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Pagal Nilavu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maina Maina

From Pagal Nilavu · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilayaraja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pagal Nilavu
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
24 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mainaaa mainaa
Maaman pudichcha mainaa
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham
Male :En manasukkaeththa
Vaattamaana mainaaa..
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham
Un vayasu moonaaru….
Chorus :Ini venam thagaraaru
Male :Idhu vayasu kolaaru….
Chorus :Namba vazhiyila veraaru
Hoi mainaaa mainaa
Maaman pudichcha mainaa
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham
Male: En manasukkaeththa
Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham
Povomaaa oorvalamaa….
Vaayenmaa seekkiramaa…
Thaniyaaga poganumaa….
Thunai yedhum paakkanuma
Vachcha kuri
Maari pogaadhu…..adi aaththi….
Pachcha kili paadha maaraadhu
En raasi
Chorus :Pudhu raasi
Male :Naandhaanae
Chorus :Sugavaasi
Thaa naanaa thananaanaa(2)
Male :Ellorum paadu ennodu aadu
Sandhoshamaaga ippodhum eppodhum
Mainaaa mainaa
Maaman pudichcha mainaa
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham
Male :En manasukkaeththa
Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham
Saethukkulla kaala vachi
Naathu nadum pendugalae
Chorus :Ooooolululululu
Female :Seekkiramaa poga venum
Naaththugala nattu mudi
Chorus :Ooooolululululu
Female :Maamanukku aasaiyila
Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa
Female :Sola kali oottividu
Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa
Female :Raaththirikku koodhalukku
Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa
Female :Serndhukittu poththi padu
Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa
Vaada kulir kaaththirukku…
Vayasu vandha maan irukku……
Koda mazhai kaalaththula…
Kooda oru edam irukku
Aasaiku oru thaappa podadhae….
Ada raasa…
Appurama veenaa vaadaadhae
Naal ponaa
Chorus :Thirumbaadhu……..
Male :Un vayasu
Chorus :Erangaadhu
Thaa naanaa thananaanaa(2)
Male :Eppodhum jolly ver yedhu joli
Podadhae veli ippodhum eppodhum
Mainaa mainaa
Chorus :Heyyy
Male :Mainaaa mainaa
Maaman pudichcha mainaa
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham
Male :En manasukkaeththa
Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham
Myna, myna!
The myna this sweetheart caught!
Chorus: Chum sa jam sa sam
Chum sa jam sa sam
Male: Just right for my heart,
a charming myna bird...
Chorus: Chum sa jam sa sam
Chum sa jam sa sam
Your age is sweet eighteen...
Chorus: No more arguments now!
Male: It is just youthful mischief...
Chorus: Who else can stand in our way?
Hey, myna, myna!
The myna this sweetheart caught!
Chorus: Chum sa jam sa sam
Chum sa jam sa sam
Male: Just right for my heart,
a charming myna bird... Haan!
Chorus: Chum sa jam sa sam
Chum sa jam sa sam
Shall we go out in a procession?
Come on quickly, girl!
Should we go all alone?
Or look for some company?
The aim I took
will never miss its mark... Oh my!
The green parrot will not lose its way!
My lucky sign...
Chorus: ...is a brand new luck!
Male: Am I not...
Chorus: ...a carefree man living in joy!
Taa naanaa thananaanaa
Male: Everyone sing along and dance with me,
happily, forever and always!
Myna, myna!
The myna this sweetheart caught!
Chorus: Chum sa jam sa sam
Chum sa jam sa sam
Male: Just right for my heart,
a charming myna bird... Haan!
Chorus: Chum sa jam sa sam
Chum sa jam sa sam
Stepping into the wet muddy field,
you women planting the young seedlings!
Chorus: Ooolululululu
Female: We need to head back quickly,
so finish planting the seedlings!
Chorus: Ooolululululu
Female: Out of love for your sweetheart,
Chorus: Thanna nanaa thaana nanaa
Female: feed him warm corn porridge!
Chorus: Thanna nanaa thaana nanaa
Female: And for your nightly union,
Chorus: Thanna nanaa thaana nanaa
Female: snuggle together under the blanket!
Chorus: Thanna nanaa thaana nanaa
The chilly north wind is waiting...
A youthful doe of a girl is here...
In this season of summer rains,
there is a cozy spot to be together!
Do not lock up your desires...
Oh dear prince...
Do not wither away in regret later!
Once time slips away,
Chorus: it will never return...
Male: Your youth...
Chorus: ...will not stay young forever!
Taa naanaa thananaanaa
Male: Always having fun, what other work is there?
Do not put up a fence, ever and always!
Myna, myna!
Chorus: Heyyy!
Male: Myna, myna!
The myna this sweetheart caught!
Chorus: Chum sa jam sa sam
Chum sa jam sa sam
Male: Just right for my heart,
a charming myna bird... Haan!
Chorus: Chum sa jam sa sam
Chum sa jam sa sam
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Mainaa Mainaa' is a playful and energetic folk-style duet from the movie 'Pagal Nilavu' (1985). The song captures a lively conversation and romantic banter set against a rural agricultural backdrop, where working women plant saplings in paddy fields while young lovers tease and express their affection for each other. Using metaphorical terms like 'mainaa' (bird) and 'maan' (deer) to refer to the beloved, the lyrics playfully emphasize youth, romance, and living life joyfully without hesitations or delays.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Mainaaa mainaa / Maaman pudichcha mainaa

Comparing the female beloved to a 'mainaa' (mynah bird) and 'pachcha kili' (green parrot) to denote beauty, innocence, and charm.

Monoreyme / Rhyme (Ethukai)

Vachcha kuri / Pachcha kili paadha maaraadhu

Matching second letter patterns in rural folk verse, such as 'Vachcha' and 'Pachcha'.

Onomatopoeia

Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham

Use of rhythmic folk chorus sounds like 'Chum cha jham cha cham' and traditional field call sounds 'Ooooolululululu' to create an earthy, cheerful ambience.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Vaada kulir kaaththirukku… / Vayasu vandha maan irukku……

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Vaada', 'Vayasu', and 'Koda', 'Kooda' across structural lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Pagal Nilavu' (1985) marked the directorial debut of legendary filmmaker Mani Ratnam in Tamil cinema. The film featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with Gangai Amaran penning the lyrics for this popular rural rhythmic song.

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