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Minsara Kanavu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Anbendra Mazhaiyilae

From Minsara Kanavu · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Anuradha Sriram
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Minsara Kanavu
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
11 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Anbendra mazhaiyilae agilangal nanaiyavae
Adhiroopan thondrinaanae
Vaikkolin meloru vairamaai vairamaai
Vandhavan minninaanae
Vinmeengal kanpaarkka sooriyan thondrumo
Pugazhmaindhan thondrinaanae
Kanneerin kaayathai senneeril aatravae sisubaalan thondrinaanae
Anbendra mazhaiyilae agilangal nanaiyavae
Adhiroopan thondrinaanae..adhiroopan thondrinaanae
Porkonda boomiyil pookkaadu kaanavae
Pugazhmaindhan thondrinaanae..pugazhmaindhan thondrinaanae
Kalvaari malaiyilae kallondru pookkavum
Karunaimagan thondrinaanae
Nootraandu iravinai nodiyodu pokkidum
Oliyaaga thondrinaanae
Irumbaana nenjilum eerangal kasiyavae
Iraibaalan thondrinaanae
Mutkaadu engilum pookkaadu pookkavae
Puviraajan thondrinaanae
{Anbendra mazhaiyilae agilangal nanaiyavae
Adhiroopan thondrinaanae..adhiroopan thondrinaanae
Vaikkolin meloru vairamaai vairamaai
Vandhavan minninaanae…vandhavan minninaanae} (2)
In the rain of love, for the whole world to be drenched,
The most beautiful one was born!
Like a diamond, a shining diamond on the straw,
He who arrived shone bright!
As the stars looked on, could the sun arise?
The glorious son was born!
To heal the wounds of tears with his own blood, the holy child was born!
In the rain of love, for the whole world to be drenched,
The most beautiful one was born... the most beautiful one was born!
To bring a garden of flowers to this war-torn earth,
The glorious son was born... the glorious son was born!
For even a stone to bloom on the mount of Calvary,
The son of mercy was born!
To dispel a century of darkness in a single second,
He was born as the light!
For tenderness to seep even into hearts of iron,
The child of God was born!
For flowers to bloom all across forests of thorns,
The king of the earth was born!
In the rain of love, for the whole world to be drenched,
The most beautiful one was born... the most beautiful one was born!
Like a diamond, a shining diamond on the straw,
He who arrived shone bright... he who arrived shone bright!
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Anbendra Mazhaiyilae is a deeply spiritual hymn from the 1997 movie Minsara Kanavu, composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu and vocals by Anuradha Sriram. The song celebrates the birth, divine grace, and compassionate mission of Jesus Christ. Metaphorically described as a rain of love soaking the universe and a diamond lying on humble hay, His arrival brings hope, light, and transformation to a troubled world. The lyrics vividly illustrate how divine love softens iron hearts, turns war-torn battlefields into gardens of flowers, and heals human suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Anbendra mazhaiyilae agilangal nanaiyavae”

Compares love to rain ('Anbendra mazhaiyilae') and ignorance or suffering to a century of night ('Nootraandu iravinai').

Simile (Uvamai)

“Vaikkolin meloru vairamaai vairamaai”

Compares Jesus resting in the manger to a bright diamond lying on straw ('Vaikkolin meloru vairamaai').

Contrast (Muran)

“Mutkaadu engilum pookkaadu pookkavae”

Juxtaposes harsh images with peaceful ones, such as a war-torn world transforming into a flower garden ('Porkonda boomiyil pookkaadu') and a thorn forest blooming ('Mutkaadu / Pookkaadu').

Alliteration (Monai)

“Porkonda boomiyil pookkaadu kaanavae”

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds such as 'Porkonda' and 'Pookkaadu' or 'Kalvaari' and 'Kallondru' creating a rhythmic choir melody.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman and sung passionately by Anuradha Sriram along with a grand choir, this song serves as a centerpiece performance in Minsara Kanavu for the lead character Priya (played by Kajol), who aspires to become a nun. A.R. Rahman won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film's soundtrack.

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