Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maanikka Maamani

From Thennangkeetru · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Movie name
Thennangkeetru
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
23 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maanikka maamani maalaiyil
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathu
Maanikka maamani maalaiyil
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathu
Maanikka maamani maalaiyil
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathu
Thaen idaiyil oru nyaana bhoomi kandaen
Theva vilaasam adhu kovil konda paasam
Idhamo padhamo sugamo
Maanikka maamani maalaiyil
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathu
Poo mugaththil oru kodi dheepam kandaen
Baba saabang kolla
Kadhal devasthaanamaanaen
Iraivaa enakku vilakku
Maanikka maamani maalaiyil
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathu
Maanikka maamani maalaiyil
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathu
Naan varuvaen dhinam anthi santhi neram
Female :Naan ninaippaen dhinam jeevaraaga geedham
Male :Udhayam undu namakkum
Adhil idhaya geedham thudikkum
Female :Pudhiya vaazhvu inikkum
Nenjin iniya vaasal thirakkum
Male :Namakkum
Female :Orunaal
Both :Pirakkum
In this precious, ruby-red evening,
I saw that woman's golden face.
In this precious, ruby-red evening,
I saw that woman's golden face.
In this precious, ruby-red evening,
I saw that woman's golden face.
In her sweet grace, I found a land of wisdom,
A heavenly beauty, a love enshrined like a temple.
Is it comfort? Is it tenderness? Is it bliss?
In this precious, ruby-red evening,
I saw that woman's golden face.
On her flower-like face, I saw millions of glowing lamps.
As sins and curses were washed away,
I became a temple of love.
O Lord, be my guiding light!
In this precious, ruby-red evening,
I saw that woman's golden face.
In this precious, ruby-red evening,
I saw that woman's golden face.
I will come every day at twilight.
Female: Every day, I will cherish this melody of life.
Male: A dawn will rise for us too,
And in it, the song of our hearts will beat.
Female: A new life will be sweet,
Opening the gentle doorway of the heart.
Male: For us too,
Female: one day,
Both: a new day will be born.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maanikka Maamani Maalaiyil is a deeply soulful romantic song from the 1975 Tamil film Thennangkeetru. Written by Kannadasan, the lyric blends spiritual metaphors with romance, portraying love as a sacred shrine where the protagonist finds pure radiance in his beloved's face during twilight. The song transitions into an optimistic exchange between the lovers, expressing hope for a bright tomorrow despite current hardships, believing that a new dawn of sweet life will eventually open the doors of their hearts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Maanikka maamani maalaiyil”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' in 'Maanikka maamani maalaiyil' creates a rhythmic euphonic flow.

Metaphor (Roobakam)

“Poo mugaththil oru kodi dheepam kandaen”

Comparing the maiden's flower-like face to a brightness containing a crore (ten million) lamps.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

“Udhayam undu namakkum / Adhil idhaya geedham thudikkum”

End rhyming words ending in '-kkum' ('namakkum', 'thudikkum', 'inikkum', 'thirakkum') establish melodic harmony across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music was composed by G. K. Venkatesh, a legendary composer under whom Maestro Ilaiyaraaja worked as an assistant composer and arranger prior to making his independent debut in 1976.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Vizhiye Vizhiye1968
Pudhiya BhoomiRomantic UnionCourtship
Thaneer Suduvathenna1966
ChithiRomantic UnionAttraction
Manmathanin Veenaiyile1980
Azhaithal VaruvenRomanticRomantic Union
Pesi Pesiye Pozhuthum1967
MagaraasiCourtshipRomantic Union
Oru Thamarai Mottu1983
Nenjamellam NeeyeBeautyAttraction
Poovum Pottum Inge1977
Sorkkam NaragamDevotionRomantic

From the same album

More songs from Thennangkeetru

View album
Manjalum Vaazhga1975
ThennangkeetruTender
Kaalangale Kann Paarungal1975
ThennangkeetruContemplative
Aandavan Potta1975
ThennangkeetruMelancholic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.