Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Iru Mangani

From Vairam · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, J. Jayalalitha
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Vairam1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Iru maangani pol idhazh oramAt the edge of lips sweet as two ripe mangoes,
Male :Yaenguthu mogamMale: Desire longs with passion.
Female :Mani maaligai pol oru thegamFemale: A body sculpted like a gem-studded palace,
Male :Paaduthu raagamMale: Sings a melodious ragam.
Female
Kanmani raja ponguthuOh my darling king, my shyness overflows,
Naanam paarththathu pothumEnough of your gazing!
Male :Oh…oh….oo….kaalaikku yogamMale: Oh... good fortune will arrive in due time.
Mangala melam kunguma kolamWith sacred drums, vermilion kolam designs,
Manavarai magimaiAnd the glory of the wedding altar...
Female :Hah…hah…haaFemale: Hah... hah... haa,
Adhuvarai porumaiHave patience until then!
Female
Iru maangani pol idhazh oramAt the edge of lips sweet as two ripe mangoes,
Male :Yaenguthu mogamMale: Desire longs with passion.
Male
Thirai moodum medaiyilaeOn a stage shrouded in curtains,
Naadagam paarthaenI watched a play.
Female :Adhil odum jaadaiyilaeFemale: In the subtle glances flowing through it,
Ooraiyum paarthtahenI saw the whole world.
Male
Sirippaal ennaiWith a smile, towards me,
Maanikkapadhumai azhaippathai kanadenI saw the ruby statue calling me out.
Female :Edharkko ungal kaigalFemale: I noticed both your hands,
Irandum thudippathai kandaenTrembling with eager anticipation.
Male
Indrae naan paarkkavaaShould I look into it today,
Illai naal paarkkavaaOr wait for an auspicious day?
Female :Oo…oo….avasaram ennaFemale: Oo... oo... what is the hurry?
Female
Iru maangani pol idhazh oramAt the edge of lips sweet as two ripe mangoes,
Male :Yaenguthu mogamMale: Desire longs with passion.
Female
Idhu kadhal poojai endraalIf this is a ritual of love,
Aaraththi engaeWhere is the sacred aarathi lamp?
Male :Adhai kaaman vendumendraanMale: Lord Kama demanded it,
Avanidam thanthaenSo I surrendered it to him.
Female
Kadaikkann deepamThe light from the corner of her eyes,
Kanmozhi yaavum paalaabishegamAnd her sweet glances are like anointing with milk.
Male :Idaiyenum padhumaiMale: A doll-like slender waist,
Nadaiyenum thearil oorvala kolamA grand procession on the chariot of her gait.
Female
Maalai pon maalaiyaaIs this evening a golden evening,
Illai poo maalaiyaaOr a festive floral garland?
Male :Aa….aa…kovilil paarthomMale: Ah... we saw it in the temple.
Female
Iru maangani pol idhazh oramAt the edge of lips sweet as two ripe mangoes,
Male :Yaenguthu mogamMale: Desire longs with passion.
Female :Mani maaligai pol oru thegamFemale: A body sculpted like a gem-studded palace,
Male :Paaduthu raagamMale: Sings a melodious ragam.
Male
Ooh ooh yaenguthu mogamOoh ooh, desire longs with passion,
Female :Aah aah paaduthu raagamFemale: Aah aah, sings a melodious ragam.
Male :Laallaala yaenguthu mogamMale: Laallaala, desire longs with passion,
Female :Mmmmmm paaduthu raagamFemale: Mmmmmm, sings a melodious ragam.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic duet from the 1974 film 'Vairam' depicts a playful, passionate conversation between two lovers. The hero poetically admires the heroine's grace, lips, and alluring figure, expressing an eager desire to unite with her. The heroine gracefully keeps his romantic impatience in check, teasingly reminding him to wait for formal marriage rituals like the wedded canopy and auspicious music. Throughout the song, Kannadasan's rich imagery compares love to divine worship, stage plays, and temple festivities. The interplay between SPB's expressive vocals and Jayalalitha's enchanting delivery captures the sweet tension between eager romantic desire and bashful restraint.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Iru maangani pol idhazh oram

Compares human lips to sweet ripe mangoes using the explicit comparison word 'pol'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Mani maaligai pol oru thegam

Metaphorically equates the beauty of the human body to a gem-laden palace.

Alliteration (Moonaai / Second-letter Rhyme - Edhugai)

Mangala melam kunguma kolam

Rhythmic pairing of 'Mangala', 'kunguma', and 'Manavarai' enhances the lyric's musical flow.

Metaphor / Imagery

Nadaiyenum thearil oorvala kolam

Equates the heroine's grace and walk to a grand temple chariot procession.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalitha, who not only played the lead role opposite Jaishankar in 'Vairam' (1974), but also personally sang this duet alongside S. P. Balasubrahmanyam under T. R. Pappa's music direction.

Keep listening

More from Vairam