Maina Maina
From Pagal Nilavu · 1985
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pagal Nilavu1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mainaaa mainaa | Maina bird, maina bird, |
| Maaman pudichcha mainaa | The maina bird caught by your uncle. |
| Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham, |
| Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham. |
| Male :En manasukkaeththa | Suited perfectly to my heart, |
| Vaattamaana mainaaa.. | A shapely, lovely maina bird... |
| Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham, |
| Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham. |
| Male | |
| Un vayasu moonaaru…. | Your age is eighteen... |
| Chorus :Ini venam thagaraaru | So let's have no more disputes now. |
| Male :Idhu vayasu kolaaru…. | This age is full of mischief... |
| Chorus :Namba vazhiyila veraaru | Who else is there in our path? |
| Male | |
| Hoi mainaaa mainaa | Hey maina bird, maina bird, |
| Maaman pudichcha mainaa | The maina bird caught by your uncle. |
| Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham, |
| Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham. |
| Male: En manasukkaeththa | Suited perfectly to my heart, |
| Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan | A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan. |
| Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham, |
| Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham. |
| Male | |
| Povomaaa oorvalamaa…. | Shall we go on a procession? |
| Vaayenmaa seekkiramaa… | Come quickly, my dear... |
| Thaniyaaga poganumaa…. | Do you want to go alone? |
| Thunai yedhum paakkanuma | Or do you need to look for a companion? |
| Male | |
| Vachcha kuri | The aim once set |
| Maari pogaadhu…..adi aaththi…. | Will not miss its mark... oh my god! |
| Pachcha kili paadha maaraadhu | The green parrot's path will not change. |
| Male | |
| En raasi | My fortune |
| Chorus :Pudhu raasi | Is a brand new fortune! |
| Male :Naandhaanae | It is indeed me, |
| Chorus :Sugavaasi | A lover of pleasures! |
| Thaa naanaa thananaanaa(2) | Thaa naanaa thananaanaa (2) |
| Male :Ellorum paadu ennodu aadu | Everyone sing, dance along with me, |
| Sandhoshamaaga ippodhum eppodhum | Happily now and forever! |
| Male | |
| Mainaaa mainaa | Maina bird, maina bird, |
| Maaman pudichcha mainaa | The maina bird caught by your uncle. |
| Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham, |
| Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham. |
| Male :En manasukkaeththa | Suited perfectly to my heart, |
| Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan | A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan. |
| Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham, |
| Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham. |
| Female | |
| Saethukkulla kaala vachi | Stepping into the muddy fields, |
| Naathu nadum pendugalae | Oh women planting the saplings, |
| Chorus :Ooooolululululu | Ooooolululululu! |
| Female :Seekkiramaa poga venum | We need to move quickly, |
| Naaththugala nattu mudi | Finish planting all the saplings. |
| Chorus :Ooooolululululu | Ooooolululululu! |
| Female :Maamanukku aasaiyila | With love for your uncle, |
| Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa | Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa, |
| Female :Sola kali oottividu | Feed him corn porridge, |
| Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa | Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa, |
| Female :Raaththirikku koodhalukku | For the cold chilly night, |
| Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa | Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa, |
| Female :Serndhukittu poththi padu | Snuggle together and cover up, |
| Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa | Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa. |
| Male | |
| Vaada kulir kaaththirukku… | The biting cold wind awaits... |
| Vayasu vandha maan irukku…… | A youthful deer is right here... |
| Koda mazhai kaalaththula… | During the summer rain season... |
| Kooda oru edam irukku | There is a place under the shelter. |
| Male | |
| Aasaiku oru thaappa podadhae…. | Don't put a latch on your desires... |
| Ada raasa… | Oh king... |
| Appurama veenaa vaadaadhae | Don't wither away in vain later. |
| Male | |
| Naal ponaa | Once the days go by, |
| Chorus :Thirumbaadhu…….. | They will not return... |
| Male :Un vayasu | Your age, |
| Chorus :Erangaadhu | Will not go down! |
| Thaa naanaa thananaanaa(2) | Thaa naanaa thananaanaa (2) |
| Male :Eppodhum jolly ver yedhu joli | Always jolly, what other work is there? |
| Podadhae veli ippodhum eppodhum | Don't erect a fence, now and always! |
| Male | |
| Mainaa mainaa | Maina bird, maina bird, |
| Chorus :Heyyy | Heyyy! |
| Male :Mainaaa mainaa | Maina bird, maina bird, |
| Maaman pudichcha mainaa | The maina bird caught by your uncle. |
| Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham, |
| Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham. |
| Male :En manasukkaeththa | Suited perfectly to my heart, |
| Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan | A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan. |
| Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham, |
| Chum cha jham cha cham | Chum cha jham cha cham. |
மைனா மைனா
மாமன் புடிச்ச மைனா
குழு :
.....................
என் மனசுக்கேத்த
வாட்டமான மைனா
குழு :
.....................
உன் வயசு மூனாறு
Maina bird, maina bird,
The maina bird caught by your uncle.
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Suited perfectly to my heart,
A shapely, lovely maina bird...
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham.
ஆண் குழு :
இனி வேணாம் தகராறு
இது வயசுக்கோளாறு
ஆண் குழு :
நம் வழியில வேறாரு
Your age is eighteen...
So let's have no more disputes now.
This age is full of mischief...
Who else is there in our path?
ஹோய் மைனா மைனா
மாமன் புடிச்ச மைனா
குழு :
.....................
என் மனசுக்கேத்த
வாட்டமான மைனா
குழு :
.....................
Hey maina bird, maina bird,
The maina bird caught by your uncle.
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Suited perfectly to my heart,
A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan.
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham.
