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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maanoothu Odaiyila

From Nandhini · 1997

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Manivannan
Music director
Sirpy
Movie name
Nandhini
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
19 Aug 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maanooththoo odaiyila
Maaralavu thanniyila
Thaamaraipoo neeraada
Thaniyaa naan vaaduraen
Maanooththoo odaiyila
Maaralavu thanniyila
Thaamaraipoo neeraada
Thaniyaa naan vaaduraen
Maanooththoo odaiyila
Maaralavu thanniyila
Thaamaraipoo neeraada
Thaniyaa naan vaaduraen
Manja kizhangu naan thaaraen
Mansa yaendi thaeikkira
Eera selai katti vanthu
Enna seiyya paakkura
Maanooththoo odaiyila
Maaralavu thanniyila
Thaamaraipoo neeraada
Thaniyaa naan vaaduraen
Haei….mayilae mayilae
En manasa kondaa
Nee maraichchu vaikka
Adhu maangaa thundaa
Haei….mayilae mayilae
En manasa kondaa
Nee maraichchu vaikka
Adhu maangaa thundaa
Chinnamanooru seemaiyila
Veththala kattu vaangaiyila
Appadi edhaavathu ettu katti paadunga mama
Appadingira pickup pannikko
Naan paakka ava paakka
Tholainju ponaenae
Ava paer kekka oor kekka
Olinju olinju odi vanthaenae
Maanooththoo odaiyila
Maaralavu thanniyila
Thaamaraipoo neeraada
Thaniyaa naan vaaduraen
Manja kizhangu naan thaaraen
Manasa yaendi
Eera selai katti vanthu
Enna seiyya paakkura
Naava pazha karuppazhagi
Nalla sollu thaadi
Adi paava patta mamanukku
Pasi edukkuthu vaadi
Haei naava pazha karuppazhagi
Nalla sollu thaadi
Adi paava patta mamanukku
Pasi edukkuthu vaadi
Adi vekkappattu odhungiriae
Velippa kattu kaari
Nee vittu ponaa valaththiduvean
Ettu muzha thaadi
Adi naan padikkum paattu ellaam
Unnai paththi news-u
Adhai naadariya paada vanthaen
Nee koduththa chance-u
Maanooththoo odaiyila
Maaralavu thanniyila
Thaamaraipoo neeraada
Thaniyaa naan vaaduraen
Veththala vaanga pona magan
Veli poda paakkuraan
Veli thaandi vantha aattai
Paaththu payanthu oduraan
Haei kuttu odainju pochchuthinnu
Thattu kettu nikkiraan
Haei kuttu odainju pochchuthinnu
Thattu kettu nikkiraan
In the stream of Maanoothu,
in chest-deep water,
as the lotus flower bathes,
I languish here all alone.
In the stream of Maanoothu,
in chest-deep water,
as the lotus flower bathes,
I languish here all alone.
In the stream of Maanoothu,
in chest-deep water,
as the lotus flower bathes,
I languish here all alone.
I will give you fresh turmeric,
why do you scrub with plain mud?
Draped in a clinging wet saree,
what are you trying to do to me?
In the stream of Maanoothu,
in chest-deep water,
as the lotus flower bathes,
I languish here all alone.
Hey peacock, my peacock,
give me back my heart!
For you to hide it away,
is it a slice of raw mango?
Hey peacock, my peacock,
give me back my heart!
For you to hide it away,
is it a slice of raw mango?
In the town of Chinnamanoor,
while buying a bundle of betel leaves...
Uncle, make up some lines like that and sing!
Is that so? Then pick up the beat!
As I looked and she looked,
I lost myself completely!
When they asked her name and village,
I came running and hiding in fear!
In the stream of Maanoothu,
in chest-deep water,
as the lotus flower bathes,
I languish here all alone.
I will give you fresh turmeric,
why break my heart?
Draped in a clinging wet saree,
what are you trying to do to me?
My dark beauty, sweet like a jamun fruit,
give me a kind word!
Your poor uncle here
is starving for your love, come to me!
Hey, dark beauty sweet like a jamun fruit,
give me a kind word!
Your poor uncle here
is starving for your love, come to me!
Why do you shrink away in shy modesty,
you girl behind the fence?
If you walk away from me, I will grow
a long, wild beard of grief!
Every song that I sing
is news all about you!
I came to sing so the whole land knows,
all thanks to the chance you gave me!
In the stream of Maanoothu,
in chest-deep water,
as the lotus flower bathes,
I languish here all alone.
The lad who went to buy betel leaves
is now trying to build a fence!
Seeing the goat jump right over the fence,
he panics and runs away in fright!
Because his little secret is out,
he stands there bewildered and lost!
Hey, because his little secret is out,
he stands there bewildered and lost!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song is a rustic, playful folk-style romantic track where the male speaker teases and courts a woman bathing by a stream. Expressing his romantic longing and attraction, he uses colloquial humor, pastoral imagery, and playful metaphors to banter with her, describing how her beauty and shy demeanor bewilder him while asserting his affection in an informal village setting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Naava pazha karuppazhagi

Compares her dark skin tone beautifully to a ripe jamun fruit (naaval pazham).

Hyperbole

Nee vittu ponaa valaththiduvean / Ettu muzha thaadi

Exaggerates emotional despair by claiming he will grow an eight-cubit beard.

Rhetorical Question

Nee maraichchu vaikka / Adhu maangaa thundaa

Uses a humorous rhetorical question to ask if his heart is a piece of mango to be hidden away.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sung with characteristic comedic flair and rural dialogue delivery by veteran actor-director Manivannan in the 1997 film Nandhini.

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