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Lyrics & meaning

Maanathil Naangal Mankal

From Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu · 1980

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
22 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maanaththil naangal maangal
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengal
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligal
Veeraththil naangal puligal
Maanaththil naangal maangal
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengal
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligal
Veeraththil naangal puligal
Vanna kaalgal vettri nadai podum
Chinna kangal sindhu kavi paadum
Vanna kaalgal vettri nadai podum
Chinna kangal sindhu kavi paadum
Maanaththil naangal maangal
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengal
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligal
Veeraththil naangal puligal
Muttai podum pettai kozhi
Mattumalla naangal
Mella kitta vanthu thotta perai
Muttukindra maangal
Muttai podum pettai kozhi
Mattumalla naangal
Mella kitta vanthu thotta perai
Muttukindra maangal
Paandiya sabhaiyinil thondriya penn mayil
Veeraththin vilakkamadi
Kaalaththil needhiyin kangalai thirappathu
Penmaiyin vazhakkamadi
Paandiya sabhaiyinil thondriya penn mayil
Veeraththin vilakkamadi
Kaalaththil needhiyin kangalai thirappathu
Penmaiyin vazhakkamadi
Konjumpothu konjuvathu penmai
Minjumpothu minjuvathu unmai
Konjumpothu konjuvathu penmai
Minjumpothu minjuvathu unmai
Maanaththil naangal maangal
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengal
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligal
Veeraththil naangal puligal
Sakthi endru per padaiththa
Jaadhi engal jaadhi
Antha kadavukukku kadan koduththa
Maeni engal paadhi
Sakthi endru per padaiththa
Jaadhi engal jaadhi
Antha kadavukukku kadan koduththa
Maeni engal paadhi
Naayagan endroru nallavan kannukku
Nilavaai kulirnthiruppom
Naayagan endroru nallavan kannukku
Nilavaai kulirnthiruppom
Maanaththil naangal maangal
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengal
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligal
Veeraththil naangal puligal
Vanna kaalgal vettri nadai podum
Chinna kangal sindhu kavi paadum
Vanna kaalgal vettri nadai podum
Chinna kangal sindhu kavi paadum
Maanaththil naangal maangal
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengal
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligal
Veeraththil naangal puligal
In honor, we are deer,
in the glance of our eyes, we are fish,
in our sweet speech, we are parrots,
in bravery, we are tigers!
In honor, we are deer,
in the glance of our eyes, we are fish,
in our sweet speech, we are parrots,
in bravery, we are tigers!
Our graceful feet stride in victory,
our small eyes sing melodic songs.
Our graceful feet stride in victory,
our small eyes sing melodic songs.
In honor, we are deer,
in the glance of our eyes, we are fish,
in our sweet speech, we are parrots,
in bravery, we are tigers!
Egg-laying hens
are not all that we are;
to anyone who creeps close and touches us,
we are deer that strike back!
Egg-laying hens
are not all that we are;
to anyone who creeps close and touches us,
we are deer that strike back!
The graceful woman who stood in the Pandya king's court
is the shining symbol of courage!
Opening the eyes of justice in every age
is the true way of womanhood!
The graceful woman who stood in the Pandya king's court
is the shining symbol of courage!
Opening the eyes of justice in every age
is the true way of womanhood!
When loved with tenderness, womanhood is sweet,
when pushed beyond limits, standing strong is the truth!
When loved with tenderness, womanhood is sweet,
when pushed beyond limits, standing strong is the truth!
In honor, we are deer,
in the glance of our eyes, we are fish,
in our sweet speech, we are parrots,
in bravery, we are tigers!
Bearing the name of Shakti (divine feminine power),
our kind is of that supreme strength;
Having given a loan to God himself,
our body is half of his form!
Bearing the name of Shakti (divine feminine power),
our kind is of that supreme strength;
Having given a loan to God himself,
our body is half of his form!
In the eyes of a good man who is our partner,
we will be gentle and cool like the moon!
In the eyes of a good man who is our partner,
we will be gentle and cool like the moon!
In honor, we are deer,
in the glance of our eyes, we are fish,
in our sweet speech, we are parrots,
in bravery, we are tigers!
Our graceful feet stride in victory,
our small eyes sing melodic songs.
Our graceful feet stride in victory,
our small eyes sing melodic songs.
In honor, we are deer,
in the glance of our eyes, we are fish,
in our sweet speech, we are parrots,
in bravery, we are tigers!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maanaththil Naangal Maangal is a celebrated feminist anthem from the 1980 Tamil movie Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu, composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Pulamaipithan and sung by Vani Jairam. The song serves as a powerful declaration of female dignity, balancing tender qualities with fierce strength. It emphasizes that while women display sweetness and affection, they possess formidable bravery when pushed to defend their self-respect.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Maanaththil naangal maangal / Veeraththil naangal puligal

Compares women directly to deer in self-respect, fish in eye expression, parrots in speech, and tigers in courage.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Maangal / Meengal / Kiligal / Puligal

Uses matching rhyming endings to construct a rhythmic and catchy poetic flow.

Historical and Literary Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

Paandiya sabhaiyinil thondriya penn mayil

Refers to Kannagi confronting the Pandyan court in Tamil epic Silappatikaram to demand justice.

Mythological Allusion

Sakthi endru per padaiththa jaadhi engal jaadhi

References Goddess Shakti and the concept of Ardhanarishvara where Shiva shares half his body with Shakti.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song comes from the 1980 film Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu directed by the duo Devaraj-Mohan. Sung passionately by Vani Jairam, the composition by M. S. Viswanathan combined with Pulamaipithan's empowering lyrics made it one of the memorable woman-centric anthems of 1980s Tamil cinema.

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