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Thookku Medai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavile Mayangaathe

From Thookku Medai · 1982

Lyricist
Karunanithi
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Thookku Medai
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
11 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kanavilae mayangaathae
Naanthaanae oru mullai
Ondrae ninaei nee oru naal anai
Nee vaaraai raja nee vaaraai raja
Kanavilae mayangaathae
Naanthaanae oru mullai
Ondrae ninaei nee oru naal anai
Nee vaaraai raja nee vaaraai raja
Kannirendum chinna chinna poothaanae
Pennin maeni kaigal thedum maanthaanae
Kannirendum chinna chinna poothaanae
Pennin maeni kaigal thedum maanthaanae
Ingu konjam vaayaen
Ennai thottu paaraen
Pachchakkili pesum yaetho paattu paadum
Alli poovai thedi vantha karuvandae
Ondrae ninai nee oru naal anai
Nee vaaraai raja nee vaaraai raja….yae….
Kanavilae mayangaathae
Naanthaanae oru mullai
Ondrae ninaei nee oru naal anai
Nee vaaraai raja nee vaaraai raja
Vantha perkku vaari ivar tharuvaarae
Karnan neril vanththu polae vanthaarae
Vantha perkku vaari ivar tharuvaarae
Karnan neril vanththu polae vanthaarae
Rummu pola pennu jimmu polae kannu
Jaadai ondru kaattu naadi varum nottu
Naanae unnai thaedi vanthaen indraethaan
Ondrae ninai nee oru naal anai
Nee vaaraai raja nee vaaraai raja….yae….
Don't lose yourself in dreams,
Am I not right here, like a jasmine flower?
Think only of this, and embrace me one day.
Come to me, my king, come to me, my king!
Don't lose yourself in dreams,
Am I not right here, like a jasmine flower?
Think only of this, and embrace me one day.
Come to me, my king, come to me, my king!
Aren't my two eyes delicate little flowers?
Isn't a woman's body a deer that hands reach for?
Aren't my two eyes delicate little flowers?
Isn't a woman's body a deer that hands reach for?
Come over here for a moment,
Touch me and see.
This green parrot will speak and sing a song.
Oh black bee who came searching for the water lily,
Think only of this, and embrace me one day.
Come to me, my king, come to me, my king!
Don't lose yourself in dreams,
Am I not right here, like a jasmine flower?
Think only of this, and embrace me one day.
Come to me, my king, come to me, my king!
He gives generously with open hands to anyone who comes,
He arrived just like Karna (a legendary generous king) in person!
He gives generously with open hands to anyone who comes,
He arrived just like Karna (a legendary generous king) in person!
A woman intoxicating like rum, with dazzling eyes,
Just give a playful sign, and money will come rushing to you.
I myself came searching for you this very day.
Think only of this, and embrace me one day.
Come to me, my king, come to me, my king!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kanavilae Mayangaathae from the 1982 film Thookku Medai is an alluring track rendered by Vani Jairam with music composed by Shankar Ganesh. The song features a woman beckoning her beloved king or patron to stop dwelling in fantasies and embrace the reality of love and passion. She compares her beauty to a delicate jasmine flower and a lily waiting for its beetle, inviting him to indulge in her companionship. In the verses, she praises his boundless generosity, comparing his patronizing nature to the mythical character Karna. Blending romantic imagery with playful contemporary metaphors, she entices him to come near and make the most of the present moment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Naanthaanae oru mullai”

The speaker directly equates herself to a jasmine flower (mullai) and a lily flower (alli poovu) to emphasize her delicacy and beauty.

Simile (Upamai)

“Karnan neril vanththu polae vanthaarae”

Compares the generosity of the patron directly to the legendary king Karna who gives selflessly.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

“Kannirendum chinna chinna poothaanae”

The repetition of 'chinna chinna' enhances the rhythm and highlights lightness and charm.

Internal Rhyme & Parallelism (Iyaibu)

“Rummu pola pennu jimmu polae kannu”

Uses rhyming colloquial words ('Rummu pola pennu', 'jimmu polae kannu') to create a catchy, rhythmic internal rhyme scheme.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thookku Medai was originally a highly popular stage play written by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi during the early years of his political and literary career, made famous by actor M. R. Radha. Decades later in 1982, it was adapted into a full-length feature film starring Chandrasekar, retaining songs authored by M. Karunanidhi himself.

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