- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Mann Vasanai
- Movie release year
- 1983
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Dec 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Pothi Vecha Malliga Mottu from the movie Mann Vasanai is a poignant Tamil song expressing heartbreak, longing, and grief over unfulfilled love. The female protagonist compares her youthful devotion and innocence to a hidden jasmine bud that wilts away without ever becoming part of a marital garland. She laments how all her traditional preparations for a shared future—decorating herself, wearing turmeric, and dreaming of marriage—have dissolved into despair.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Pothivecha malliga mottu / Vaadudhadi vasanai kettu”
The 'pothivecha malliga mottu' (wrapped jasmine bud) is a central metaphor representing the female protagonist's purity, blossoming youth, and unfulfilled romantic desires.
Rhyme (Edhukai/Iyaibu)
“Aalaanadhae / Indru paalanadhae”
The usage of end-rhymes and structural Tamil sound patterns like 'Aalaanadhae' paired with 'Paalanadhae', and 'Kulichen' with 'Mudichen'.
Rural Imagery (Kaatchi Inbam)
“Intha aathu meedu satchi solluma”
Vivid cultural and pastoral imagery such as turmeric baths, double-plaited hair, riverbanks, and doorstep patterns (kolam) ground the emotional heartbreak in authentic village life.
Did you know?
Trivia
Mann Vasanai (1983), directed by P. Bharathiraja, marked the iconic debut of actress Revathi and actor Pandiyan. The soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring lyrics by Vairamuthu, was a monumental success and remains a classic of 1980s Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
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