Maandhalire Mayakkam
From Devathai – (1979) · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Shyam
- Details
- Devathai – (1979)1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ……………. | ... |
| Chorus | |
| Pookkal emakkum kadhal undu | We flowers too possess love |
| Eekkal alaivom bodhai kondu | We wander around like flies in intoxication |
| Megam enakkum payir mael mogam | I am a cloud with passion for the crops |
| Thendral enakkum uyir mael thaagam | I am the breeze with a thirst for life |
| Female | |
| Maanthalirae….mayakkamenna | O tender mango leaf... why this trance? |
| Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho | Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you? |
| Ennaipol maanthalirae mayakkamenna | Like me, O tender mango leaf, why this trance? |
| Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho | Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you? |
| Ennaipol maanthalirae… | Like me, O tender mango leaf... |
| Female | |
| Kamadevan kanaiyaagum poovae | O flower that serves as the arrow of Cupid (Kamadeva) |
| Un manam kooda kadhal pesumo | Does even your heart speak of love? |
| Nee manakkindra mannan yaarammaa…aa…. | Who is the king for whom you spread your fragrance? |
| Female | |
| Megam mannil sinthumpothu | When the cloud spills upon the earth |
| Theerum thaagamae | Thirst is fully quenched |
| Aanum pennum koodumpothu | When a man and woman unite |
| Thodarum sorkkamae…. | Heaven continues to reign... |
| Female | |
| Megam mannil sinthumpothu | When the cloud spills upon the earth |
| Theerum thaagamae | Thirst is fully quenched |
| Aanum pennum koodumpothu | When a man and woman unite |
| Thodarum sorkkamae…. | Heaven continues to reign... |
| Chorus | |
| Pookkal emakkum kadhal undu | We flowers too possess love |
| Eekkal alaivom bodhai kondu | We wander around like flies in intoxication |
| Megam enakkum payir mael mogam | I am a cloud with passion for the crops |
| Thendral enakkum uyir mael thaagam | I am the breeze with a thirst for life |
| Female | |
| Maanthalirae….mayakkamenna | O tender mango leaf... why this trance? |
| Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho | Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you? |
| Ennaipol maanthalirae | Like me, O tender mango leaf... |
| Chorus | |
| …………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Aadi eriyum anaiyaatha theeyum | Even an unextinguishably burning fire |
| Idhamaana venmai thondruthu | Appears as a pleasant white softness |
| Nee sugamaaga ennai thaangidu | Hold me comfortably and sustain me |
| Female | |
| Raagam paadum dheepam thannil | In the lamp that sings a melody |
| Kaanum jothiyaal | Through the radiant light seen within |
| Neeyum naanum kaalam yaavum | You and I, for all of time |
| Vaazhvom jodiyaai…. | Will live together as a couple... |
| Female | |
| Raagam paadum dheepam thannil | In the lamp that sings a melody |
| Kaanum jothiyaal | Through the radiant light seen within |
| Neeyum naanum kaalam yaavum | You and I, for all of time |
| Vaazhvom jodiyaai….. | Will live together as a couple... |
| Female | |
| Maanthalirae….mayakkamenna | O tender mango leaf... why this trance? |
| Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho | Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you? |
| Ennaipol maanthalirae….. | Like me, O tender mango leaf... |
.....................
...
பூக்கள் எமக்கும் காதல் உண்டு
ஈக்கள் அலைவோம் போதை கொண்டு
மேகம் எனக்கும் பயிர் மேல் மோகம்
தென்றல் எனக்கும் உயிர் மேல் தாகம்
We flowers too possess love
We wander around like flies in intoxication
I am a cloud with passion for the crops
I am the breeze with a thirst for life
மாந்தளிரே.......மயக்கமென்ன
உன்னை பூந்தென்றல் தீண்டியதோ
என்னைப்போல் மாந்தளிரே மயக்கமென்ன
உன்னை பூந்தென்றல் தீண்டியதோ
என்னைப்போல் மாந்தளிரே.....
O tender mango leaf... why this trance?
Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you?
Like me, O tender mango leaf, why this trance?
Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you?
Like me, O tender mango leaf...
காமதேவன் கணையாகும் பூவே
உன் மனம் கூட காதல் பேசுமா
நீ மணக்கின்ற மன்னன் யாரம்மா...ஆ....
O flower that serves as the arrow of Cupid (Kamadeva)
Does even your heart speak of love?
Who is the king for whom you spread your fragrance?
மேகம் மண்ணில் சிந்தும்போது
தீரும் தாகமே...
ஆணும் பெண்ணும் கூடும்போது
தொடரும் சொர்க்கமே....
When the cloud spills upon the earth
Thirst is fully quenched
When a man and woman unite
Heaven continues to reign...
மேகம் மண்ணில் சிந்தும்போது
தீரும் தாகமே...
ஆணும் பெண்ணும் கூடும்போது
தொடரும் சொர்க்கமே....
When the cloud spills upon the earth
Thirst is fully quenched
When a man and woman unite
Heaven continues to reign...
பூக்கள் எமக்கும் காதல் உண்டு
ஈக்கள் அலைவோம் போதை கொண்டு
மேகம் எனக்கும் பயிர் மேல் மோகம்
தென்றல் எனக்கும் உயிர் மேல் தாகம்
We flowers too possess love
We wander around like flies in intoxication
I am a cloud with passion for the crops
I am the breeze with a thirst for life
மாந்தளிரே.......மயக்கமென்ன
உன்னை பூந்தென்றல் தீண்டியதோ
என்னைப்போல் மாந்தளிரே.....
O tender mango leaf... why this trance?
Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you?
Like me, O tender mango leaf...
.......................
...
