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Lyrics & meaning

Athai Magal Rathinathai

From Uyarndha Manithan · 1968

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Uyarndha Manithan1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aththai magal rethinathaiHas the cousin forgotten
Aththaan maranthaaraaHis aunt's daughter, who is like a precious gem?
Anna nadai chinna idaiHer swan-like walk and slender waist,
Ellaam veruthaaraaHas he come to despise them all?
Female
Oho oho oho ohoOho oho oho oho
Hoo…hoo hooo…ooo…Hoo...hoo hooo...ooo...
Oho oho oho ohoOho oho oho oho
Haa…aaa….haa..aaa…Haa...aaa....haa..aaa...
Female
Aththai magal rethinathaiHas the cousin forgotten
Aththaan maranthaaraaHis aunt's daughter, who is like a precious gem?
Anna nadai chinna idaiHer swan-like walk and slender waist,
Ellaam veruthaaraaHas he come to despise them all?
Female
{Muthu muthu pechuHer pearl-like sweet words,
Kathi vizhi veechuThe sharp, sword-like glance of her eyes,
Athanaiyum marathaaraa}(2)Has he forgotten all of that?
Female
Munnazhagu thoongaHer pearl-like sweet words,
Pinnazhagu yengaThe sharp, sword-like glance of her eyes,
Penn azhagai viduvaaraaHas he forgotten all of that?
Penn azhagai viduvaaraa…aa..While her front beauty sleeps,
Female
{Muththiraiyai pottuHer rear beauty yearns,
Chithirathai vaatiWould he ever abandon a woman's beauty?
Nithiraiyai keduppaaraa} (2)Would he ever abandon a woman's beauty?
Female
Moovaasai veruthuPlacing a seal of love,
Ooraarai maranthuTormenting this living portrait,
Munivarum aavaaraaWould he ruin her peaceful sleep?
Female
Aththai magal rethinathaiPlacing a seal of love,
Aththaan maranthaaraaTormenting this living portrait,
Anna nadai chinna idaiWould he ruin her peaceful sleep?
Ellaam veruthaaraaRenouncing the three fundamental worldly desires,
Female
{Kottu muzhakkoduForgetting the people of the town,
Kattazhagu meniWill he transform into an ascetic sage?
Thottu vida manam illaiyoo} (2)Has the cousin forgotten
Female
Kattilukku paadhiHis aunt's daughter, who is like a precious gem?
Thottilukku paadhiHer swan-like walk and slender waist,
Karunai varavillaiyaaHas he come to despise them all?
Karunai varavillaiyaaAmidst the loud beating of ceremonial drums,
Female
Vittu pirinthaalumTo touch her well-sculpted, beautiful body,
Etti nadanthaalumDoes he not feel the desire?
Kattaamal viduvennaAmidst the loud beating of ceremonial drums,
Medaigalil nindruTo touch her well-sculpted, beautiful body,
Tholargalai kanduDoes he not feel the desire?
Sollamal varuvenaHalf reserved for the marriage bed,
Female
Oho oho oho ohoAnd half reserved for the baby cradle,
Hoo…hoo hooo…ooo…Does he feel no mercy at all?
Oho oho oho ohoDoes he feel no mercy at all?
Haa…aaa….haa..aaa…Even if he leaves and separates,
Female
Aththai magal rethinathaiEven if he walks far away,
Aththaan maranthaaraaWill I ever let him go without tying the knot?
Anna nadai chinna idaiStanding on stage,
Ellaam veruthaaraaLooking at my companions,

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Aththai Magal Rethinathai' from the 1968 classic film 'Uyarndha Manithan' is a playful yet emotionally expressive song where the female protagonist teasingly questions her cousin (and beloved) about whether he has forgotten her charm and beauty. She highlights her grace, her speech, her appearance, and the promises of married life, asking if he could truly abandon her to live like an ascetic. Through poetic rhetoric, she questions his distant behavior and expresses her deep longing and playful frustration, asserting that their bond of marriage is inevitable.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Aththai magal rethinathai Aththaan maranthaaraa

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words in the same line, such as 'Aththai' and 'Aththaan'.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kottu muzhakkodu / Kattazhagu meni

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines, such as 'th' in 'Aththai' and 'Ethir/Kattil' or 'tt' in 'Kottu' and 'Kattazhagu'.

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile

Anna nadai chinna idai / Muthu muthu pechu

Comparing speech to pearls ('Muthu muthu pechu'), eyes to swords ('Kathi vizhi veechu'), and walking style to a swan ('Anna nadai').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Munnazhagu thoonga / Pinnazhagu yenga

Matching ending sounds across rhyming couplets like 'thoonga', 'yenga', and 'marathaaraa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Vaali, performed soulfully by P. Susheela. 'Uyarndha Manithan' starred Sivaji Ganesan and Sowcar Janaki, and was a major box-office hit known for its iconic soundtrack and dramatic performances, winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.

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