- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Mann Vasanai
- Movie release year
- 1983
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Sept 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This folk track from Mann Vasanai (1983) is a vibrant celebration of village culture, fertile soil, and devotion to the village deity, Goddess Mariyamman. The lyrics pay tribute to the generosity of the land where sowing seeds yields rich harvests compared to gold, and pray for the deity to bless the village with unending wealth, joy, and prosperity. The song also captures the quintessential rural Tamil lifestyle and values—contrasting male bravery with female honor, calling the community together to witness traditional sports like Jallikattu (bull-taming), and immersing the listener in the authentic folk spirit of rural Tamil Nadu.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Ponnu velaiyura boomi nalla boomi”
Describing crops harvested from the soil as 'Pon' (gold) to emphasize the extreme fertility and richness of the land.
Contrast / Couplet Parallelism (Aethukai / Edukkai)
“Aambala jaadhinga veeratha kattanum / Pombala jaadhinga maanatha kakkanum”
Juxtaposition of male and female traditional social expectations in parallel rhythmic structures ('Aambala jaadhinga' vs 'Pombala jaadhinga').
Call and Response (Folk Refrain)
“Chorus :Aaamamaamamamama”
Use of chorus responses ('Aaamamaamamamama') echoing the lead singer, characteristic of traditional village ritual singing.
Did you know?
Trivia
Mann Vasanai (1983), directed by P. Bharathiraja, marked the silver screen debut of both Revathi and Pandiyan. The soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja was a massive commercial success, celebrated for authentically bringing the rustic 'fragrance of the soil' (Mann Vasanai) into mainstream Tamil cinema audio.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Mann Vasanai
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.