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Isaimozhi
Imaigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Madappuravo Illai Manjal

From Imaigal · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Imaigal
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
17 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Ravivarman ini varuvaan
Unathazhginai varaivaan
Karuvizhi maragathamani dheepam yaettrum
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Maman kayirendum
Thottilai poda
Ilamaalai thendral varum
Malligai thoova….
Maman kayirendum
Thottilai poda
Ilamaalai thendral varum
Malligai thoova….
Thalir kothum chella kuyil
Idhu engaloda thanga vayal
Female :Nadamaadum vanna mayil
Siragai thaanam thantha udal
Male :Udalaa illayadaa
Idhu en roja thottam
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Male :Ravivarman ini varuvaan
Unathazhginai varaivaan
Male :Karuvizhi maragathamani dheepam yaettrum
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Maarbil sooda varum santhana maalai
Pudhu vaasam kondu varum senbaga cholai
Female :En maarbil sooda varum santhana maalai
Pudhu vaasam kondu varum senbaga cholai
Male :Un thaayin annanadaa
Enakku neethaan mannanadaa
Naan unnai pettreduththaen
Annan ennai thaththedththaan
Karunai pongi varum
Enathu kaaval dheivam….
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Female :Ravivarman ini varuvaan
Unathazhginai varaivaan
Male :Karuvizhi maragathamani dheepam yaettrum
Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo
Male :Aariraraaro aariraraaro
Both :Aariraraaro aariraraaro
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
Ravi Varma will surely come,
To paint your wonderful beauty.
Your dark eyes light up like emerald lamps,
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
As your uncle's hands
Rock this cradle,
The soft evening breeze will come,
To shower sweet jasmine petals...
As your uncle's hands
Rock this cradle,
The soft evening breeze will come,
To shower sweet jasmine petals...
A sweet little cuckoo pecking at tender shoots,
This child is our field of gold!
A dancing, colourful peacock,
A body that gave away its wings as a gift!
Is it just a body? No, my child,
This is my garden of roses!
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
Ravi Varma will surely come,
To paint your wonderful beauty.
Your dark eyes light up like emerald lamps,
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
A garland of sandalwood resting on the chest,
A grove of champak blossoms bringing fresh fragrance,
A garland of sandalwood resting on my chest,
A grove of champak blossoms bringing fresh fragrance,
I am only your mother's brother, my boy,
Yet to me, you are the king!
I gave birth to you,
And my brother took me in as his own child.
Overflowing with deep kindness,
He is my guardian deity...
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
Ravi Varma will surely come,
To paint your wonderful beauty.
Your dark eyes light up like emerald lamps,
Are you a gentle dove, or a golden moon?
Aari raaraaro, aari raaraaro...
Aari raaraaro, aari raaraaro...
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a tender Tamil lullaby expressing deep parental and familial affection for a newborn child. The lyrics lovingly adore the baby through rich, poetic imagery, comparing the child to a gentle house pigeon, a radiant yellow moon, and a blooming rose garden. The singer muses that even the legendary painter Raja Ravi Varma would be required to capture the infant's matchless beauty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Maadappuraavo illai manjal nilaavo

Compares the child directly to a house pigeon (Maadappuraa), yellow moon (Manjal Nila), and rose garden (Roja thottam).

Allusion

Ravivarman ini varuvaan

Refers to Raja Ravi Varma, the famous Indian painter known for capturing ethereal Indian beauty on canvas.

Imagery (Visual & Olfactory)

Karuvizhi maragathamani dheepam yaettrum

Evokes vivid sensory details such as emerald-like glowing eyes, sandalwood garlands, and fragrant champak groves.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1983 Tamil feature film 'Imaigal' starring Sivaji Ganesan, Saritha, and Y. G. Mahendran. The music for the film was composed by Gangai Amaran with lyrics written by the celebrated poet Vaali.

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