Yeratha Mala Mela
From Muthal Mariyathai · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Muthal Mariyathai1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yeratha mala mela…aaaa | High atop the unclimbed mountain... |
| Elantha pazhamirukku | There grows a jujube fruit, |
| Elantha pazhamirukku | There grows a jujube fruit. |
| Yeri ulupattuma…aaa… | Shall I climb and shake the branch? |
| Esa paattu padikattuma | Shall I sing a counter-song in response? |
| Elumicham kannugalaa | Oh girls with bright, lemon-like eyes! |
| Enjottu ponnugalaa | Oh young women of my own age! |
| Male | |
| Yeratha mala mela… | High atop the unclimbed mountain... |
| Female :Aaaaa | Ahhhh... |
| Elantha pazhamirukku | There grows a jujube fruit, |
| Elantha pazhamirukku | There grows a jujube fruit. |
| Yeri uluppivida | To climb up and shake it down, |
| Innum konjam naal irukku | There are still a few days left, |
| Innum konjam naal irukku | There are still a few days left. |
| Male | |
| Yeh pulla sarosa inga | Hey Sarosa girl, around here... |
| Yevalaadhu en paattukku | Did any of you respond to my song, |
| Esai paattu paaduniga | By singing a counter-song? |
| Female | |
| Yenunga naanga paattu | Why sir, do we look like, |
| Paadra madhiriya irukkom | We are here to sing songs? |
| Ungha paattukku esai paattu | For your song, a counter-song, |
| Paada mudiyuma | Is it even possible for us to sing? |
| Male | |
| Yelae raakku nee paadunava | Hey Raakku, was it you who sang then? |
| Female :Haan engalukku paattu onnu | Oh yes, as if singing songs... |
| Thaan korachal aakkum | Is the only thing we lack right now! |
| Male | |
| Adi maangulathu kara mela…yee | Hey, on the banks of the Maangulam pond... |
| Mayirunathum chinnavalae | Oh little girl who sat right there, |
| Mayirunathum chinnavalae | Oh little girl who sat right there. |
| Paaraiyila naan irunthu | Sitting atop the rock, |
| Paadum kural ketkalaiyaa | Didn't you hear my singing voice? |
| Male | |
| Paattu saththam ketkalaiya | Didn't you hear the sound of my song? |
| Paattu saththam ketkalaiya | Didn't you hear the sound of my song? |
| Paattu saththam ketkalaiya | Didn't you hear the sound of my song? |
| Female | |
| Paattu saththam ketkudhaiya | Yes, I hear the sound of the song! |
| Un paattu saththam ketkudhaiya | I hear the sound of your song! |
| Koopidura saththamellaam | All the calling sounds, |
| Kuyilu saththam ennuirunthen | I mistook for the call of a cuckoo bird, |
| Kuyilu saththam ennuirunthen | I mistook for the call of a cuckoo bird. |
| Male | |
| Adi en saththam niniruntha | Hey girl, if my voice had stopped, |
| Ennadinee senjiruppa | What would you have done? |
| Ennadinee senjiruppa | What would you have done? |
| Female | |
| Onga saththam niniruntha | If your voice had stopped, |
| Ododi naan vanthiruppen | I would have come running to you! |
| Ododi naan vanthiruppen | I would have come running to you! |
| Male | |
| Ododi nee vanthiruntha | If you had come running, |
| Oda pakkam poiyiruppom | We would have gone together by the stream side! |
| Adi oda pakkam..adi oda pakkam | Oh by the stream side... by the stream side, |
| Adi oda pakkam | Oh by the stream side! |
ஏறாத மல மேலே.... ஆ...
எலந்த பழுத்திருக்கு
எலந்த பழுத்திருக்கு
ஏறி உலுப்பட்டுமா... ஆ...
எசப் பாட்டு படிக்கட்டுமா
எலுமிச்சம் கண்ணுகளா
எஞ்சோட்டுப் பொண்ணுகளா
High atop the unclimbed mountain...
