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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maangalyam

From Alaipayuthey · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Clinton Cerejo, Srinivas, A. R. Rahman
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Alaipayuthey2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maangalyam thanthunaanaenaThis sacred thread, which is essential for my life,
Mama jeevana haetunaAnd the reason for my living,
Kantae badhnaami subhagaeI tie around your neck, O fortunate and blessed lady,
Twama jeeva saradadat satamMay you live happily for a hundred autumns (years).
Male
Endrendrum punnagaiEverlasting smile,
Mudivillaa punnagaiAn endless, timeless smile,
Indru naan meendum meendumToday, over and over again,
Pirandhen oru thuli paarvaiyilaeI was reborn in just a single drop of your glance.
Oh ennuyirae… oh ennuyirae….Oh my precious life... oh my precious life...
Oh ennuyirae…o.. oh ennuyirae….Oh my precious life... oh my precious life...
Male
Maangalyam thanthunaanaenaThis sacred thread, which is essential for my life,
Mangalyammmmm….Sacred marital thread...
Mama jeevana haetunaAnd the reason for my living,
Kantae badhnaami subhagaeI tie around your neck, O fortunate and blessed lady,
Twama jeeva saradadat satamMay you live happily for a hundred autumns.
Male
Maangalyam thanthunaanaenaThis sacred thread, which is essential for my life,
Mama jeevana haetunaAnd the reason for my living,
Hey mangalyam mangalyamHey sacred thread, auspicious bond,
Kantae badhnaami subhagaeI tie around your neck, O fortunate and blessed lady,
Twama jeeva saradadat satamMay you live happily for a hundred autumns.
Mangalyamm…..Sacred thread...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song seamlessly blends traditional Vedic wedding mantras (the Mangalya Dharanam mantra) with contemporary Tamil poetry celebrating everlasting love. It marks a pivotal moment of secret marriage and deep emotional bonding between the lead characters in the film. The core message emphasizes how love breathes new life into a person, transforming a single glance into a spiritual rebirth and promising an eternal smile and lifelong commitment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Code-mixing / Linguistic Fusion

Maangalyam thanthunaanaena / Endrendrum punnagai

Intertwining traditional Sanskrit Vedic slokas with modern Tamil poetic verses to bridge sacred tradition and contemporary romantic emotion.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Oh ennuyirae… oh ennuyirae….

Repetition of the phrase 'Oh ennuyirae' and 'Endrendrum / Mudivillaa' to heighten the emotional intensity and feeling of infinite love.

Metaphor

Pirandhen oru thuli paarvaiyilae

Describing a beloved's brief look ('oru thuli paarvai') as a source of rebirth ('pirandhen'), metaphorically treating a glance as a life-giving liquid drop.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's classic 'Alaipayuthey' (2000), this sequence accompanies a secret wedding scene in a temple. The track ingeniously layers western harmony and contemporary rhythms over the traditional Vedic Mangalya Dharanam chant, sung by Clinton Cerejo, Srinivas, and A. R. Rahman himself.

Keep listening

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