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Lyrics & meaning

Anbulla Mannavane

From Mettukudi · 1996

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Mano, Swarnalatha
Music director
Sirpi
Details
Mettukudi1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Anbulla mannavanae aasai kaadhalanaeDear king, my beloved lover
Anbulla mannavanae aasai kaadhalanaeDear king, my beloved lover
Idhayam puriyaadha en mugavari theriyaadhaDoes my heart not understand, or do you not know my address?
Chorus
Kiliyae kiliyae po thalaivanai thedi poO parrot, O parrot, go in search of my lord
Female
Mullil thoongugiren kanavai alli poI sleep on thorns, gather my dreams and go
Thanimayin kannerai kangalil yendhi poCarry the tears of solitude in your eyes and go
Female
Anbulla mannavanae aasai kaadhalanaeDear king, my beloved lover
Anbulla mannavanae aasai kaadhalanaeDear king, my beloved lover
Idhayam puriyaadha en mugavari theriyaadhaDoes my heart not understand, or do you not know my address?
Female
Vaa vaa kanna indrae kenji ketkka popoGo today and plead with him to come, my darling
Chorus :Vaasal paarthu vaazhum vaazhvai solla popoChorus: Go and tell him of my life spent watching the doorway
Female
Ilamai urughum thunbam indrae solla popoGo and tell him today of the grief of melting youth
Chorus :Nidhamum idhayam yengum nilamai solla popoChorus: Go and tell him the state of my heart longing daily
Female :Kiliyae kiliyae popoFemale: O parrot, O parrot, go go
Female
Kaadhal ullathin maatram solla poGo tell him the change in this loving heart
Chorus :Meendum mannipu kettukolla poChorus: Go ask for forgiveness once again
Female
Nadandhadhai marandhida solTell him to forget what happened
Uravinil kalandhida solTell him to blend into our relationship
Madiyinil urangida solTell him to sleep on my lap
Kangal thedudhu thirumugham… kaanaMy eyes search... to see his divine face
Female
Anbulla mannavanae aasai kaadhalanaeDear king, my beloved lover
Anbulla mannavanae aasai kaadhalanaeDear king, my beloved lover
Idhayam puriyaadha en mugavari theriyaadhaDoes my heart not understand, or do you not know my address?
Male
Vandhen endru koora vanna kiliyae popoGo colourful parrot, to tell him that I have arrived
Female :Vaasamalli poovai sootta chollu popoFemale: Go tell him to adorn me with fragrant jasmine flowers
Male
Idhayam inaiyum neram thanimai vendum popoGo tell him solitude is needed when hearts unite
Female :Undhan kangal paarthal vetkam koodum popoFemale: Go tell him shyness increases when looking into your eyes
Chorus
Kiliyae kiliyae popoO parrot, O parrot, go go
Male
Nitham pala nooru mutham ketkka poGo ask for hundreds of kisses every day
Female :Satham illaamal jannal saathi poFemale: Close the window without making a sound
Male
Vizhigalil amudha mazhaiA rain of nectar in the eyes
Female :Ini oru pirivu illaiFemale: There is no more separation
Male :Uravugal mudivadhillaiMale: Relationships do not end
Female :Gangai vandhadhu nenjinil paayaFemale: The Ganges has arrived to flow in the heart
Female
Anbulla mannavanae aasai kaadhalanaeDear king, my beloved lover
Anbulla mannavanae aasai kaadhalanaeDear king, my beloved lover
Idhayam puriyaadha en mugavari theriyaadhaDoes my heart not understand, or do you not know my address?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song Anbulla Mannavanae from the 1996 Tamil film Mettukudi is an expressive romantic composition where a heroine uses a parrot as a messenger to reach out to her estranged lover. Plagued by the pain of separation and solitude, she begs the bird to convey her grief, her endless waiting at the doorway, and her plea for forgiveness and reconciliation. She urges her lover to forget past misunderstandings and return to her arms. As the song unfolds, the mood evolves into sweet anticipation and passionate love. She envisions their intimate reunion, filled with quiet moments, sweet affection, and an unbreakable bond flowing with joy like the sacred river Ganges. The song seamlessly weaves deep anguish with passionate romance using rich traditional imagery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Kili Vidu Thoodhu (Parrot Messenger Motif)

Kiliyae kiliyae po thalaivanai thedi po

A classical Tamil literary motif where a bird, specifically a parrot, is addressed as an intermediary to carry messages of love and heartbreak to the lover.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Mullil thoongugiren kanavai alli po

Comparing the acute emotional agony of separation to literally sleeping on a bed of sharp thorns.

Anaphora / Refrain

Chorus :Vaasal paarthu vaazhum vaazhvai solla popo

Rhythmic repetition of the directive word 'po' / 'popo' (go) at the end of consecutive lines to emphasize urgency.

Hyperbole & Imagery

Gangai vandhadhu nenjinil paaya

Exaggerating emotional joy and reunion through sensory imagery of nectar raining from the eyes and the Ganges river flowing inside the heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mettukudi (1996) featured music composed by Sirpy, with lyrics penned by Pazhani Bharathi. The song relies heavily on 'Kili Vidu Thoodhu', a ancient Tamil poetic tradition dating back to Sangam literature and medieval Bhakti poetry where birds were personified as messengers between lovers or divine devotees.

Keep listening

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