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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ding Dong Kovil Mani

From Ji · 2005

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Madhu Balakrishnan, Madhushree
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Ji2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
…………………………………..
Male
Ding dong kovil maniDing dong, the temple bell,
Kovil mani naan ketenI heard the temple bell ring.
Female
Un per en peyarilYour name joining with my name,
Sernthadhu pol oli ketenI heard a sound just like that.
Male
Nee ketathu aasayin ethiroliWhat you heard was the echo of desire,
Female
Aa aa nee thanthadhu kaadhalin uyir valiAh, ah! What you gave was the vital pain of love.
Male
Ding dong kovil maniDing dong, the temple bell,
Kovil mani naan ketenI heard the temple bell ring.
Female
Un per en peyarilYour name joining with my name,
Sernthadhu pol oli ketenI heard a sound just like that.
Female
Sollaatha kaadhal sollaTo express unuttered love,
Sollaagi vanthenI came as the very words.
Nee pesa idhu nee pesaFor you to speak, this is for you to speak,
Male
Sol yedhu ini naan pesaWhat words remain for me to speak now?
Female
Kanavugalae kanavugalaeOh dreams, oh dreams,
Pagal iravu neelgiradhaeThey stretch through day and night.
Male
Idhayathilae un ninaivuIn my heart, your memory,
Iravu pagal aalgiradhaeRules over night and day.
Female
Satru munbu nilavaramJust a moment ago, the situation was calm,
Endhan nenjil kalavaram kalavaram …Now there is chaos, chaos in my heart...
Male
Aa aa.. ding dong kovil maniAh ah... ding dong, temple bell,
Kovil mani naan ketenI heard the temple bell ring.
Female
Un per en peyarilYour name joining with my name,
Sernthadhu pol oli ketenI heard a sound just like that.
Female
………………………………………
Male
Pull thoonkum poovum thoonkumThe grass sleeps, the flower sleeps,
Puthu kaatrum thoonkumEven the fresh breeze sleeps.
Thoonkaadhae nam kangal thaanOnly our eyes do not sleep,
Female
Yengaadhae indha kaadhal thaanOnly this love does not rest.
Male
Pidithathellam pidikavillaiEverything I used to like, I like no longer,
Pidikirathu un mugam thaanNow I only like your face.
Female
Inikum isai inika villaiSweet music sounds sweet no longer,
Inikirathu un peyar thaanNow only your name feels sweet.
Male
Ezhuthi vaitha sithiramLike a painted portrait,
Endhan nenjil pathiram pathiram …You are kept safe, safe in my heart...
Female
Aa aa ..Ding dong kovil maniAh ah... Ding dong, temple bell,
Kovil mani naan ketenI heard the temple bell ring.
Male
Un per en peyarilYour name joining with my name,
Sernthadhu pol oli ketenI heard a sound just like that.
Female
Nee ketathu aasayin ethiroliWhat you heard was the echo of desire,
Male
Aa aa nee thanthadhu kaadhalin uyir valiAh, ah! What you gave was the vital pain of love.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ding Dong Kovil Mani is a soulful romantic duet from the movie Ji (2005), featuring music composed by Vidyasagar and lyrics by Pa. Vijay. The song beautifully captures the overwhelming feeling of deep romantic bonding, equating the unison of two lovers' names to the sacred chime of a temple bell. The lyrics highlight how love dramatically shifts one's inner world, making ordinary pleasures fade in comparison to the beloved's presence. Throughout the track, the lovers express their sweet insomnia and endless reverie. While the rest of nature—grass, flowers, and the breeze—falls asleep, their love keeps them awake with longing. The song emphasizes the sweet agony of love ('kaadhalin uyir vali') and how a lover's image and name remain permanently enshrined in the heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia

Ding dong kovil mani

The opening words 'Ding dong' imitate the actual physical sound of a heavy temple bell ringing.

Simile and Sacred Metaphor

Un per en peyaril Sernthadhu pol oli keten

Comparing the union of their names to the divine ringing of a temple bell, elevating romantic love to a spiritual plane.

Contrast / Antithesis

Pull thoonkum poovum thoonkum ... Thoonkaadhae nam kangal thaan

Juxtaposing all of sleeping nature (grass, flowers, wind) against the sleepless eyes of the longing lovers.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Satru munbu nilavaram Endhan nenjil kalavaram kalavaram …

Use of matching end-rhymes like 'Nilavaram' (situation) and 'Kalavaram' (turmoil) to emphasize the sudden emotional disruption caused by love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ji (2005) starred Ajith Kumar and Trisha in the lead roles, directed by N. Lingusamy. The soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar, with 'Ding Dong Kovil Mani' rendered by Madhu Balakrishnan and Sadhana Sargam, becoming one of the most popular romantic melodies from the album.

Keep listening

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