Chendumalli Maalai
From Manthiri Kumaran · 1963
- Lyricist
- Puratchi Dasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Rajan Nagendra
- Details
- Manthiri Kumaran1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Chendumallai maalaiyoo | Is it a garland of marigold flowers? |
| Singaara solaiyoo | Or a beautiful, charming garden? |
| Thenunda thaazhaiyoo | Or a honey-rich screw-pine blossom? |
| Manigal konda paalaiyoo | Or a vessel filled with precious gems? |
| Chendumallai maalaiyoo | Is it a garland of marigold flowers? |
| Female | |
| Hmm mm mm hmmm | Hmm mm mm hmmm |
| Hm mm mmm | Hm mm mmm |
| Female | |
| Kanni pennai paarthadhum | Upon seeing the young maiden... |
| Kanni pennai paarthadhum | Upon seeing the young maiden... |
| Kaanadha kaatchiyoo | Is it an unseen, magnificent sight? |
| Kattunda kaadhalum | And bound, captivating love... |
| Madhanaa | Oh Cupid / Oh handsome one! |
| Mottu pondradhaa | Is it like a blossoming bud? |
| Male | |
| Sengaandha kunjamae | Oh cluster of red glory lilies! |
| Kalai thaer pondra sundhari | Oh beauty resembling an artistic chariot! |
| Female :Nenjaara pesuvom | Female: Let us speak from the depth of our hearts |
| Manna nesam kolluvom | Oh king, let us share true love |
| Female | |
| Kanni pennai paarthadhum | Upon seeing the young maiden... |
| Female | |
| Sivandhaadum ilamai nirambiya | Filled with reddish, vibrant youthfulness |
| Malardhoorum pongudhae | It overflows from every blooming flower |
| Male :Avizhndhaadum paruva gomathi | Male: Oh youthful Gomathi of swaying elegance |
| Ivai sooda virindhadhae | These have bloomed to be adorned |
| Male | |
| Chendumallai maalaiyoo | Is it a garland of marigold flowers? |
| Female | |
| Maniyosai niraindha maadamae | Oh mansion reverberating with bell sounds |
| Marul theerkka yendhavae | Arisen to dispel confusion and delusion |
| Male :Arul thandha chinnamae | Male: Oh symbol of granted grace |
| Silai vazhi nindra mangaiyae | Oh maiden standing like a carved statue |
| Female | |
| Kanni pennai paarthathum | Upon seeing the young maiden... |
| Kaanadha kaatchiyoo | Is it an unseen, magnificent sight? |
| Male :Kattunda kaadhalum | Male: And bound, captivating love... |
| Vaazhvai vetri kandatho | Has it achieved ultimate victory in life? |
செண்டுமல்லி மாலையோ
சிங்கார சோலையோ
தேனுண்ட தாழையோ
மணிகள் கொண்ட பாளையோ
செண்டுமல்லி மாலையோ
Is it a garland of marigold flowers?
Or a beautiful, charming garden?
Or a honey-rich screw-pine blossom?
Or a vessel filled with precious gems?
Is it a garland of marigold flowers?
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்
Hmm mm mm hmmm
Hm mm mmm
கன்னிப் பெண்ணைப் பார்த்ததும்
கன்னிப் பெண்ணைப் பார்த்ததும்
காணாத காட்சியோ
கட்டுண்ட காதலும்
மதனா
மொட்டு போன்றதோ....
Upon seeing the young maiden...
Upon seeing the young maiden...
Is it an unseen, magnificent sight?
And bound, captivating love...
Oh Cupid / Oh handsome one!
Is it like a blossoming bud?
செங்காந்த குஞ்சமே
கலைத் தேர் போன்ற சுந்தரி
நெஞ்சார பேசுவோம்
மன்னா நேசம் கொள்ளுவோம்
Oh cluster of red glory lilies!
Oh beauty resembling an artistic chariot!
Female: Let us speak from the depth of our hearts
Oh king, let us share true love
சிந்தாத பருவ இன்னமுதாய்
சேர்ந்து பாடுவோம்
கன்னிப் பெண்ணைப் பார்த்ததும்
Upon seeing the young maiden...
சிவந்தாடும் இளமை நிரம்பிய
மலர்தோறும் பொங்குதே
அவிழ்ந்தாடும் பருவ கோமதி
இவை சூட விரிந்ததே...
Filled with reddish, vibrant youthfulness
It overflows from every blooming flower
Male: Oh youthful Gomathi of swaying elegance
These have bloomed to be adorned
கனிவான இன்பம் கண்டு
மகிழ்வோம் கலந்து மூழ்குவோம்
Is it a garland of marigold flowers?
