Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maaman Oru Naal

From Rosapoo Ravikaikari · 1979

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Rosapoo Ravikaikari1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aei….aeii..Hey... hey...
Hei heiiieeiiiHey hey...
Aaa…aaa…aaa..aaa..aaa…aaa…Ah... ah... ah...
Female
Maman oru naalOne day, my beloved
Malliyappoo koduththaanGave me a jasmine flower
En maman oru naalOne day, my beloved
Malliyappoo koduththaanGave me a jasmine flower
Female
Adi aaththi idhu edhukkuOh my, why is this?
Naan yosanai panni paathenammaI pondered and wondered, oh mother
Avan vaangikka solli thandhaanammaHe asked me to take it and gave it to me, oh mother
Male
Maman oru naalOne day, my beloved
Malliyappoo koduththaanGave me a jasmine flower
Female :En maman oru naalFemale: One day, my beloved
Malliyappoo koduththaanGave me a jasmine flower
Male
Adi aaththi idhu edhukkuOh my, why is this?
Naan yosanai panni paathenammaI pondered and wondered, oh mother
Avan vaangikka solli thandhaanammaHe asked me to take it and gave it to me, oh mother
Female
Ennaththai sonnaanWhat did he say?
Edhu sonnaanWhat all did he say?
Chinna pullai naanI am a young girl
Pachchai pullai naanI am an innocent, naive girl
Vaasathilae madhi marandhuLosing my mind in the fragrance
Vaangikitten naan vachikkitten naanI accepted it and wore it in my hair
Male
Malligai poo vaasamThe fragrance of the jasmine flower
En maaman mela veesumWafts from my beloved
Maman oru naalOne day, my beloved
Malliyappoo koduththaanGave me a jasmine flower
Male
Maangaa thopporamNear the mango grove
Naan marunaal ponenaamThey say I went the next day
Thengaa poovaattamLike a blooming coconut flower
Naan sirichikkitirundhenaamThey say I was smiling brightly
Male
Adi aaththaadi en oramaaaOh my goodness, right beside me
En maaman vandhaan angaeMy beloved came there
Female :Yeh..ehh…ehFemale: Yeah... eh... eh
Male :En maaman vandhaan angaeMale: My beloved came there
Oru maanga thandhaan thingaHe gave me a mango to eat
Female
Ennaththai pannaanWhat did he do?
Edhu pannaanWhat all did he do?
Chinna pullai naanI am a young girl
Pachchai pullai naanI am an innocent, naive girl
Aasaiyilae ennai marandhuForgetting myself in desire
Vaangitten naan thinnuputten naanI took it and ate it up
Male
Maaman thandha maangaaThe mango my beloved gave
Nalla malgovadhaangaWas indeed a fine Malgova mango
Maman oru naalOne day, my beloved
Malliyappoo koduththaanGave me a jasmine flower
Male
Kammaa karaiyoramBy the bank of the lake
Naan kulichikittirundhenaamThey say I was taking a bath
Selai thuniyellaamAll my clothes and saree
Naan thovaichikkittirundhenaamThey say I was washing
Male
Adi ammaadi enn oramaaOh my goodness, right beside me
En maaman thaanae vandhaanMy beloved himself came
Pudhu selai dhaanae thandhaanHe gave me a brand new saree
Female
Ennaththai pannaanWhat did he do?
Edhu pannaanWhat all did he do?
Chinna pullai naanI am a young girl
Pachchai pullai naanI am an innocent, naive girl
Selaiyilae ennai marandhuForgetting myself in the saree
Vaangikkitten naan kattikitten naanI took it and draped it around me
Male
Maaman thandha selaiThe saree my beloved gave
Andha malliyappoo polaWas soft like that jasmine flower
Female :Maaman oru naalFemale: One day, my beloved
Malliyappoo koduththaanGave me a jasmine flower
Male
Oru naal thaniyaa thaanOne day, all alone
Naan veettila irundhenaamThey say I was at home
Medhuvaa vandhaanaamThey say he came softly
Naan varavaa endraanaamThey say he asked, 'May I come in?'
Male
Adi aaththaadi enn oramaaOh my goodness, right beside me
Female :Pudhu paayai pottaan angaeFemale: He laid a new mat there
Pudhu vidhamaa paaththaan ingaeHe looked at me in a new way here
Male
Ennaththai pannaanWhat did he do?
Edhu pannaanWhat all did he do?
Chinna pullai naanI am a young girl
Pachchai pullai naanI am an innocent, naive girl
Onnumariya kanni ponnu naanI am an innocent maiden who knows nothing
Madhi mayangi paduthukittenEntranced and enchanted, I lay down
Chorus
Hahahahahaha….Hahahahahaha...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic folk-style track from Rosapoo Ravikaikari captures the playful, coy narrative of a young innocent girl describing her blossoming romance with her cousin/beloved ('Maaman'). Through various scenes—receiving a jasmine flower, sharing a sweet Malgova mango near the orchard, getting a soft new saree by the lake bank, and finally being approached at home—she narrates her innocent surrender to love and desire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thengaa poovaattam / Naan sirichikkitirundhenaam

Compares her bright, innocent smile to the blossoming coconut flower ('Thengaa poovaattam').

Metaphor / Sensual Symbolism

Pudhu paayai pottaan angae / Pudhu vidhamaa paaththaan ingae

Gifting items like jasmine flower, ripe mango, new saree, and spreading a mat metaphorically trace the stages of intimacy and courting in Tamil rural tradition.

Repetition (Anaphora)

Chinna pullai naan / Pachchai pullai naan

The phrase 'Chinna pullai naan / Pachchai pullai naan' is repeatedly used as a refrain to emphasize her youth and innocence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rosapoo Ravikaikari (1979) was a landmark film directed by Devaraj-Mohan, featuring Sivakumar and Deepa. The soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja was a massive hit, blending authentic Tamil folk melodies with intricate acoustic arrangements, bringing widespread acclaim to singer S.P. Sailaja.

Keep listening

More from Rosapoo Ravikaikari