There grows a jujube fruit,
There grows a jujube fruit.
Shall I climb and shake the branch?
Shall I sing a counter-song in response?
Oh girls with bright, lemon-like eyes!
Oh young women of my own age!
ஏறாத மல மேலே....
ஆ...
ஏ... எலந்த பழுத்திருக்கு
எலந்த பழுத்திருக்கு
ஏறி உலுப்பி விட
இன்னும் கொஞ்சம் நாளிருக்கு
இன்னும் கொஞ்சம் நாளிருக்கு
High atop the unclimbed mountain...
Ahhhh...
There grows a jujube fruit,
There grows a jujube fruit.
To climb up and shake it down,
There are still a few days left,
There are still a few days left.
ஏ புள்ள சரோசா
இங்க எவளாது
எம் பாட்டுக்கு எசை பாட்டு பாடுனிக
Hey Sarosa girl, around here...
Did any of you respond to my song,
By singing a counter-song?
ஏனுங்க நாங்க பாட்டு பாடற
மாறியா இருக்கோம்
உங்க பாட்டுக்கு எசை பாட்டு
பாட முடியுமா
Why sir, do we look like,
We are here to sing songs?
For your song, a counter-song,
Is it even possible for us to sing?
எலே ராக்கு நீ பாடுனவ
ஹான் எங்களுக்கு பாட்டு ஒன்னு தான்
கொரசல் ஆக்கும்
Hey Raakku, was it you who sang then?
Oh yes, as if singing songs...
Is the only thing we lack right now!
அடி மாங் குலத்து கர மேல... ஏ...
மயிருணத்தும் சின்னவளே
மயிருணத்தும் சின்னவளே
பாறையில நானிருந்து...
பாடும் குரல் கேக்கலையா
பாடும் குரல் கேக்கலையா
Hey, on the banks of the Maangulam pond...
Oh little girl who sat right there,
Oh little girl who sat right there.
Sitting atop the rock,
Didn't you hear my singing voice?
பாட்டுச் சத்தம் கேக்கலையா
பாட்டுச் சத்தம் கேக்கலையா
பாட்டுச் சத்தம் கேக்கலையா
Didn't you hear the sound of my song?
Didn't you hear the sound of my song?
Didn't you hear the sound of my song?
பாட்டுச் சத்தம் கேட்டதையா
ஒம் பாட்டுச் சத்தம் கேட்டதையா
கூப்பிடுற சத்தமெல்லாம்
குயிலுச் சத்தமின்னுருந்தேன்
குயிலுச் சத்தமின்னுருந்தேன்
Yes, I hear the sound of the song!
I hear the sound of your song!
All the calling sounds,
I mistook for the call of a cuckoo bird,
I mistook for the call of a cuckoo bird.
அடி என் சத்தம் நின்னிருந்தா
என்னாடி நீ செஞ்சிருப்ப
என்னாடி நீ செஞ்சிருப்ப
Hey girl, if my voice had stopped,
What would you have done?
What would you have done?
ஒங்க சத்தம் நின்னிருந்தா
ஓடோடி நான் வந்திருப்பேன்
ஓடோடி நான் வந்திருப்பேன்
If your voice had stopped,
I would have come running to you!
I would have come running to you!
ஓடோடி வந்திருந்தா
ஓடப் பக்கம் போயிருப்போம்
அடி ஓடப் பக்கம் அடி ஓடப் பக்கம்
அடி ஓடப் பக்கம்....
If you had come running,
We would have gone together by the stream side!
Oh by the stream side... by the stream side,
Oh by the stream side!
Yeratha mala mela…aaaa
High atop the unclimbed mountain...
Elantha pazhamirukku
There grows a jujube fruit,
Elantha pazhamirukku
There grows a jujube fruit.
Yeri ulupattuma…aaa…
Shall I climb and shake the branch?
Esa paattu padikattuma
Shall I sing a counter-song in response?
