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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maane Maane Mappillai Naane

From Nee Thodum Pothu · 1984

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nee Thodum Pothu1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maanae maanae maappillai naanaeOh deer, oh deer, I am the bridegroom
Mama sugamthanaeUncle, are you doing well?
Maanae maanae maappillai naanaeOh deer, oh deer, I am the bridegroom
Mama sugamthanaeUncle, are you doing well?
Mayilae idhu margazhi maasamadiOh peacock, this is the month of Margazhi
Pudhu malligai vaasamadiThere is the fragrance of fresh jasmine
Ennai mayakkuthu izhukkuthIt mesmerizes me and pulls me in
Manasila inikkuthuIt feels sweet in my heart
Female
Mama mavanae ennoda varanaeUncle's son, my groom to be
Vaa vaa nayaganaeCome, come, my hero
Mama mavanae ennoda varanaeUncle's son, my groom to be
Vaa vaa nayaganaeCome, come, my hero
Mama….naan uruguraen unna nenachchuUncle... I am melting thinking of you
Enna pudichhcukka nee anaichchuHold me close and embrace me
Nalla aasaiyum kooduthu allikka theduthuGood desires are growing, seeking to gather you
Female
Mama mavanae ennoda varanaeUncle's son, my groom to be
Vaa vaa nayaganaeCome, come, my hero
Chorus
……………….....
Male
Kaaveri thanni veenaagalaamaaShould the Kaveri river water go to waste?
Nammoda thottam kaadaagalaamaaShould our garden turn into a wilderness?
Kaaveri thanni veenaagalaamaaShould the Kaveri river water go to waste?
Nammoda thottam kaadaagalaamaaShould our garden turn into a wilderness?
Female
Mama madaiya thoranthu vidungaUncle, open up the sluice gates
Male :TharannanananaaMale: Tharannanananaa
Female :Vayalil kallakka vidungaFemale: Let the water flow into the field
Male :ThannaananaanaMale: Thannaananaana
Female
Madaiya thoranthu vidunga ponni nadhiyaOpen the sluice gate for the river Ponni
Vayalil kalakka vidunga enna kavalaLet it join the fields, why worry?
Male :Muththaana muththae ennoda soththaeMale: Pearl-like precious, my property
Unnaala undaachchu theeraatha piththae….Because of you, an endless obsession was born...
Male
Maanae maanae maappillai naanaeOh deer, oh deer, I am the bridegroom
Mama sugamthanaeUncle, are you doing well?
Female
Mama….naan uruguraen unna nenachchuUncle... I am melting thinking of you
Enna pudichhcukka nee anaichchuHold me close and embrace me
Nalla aasaiyum kooduthu allikka theduthuGood desires are growing, seeking to gather you
Female
Mama mavanae ennoda varanaeUncle's son, my groom to be
Vaa vaa nayaganaeCome, come, my hero
Female
Achchaaram podu michchaaththa paaduGive an advance token, sing the rest
Annaththa podu aanantham thaeduServe food and seek happiness
Achchaaram podu michchaaththa paaduGive an advance token, sing the rest
Annaththa podu aanantham thaeduServe food and seek happiness
Male
Unnaththaan manasula varainju vachchenI drew your picture in my heart
Female :TharannanananaaFemale: Tharannanananaa
Male :Mayakkaththil rasichchu vachchenMale: I admired it in entrancement
Female :ThannaananaanaFemale: Thannaananaana
Male
Manasula varainju vachchaenI drew it in my heart
Adha dhinamum mayakkaththil rasichchu vachchenI admired it daily in entrancement
Pakkam varanumYou must come close
Female :Aalaana pinnae kandaenae unnaFemale: After coming of age, I saw you
Aahaahaa aanantham maanthoppil munnaeAha, joy in front of the mango grove
Female
Mama mavanae ennoda varanaeUncle's son, my groom to be
Vaa vaa nayaganaeCome, come, my hero
Mama mavanae ennoda varanaeUncle's son, my groom to be
Vaa vaa nayaganaeCome, come, my hero
Male
Mayilae idhu margazhu maasamadiOh peacock, this is the month of Margazhi
Pudhu malligai vaasamadiThere is the fragrance of fresh jasmine
Ennai mayakkuthu izhukkuthIt mesmerizes me and pulls me in
Manasila inikkuthuIt feels sweet in my heart
Male
Maanae maanae maappillai naanaeOh deer, oh deer, I am the bridegroom
Mama sugamthanaeUncle, are you doing well?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic song expresses the affectionate banter and romance between maternal cousins, a traditional romantic dynamic in South Indian culture. The lovers exchange poetic declarations of longing, comparing their feelings to the cool season of Margazhi, fresh jasmine, and the fertile flow of the Kaveri river nourishing fields.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mona * (Alliteration)

Maanae maanae maappillai naanae

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound across words like Maanae, Maappillai, and Margazhi creates a rich phonetic rhythm.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Achchaaram podu michchaaththa paadu

End-rhyming words 'podu' and 'paadu' accentuate the playful musicality of the duet.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Kaaveri thanni veenaagalaamaa / Nammoda thottam kaadaagalaamaa

Opening sluice gates and watering farm fields serves as an extended agricultural metaphor for emotional closeness and conjugal bliss.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1984 Tamil film 'Nee Thodum Pothu', this track written by Gangai Amaran uses rural Tamil folk tropes and imagery of nature to depict traditional cousin courtship.

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