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Lyrics & meaning

Maanathil Naangal Mankal

From Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu · 1980

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Oru Velladu Vengaiyagiradhu1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maanaththil naangal maangalIn honor, we are deer
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengalIn the look of our eyes, we are fish
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligalIn sweet speech, we are parrots
Veeraththil naangal puligalIn bravery, we are tigers
Female
Maanaththil naangal maangalIn honor, we are deer
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengalIn the look of our eyes, we are fish
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligalIn sweet speech, we are parrots
Veeraththil naangal puligalIn bravery, we are tigers
Female
Vanna kaalgal vettri nadai podumColorful feet march towards victory
Chinna kangal sindhu kavi paadumSmall eyes sing folk poetry
Vanna kaalgal vettri nadai podumColorful feet march towards victory
Chinna kangal sindhu kavi paadumSmall eyes sing folk poetry
Female
Maanaththil naangal maangalIn honor, we are deer
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengalIn the look of our eyes, we are fish
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligalIn sweet speech, we are parrots
Veeraththil naangal puligalIn bravery, we are tigers
Female
Muttai podum pettai kozhiHen that lays eggs
Mattumalla naangalWe are not just that
Mella kitta vanthu thotta peraiTo those who slowly come near and touch us
Muttukindra maangalWe are deer that butt back
Female
Muttai podum pettai kozhiHen that lays eggs
Mattumalla naangalWe are not just that
Mella kitta vanthu thotta peraiTo those who slowly come near and touch us
Muttukindra maangalWe are deer that butt back
Female
Paandiya sabhaiyinil thondriya penn mayilThe female peacock who appeared in the Pandyan court
Veeraththin vilakkamadiIs the explanation of bravery, my friend
Kaalaththil needhiyin kangalai thirappathuOpening the eyes of justice in time
Penmaiyin vazhakkamadiIs the custom of womanhood, my friend
Female
Paandiya sabhaiyinil thondriya penn mayilThe female peacock who appeared in the Pandyan court
Veeraththin vilakkamadiIs the explanation of bravery, my friend
Kaalaththil needhiyin kangalai thirappathuOpening the eyes of justice in time
Penmaiyin vazhakkamadiIs the custom of womanhood, my friend
Female
Konjumpothu konjuvathu penmaiWomanhood caresses when fondled
Minjumpothu minjuvathu unmaiIt rises high when provoked, that is the truth
Konjumpothu konjuvathu penmaiWomanhood caresses when fondled
Minjumpothu minjuvathu unmaiIt rises high when provoked, that is the truth
Female
Maanaththil naangal maangalIn honor, we are deer
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengalIn the look of our eyes, we are fish
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligalIn sweet speech, we are parrots
Veeraththil naangal puligalIn bravery, we are tigers
Female
Sakthi endru per padaiththaThe lineage named Shakti
Jaadhi engal jaadhiIs our kind
Antha kadavukukku kadan koduththaTo that God who shared his form
Maeni engal paadhiHalf of the divine body belongs to us
Female
Sakthi endru per padaiththaThe lineage named Shakti
Jaadhi engal jaadhiIs our kind
Antha kadavukukku kadan koduththaTo that God who shared his form
Maeni engal paadhiHalf of the divine body belongs to us
Female
Naayagan endroru nallavan kannukkuFor the eyes of a good man who is a true companion
Nilavaai kulirnthiruppomWe will remain soothing like the moon
Naayagan endroru nallavan kannukkuFor the eyes of a good man who is a true companion
Nilavaai kulirnthiruppomWe will remain soothing like the moon
Female
Maanaththil naangal maangalIn honor, we are deer
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengalIn the look of our eyes, we are fish
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligalIn sweet speech, we are parrots
Veeraththil naangal puligalIn bravery, we are tigers
Female
Vanna kaalgal vettri nadai podumColorful feet march towards victory
Chinna kangal sindhu kavi paadumSmall eyes sing folk poetry
Vanna kaalgal vettri nadai podumColorful feet march towards victory
Chinna kangal sindhu kavi paadumSmall eyes sing folk poetry
Female
Maanaththil naangal maangalIn honor, we are deer
Manaivizhi paarvaiyil meengalIn the look of our eyes, we are fish
Thaen mozhiyil naangal kiligalIn sweet speech, we are parrots
Veeraththil naangal puligalIn bravery, we are tigers

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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