ஆடி எரியும் அணையாத தீயும்
இதமான வெண்மை தோன்றுது
நீ சுகமாக என்னை தாங்கிடு
Even an unextinguishably burning fire
Appears as a pleasant white softness
Hold me comfortably and sustain me
ராகம் பாடும் தீபம் தன்னில்
காணும் ஜோதியால்
நீயும் நானும் காலம் யாவும்
வாழ்வோம் ஜோடியாய்.....
In the lamp that sings a melody
Through the radiant light seen within
You and I, for all of time
Will live together as a couple...
ராகம் பாடும் தீபம் தன்னில்
காணும் ஜோதியால்
நீயும் நானும் காலம் யாவும்
வாழ்வோம் ஜோடியாய்.....
In the lamp that sings a melody
Through the radiant light seen within
You and I, for all of time
Will live together as a couple...
மாந்தளிரே.......மயக்கமென்ன
உன்னை பூந்தென்றல் தீண்டியதோ
என்னைப்போல் மாந்தளிரே.....
O tender mango leaf... why this trance?
Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you?
Like me, O tender mango leaf...
…………….
...
Pookkal emakkum kadhal undu
We flowers too possess love
Eekkal alaivom bodhai kondu
We wander around like flies in intoxication
Megam enakkum payir mael mogam
I am a cloud with passion for the crops
Thendral enakkum uyir mael thaagam
I am the breeze with a thirst for life
Maanthalirae….mayakkamenna
O tender mango leaf... why this trance?
Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho
Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you?
Ennaipol maanthalirae mayakkamenna
Like me, O tender mango leaf, why this trance?
Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho
Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you?
Ennaipol maanthalirae…
Like me, O tender mango leaf...
Kamadevan kanaiyaagum poovae
O flower that serves as the arrow of Cupid (Kamadeva)
Un manam kooda kadhal pesumo
Does even your heart speak of love?
Nee manakkindra mannan yaarammaa…aa….
Who is the king for whom you spread your fragrance?
Megam mannil sinthumpothu
When the cloud spills upon the earth
Theerum thaagamae
Thirst is fully quenched
Aanum pennum koodumpothu
When a man and woman unite
Thodarum sorkkamae….
Heaven continues to reign...
Megam mannil sinthumpothu
When the cloud spills upon the earth
Theerum thaagamae
Thirst is fully quenched
Aanum pennum koodumpothu
When a man and woman unite
Thodarum sorkkamae….
Heaven continues to reign...
Pookkal emakkum kadhal undu
We flowers too possess love
Eekkal alaivom bodhai kondu
We wander around like flies in intoxication
Megam enakkum payir mael mogam
I am a cloud with passion for the crops
Thendral enakkum uyir mael thaagam
I am the breeze with a thirst for life
Maanthalirae….mayakkamenna
O tender mango leaf... why this trance?
Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho
Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you?
Ennaipol maanthalirae
Like me, O tender mango leaf...
……………
...
Aadi eriyum anaiyaatha theeyum
Even an unextinguishably burning fire
Idhamaana venmai thondruthu
Appears as a pleasant white softness
Nee sugamaaga ennai thaangidu
Hold me comfortably and sustain me
Raagam paadum dheepam thannil
In the lamp that sings a melody
Kaanum jothiyaal
Through the radiant light seen within
Neeyum naanum kaalam yaavum
You and I, for all of time
Vaazhvom jodiyaai….
Will live together as a couple...
Raagam paadum dheepam thannil
In the lamp that sings a melody
Kaanum jothiyaal
Through the radiant light seen within
Neeyum naanum kaalam yaavum
You and I, for all of time
Vaazhvom jodiyaai…..
Will live together as a couple...
Maanthalirae….mayakkamenna
O tender mango leaf... why this trance?
Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho
Did a gentle flower-like breeze touch you?
Ennaipol maanthalirae…..
Like me, O tender mango leaf...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poetic song paints romantic desire using vivid imagery from nature. The speaker compares human love to elements of the natural world—flowers, clouds showering rain on crops, and the gentle breeze stirring life. She addresses a tender mango leaf ('maanthalir'), asking if it too is entranced by the touch of love, mirroring her own feelings. The lyrics celebrate the fulfillment of love, comparing the union of lovers to rain quenching the parched earth. Fire itself feels soft and soothing in the warmth of affection, symbolising how passion transforms intensity into comfort. Ultimately, the song expresses a deep wish for everlasting union and harmony across time.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (உருவகப்படுத்துதல்)
“Maanthalirae….mayakkamenna / Unnai poonthendral theendiyatho”
Nature elements such as flowers, breeze, clouds, and mango leaves are endowed with human feelings of love, passion, and longing.
Metaphor (உருவகம் - Uruvagam)
“Kamadevan kanaiyaagum poovae”
Comparing rain falling on land to physical/emotional fulfillment, and comparing the romantic flower to Kama's arrow.
Ethukai (எதுகை - Second Letter Rhyme)
“Pookkal emakkum kadhal undu / Eekkal alaivom bodhai kondu”
Matching second consonants in successive lines (e.g., 'Pookkal' and 'Eekkal', or 'Megam' and 'Thendral').
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Aadi eriyum anaiyaatha theeyum / Idhamaana venmai thondruthu”
Contrasting burning unquenchable fire with soothing white softness to show how love sweetens intensity.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track features music by the acclaimed composer Shyam, who gained significant renown across both Tamil and Malayalam film music in the late 1970s and 80s. Sung with intricate nuance by S. Janaki, Kannadasan's lyrics employ traditional Sangam-style nature imagery ('Maanthalir', 'Kamadevan kanai') adapted into modern film poetry.
Keep listening
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