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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vallimalai Maankutti Enge

From Anbalippu · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Anbalippu1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaatu kuruvi onnu kaathada poguthunuSeeing a wild bird going to catch the breeze
Naatu kuruvi onnu nadai parthu yenguthadiA village bird longingly watches its majestic walk
Manasil uravum undu vandiyil idamum unduThere is love in the heart and space in the cart
Vaadiyemma kanniyamma vaadiyemma vaadiCome on, my maiden, come on, come on!
Male
Valli malai maankutti enge poreOh fawn of Valli hill, where are you going?
Female :Vanthirukum vedana parka porenFemale: I am going to see the hunter who has arrived
Vanthirukum vedana parka porenI am going to see the hunter who has arrived
Male :Kollimalai thensittu enge poreMale: Oh sunbird of Kolli hill, where are you going?
Kollimalai thensittu enge poreOh sunbird of Kolli hill, where are you going?
Female :Konja varum kumaranai koda poren haanFemale: I am going to join Kumaran who comes to cuddle me, haan
Konja varum kumaranai koda porenI am going to join Kumaran who comes to cuddle me
Male :Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadiMale: Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi
Female :Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadiFemale: Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi
Male :Aalum mookum kannum paarthaMale: Looking at your stature, nose, and eyes
Naisu pakka pakkadi ee ee ee heiIt is nice, neat, and perfect, hei!
Male
Valli malai maankutti enge poreOh fawn of Valli hill, where are you going?
Female :Vanthirukum vedana parka porenFemale: I am going to see the hunter who has arrived
Female
Sevvanthi poochendu themmaangu paadiSinging a folk song like a bouquet of chrysanthemums
Thenna ilam meniyai selaiyil moodiCovering her tender youthful body in a saree
Sevvanthi poochendu themmaangu paadiSinging a folk song like a bouquet of chrysanthemums
Thenna ilam meniyai selaiyil moodiCovering her tender youthful body in a saree
Male :Javvaathu pottu vachu thaalampoo katti vachuMale: Applying civet bindi and adorning screwpine flowers
Ha ha ha haHa ha ha ha
Javvaathu pottu vachu thaalampoo katti vachuApplying civet bindi and adorning screwpine flowers
Thathi thathi thalladi ponathenadi ippaWhy did you go tottering along back then, and now
Thattu vandi pallaku vegam ennadiWhat is this speed like a palanquin cart?
Male
Valli malai maankutti enge poreOh fawn of Valli hill, where are you going?
Female :Vanthirukum vedana parka porenFemale: I am going to see the hunter who has arrived
Female
Mookuthi mel oru munnoor minnalThree hundred flashes of light on her nose-ring
Munthanai poduthu aayiram pinnalHer saree pallu creates a thousand subtle entanglements
Male :Rojapoo katankatti rajathi pattam kattiMale: Borrowing beauty from roses and crowned as a queen
Rojapoo katankatti rajathi pattam kattiBorrowing beauty from roses and crowned as a queen
Vatta vatta panthada ponathenadi ippaWhy did you go bouncing around like a round ball back then, and now
Thitamittu pinnadi vanthathennadiWhy have you intentionally followed behind me?
Female :Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadiFemale: Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi
Male :Aalum mookum kannum paathaMale: Looking at your stature, nose, and eyes
Naisu pakka pakkadi ee ee ee heiIt is nice, neat, and perfect, hei!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a romantic banter between a young man and woman structured as a traditional folk exchange. Drawing allegorical references to the mythic romance of Lord Murugan (Kumaran) as a hunter ('Vedan') and Valli as a hill nymph ('Maankutti'), the hero teasingly questions the heroine's destination while admiring her beauty, attire, and grace. She playfully retorts that she is on her way to meet her divine hunter, matching his teasing wit. Rich with folk rhythms, rustic imagery, and rhythmic scatting ('Athiri maaku...'), the song captures the joyful, flirtatious courtships prevalent in Tamil rural music traditions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory (Uvamai / Purapporul)

Valli malai maankutti enge pore / Vanthirukum vedana parka poren

The song uses the classic mythic allegory of Lord Murugan disguised as a hunter (Vedan) wooing Valli (Valli malai maankutti) to frame the romantic dynamic between the lead characters.

Metaphor (Uvameyam)

Mookuthi mel oru munnoor minnal

Describing the nose-ring light as 'munnoor minnal' (three hundred flashes of lightning) metaphorically emphasizes the brilliant shine of her jewelry.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Mookuthi mel oru munnoor minnal / Munthanai poduthu aayiram pinnal

The repetition of the 'M' sound across words ('Mookuthi' and 'Munthanai') creates pleasant auditory harmony.

Rhythmic Scatting (Chollukattu)

Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi

Folk rhythmic syllables ('Athiri maaku kathiri pinju...') add a lively, danceable cadence to the track.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from 'Anbalippu' (1969), composed by M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, showcases the iconic playback duo T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela. Kannadasan deftly blends ancient Sangam-style hill imagery (Valli and Vedan) with modern mid-20th-century film folk idioms, a signature style that made MSV-Kannadasan folk duets wildly popular.

Keep listening

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