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Isaimozhi
Manimekalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kangalin Vennilave

From Manimekalai · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. R. Mahalingam, P. Bhanumathi
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Manimekalai
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
27 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kangalin vennilavae
Ullaasa kaadhal tharum madhuve
Sallaabha kaadhal paadidum vaanam paadi naam
Alai polae inaivom
Ilamaiyin thaen alaiyae
Vinn meedhu oli tharum thaaragaiye
Mann meedhu gaanam paadidum vaanam paadi naam
Alai polae inaivom
Ilamaiyin thaen alaiyae
Vinn meedhu oli tharum thaaragaiye
Mann meedhu gaanam paadidum vaanam paadi naam
Alai polae inaivom
Venn malar mel paniye
Anbaaga solvadhu namm kadhaiye
Haa aa aa aa aa aa aa haa aa aa
Venn malar mel paniye
Anbaaga solvadhu namm kadhaiye
Panbaaga gaanam paadidum vaanam paadi naam
Alai polae inaivom
Kaaviri aazh kadal pol
Kann kaana kaattrodu menn kulir pol
Haa aa aa aa aa aa aa haa aa aa
Kaaviri aazh kadal pol
Kann kaana kaattrodu menn kulir pol
Ondraaga gaanam paadidum vaanam paadi naam
Alai polae inaivom
Ennuyir maamaniye ippail
Yaarum illai thaniye mei kaahal
Gaanam paadidum vaanam paadi naam
Alai polae inaivom
In seiyum kaar ugile
Ondraaga konjudhal un ezhile
Deiveega gaanam paadidum vaanam paadi naam
Alai polae inaivom
O moonlight of my eyes,
O sweet nectar of joyful love!
We are skylarks singing of playful romance,
We will merge together like waves!
O sweet wave of youth,
O star shining bright in the sky,
We are skylarks singing upon the earth,
We will merge together like waves!
O sweet wave of youth,
O star shining bright in the sky,
We are skylarks singing upon the earth,
We will merge together like waves!
O dewdrop on a white flower,
Lovingly telling the story of our love,
Ha aa aa aa aa aa aa ha aa aa
O dewdrop on a white flower,
Lovingly telling the story of our love,
We are skylarks singing with gentle grace,
We will merge together like waves!
Like the Kaveri river joining the deep sea,
Like the unseen wind bringing a gentle cool breeze,
Ha aa aa aa aa aa aa ha aa aa
Like the Kaveri river joining the deep sea,
Like the unseen wind bringing a gentle cool breeze,
We are skylarks singing together as one,
We will merge together like waves!
O precious jewel of my soul, in this world,
With true love, no one is ever alone,
We are skylarks singing our song,
We will merge together like waves!
O dark raincloud bringing sweet joy,
Loving and caressing together is your charming grace,
We are skylarks singing a divine melody,
We will merge together like waves!
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet from the 1959 classic film Manimekalai depicts two lovers celebrating their boundless, divine affection for each other. Using poetic imagery drawn from nature, the lovers compare their connection to the seamless union of the Kaveri river joining the sea, the unseen cool breeze blending with the air, and dew resting gently on a white flower. Throughout the song, they identify as 'vaanam paadi' (skylarks), soaring high and singing joyously together, expressing that true love makes soulmates inseparable and completes their lives.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

“Alai polae inaivom”

Compares the lovers' union to ocean waves merging ('Alai polae inaivom') and the Kaveri river flowing into the deep ocean ('Kaaviri aazh kadal pol').

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Kangalin vennilavae”

Describes the beloved metaphorically as moonlight in the eyes ('Kangalin vennilavae') and a honeyed wave of youth ('Ilamaiyin thaen alaiyae').

Refrain / Repetition

“Gaanam paadidum vaanam paadi naam / Alai polae inaivom”

The phrase 'vaanam paadi naam / Alai polae inaivom' serves as a recurring refrain emphasizing their eternal harmony.

Mona (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

“Kaaviri aazh kadal pol / Kann kaana kaattrodu menn kulir pol”

Alliteration of the initial consonant sounds in 'Kaaviri' and 'Kann kaana' enhances the lyrical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

This romantic duet was composed by the legendary G. Ramanathan for the 1959 Tamil film 'Manimekalai'. It was sung by T. R. Mahalingam and P. Bhanumathi, both of whom were iconic lead actors and celebrated classical singers of Tamil cinema's golden era. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi penned the lyrics rich in classical Tamil metaphors.

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