Maanattam
From Aalayamani · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Aalayamani1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam | Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance |
| Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam | Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement |
| Thaanaadum mangai sadhuraattam | The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden |
| Kandu thaenodum engum nadhiyaattam | Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river |
| Female | |
| Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam | Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance |
| Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam | Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement |
| Thaanaadum mangai sadhuraattam | The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden |
| Kandu thaenodum engum nadhiyaattam | Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river |
| Female | |
| Ooo… ooo… ooi… | Ooo… ooo… ooi… |
| Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo | Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo |
| Female | |
| Chendirukkum adhil | There is a cluster of flowers |
| Vandirukkum adhai | There is a honeybee upon it |
| Kandirukkum kangal vandhirukkum | The eyes that behold it have arrived |
| Female | |
| Chendirukkum adhil | There is a cluster of flowers |
| Vandirukkum adhai | There is a honeybee upon it |
| Kandirukkum kangal vandhirukkum | The eyes that behold it have arrived |
| Sollirukkum adhil | There are words spoken |
| Suvaiyirukkum inba | There is a sweet joyful |
| Thunaiyirukkum nenjil uravirukkum | Companionship present, and a bond in the heart |
| Female | |
| Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam | Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance |
| Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam | Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement |
| Thaanaadum mangai sadhuraattam | The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden |
| Kandu thaenodum engum nadhiyaattam | Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river |
| Female | |
| Ooo… ooo… ooi… | Ooo… ooo… ooi… |
| Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo | Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo |
| Female | |
| Paaindhu varum kangal | Eyes that leap with glance |
| Maeindhu varum thalai | Head that gently bows down |
| Saaindhu varum vetkam serndhu varum | Shyness arrives leaning in close |
| Female | |
| Paaindhu varum kangal | Eyes that leap with glance |
| Maeindhu varum thalai | Head that gently bows down |
| Saaindhu varum vetkam serndhu varum | Shyness arrives leaning in close |
| Aadi varum vellam | The surging flood that dances |
| Paadi varum pennai | Seeking the maiden who comes singing |
| Thaedi varum inbam kodi perum | The joy that seeks her will yield a ten-million fold |
| Female | |
| Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam | Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance |
| Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam | Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement |
| Thaanaadum mangai sadhuraattam | The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden |
| Kandu thaenodum engum nadhiyaattam | Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river |
| Female | |
| Ooo… ooo… oooo… ooo | Ooo… ooo… oooo… ooo |
| Ooo… ooo… oooo… oooo… | Ooo… ooo… oooo… oooo… |
மானாட்டம் தங்க மயிலாட்டம்
பூவாட்டம் வண்ணத் தேராட்டம்
தானாடும் மங்கை சதுராட்டம்
கண்டு தேனோடும் எங்கும் நதியாட்டம்
Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance
Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement
The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden
Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river
மானாட்டம் தங்க மயிலாட்டம்
பூவாட்டம் வண்ணத் தேராட்டம்
தானாடும் மங்கை சதுராட்டம்
கண்டு தேனோடும் எங்கும் நதியாட்டம்
Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance
Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement
The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden
Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river
ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓய்....
ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓய்....ஓ...ஓ...ஓ....
Ooo… ooo… ooi…
Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo
செண்டிருக்கும் அதில்
வண்டிருக்கும் அதைக்
கண்டிருக்கும் கண்கள் வந்திருக்கும்
சொல்லிருக்கும் அதில்
சுவையிருக்கும் இன்பத்
துணையிருக்கும் நெஞ்சில் உறவிருக்கும்
There is a cluster of flowers
There is a honeybee upon it
The eyes that behold it have arrived
மானாட்டம் தங்க மயிலாட்டம்
பூவாட்டம் வண்ணத் தேராட்டம்
தானாடும் மங்கை சதுராட்டம்
கண்டு தேனோடும் எங்கும் நதியாட்டம்
There is a cluster of flowers
There is a honeybee upon it
The eyes that behold it have arrived
There are words spoken
There is a sweet joyful
Companionship present, and a bond in the heart
ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓய்....
ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓய்....ஓ...ஓ...ஓ....
Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance
Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement
The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden
Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river
பாய்ந்து வரும் கண்கள்
மேய்ந்து வரும் தலை
சாய்ந்து வரும் வெட்கம் சேர்ந்து வரும்
Ooo… ooo… ooi…
Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo
பாய்ந்து வரும் கண்கள்
மேய்ந்து வரும் தலை
சாய்ந்து வரும் வெட்கம் சேர்ந்து வரும்
ஆடி வரும் வெல்லம்
பாடி வரும் பெண்ணைத்
தேடி வரும் இன்பம் கோடி பெறும்
Eyes that leap with glance
Head that gently bows down
Shyness arrives leaning in close
மானாட்டம் தங்க மயிலாட்டம்
பூவாட்டம் வண்ணத் தேராட்டம்
தானாடும் மங்கை சதுராட்டம்
கண்டு தேனோடும் எங்கும் நதியாட்டம்
Eyes that leap with glance
Head that gently bows down
Shyness arrives leaning in close
The surging flood that dances
Seeking the maiden who comes singing
The joy that seeks her will yield a ten-million fold
ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓய்....
ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓய்....ஓ...ஓ...ஓ....
Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance
Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement
The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden
Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river
Ooo… ooo… oooo… ooo
Ooo… ooo… oooo… oooo…
Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam
Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance
Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam
Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement
Thaanaadum mangai sadhuraattam
The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden
Kandu thaenodum engum nadhiyaattam
Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river
Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam
Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance
Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam
Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement
Thaanaadum mangai sadhuraattam
The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden
Kandu thaenodum engum nadhiyaattam
Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river
Ooo… ooo… ooi…
Ooo… ooo… ooi…
Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo
Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo
Chendirukkum adhil
There is a cluster of flowers
Vandirukkum adhai
There is a honeybee upon it
Kandirukkum kangal vandhirukkum
The eyes that behold it have arrived
Chendirukkum adhil
There is a cluster of flowers
Vandirukkum adhai
There is a honeybee upon it
Kandirukkum kangal vandhirukkum
The eyes that behold it have arrived
Sollirukkum adhil
There are words spoken
Suvaiyirukkum inba
There is a sweet joyful
Thunaiyirukkum nenjil uravirukkum
Companionship present, and a bond in the heart
Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam
Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance
Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam
Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement
Thaanaadum mangai sadhuraattam
The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden
Kandu thaenodum engum nadhiyaattam
Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river
Ooo… ooo… ooi…
Ooo… ooo… ooi…
Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo
Ooo… ooo… ooi… oo… oo… oo
Paaindhu varum kangal
Eyes that leap with glance
Maeindhu varum thalai
Head that gently bows down
Saaindhu varum vetkam serndhu varum
Shyness arrives leaning in close
Paaindhu varum kangal
Eyes that leap with glance
Maeindhu varum thalai
Head that gently bows down
Saaindhu varum vetkam serndhu varum
Shyness arrives leaning in close
Aadi varum vellam
The surging flood that dances
Paadi varum pennai
Seeking the maiden who comes singing
Thaedi varum inbam kodi perum
The joy that seeks her will yield a ten-million fold
Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam
Like a deer's dance, like a golden peacock's dance
Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam
Like a flower's motion, like a colorful chariot's movement
Thaanaadum mangai sadhuraattam
The classical dance performed gracefully by the maiden
Kandu thaenodum engum nadhiyaattam
Beholding it, sweet honey flows everywhere like a river
Ooo… ooo… oooo… ooo
Ooo… ooo… oooo… ooo
Ooo… ooo… oooo… oooo…
Ooo… ooo… oooo… oooo…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a joyful celebration of a maiden's beauty, grace, and expressive dance. Lyricist Kannadasan uses vivid imagery from nature—comparing the woman's movements to a dancing deer, a golden peacock, a swaying flower, and a temple chariot. The lyrics paint a romantic picture of blossoming affection, where subtle glances, modesty, and musical rhythm evoke sweetness as vast as a flowing river of honey.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Maanaattam thanga mayilaattam / Poovaattam vanna thaeraattam”
Comparing the maiden's dance to a deer, peacock, flower, and temple chariot using the suffix '-aattam' (like the dance/movement of).
Iyaibu (Rhyming end-words)
“Chendirukkum adhil / Vandirukkum adhai / Kandirukkum kangal vandhirukkum”
Extensive use of identical verbal endings like 'irukkum' to create rhythmic melodic harmony.
Anaphora / Repetitive Phrasing
“Paaindhu varum kangal / Maeindhu varum thalai / Saaindhu varum vetkam serndhu varum”
Repeating structured suffixes ('-ndhu varum') across consecutive lines to build momentum and movement.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Aalayamani' (1962) was a major blockbuster starring Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, and B. Saroja Devi. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, and the song highlights Kannadasan's unique mastery of rhythmic end-rhymes (Iyaibu) tailored for classical-dance visually depicted on screen.
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