Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pavala Malligai

From Mandhira Punnagai · 1986

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Mandhira Punnagai1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pavala malligaiCoral jasmine flower
Ilaya kannigaiA young maiden
Paruva mangaiyinOf a youthful woman
Pudhiya punnagaiA new smile
Female
Ponn oonjal podum neramThe time when a golden swing sways
Un paarvai pesum thaalamThe rhythm spoken by your gaze
Male
Meen vizhi dhevadhaiAn angel with fish-like eyes
Kannilae nilavu sindhudhaeMoonlight spills from her eyes
Female
Pavala malligaiCoral jasmine flower
Ilaya kannigaiA young maiden
Paruva mangaiyinOf a youthful woman
Pudhiya punnagaiA new smile
Male
Poovukku poovaalaeFor a flower made of flowers
Melaadai yenWhy an upper garment?
Poovukkul ullaadumDancing inside the flower
Naan unnum thaenIs the honey I consume
Female
Megam moodum nilaavaeOh moon covered by clouds
Maeni mel yeriyaadhaeDo not climb over the body
Male
Aasai ulloora oorumDesire wells up inside
Thaedi unnodu serumIt seeks and joins with you
Female
That thagadha thatthadhaaRhythmic syllables
Male
Pavala malligaiCoral jasmine flower
Ilaya kannigaiA young maiden
Paruva mangaiyinOf a youthful woman
Pudhiya punnagaiA new smile
Female
Ponn oonjal podum neramThe time when a golden swing sways
Un paarvai pesum thaalamThe rhythm spoken by your gaze
Male
Meen vizhi dhevadhaiAn angel with fish-like eyes
Kannilae nilavu sindhudhaeMoonlight spills from her eyes
Female
Pavala malligaiCoral jasmine flower
Ilaya kannigaiA young maiden
Paruva mangaiyinOf a youthful woman
Pudhiya punnagaiA new smile
Female
Nee konjum aanandhamThe joy you fondle with
Thaen sindhum vaaCome, spilling honey
Neeraada ponaalumEven when going to bathe
Nee kooda vaaYou come along too
Male
Paavai un sevai thaevaiMaiden, your presence and service are needed
Serndhu naan paadum vaelaiWhen I sing together with you
Female
Dhegam engindra medaiOn the stage that is the body
Mooda nee thaanae aadaiYou yourself are the garment to cover it
Male
That thagadha thatthadhaaRhythmic syllables
Female
Pavala malligaiCoral jasmine flower
Ilaya kannigaiA young maiden
Paruva mangaiyinOf a youthful woman
Pudhiya punnagaiA new smile
Male
Ponn oonjal podum neramThe time when a golden swing sways
Un paarvai pesum thaalamThe rhythm spoken by your gaze
Female
Meen vizhi dhevadhaiAn angel with fish-like eyes
Kannilae nilavu sindhudhaeMoonlight spills from her eyes
Male
Pavala malligaiCoral jasmine flower
Ilaya kannigaiA young maiden
Female :Paruva mangaiyinFemale: Of a youthful woman
Pudhiya punnagaiA new smile

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Pavala Malligai' from Mandhira Punnagai (1986) is a romantic duet expressing deep romantic intimacy and admiration. The singer praises the beauty of his beloved, comparing her maidenhood and fresh smile to delicate coral jasmines and calling her an angel with fish-like eyes whose gaze spills moonlight. The lyrics weave sensory images of sweet honey, soft garments, and rhythmic sway to convey romantic longing and emotional closeness between the lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvagam)

Meen vizhi dhevadhai

'Meen vizhi dhevadhai' compares the maiden's eyes to fish, symbolising beauty and sparkle without using explicit comparison words.

Metaphor

Dhegam engindra medai

'Dhegam engindra medai' metaphorically refers to the body as a stage for love and romance.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Poovukku poovaalae / Poovukkul ullaadum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Poovukku' and 'Poovukkul' creating internal rhythm in the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by prominent poet Na. Kamarajan, known for bringing modern free-verse poetics (Pudhikavithai) into Tamil film lyricism during the 1980s.

Keep listening

More from Mandhira Punnagai