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Lyrics & meaning

Ullathil Nooru Ninaithaen

From Mappillai Azhaippu · 1972

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Mappillai Azhaippu1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ullaththil nooru ninaithenIn my heart, I thought of a hundred things,
Unnidam solla thaviththaenI longed to express them to you.
Ullaththil nooru ninaithenIn my heart, I thought of a hundred things,
Unnidam solla thaviththaenI longed to express them to you.
Female
Aasai kodi pirakumTen million desires are born,
Aasai kodi pirakumTen million desires are born,
Achchamo sollaamal ennai thadukkumYet shyness stops me from speaking them out.
Male
Ullaththil nooru ninaithenIn my heart, I thought of a hundred things,
Unnidam solla thaviththaenI longed to express them to you.
Male
Noolaadum chinna idaiA thread-thin waist sways gently,
Melaadum vanna udaiDraped in colorful garments,
Naanaaga koodaatho thottu thazhuvaCould I not be the one to touch and embrace it?
Male
Noolaadum chinna idaiA thread-thin waist sways gently,
Melaadum vanna udaiDraped in colorful garments,
Naanaaga koodaatho thottu thazhuvaCould I not be the one to touch and embrace it?
Female
Kaiyodu ennai alliGathering me up in your arms,
Kannaa un kannirendumOh my dear, won't both your eyes,
Kaiyodu ennai alliGathering me up in your arms,
Kannaa un kannirendumOh my dear, won't both your eyes,
Aaraaro paadaatho naan thuyilaSing a lullaby for me to drift into sleep?
Male
Anthi varum thendralukku mayangiEnticed by the evening breeze,
Female :Munthi varum aasaiyilae nerungiFemale: Drawn close by eager desire,
Male :Poga poga aththanaiyum vilangiMale: As time progresses, everything will become clear,
Female :Nadakattum kadhai indru thodangiFemale: Let the romantic story begin and unfold today!
Male
Ullaththil nooru ninaithenIn my heart, I thought of a hundred things,
Unnidam solla thaviththaenI longed to express them to you.
Female
Thaeraattam penmai ondruA womanly figure majestic like a chariot,
Vellottam vanthathennaWhy did she come out for a trial run?
Kannottam sendrathenna enathediWhy did her romantic gaze wander searching for mine?
Female
Thaeraattam penmai ondruA womanly figure majestic like a chariot,
Vellottam vanthathennaWhy did she come out for a trial run?
Kannottam sendrathenna enathediWhy did her romantic gaze wander searching for mine?
Male
Poonthottam thannaikanduSeeing the flower garden itself,
Neerottam polae indruLike a flowing stream today,
Poonthottam thannaikanduSeeing the flower garden itself,
Neerottam polae indruLike a flowing stream today,
Paaraatta vanthathingu unnaithediIt came searching for you here to admire!
Male
Puththagam pol poovae unnai purattaOh flower-like one, to turn your pages like a book,
Female :Palliyarai paadangalai pugattaFemale: To teach the sweet lessons of the bridal chamber,
Male :Mukkaniyum sakkaraiyum thigattaMale: So sweet that the three primary fruits and sugar feel overwhelming,
Female :Muppozhthum inba sugam inikkaFemale: May blissful happiness sweeten all three times of day!
Male
Ullaththil nooru ninaithenIn my heart, I thought of a hundred things,
Unnidam solla thaviththaenI longed to express them to you.
Female
Aasai kodi pirakumTen million desires are born,
Aasai kodi pirakumTen million desires are born,
Achchamo sollaamal ennai thadukkumYet shyness stops me from speaking them out.
Male
Ullaththil nooru ninaithenIn my heart, I thought of a hundred things,
Unnidam solla thaviththaenI longed to express them to you.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ullaththil nooru ninaithen' is a romantic duet from the 1972 Tamil film 'Mappillai Azhaippu', composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Vaali. The song captures a sweet dialogue between two lovers expressing their deep affection, unspoken desires, and bashful romantic anticipation. They talk about overcome hesitations and welcoming intimacy as their life journey unfolds together. Through poetic allegories comparing the heroine to a chariot and a book of love, and love itself to a flowing stream, the song beautifully blends playfulness with passionate anticipation. The rendered vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela highlight the charm and emotional depth of young love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mona (Initial Alliteration)

Ullaththil nooru ninaithen / Unnidam solla thaviththaen

Matching first letters in words across adjacent lines creates rhythmic harmony.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Noolaadum chinna idai / Melaadum vanna udai

The second consonant 'la' matches in successive lines, establishing Tamil lyrical meter.

Simile / Metaphor (Uvamai)

Thaeraattam penmai ondru / Vellottam vanthathenna

Compares a woman's graceful form to a majestic chariot ('Thaeraattam penmai').

Metaphor

Puththagam pol poovae unnai puratta

Compares exploring intimacy with the beloved to leafing through a book ('Puththagam pol poovae unnai puratta').

Did you know?

Trivia

This romantic classic was set to tune by the acclaimed composer V. Kumar, often fondly referred to as 'Mellisai Maamani' in Tamil cinema. The song stands out as one of the early iconic duets rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela, written by legendary lyricist Vaali.

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