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Macha Rekai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalai Maanai Pola

From Macha Rekai · 1950

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
C. R. Subbaraman
Movie name
Macha Rekai
Movie release year
1950
Lyrics added on
2 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalai maanai pola thanga
Silaimaanai kandu kaadhal kondenoo…
Kalai maanai pola….. thanga
Silaimaanai kandu kaadhal kondeno…haa…naanaanoo..
Haaa…naana naa noo
Malai pola nindru asaiyamalae
Kandu mayangi nindrenooo…naanae…haaa…aaa
Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren
Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren
Konjidum kamala ranjitha kalaba
Vanjiyar thilagam nenjinil pugunthu
Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren
Thiru kangana kanakanavendru muzhanga
Sadhangai thalarndhu kulungidavum
Kandu mayangi nindren kandu mayangi nindren
Like a graceful deer, upon seeing a golden...
...statue of beauty, did I fall in love?
Like a graceful deer... upon seeing a golden...
...statue of beauty, did I fall in love? Ha na naano
Ha na na naano
Standing motionless like a mountain,
did I stand captivated upon seeing her... me... oh...
I stood captivated, seeing her, I stood hesitating,
I stood captivated, seeing her, I stood hesitating,
Sweet-speaking, charming like a lotus, fragrant with sandalwood,
as that jewel among women entered my heart,
I stood captivated, seeing her, I stood hesitating,
With her lovely bangles ringing and chiming,
and her anklet bells shaking as she swayed,
seeing her, I stood captivated, seeing her, I stood captivated...!
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses the overwhelming bewitchment experienced by a man upon seeing an exquisitely beautiful woman. He compares her beauty and grace to a golden deer and a carved statue, feeling instantly struck by love. Stunned into immobility like a mountain, he describes her fragrant charm, lotus-like grace, and the enchanting sound of her jingling bangles and anklet bells, which entrance his heart completely.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kalai maanai pola thanga / Malai pola nindru asaiyamalae

Compares the maiden's swift, graceful presence to a golden deer ('Kalai maanai pola thanga') and the lover's stunned immobility to a mountain ('Malai pola').

Onomatopoeia (Anukaran / Erattai Kilavi)

Thiru kangana kanakanavendru muzhanga

'Kanakanavendru' imitates the rhythmic jingling sound made by gold bangles.

Internal Rhyme (Etukai / Iyaibu)

Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren

Use of rhyming paired verbs like 'Mayangi' and 'Thayangi' creates lyrical rhythm reflecting emotional hesitation.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vanjiyar thilagam nenjinil pugunthu

'Vanjiyar thilagam' metaphorically exalts the lady as the supreme jewel or tilak among women.

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Trivia

'Macha Rekai' (1950) featured music scored by the celebrated maestro C. R. Subbaraman. Singer-actor T. R. Mahalingam's iconic high-pitched classical style and powerful voice are prominently showcased in this composition through intricate sangatis and vocal improvisations.

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