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Anbalippu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vallimalai Maankutti Enge

From Anbalippu · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Anbalippu
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
12 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaatu kuruvi onnu kaathada poguthunu
Naatu kuruvi onnu nadai parthu yenguthadi
Manasil uravum undu vandiyil idamum undu
Vaadiyemma kanniyamma vaadiyemma vaadi
Valli malai maankutti enge pore
Female :Vanthirukum vedana parka poren
Vanthirukum vedana parka poren
Male :Kollimalai thensittu enge pore
Kollimalai thensittu enge pore
Female :Konja varum kumaranai koda poren haan
Konja varum kumaranai koda poren
Male :Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi
Female :Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi
Male :Aalum mookum kannum paartha
Naisu pakka pakkadi ee ee ee hei
Valli malai maankutti enge pore
Female :Vanthirukum vedana parka poren
Sevvanthi poochendu themmaangu paadi
Thenna ilam meniyai selaiyil moodi
Sevvanthi poochendu themmaangu paadi
Thenna ilam meniyai selaiyil moodi
Male :Javvaathu pottu vachu thaalampoo katti vachu
Ha ha ha ha
Javvaathu pottu vachu thaalampoo katti vachu
Thathi thathi thalladi ponathenadi ippa
Thattu vandi pallaku vegam ennadi
Valli malai maankutti enge pore
Female :Vanthirukum vedana parka poren
Mookuthi mel oru munnoor minnal
Munthanai poduthu aayiram pinnal
Male :Rojapoo katankatti rajathi pattam katti
Rojapoo katankatti rajathi pattam katti
Vatta vatta panthada ponathenadi ippa
Thitamittu pinnadi vanthathennadi
Female :Ah athiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi
Male :Aalum mookum kannum paatha
Naisu pakka pakkadi ee ee ee hei
Seeing a wild bird flying out to catch the breeze,
a village bird longs for her as he watches her walk!
There is love in my heart and room in my cart,
so come along, my young lady, come on along!
Little deer of Valli Hills, where are you going?
Female: I am going to see the hunter who has arrived!
I am going to see the hunter who has arrived!
Male: Little sunbird of Kolli Hills, where are you going?
Little sunbird of Kolli Hills, where are you going?
Female: I am going to join the young lover who comes to romance me, haan!
I am going to join the young lover who comes to romance me!
Male: Ah, adiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi!
Female: Ah, adiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi!
Male: Looking at your figure, your nose, and your eyes,
you look neat and absolutely perfect! Ee ee ee hey!
Little deer of Valli Hills, where are you going?
Female: I am going to see the hunter who has arrived!
Like a bunch of chrysanthemums singing a folk tune,
covering her tender young body in a sari,
Like a bunch of chrysanthemums singing a folk tune,
covering her tender young body in a sari,
Male: Wearing a dot of scented perfume and screwpine flowers in your hair,
Ha ha ha ha!
Wearing a dot of scented perfume and screwpine flowers in your hair,
why did you totter and sway away then,
and why this cart racing like a palanquin now?
Little deer of Valli Hills, where are you going?
Female: I am going to see the hunter who has arrived!
Three hundred flashes of lightning on your nose stud,
and your sari's end weaves a thousand teasing folds!
Male: Buying roses on credit and acting like a queen,
buying roses on credit and acting like a queen,
why did you run off to play ball before,
and why follow right behind me now with a plan?
Female: Ah, adiri maaku kathiri pinju isalaka lakkadi!
Male: Looking at your figure, your nose, and your eyes,
you look neat and absolutely perfect! Ee ee ee hey!
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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