Maalaiyitta Mangai
From Ratha Kanneer · 1954
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- T. V. Rathinam
- Music director
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Details
- Ratha Kanneer1954
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maalaiyitta mangai yaaro | Who is the maiden who placed the garland? |
| Enna pero | What is her name? |
| Antha maaniniyaal entha ooro | Which town does that respected lady belong to? |
| Ungal manam naadiya sugamae tharum | She who brings the joy desired by your heart, |
| Madhi meviya vanitha mani | A gem of a woman, radiant like the moon, |
| Maamatha vel thendral thaero | Is she the breeze-chariot of the mighty god of love? |
| Thiruvaai malarnthae aruleero… | Will you open your gracious mouth and tell me? |
| Female | |
| Mugilu kinaiyumendra | Like the dark clouds, |
| Kuzhalai thzhuvi nindra | Her hair that cascades down, |
| Muga vatta madhu chanthira pimbamo | Is her round face like the reflection of the sweet full moon? |
| Pirai nigar nettri | Her forehead resembles the crescent moon, |
| Aval kndam sangamo | Is her neck like a smooth conch? |
| Female | |
| Pargal mullaiyo idaiyillaiyo | Are her teeth like jasmine buds? Is her waist nonexistent? |
| Malar kollaiyo valar selviyo | Is she a treasure of flowers? Is she an embodiment of prosperity? |
| Thudai maraththuvajan koyil kambamo | Are her thighs like temple pillars of the fish-flagged cupid? |
| Thangal sagapaththini udalanth thangamo | Is your wife made of pure gold? |
| Female | |
| Kendai meenum maanum kandu naanum suzhal | Seeing her eyes, the carp fish, the deer, and the buzzing |
| Vandu nerum vizhi valliyaa | Bees feel humbled; is she a vine-like woman with such eyes? |
| Karkandu thaen maruvum solliyaa | Is her speech sweet, mixing rock candy and honey? |
| Tamizh sinthu paadi mani thandaiyaadu patham | Singing Tamil Sindhu folk melodies while her ankleted feet dance, |
| Kondu aadugindra melliyaa | Is she a delicate woman who moves with grace? |
| Enthan sinthaithaan magizha sollaiyaa | Won't you tell me so that my heart can rejoice? |
| Enthan sinthaithaan magizha sollaiyaa | Won't you tell me so that my heart can rejoice? |
| Female | |
| Kaaviya kalaiyo | Is she an art form from epic poetry? |
| Sirpa oviya silaiyo | Is she a sculpted and painted statue? |
| Kaaviya kalaiyo | Is she an art form from epic poetry? |
| Female | |
| Kaaviya kalaiyo | Is she an art form from epic poetry? |
| Sirpa oviya silaiyo | Is she a sculpted and painted statue? |
| Antha kaamanin silai | Is she a statue of Kamadeva? |
| Bhoomiyin pechai kaarigaiyaazh | Has she transformed into a beautiful woman |
| Urumaari vanthaalo | Who speaks the tongue of the Earth? |
| Female | |
| Kaavin malarkodiyo | Is she a flowering creeper of the grove? |
| Kalvi kelvigal eppadiyo | How educated and wise is she? |
| Kaavin malarkodiyo | Is she a flowering creeper of the grove? |
| Kalvi kelvigal eppadiyo | How educated and wise is she? |
| Female | |
| Ungal kadhali | Is your beloved |
| Enthanin maathiriyandro | Just like me? |
| Thaamaro kallo sallaapa saamarasa | Is she a lotus, a stone, or a harmonious, |
| Komala penno | Gentle, tender maiden? |
| Female | |
| Karpanaiyin seero | Is she the pinnacle of poetic imagination? |
| Kattazhagi yaaro | Who is that exceptionally beautiful woman? |
| Karpanaiyin seero | Is she the pinnacle of poetic imagination? |
| Kattazhagi yaaro | Who is that exceptionally beautiful woman? |
| Female | |
| Arputhamae gunavathiyo | Is she a virtuous woman of wonders? |
| Avalum umakku thagunthavalo | Is she truly a suitable match for you? |
| Female | |
| Kaaviya kalaiyo | Is she an art form from epic poetry? |
| Sirpa oviya silaiyo | Is she a sculpted and painted statue? |
| Kaaviya kalaiyo | Is she an art form from epic poetry? |
| Sirpa oviya silaiyo | Is she a sculpted and painted statue? |
மாலையிட்ட மங்கை யாரோ
என்ன பேரோ
அந்த மானினியாள் எந்த ஊரோ
உங்கள் மனம் நாடிய சுகமே தரும்
மதி மேவிய வனிதா மணி
மாமத வேள் தென்றல் தேரோ
திரு வாய் மலர்ந்தே அருளீரோ....
