Kalai Maanai Pola
From Macha Rekai · 1950
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- T. R. Mahalingam
- Music director
- C. R. Subbaraman
- Details
- Macha Rekai1950
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kalai maanai pola thanga | Like a golden deer, graceful and pure, |
| Silaimaanai kandu kaadhal kondenoo… | Did I fall in love upon seeing that statue-like maiden? |
| Kalai maanai pola….. thanga | Like a golden deer, graceful and pure, |
| Silaimaanai kandu kaadhal kondeno…haa…naanaanoo.. | Did I fall in love upon seeing that statue-like maiden? |
| Haaa…naana naa noo | (Melodic vocal improvisations) |
| Male | |
| Malai pola nindru asaiyamalae | Standing motionlessly like a tall mountain, |
| Kandu mayangi nindrenooo…naanae…haaa…aaa | I stood captivated upon beholding her beauty... |
| Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren | I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder, |
| Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren | I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder, |
| Male | |
| Konjidum kamala ranjitha kalaba | Sweetly speaking, charming like a lotus, adorned with sweet fragrance, |
| Vanjiyar thilagam nenjinil pugunthu | As the jewel among women entered into my heart, |
| Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren | I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder, |
| Male | |
| Thiru kangana kanakanavendru muzhanga | As her sacred bangles jingled with a 'kana-kana' sound, |
| Sadhangai thalarndhu kulungidavum | And her anklet bells vibrated and swayed gently, |
| Kandu mayangi nindren kandu mayangi nindren | Beholding this, I stood spellbound; beholding this, I stood spellbound. |
கலைமானைப் போல தங்கச்
சிலைமானைக் கண்டு காதல் கொண்டேனோ
கலைமானைப் போல.... தங்கச்
சிலைமானைக் கண்டு காதல் கொண்டேனோ ஹா நானானோ
ஹா நா நா நானோ
Like a golden deer, graceful and pure,
Did I fall in love upon seeing that statue-like maiden?
Like a golden deer, graceful and pure,
Did I fall in love upon seeing that statue-like maiden?
(Melodic vocal improvisations)
மலைப் போல நின்று அசையாமலே
கண்டு மயங்கி நின்றேனோ ..நானே..ஹோ ஓ
மயங்கி நின்றேன் கண்டு தயங்கி நின்றேன்
மயங்கி நின்றேன் கண்டு தயங்கி நின்றேன்
Standing motionlessly like a tall mountain,
I stood captivated upon beholding her beauty...
I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder,
I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder,
கொஞ்சிடும் கமல ரஞ்சிதக் களப
வஞ்சியர் திலகம் நெஞ்சினில் புகுந்து
மயங்கி நின்றேன் கண்டு தயங்கி நின்றேன்
Sweetly speaking, charming like a lotus, adorned with sweet fragrance,
As the jewel among women entered into my heart,
I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder,
திரு கங்கண கணகணவென்று முழங்க
சதங்கை தளர்ந்து குலுங்கிடவும்
கண்டு மயங்கி நின்றேன் கண்டு மயங்கி நின்றேன்......!
As her sacred bangles jingled with a 'kana-kana' sound,
And her anklet bells vibrated and swayed gently,
Beholding this, I stood spellbound; beholding this, I stood spellbound.
Kalai maanai pola thanga
Like a golden deer, graceful and pure,
Silaimaanai kandu kaadhal kondenoo…
Did I fall in love upon seeing that statue-like maiden?
Kalai maanai pola….. thanga
Like a golden deer, graceful and pure,
Silaimaanai kandu kaadhal kondeno…haa…naanaanoo..
Did I fall in love upon seeing that statue-like maiden?
Haaa…naana naa noo
(Melodic vocal improvisations)
Malai pola nindru asaiyamalae
Standing motionlessly like a tall mountain,
Kandu mayangi nindrenooo…naanae…haaa…aaa
I stood captivated upon beholding her beauty...
Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren
I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder,
Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren
I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder,
Konjidum kamala ranjitha kalaba
Sweetly speaking, charming like a lotus, adorned with sweet fragrance,
Vanjiyar thilagam nenjinil pugunthu
As the jewel among women entered into my heart,
Mayangi nindren kandu thayangi nindren
I stood entranced, seeing her I stood in hesitant wonder,
Thiru kangana kanakanavendru muzhanga
As her sacred bangles jingled with a 'kana-kana' sound,
Sadhangai thalarndhu kulungidavum
And her anklet bells vibrated and swayed gently,
Kandu mayangi nindren kandu mayangi nindren
Beholding this, I stood spellbound; beholding this, I stood spellbound.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Did you know?
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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