Magarasiyae Manna Vitu Poniyae
From Virumaandi · 2004
- Lyricist
- Muthulingam
- Singer
- Theni Kunjarammal
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Virumaandi2004
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maada vilakkae | O lamp of the sacred alcove, |
| Magaraasi mannai vittu poniyo | O blessed woman, did you leave this earth? |
| Female | |
| Yen daa kaasai vaangittu | Why, having accepted money, |
| Ellaarum pesaama nikkeenga | are you all standing without speaking? |
| Adinga daa kottai…… | Beat the drums!... |
| Female | |
| Maada vilakkae | O lamp of the sacred alcove, |
| Magaraasi mannai vittu poniyae | O blessed woman, you left this earth. |
| Sorna nilaavae sontham vittu | O golden moon, leaving your loved ones, |
| Sollaama poniyae | you departed without saying a word. |
| Female | |
| Vaanam yeri ponavalae | O woman who ascended to the sky, |
| Vandhavazhi thirumbuviyoo | will you return the way you went? |
| Adi aathaadi | Oh dear mother! |
| Vaayu vayithula adikkiren | I beat my mouth and stomach in despair, |
| Ippo vaarthai varaama thudikkiren | Now I squirm, unable to utter words, |
| Nee pazhaginadhellaam ninaikkiren | I reminisce about all the time we spent together, |
| Ippo ratha kanneera vadikkiren | Now I shed tears of blood. |
மாட விளக்கே
மகராசி மண்ணை விட்டு
போனியோ
O lamp of the sacred alcove,
O blessed woman, did you leave this earth?
ஏன் டா காசை
வாங்கிட்டு எல்லாரும்
பேசாம நிக்கீங்க அடிங்க
டா கோட்டை
Why, having accepted money,
are you all standing without speaking?
Beat the drums!...
மாட விளக்கே மகராசி
மண்ணை விட்டு போனியே
சொர்ண நிலாவே சொந்தம்
விட்டு சொல்லாம போனியே
O lamp of the sacred alcove,
O blessed woman, you left this earth.
O golden moon, leaving your loved ones,
you departed without saying a word.
வானம் ஏறி போனவளே
வந்த வழி திரும்புவியோ அடி
ஆத்தாடி வாயி வயித்துல
அடிக்கிறேன் இப்போ வார்த்தை
வராம துடிக்கிறேன் நீ பழகினதெல்லாம்
நினைக்கிறேன் இப்போ ரத்த கண்ணீரா
வடிக்கிறேன்
O woman who ascended to the sky,
will you return the way you went?
Oh dear mother!
I beat my mouth and stomach in despair,
Now I squirm, unable to utter words,
I reminisce about all the time we spent together,
Now I shed tears of blood.
Maada vilakkae
O lamp of the sacred alcove,
Magaraasi mannai vittu poniyo
O blessed woman, did you leave this earth?
Yen daa kaasai vaangittu
Why, having accepted money,
Ellaarum pesaama nikkeenga
are you all standing without speaking?
Adinga daa kottai……
Beat the drums!...
Maada vilakkae
O lamp of the sacred alcove,
Magaraasi mannai vittu poniyae
O blessed woman, you left this earth.
Sorna nilaavae sontham vittu
O golden moon, leaving your loved ones,
Sollaama poniyae
you departed without saying a word.
Vaanam yeri ponavalae
O woman who ascended to the sky,
Vandhavazhi thirumbuviyoo
will you return the way you went?
Adi aathaadi
Oh dear mother!
Vaayu vayithula adikkiren
I beat my mouth and stomach in despair,
Ippo vaarthai varaama thudikkiren
Now I squirm, unable to utter words,
Nee pazhaginadhellaam ninaikkiren
I reminisce about all the time we spent together,
Ippo ratha kanneera vadikkiren
Now I shed tears of blood.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a raw, emotional Tamil folk lamentation (Oppari) from the film Virumaandi (2004). It expresses the immense grief and agony of losing a loved one. The deceased woman is fondly remembered as the guiding light of the home ('Maada vilakku') and a golden moon ('Sorna nilavu'), whose sudden departure leaves her family brokenhearted. The speaker addresses the hired funeral drummers and mourners to play louder while expressing intense physical and psychological grief—beating his chest and mouth, rendered speechless by sorrow, and shedding tears of blood as he recalls sweet memories of her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Maada vilakkae”
The deceased woman is metaphorically referred to as 'Maada vilakku' (a niche lamp that illuminates the house) and 'Sorna nilavu' (golden moon) to highlight her warmth and preciousness.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Vaayu vayithula adikkiren / Ippo vaarthai varaama thudikkiren”
The repetitive rhyme ending '-kiren' across consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, hypnotic rhythm typical of traditional Tamil mourning dirges.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Ippo ratha kanneera vadikkiren”
The expression 'ratha kanneera vadikkiren' (shedding tears of blood) exaggerates the depth of sorrow to emphasize unbearable pain.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track showcases 'Oppari', an ancient Tamil folk art form of funeral lamentation. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for Kamal Haasan's 'Virumaandi' (2004), the film used live acoustic recording techniques in rural settings to capture authentic folk instruments and uninhibited emotional vocals.
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