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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maanay Theney

From Naangal · 1992

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Arun Mozhi, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Naangal1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa… aa… aaAa… aa… aa
Aanaana patta sivanaeEven the mighty Lord Shiva himself
Azhagaai thookki vaithaanBeautifully elevated and placed
Pennai thalai melA woman upon his head
Female
Aagaadhu unnaalYou cannot ever
Pennai keezh irakkaBring down a woman
Agambaavam vendaamAvoid your vanity
Aa… aa… haaa…aaa…aa….Aa… aa… haaa…aaa…aa….
Female
Aaha maanae thaenaeAha, my deer, my honey
Aaha maanae thaenaeAha, my deer, my honey
Manjal nilaavaeMy yellow moon
Mayilae endru paaduvaarMy peacock, so they sing
Female
Avar thedum vishayamOnce the matter they seek
Mudindhaal podhumIs accomplished
Theruvil niruthi oduvaarThey leave you standing on the street and run away
Male
Ada raajaa nee thaan"Oh, you are the king!
Raajaadhi raajaaKing of kings!"
Endrae vasanam pesuvaaThus they flatter with dialogue
Dhinam kaasai kaattaIf to show money daily
Marandhaal podhumYou forget just once
Kaiyil kidaithadhai veesuvaaShe will hurl whatever comes to her hand
Male
Ada raajaa nee thaanOh, you are the king
Aaha raajaadhi raajaa hoiAha, king of kings, hoi
Female
Muthu mani vairam ellaamDo pearls, gems, and diamonds
Pen illaadhu minnumaaShine without a woman?
Hoi nitham alangaaram seiyaHoi, to adorn oneself daily
Aangal manam ennumaaDoes a man's heart ever consider it?
Male
Haei pitham thalaikkerumHey, when madness rushes
NeramTo the head
Pennin manam thadumaarumA woman's mind wavers
Nitham pala jaalam pesiSpeaking many tricks daily
Nirukkum niram maarumHer true colors change
Female
Thanithae vaazhndhaalIs it enough if one lives alone?
PodhumaaIs it enough?
Dhinam thavikkum ilamai aarumaaWill yearning youth cool down?
Male
Aravanaithu anusarithuEmbracing and accommodating
Manam purindhae nadakkumThe young men who act with understanding
Kaalaiyar thammaiTowards those young men
Raajaa nee thaan"You are the king"
Male
Ada raajaa nee thaanOh, you are the king
Raajaadhi raajaaKing of kings
Endrae vasanam pesuvaaThus she flatters
Female
Avar thedum vishayamOnce the matter they seek
Mudindhaal podhumIs accomplished
Theruvil niruthi oduvaarThey leave you standing on the street and run away
Male
Raamaayana raaman kadhaiyaiThe story of Rama in Ramayana
Thandhaal andha kaikaeyiWas altered by Kaikeyi
Raavananin thangaiyum koodaEven Ravana's sister
Aahaa balae kaikaariAha, was a clever operator
Female
Haei ondru mattumHey, thinking one wife was not
PodhaadhendruEnough
Vaazhndhaan andha dhasaradhanaeLived King Dasaratha
Ondrukkondru pottiyinaalaeBecause of competition between them
Thindaadinaan raguvaranaeRama struggled greatly
Male
Pennin kannil baanamaeIn a woman's eyes lies an arrow
Adhu vedigundaaga maarumaeIt will explode like a bomb
Female
Thalai kirukku unakkirukkuYou have madness in your head
Adhai niruthu ini mel pengalin kaalamStop it, hereafter it is the era of women
Maanae thaenaeDeer, honey
Female
Aaha maanae thaenaeAha, deer, honey
Manjal nilaavaeYellow moon
Mayilae endru paaduvaarPeacock, so they sing
Female
Avar thedum vishayamOnce the matter they seek
Mudindhaal podhumIs accomplished
Theruvil niruthi oduvaarThey leave you standing on the street and run away
Male
Ada raajaa nee thaanOh, you are the king
Raajaadhi raajaaKing of kings
Endrae vasanam pesuvaaThus they flatter
Dhinam kaasai kaattaIf showing money daily
Marandhaal podhumIs forgotten
Kaiyil kidaithadhai veesuvaaShe will hurl whatever comes to her hand
Female
Aaha maanae thaenaeAha, deer, honey
Aaha manjal nilaavae… ae…Aha, yellow moon… ae…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie Naangal (1992) is a playful and rhythmic gender-banter track that humorously explores the power play and relationships between men and women. The lyrics weave together commentary on romantic flattery, male vanity, female leverage, and material expectations in relationships, warning both sides about the illusions of superficial charm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Aaha maanae thaenae

Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive words or lines, such as 'Maanae' and 'Thaenae'.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Manjal nilaavae

Comparing a woman's radiant complexion to a yellow/golden moon ('Manjal nilaavae').

Mythological Allusion

Aanaana patta sivanae / Azhagaai thookki vaithaan / Pennai thalai mel

Reference to Lord Shiva elevating Goddess Ganga/Parvati on His head to symbolise the high status of women in Tamil culture.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Naangal (1992) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and starred Prabhu, Sukanya, and Dipika Chikhlia.

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