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Kazhugumalai Kallan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Uchi Malaiyil

From Kazhugumalai Kallan · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Vani Jairam
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Kazhugumalai Kallan
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
11 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oooho ooo….ooo….oo….oho
Ooo….ooo…..oo….ooo….oo….
Uchchi malaiyil oor irukka
Oorukulla thaer irukka
Thaerukkoru raasanaththaan thedumpothu
Vekkam vittu koopidumaa poonthaeru
Thaerukkoru raasaa nee vaeraaru
Uchchi malaiyil oor irukka
Oorukulla thaer irukka
Thaeru oru raasanaththaan thaedumpothu
Thaedugira raasaavum naanalla
Kaaranaththa ennavendru naan solla
Thaththura thoththura chiththira chittu
Thottaal enna thoshamaa
Oththaiyil nikkaiyil meththaiyil ittu
Muththaadinaal paavamaa
Vettaveli pottalilae….ae….ae….ae…ooo….
Vettaveli pottalilae sutterikkum kaanalilae
Thanni kudikka enniyirukkum
Maanukkoru mayakkamaa
Uchchi malaiyil oor irukka
Oorukulla thaer irukka
Thaerukkoru raasanaththaan thedumpothu
Male :Thaedugira raasaavum naanalla
Kaaranaththa ennavendru naan solla
Ippavum eppavum uppalam thannil
Papaali thaan kaaikkumaa
Enniya ennamum enniya vannam
Ellaarkkumthaan vaaikkumaa
Nattanadu neththiyilae….ae….ae…ae…
Nattanadu neththiyilae pottezhuthi vachchavala
Kollaiyadikka kallan irukka
Kaalam vanthu thadukkumaa
Uchchi malaiyil oor irukka
Oorukulla thaer irukka
Thaeru oru raasanaththaan thaedumpothu
Thaedugira raasaavum naanalla
Kaaranaththa ennavendru naan solla
Uchchi malaiyil oor irukka
Oorukulla thaer irukka
Thaerukkoru raasanaththaan thedumpothu
Vekkam vittu koopidumaa poonthaeru
Thaerukkoru raasaa nee vaeraaru…..
Ooho oo… oo… oo… oho
Oo… oo… oo… oo… oo…
There is a town atop the high hill,
And a chariot inside the town.
When it searches for a king,
Will this flower chariot cast off its shyness and call out?
You are the king for this chariot, who else could it be?
There is a town atop the high hill,
And a chariot inside the town.
When the chariot searches for a king,
I am not the king you are searching for.
How can I tell you the reason why?
Hopping and flitting like a lovely little bird,
Is it wrong if I touch you?
When we are all alone, resting on a bed
And kissing—is that a sin?
Out in the wide open wasteland…
In the wide open wasteland, under the scorching mirage,
Longing to drink some water,
Has the deer grown faint and lost its senses?
There is a town atop the high hill,
And a chariot inside the town.
When it searches for a king,
I am not the king you are searching for.
How can I tell you the reason why?
Now or ever, in a salty marsh,
Can a papaya tree ever bear fruit?
Everything one wishes for, just the way it was dreamed—
Does everyone get blessed with that?
Right in the middle of her forehead…
The girl wearing a red dot right in the middle of her forehead—
When a thief is here to steal her away,
Will time ever stand in his way?
There is a town atop the high hill,
And a chariot inside the town.
When the chariot searches for a king,
I am not the king you are searching for.
How can I tell you the reason why?
There is a town atop the high hill,
And a chariot inside the town.
When it searches for a king,
Will this flower chariot cast off its shyness and call out?
You are the king for this chariot, who else could it be?…
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a metaphorical romantic dialogue between two lovers. The female lead metaphorically compares herself to a flower-adorned chariot (Poonthaeru) waiting in a mountain town, eagerly inviting her lover to claim his place as the king. She openly expresses her affection and questions whether her longing and physical intimacy are sinful or natural.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Thaerukkoru raasanaththaan thedumpothu / Vekkam vittu koopidumaa poonthaeru

The woman compares herself to a flower chariot (Poonthaeru) and her partner to the king (Raasaa) destined to ride it.

Analogy / Philosophical Imagery

Ippavum eppavum uppalam thannil / Papaali thaan kaaikkumaa

The male lead uses the image of attempting to grow papaya in a salt flat (Uppalam) to illustrate the impossibility of fulfilling impossible desires or unviable circumstances.

Anaphora (Refrain / Eduthukattu)

Uchchi malaiyil oor irukka / Oorukulla thaer irukka

The repetition of the opening lines ('Uchchi malaiyil oor irukka...') creates a rhythmic anchor throughout the dialogue structure of the song.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Emoni / Ethukai)

Thaththura thoththura chiththira chittu

Rhythmic wordplay using matching consonants and light-hearted tongue-twisters ('Thaththura thoththura chiththira chittu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the prolific poet Vaali for the 1988 movie 'Kazhugumalai Kallan', this song uses rural folk metaphors grounded in traditional Tamil imagery like mountain towns, chariots, and salt flats to construct a romantic back-and-forth narrative.

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