Elumicham kannugalaa
Oh girls with bright, lemon-like eyes!
Enjottu ponnugalaa
Oh young women of my own age!
Yeratha mala mela…
High atop the unclimbed mountain...
Female :Aaaaa
Ahhhh...
Elantha pazhamirukku
There grows a jujube fruit,
Elantha pazhamirukku
There grows a jujube fruit.
Yeri uluppivida
To climb up and shake it down,
Innum konjam naal irukku
There are still a few days left,
Innum konjam naal irukku
There are still a few days left.
Yeh pulla sarosa inga
Hey Sarosa girl, around here...
Yevalaadhu en paattukku
Did any of you respond to my song,
Esai paattu paaduniga
By singing a counter-song?
Yenunga naanga paattu
Why sir, do we look like,
Paadra madhiriya irukkom
We are here to sing songs?
Ungha paattukku esai paattu
For your song, a counter-song,
Paada mudiyuma
Is it even possible for us to sing?
Yelae raakku nee paadunava
Hey Raakku, was it you who sang then?
Female :Haan engalukku paattu onnu
Oh yes, as if singing songs...
Thaan korachal aakkum
Is the only thing we lack right now!
Adi maangulathu kara mela…yee
Hey, on the banks of the Maangulam pond...
Mayirunathum chinnavalae
Oh little girl who sat right there,
Mayirunathum chinnavalae
Oh little girl who sat right there.
Paaraiyila naan irunthu
Sitting atop the rock,
Paadum kural ketkalaiyaa
Didn't you hear my singing voice?
Paattu saththam ketkalaiya
Didn't you hear the sound of my song?
Paattu saththam ketkalaiya
Didn't you hear the sound of my song?
Paattu saththam ketkalaiya
Didn't you hear the sound of my song?
Paattu saththam ketkudhaiya
Yes, I hear the sound of the song!
Un paattu saththam ketkudhaiya
I hear the sound of your song!
Koopidura saththamellaam
All the calling sounds,
Kuyilu saththam ennuirunthen
I mistook for the call of a cuckoo bird,
Kuyilu saththam ennuirunthen
I mistook for the call of a cuckoo bird.
Adi en saththam niniruntha
Hey girl, if my voice had stopped,
Ennadinee senjiruppa
What would you have done?
Ennadinee senjiruppa
What would you have done?
Onga saththam niniruntha
If your voice had stopped,
Ododi naan vanthiruppen
I would have come running to you!
Ododi naan vanthiruppen
I would have come running to you!
Ododi nee vanthiruntha
If you had come running,
Oda pakkam poiyiruppom
We would have gone together by the stream side!
Adi oda pakkam..adi oda pakkam
Oh by the stream side... by the stream side,
Adi oda pakkam
Oh by the stream side!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful folk song represents a traditional banter and romantic exchange (Nattupura Paattu) between a man and a group of village women led by his beloved. Through metaphorical references to climbing mountains, ripening jujube fruits, and answering melodies across fields, the male protagonist teasingly flirts and tries to gauge the woman's feelings for him.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Elumicham kannugalaa / Enjottu ponnugalaa”
Matching initial vowel sounds 'E' (Elumicham / Enjottu) create melodic harmony.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Yeratha mala mela / Elantha pazhamirukku”
Matching second consonant sounds 'ra' and 'la' (or root structural rhythm) establishing standard Tamil folk rhyming structure.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Elumicham kannugalaa”
Metaphorically comparing bright, vibrant eyes of village girls to fresh lemons.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Ododi naan vanthiruppen / Oda pakkam poiyiruppom”
Repetitive ending verb forms ('vanthiruppen', 'poiyiruppom') building rhythm at the end of lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Muthal Mariyathai (1985) is a landmark rural drama directed by Bharathiraja, starring Sivaji Ganesan and Radha. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The soundtrack is acclaimed for its authentic Tamil folk roots, featuring rustic field songs and traditional call-and-response folk structures.
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