செண்டுமல்லி மாலையோ
Oh mansion reverberating with bell sounds
Arisen to dispel confusion and delusion
Male: Oh symbol of granted grace
Oh maiden standing like a carved statue
மணியோசை நிறைந்த மாடமே
மருள் தீர்க்க ஏந்தவே
அருள் தந்த சின்னமே
சிலை வழி நின்ற மங்கையே
Upon seeing the young maiden...
Is it an unseen, magnificent sight?
Male: And bound, captivating love...
Has it achieved ultimate victory in life?
மயங்காத வாழ்வின்
மாங்குயிலாய் நெருங்கி பேசுவோம்
கன்னிப் பெண்ணைப் பார்த்ததும்
காணாத காட்சியோ....
கட்டுண்ட காதலும்
வாழ்வை வெற்றிக் கண்டதோ......!
Chendumallai maalaiyoo
Is it a garland of marigold flowers?
Singaara solaiyoo
Or a beautiful, charming garden?
Thenunda thaazhaiyoo
Or a honey-rich screw-pine blossom?
Manigal konda paalaiyoo
Or a vessel filled with precious gems?
Chendumallai maalaiyoo
Is it a garland of marigold flowers?
Hmm mm mm hmmm
Hmm mm mm hmmm
Hm mm mmm
Hm mm mmm
Kanni pennai paarthadhum
Upon seeing the young maiden...
Kanni pennai paarthadhum
Upon seeing the young maiden...
Kaanadha kaatchiyoo
Is it an unseen, magnificent sight?
Kattunda kaadhalum
And bound, captivating love...
Madhanaa
Oh Cupid / Oh handsome one!
Mottu pondradhaa
Is it like a blossoming bud?
Sengaandha kunjamae
Oh cluster of red glory lilies!
Kalai thaer pondra sundhari
Oh beauty resembling an artistic chariot!
Female :Nenjaara pesuvom
Female: Let us speak from the depth of our hearts
Manna nesam kolluvom
Oh king, let us share true love
Kanni pennai paarthadhum
Upon seeing the young maiden...
Sivandhaadum ilamai nirambiya
Filled with reddish, vibrant youthfulness
Malardhoorum pongudhae
It overflows from every blooming flower
Male :Avizhndhaadum paruva gomathi
Male: Oh youthful Gomathi of swaying elegance
Ivai sooda virindhadhae
These have bloomed to be adorned
Chendumallai maalaiyoo
Is it a garland of marigold flowers?
Maniyosai niraindha maadamae
Oh mansion reverberating with bell sounds
Marul theerkka yendhavae
Arisen to dispel confusion and delusion
Male :Arul thandha chinnamae
Male: Oh symbol of granted grace
Silai vazhi nindra mangaiyae
Oh maiden standing like a carved statue
Kanni pennai paarthathum
Upon seeing the young maiden...
Kaanadha kaatchiyoo
Is it an unseen, magnificent sight?
Male :Kattunda kaadhalum
Male: And bound, captivating love...
Vaazhvai vetri kandatho
Has it achieved ultimate victory in life?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic duet from the 1963 film 'Manthiri Kumaran' depicts a poetic exchange between lovers expressing their deep adoration for one another. The male lead marvels at the heroine's captivating beauty, comparing her to a garland of marigolds, a blooming garden, honey-dripping flora, and a jewel-filled treasure. He expresses wonder at the rare sight of her youthfulness. In response, the female protagonist invites him to speak intimately and share deep affection. She praises his royal charm, while he admires her statue-like grace. Together, they celebrate their blossoming love, finding in each other the fulfillment and triumph of life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Chendumallai maalaiyoo / Singaara solaiyoo / Thenunda thaazhaiyoo”
The usage of uniform rhyming vowel endings ('-oo') across consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, musical flow.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Kalai thaer pondra sundhari”
Comparing the beauty of the woman to an ornate artistic chariot using the comparative marker 'pondra'.
Uvameyam / Metaphor
“Sengaandha kunjamae / Silai vazhi nindra mangaiyae”
Addressing the woman directly as a cluster of red glory lilies (Sengaandha kunjam) and a carved statue (Silai).
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Manthiri Kumaran' (1963) featured music composed by the celebrated Kannada composer duo Rajan-Nagendra. Known primarily for their lush, melody-driven Kannada soundtracks, this film remains one of their notable compositions in Tamil cinema, showcasing lyricist Puratchi Dasan's rich classical imagery.
Keep listening
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