Who is the maiden who placed the garland?
What is her name?
Which town does that respected lady belong to?
She who brings the joy desired by your heart,
A gem of a woman, radiant like the moon,
Is she the breeze-chariot of the mighty god of love?
Will you open your gracious mouth and tell me?
முகிலுக் கிணையு மென்ற
குழலைத் தழுவி நின்ற
முக வட்ட மது சந்திர பிம்பமோ
பிறை நிகர் நெற்றி
அவள் கண்டம் சங்கமோ
Like the dark clouds,
Her hair that cascades down,
Is her round face like the reflection of the sweet full moon?
Her forehead resembles the crescent moon,
Is her neck like a smooth conch?
பற்கள் முல்லையோ இடையில்லையோ
மலர்க் கொல்லையோ வளர் செல்வியோ
துடை மகரத்துவஜன் கோயில் கம்பமோ
தங்கள் சகபத்தினி உடலந் தங்கமோ.....
Are her teeth like jasmine buds? Is her waist nonexistent?
Is she a treasure of flowers? Is she an embodiment of prosperity?
Are her thighs like temple pillars of the fish-flagged cupid?
Is your wife made of pure gold?
கெண்டை மீனும் மானும் கண்டு நாணும் சுழல்
வண்டு நேரும் விழி வல்லியா
கற் கண்டு தேன் மருவும் சொல்லியா
தமிழ் சிந்து பாடி மணித் தண்டையாடு பதம்
கொண்டு ஆடுகின்ற மெல்லியா
எந்தன் சிந்தைதான் மகிழச் சொல்லையா....
எந்தன் சிந்தைதான் மகிழச் சொல்லையா....
Seeing her eyes, the carp fish, the deer, and the buzzing
Bees feel humbled; is she a vine-like woman with such eyes?
Is her speech sweet, mixing rock candy and honey?
Singing Tamil Sindhu folk melodies while her ankleted feet dance,
Is she a delicate woman who moves with grace?
Won't you tell me so that my heart can rejoice?
Won't you tell me so that my heart can rejoice?
காவிய கலையோ
சிற்ப ஓவிய சிலையோ
காவிய கலையோ
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
காவிய கலையோ
சிற்ப ஓவிய சிலையோ
அந்த காமனின் சிலை
பூமியின் பேச்சை காரிகையாள்
உருமாறி வந்தாலோ
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Is she a statue of Kamadeva?
Has she transformed into a beautiful woman
Who speaks the tongue of the Earth?
காவின் மலர்கொடியோ
கல்வி கேள்விகள் எப்படியோ
காவின் மலர்கொடியோ
கல்வி கேள்விகள் எப்படியோ
Is she a flowering creeper of the grove?
How educated and wise is she?
Is she a flowering creeper of the grove?
How educated and wise is she?
உங்கள் காதலி
எந்தனின் மாதிரியன்றோ
தாமரோ கல்லோ சல்லாப சாமரச
கோமள பெண்ணோ
Is your beloved
Just like me?
Is she a lotus, a stone, or a harmonious,
Gentle, tender maiden?
கற்பனையின் சீரோ
கட்டழகி யாரோ
கற்பனையின் சீரோ
கட்டழகி யாரோ
Is she the pinnacle of poetic imagination?
Who is that exceptionally beautiful woman?
Is she the pinnacle of poetic imagination?
Who is that exceptionally beautiful woman?
அற்புதமே குணவதியோ
அவளும் உமக்கு தகுந்தவளோ
Is she a virtuous woman of wonders?
Is she truly a suitable match for you?
காவிய கலையோ
சிற்ப ஓவிய சிலையோ
காவிய கலையோ
சிற்ப ஓவிய சிலையோ
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Maalaiyitta mangai yaaro
Who is the maiden who placed the garland?
Enna pero
What is her name?
Antha maaniniyaal entha ooro
Which town does that respected lady belong to?
Ungal manam naadiya sugamae tharum
She who brings the joy desired by your heart,
Madhi meviya vanitha mani
A gem of a woman, radiant like the moon,
Maamatha vel thendral thaero
Is she the breeze-chariot of the mighty god of love?
