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Mannukkul Vairam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Jadhi Malligaiye

From Mannukkul Vairam · 1986

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Devendran
Movie name
Mannukkul Vairam
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
3 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jaadhi malligaiyae nenjila saainju
Konjam nee thoongu kannmaniyae
Sillunnu veesuthu oodha kaaththu
Siththa nee poovizhi vaasal saaththu…..aariro….
Jaadhi malligaiyae nenjila saainju
Konjam nee thoongu kannmaniyae
Eththaniyo nyaapagam
En manasil nizhalaai aaduthu
Ennennavo naadagam
En ninavil thinamum poduthu
Vaanam kitta varum
Un kannirandil maiya thottezhuthum
Maegam pandhalidum
En kannmanikku minnal maalai kattum
Paasa dheepam kannila kanndaen vaa
Jaadhi malligaiyae nenjila saainju
Konjam nee thoongu kannmaniyae
Kaalai varum pothilae
Pon ulagam irulaai ponathae
Maalaiyitta kaatchiyae
Kai nodiyil kanavaai ponathae
Koodu katti vachchu
En chella kuyil paada mettu thanthaen
Kootta kaanavillai
Naan solli thantha paattum ketkkavillai
Raagam maari sogam naan kettaen
Jaadhi malligaiyae nenjila saainju
Konjam nee thoongu kannmaniyae
Kannmaniyae……kannmaniyae
Rest on my chest, my jasmine flower,
Sleep a little while, my darling.
A chilly breeze blows cold,
Close the doors of your flower-like eyes for a while... Aariraro...
Rest on my chest, my jasmine flower,
Sleep a little while, my darling...
So many memories
Dance like shadows in my heart.
All kinds of dramas
Play out in my mind every day.
The sky will come close
To trace kohl onto your two eyes.
The clouds will set up a canopy,
And weave a garland of lightning for my darling.
Come, I have seen the light of love in your eyes...
Rest on my chest, my jasmine flower,
Sleep a little while, my darling.
Just as morning arrived,
The golden world turned into darkness.
The sight of exchanging wedding garlands
Turned into a dream in a single moment.
I built a nest
And gave a tune for my darling cuckoo to sing.
Now the nest is nowhere to be found,
And the song I taught is heard no more.
The melody changed, and I heard only sorrow.
Rest on my chest, my jasmine flower,
Sleep a little while, my darling.
My darling... my darling...
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This tender lullaby reflects deep affection, nostalgia, and melancholic anguish. The singer gently puts the beloved to sleep, offering solace against the cold wind while being overwhelmed by memories that play out like shadows and dramas in the mind. The lyrics weave sweet imagery of nature bestowing honors upon the beloved, contrasting the warmth of deep bond against painful real-life betrayals or misfortunes. The song portrays how a once bright, golden world suddenly turned dark, where dreams of marriage and togetherness shattered in an instant. Despite the melody of life turning into a song of grief, the speaker continues to hold the beloved close with unwavering love and protection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Jaadhi malligaiyae nenjila saainju”

Refers to the beloved as a delicate jasmine flower ('Jaadhi malligai') and compares eyes to doors made of flowers ('Poovizhi vaasal').

Hyperbole (Uvarchi Aani)

“Vaanam kitta varum / Un kannirandil maiya thottezhuthum”

Exaggerates nature's love where the sky descends to apply kohl and clouds create a canopy with a lightning garland.

Monai (Initial Assonance/Alliteration)

“Eththaniyo nyaapagam / Ennennavo naadagam”

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across consecutive lines ('Eththaniyo' / 'Ennennavo').

Imagery

“Sillunnu veesuthu oodha kaaththu”

Evokes vivid tactile and visual imagery of cold breezes blowing and golden worlds fading into darkness.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Mannukkul Vairam' (1986) featured music composed by Devendran, with lyrics written by the celebrated Tamil poet Muthulingam. The soundtrack is noted for its expressive folk-classical fusion melodies typical of 1980s Tamil cinema.

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