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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maanikka Maamani

From Thennangkeetru · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Details
Thennangkeetru1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maanikka maamani maalaiyilIn the ruby-gemmed evening time
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathuI saw that maiden's golden face
Maanikka maamani maalaiyilIn the ruby-gemmed evening time
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathuI saw that maiden's golden face
Male
Maanikka maamani maalaiyilIn the ruby-gemmed evening time
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathuI saw that maiden's golden face
Male
Thaen idaiyil oru nyaana bhoomi kandaenAmidst honey, I found a land of wisdom
Theva vilaasam adhu kovil konda paasamIt is divine grace, love enshrined in a temple
Idhamo padhamo sugamoIs it comfort, melody, or joy?
Male
Maanikka maamani maalaiyilIn the ruby-gemmed evening time
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathuI saw that maiden's golden face
Female
Poo mugaththil oru kodi dheepam kandaenIn her flower-like face, I saw a crore of lamps
Baba saabang kollaAbsorbing all the worldly curses
Kadhal devasthaanamaanaenI became a holy temple of love
Iraivaa enakku vilakkuOh Lord, be my guiding light
Male
Maanikka maamani maalaiyilIn the ruby-gemmed evening time
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathuI saw that maiden's golden face
Maanikka maamani maalaiyilIn the ruby-gemmed evening time
Mangai aval thanga mugam naan kandathuI saw that maiden's golden face
Male
Naan varuvaen dhinam anthi santhi neramI will come every day during twilight hours
Female :Naan ninaippaen dhinam jeevaraaga geedhamFemale: I will daily cherish the soul's melodic song
Male :Udhayam undu namakkumMale: A new dawn awaits us too
Adhil idhaya geedham thudikkumIn which the heart's song will beat
Female :Pudhiya vaazhvu inikkumFemale: A new sweet life will blossom
Nenjin iniya vaasal thirakkumOpening the sweet entrance of the heart
Male :NamakkumMale: For us too
Female :OrunaalFemale: One day
Both :PirakkumBoth: Will be born

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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