Thiruvaai malarnthae aruleero…
Will you open your gracious mouth and tell me?
Mugilu kinaiyumendra
Like the dark clouds,
Kuzhalai thzhuvi nindra
Her hair that cascades down,
Muga vatta madhu chanthira pimbamo
Is her round face like the reflection of the sweet full moon?
Pirai nigar nettri
Her forehead resembles the crescent moon,
Aval kndam sangamo
Is her neck like a smooth conch?
Pargal mullaiyo idaiyillaiyo
Are her teeth like jasmine buds? Is her waist nonexistent?
Malar kollaiyo valar selviyo
Is she a treasure of flowers? Is she an embodiment of prosperity?
Thudai maraththuvajan koyil kambamo
Are her thighs like temple pillars of the fish-flagged cupid?
Thangal sagapaththini udalanth thangamo
Is your wife made of pure gold?
Kendai meenum maanum kandu naanum suzhal
Seeing her eyes, the carp fish, the deer, and the buzzing
Vandu nerum vizhi valliyaa
Bees feel humbled; is she a vine-like woman with such eyes?
Karkandu thaen maruvum solliyaa
Is her speech sweet, mixing rock candy and honey?
Tamizh sinthu paadi mani thandaiyaadu patham
Singing Tamil Sindhu folk melodies while her ankleted feet dance,
Kondu aadugindra melliyaa
Is she a delicate woman who moves with grace?
Enthan sinthaithaan magizha sollaiyaa
Won't you tell me so that my heart can rejoice?
Enthan sinthaithaan magizha sollaiyaa
Won't you tell me so that my heart can rejoice?
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Sirpa oviya silaiyo
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Sirpa oviya silaiyo
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Antha kaamanin silai
Is she a statue of Kamadeva?
Bhoomiyin pechai kaarigaiyaazh
Has she transformed into a beautiful woman
Urumaari vanthaalo
Who speaks the tongue of the Earth?
Kaavin malarkodiyo
Is she a flowering creeper of the grove?
Kalvi kelvigal eppadiyo
How educated and wise is she?
Kaavin malarkodiyo
Is she a flowering creeper of the grove?
Kalvi kelvigal eppadiyo
How educated and wise is she?
Ungal kadhali
Is your beloved
Enthanin maathiriyandro
Just like me?
Thaamaro kallo sallaapa saamarasa
Is she a lotus, a stone, or a harmonious,
Komala penno
Gentle, tender maiden?
Karpanaiyin seero
Is she the pinnacle of poetic imagination?
Kattazhagi yaaro
Who is that exceptionally beautiful woman?
Karpanaiyin seero
Is she the pinnacle of poetic imagination?
Kattazhagi yaaro
Who is that exceptionally beautiful woman?
Arputhamae gunavathiyo
Is she a virtuous woman of wonders?
Avalum umakku thagunthavalo
Is she truly a suitable match for you?
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Sirpa oviya silaiyo
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Kaaviya kalaiyo
Is she an art form from epic poetry?
Sirpa oviya silaiyo
Is she a sculpted and painted statue?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a classical inquiry filled with poetic metaphors praising a woman's beauty, intellect, and grace. The speaker playfully inquires about the identity, hometown, appearance, and character of the listener's lover or bride, comparing her physical features to classical literary metaphors such as crescent moons, conchs, jasmine buds, and gold.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upama (Simile / Metaphor)
“Muga vatta madhu chanthira pimbamo”
Comparing the woman's face to the moon ('madhu chanthira pimbamo') and forehead to a crescent ('Pirai nigar nettri').
Anaphora / Repetition
“Kaaviya kalaiyo”
Refrain repetition of 'Kaaviya kalaiyo / Sirpa oviya silaiyo' emphasizing her artistic perfection.
Emona / Rhyme (Monorhyme and Alliteration)
“Kaavin malarkodiyo”
Extensive use of Tamil 'Edhugai' and 'Mona' sound plays (e.g., 'Kaavin malarkodiyo / Kalvi kelvigal eppadiyo').
Did you know?
Trivia
Ratha Kanneer (1954) is a iconic Tamil cult classic film starring M. R. Radha. The film's soundtrack was composed by C. S. Jayaraman with lyrics penned by the famous rationalist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi.
Keep listening
More from Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer
Ratha Kanneer