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Isaimozhi
Mann Vasanai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pothi Vacha Malliga

From Mann Vasanai · 1983

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Mann Vasanai
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
30 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pothivecha malliga mottu
Poothiruchu vetkatha vitu
Pesi pesi raasi aanadhae …ae
Maman pera solli
Solli aalaanadhae
Romba naalanadhae
{ Pothivecha malliga mottu
Poothiruchu vetkatha vitu } (2)
Pesi pesi raasi aanadhae …ae
Maman pera solli
Solli aalaanadhaeMale :Ha haan
Romba naal aanadhaeMale :Hmm hmm
Maalayida kaathu alli iruku
Thaali seiya nethu solli iruku
Idhu saayngaalama
Madi saayum kaalama
Mulla poo soodu mella paai podu
Ada vaada kaathu soodu yethudhu
Pothivecha malliga mottu
Poothiruchu vetkatha vitu
Pesi pesi raasi aanadhae …ae
Maman pera solli
Solli aalaanadhae
Romba naalanadhae
Aathukula nethu unna nenachen
Vetka niram poga manja kulichen
Konjam maranju paarkava
Illa muthugu theikava
Adhu koodathu idhu thaangaathu
Chinna kaambuthaana poova thaanguthu
Pothivecha malliga mottu
Poothiruchu vetkatha vitu
Pesi pesi raasi aanadhae …ae
Maman pera solli
solli aalaanadhae
Romba naalanadhae
Aalaanadhae romba naalaanadhae
The sheltered jasmine bud
Has bloomed, shedding all its shyness.
Talking on and on, we grew so close...
Calling out her lover's name,
Calling it again and again, she grew into a woman.
So many days have passed!
The sheltered jasmine bud
Has bloomed, shedding all its shyness.
Talking on and on, we grew so close...
Calling out her lover's name,
Calling it again, she blossomed into a woman... Ah ha!
So many days have passed... Mmm mmm.
The water lily waits to be wed,
Word was sent yesterday to make the thali (sacred wedding pendant).
Is this just the evening hour,
Or the hour to rest upon your lap?
Adorn your hair with jasmine and gently lay out the mat,
Ah, this cool breeze is stirring up warmth within!
The sheltered jasmine bud
Has bloomed, shedding all its shyness.
Talking on and on, we grew so close...
Calling out her lover's name,
Calling it again, she blossomed into a woman.
So many days have passed!
Yesterday at the river, I was thinking of you,
And bathed in turmeric to wash away the flush of my blush.
Shall I hide and watch you secretly?
Or shall I come and scrub your back?
You must not do that, I could never bear it!
Yet isn't it a tender stem that holds up the whole flower?
The sheltered jasmine bud
Has bloomed, shedding all its shyness.
Talking on and on, we grew so close...
Calling out her lover's name,
Calling it again, she blossomed into a woman.
So many days have passed!
She has blossomed into a woman, so many days have passed!
Male
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Female
Female
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Female
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Female
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Female
Female
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Pothivecha Malliga Mottu' expresses the blossoming of youthful romance and intimacy between two lovers. Using the metaphor of a hidden jasmine bud shedding its shyness to bloom, the heroine sings about her growing affection for her beloved suitor/cousin (maman) and her eagerness for their upcoming marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor

“Pothivecha malliga mottu / Poothiruchu vetkatha vitu”

Compares a shy young maiden coming of age and discovering love to a hidden jasmine bud that blossoms.

Adukkuthodar / Repetition

“Pesi pesi raasi aanadhae”

Repetition of words like 'pesi pesi' and 'solli solli' for emotional emphasis and rhythmic cadence.

Edhukai / Second-letter Rhyme

“Maalayida kaathu alli iruku / Thaali seiya nethu solli iruku”

Rhyming of the second letter 'la' across adjacent lines ('Maalayida' and 'Thaali').

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song from 'Mann Vasanai' (1983) was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, rendered by S. Janaki and Malaysia Vasudevan, and marked the film debut of actress Revathi.

Keep listening

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Masala Araikura1994
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From the same album

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