ora kannaal paarppathuthaan azhaippu
Ora kannaal paarppathuthaan azhaippu
Aadai odhungumpothu thirunthuvathu ninaippu ninaippu
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam
Adhai ovvondraai solluvathae pengal subaavam
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam
Chellamaaga kaattuvathu kobam
Kannam killivittaal thondruvathu sogam
Chellamaaga kaattuvathu kobam
Kannam killivittaal thondruvathu sogam
Mella vanthu anaikkumpothu thigaippu
Mella vanthu anaikkumpothu thigaippu
Neram sella sella nenjukkulae viyappu
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam
Anthiyilae santhippil aaval aaval
Adhil ammammaa endru oru paadal paadal
Anthiyilae santhippil aaval aaval
Adhil ammammaa endru oru paadal paadal
Kann mayangi oodal seiyyum uravu
Kann mayangi oodal seiyyum uravu
Adhikaalaiyilae mugam muzhuthum amaithi amaithi
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam
Adhai ovvondraai solluvathae pengal subaavam
Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam…
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face?
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face?
Revealing them one by one is just a woman's nature.
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face?
Revealing them one by one is just a woman's nature.
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face?
When looking down at the ground, there is shyness, pure shyness;
When eyes look right into the face, it is love, true love;
When looking down at the ground, there is shyness, pure shyness;
When eyes look right into the face, it is love, true love;
A glance from the corner of the eye is an invitation;
A glance from the corner of the eye is an invitation;
Adjusting her dress when it slips aside is deep longing, lingering thought.
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face?
Revealing them one by one is just a woman's nature.
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face?
What she playfully shows is pretended anger;
When her cheek is pinched, what appears is sorrow;
What she playfully shows is pretended anger;
When her cheek is pinched, what appears is sorrow;
When gently held in an embrace, there is startled surprise;
When gently held in an embrace, there is startled surprise;
As time slips by, inside the heart is sheer wonder.
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face?
Meeting together at dusk brings eager longing, eager longing;
And in it, a breathless song sighing "Oh my! Oh my!";
Meeting together at dusk brings eager longing, eager longing;
And in it, a breathless song sighing "Oh my! Oh my!";
A loving bond where swooning eyes share a playful lover's tiff;
A loving bond where swooning eyes share a playful lover's tiff;
And in the early dawn, all across the face is peace, gentle peace.
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face?
Revealing them one by one is just a woman's nature.
Why are there nine different expressions on a single face...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic track celebrates the Indian aesthetic concept of 'Navarasa'—the nine fundamental human emotions (Shringara/Love, Naanam/Shyness, Kobam/Anger, Sogam/Sadness, Viyappu/Wonder, Aaval/Longing, Amaithi/Peace, etc.)—as manifested in a woman's expressions during romantic intimate moments across the day and night.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam / Adhai ovvondraai solluvathae pengal subaavam”

The lines end with rhyming sounds 'paavam' and 'subaavam'.

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Nilam paarkkum pothil adhil naanam naanam”

Repetition of words like 'naanam naanam', 'kadhal kadhal', 'aaval aaval', and 'amaithi amaithi' enhances both emotional intensity and musical cadence.

Conceptual Allusion (Navarasa Mapping)

“Oru mugaththil yaen intha onbathu paavam”

Kannadasan masterfully maps the classical aesthetic theory of nine emotions (Navarasa) onto the changing facial expressions and emotional beats of a lover.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan and sung by K. J. Yesudas, this song from 'Thulli Odum Pulliman' (1971) is widely celebrated among Tamil music lovers for its clever thematic structure, systematically listing different facial expressions corresponding to the classical Navarasas.

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