போவோமா ஊர்வலமா
வாயேன்மா சீக்கிரமா
தனியாக போகணுமா
துணை ஏதும் பாக்கணுமா
வச்சகுறி மாறி போகாது....
அடி ஆத்தி
பச்சைக்கிளி பாதை மாறாது...
Shall we go on a procession?
Come quickly, my dear...
Do you want to go alone?
Or do you need to look for a companion?
என் ராசி
ஆண் குழு :
புது ராசி
நான்தானே
ஆண் குழு :
சுகவாசி
தா நானா தனனானா
தா நானா தனனானா
The aim once set
Will not miss its mark... oh my god!
The green parrot's path will not change.
எல்லோரும் பாடு
என்னோடு ஆடு
சந்தோஷமாக இப்போதும்
எப்போதும்
My fortune
Is a brand new fortune!
It is indeed me,
A lover of pleasures!
Thaa naanaa thananaanaa (2)
Everyone sing, dance along with me,
Happily now and forever!
மைனா மைனா
மாமன் புடிச்ச மைனா
குழு :
.....................
என் மனசுக்கேத்த
வாட்டமான மைனா
குழு :
.....................
உன் வயசு மூனாறு
Maina bird, maina bird,
The maina bird caught by your uncle.
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Suited perfectly to my heart,
A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan.
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham.
ஆண் குழு :
இனி வேணாம் தகராறு
இது வயசுக்கோளாறு
ஆண் குழு :
நம் வழியில வேறாரு
Stepping into the muddy fields,
Oh women planting the saplings,
Ooooolululululu!
We need to move quickly,
Finish planting all the saplings.
Ooooolululululu!
With love for your uncle,
Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa,
Feed him corn porridge,
Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa,
For the cold chilly night,
Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa,
Snuggle together and cover up,
Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa.
மைனா மைனா
மாமன் புடிச்ச மைனா
குழு :
.....................
என் மனசுக்கேத்த
வாட்டமான மைனா
குழு :
.....................
The biting cold wind awaits...
A youthful deer is right here...
During the summer rain season...
There is a place under the shelter.
சேத்துக்குள்ள கால வச்சு
நாத்து நடும் பெண்டுகளே
பெண் குழு :
லுலுலுலுலு....
சீக்கிரமா போகவேணும்
நாத்துகள நட்டு முடி
பெண் குழு :
லுலுலுலுலு....
Don't put a latch on your desires...
Oh king...
Don't wither away in vain later.
மாமனுக்கு ஆசையில
பெண் குழு :
தன்னானா தனனானா
சோள களி ஊட்டி விடு
பெண் குழு :
தன்னானா தனனானா
ராத்திரிக்கு கூதலுக்கு
பெண் குழு :
தன்னானா தனனானா
சேர்ந்துக்கிட்டு போத்திப்படு
பெண் குழு :
தன்னானா தனனானா
Once the days go by,
They will not return...
Your age,
Will not go down!
Thaa naanaa thananaanaa (2)
Always jolly, what other work is there?
Don't erect a fence, now and always!
வாடைக் குளிர் காத்திருக்கு
வயசு வந்த மானிருக்கு
கோடைமழை காலத்துல
கூட ஒரு இடமிருக்கு
ஆசைக்கொரு தாப்பா போடாதே
அட ராசா.......
அப்புறமா வீணா வாடாதே
Maina bird, maina bird,
Heyyy!
Maina bird, maina bird,
The maina bird caught by your uncle.
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Suited perfectly to my heart,
A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan.
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham.
நாள் போனா
பெண் குழு :
திரும்பாது
உன் வயசு
பெண் குழு :
இறங்காது
பெண் குழு :
தா நானா தனனானா
தா நானா தனனானா
எப்போதும் ஜாலி
வேறேது ஜோலி
போடாதே வேலி
இப்போதும் எப்போதும்
மைனா மைனா
ஆண் குழு :
ஹேய்...
மைனா மைனா
மாமன் புடிச்ச மைனா
குழு :
.....................
என் மனசுக்கேத்த
வாட்டமான மைனா
குழு :
.....................
ஆண் குழு :
உன் வயசு மூனாறு
இனி வேணாம் தகராறு
இது வயசுக்கோளாறு
நம் வழியில வேறாரு
மைனா மைனா
மாமன் புடிச்ச மைனா
குழு :
.....................
என் மனசுக்கேத்த
வாட்டமான மைனா
குழு :
.....................
Mainaaa mainaa
Maina bird, maina bird,
Maaman pudichcha mainaa
The maina bird caught by your uncle.
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Male :En manasukkaeththa
Suited perfectly to my heart,
Vaattamaana mainaaa..
A shapely, lovely maina bird...
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Un vayasu moonaaru….
Your age is eighteen...
Chorus :Ini venam thagaraaru
So let's have no more disputes now.
Male :Idhu vayasu kolaaru….
This age is full of mischief...
Chorus :Namba vazhiyila veraaru
Who else is there in our path?
Hoi mainaaa mainaa
Hey maina bird, maina bird,
Maaman pudichcha mainaa
The maina bird caught by your uncle.
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Male: En manasukkaeththa
Suited perfectly to my heart,
Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan
A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan.
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Povomaaa oorvalamaa….
Shall we go on a procession?
Vaayenmaa seekkiramaa…
Come quickly, my dear...
Thaniyaaga poganumaa….
Do you want to go alone?
Thunai yedhum paakkanuma
Or do you need to look for a companion?
Vachcha kuri
The aim once set
Maari pogaadhu…..adi aaththi….
Will not miss its mark... oh my god!
Pachcha kili paadha maaraadhu
The green parrot's path will not change.
En raasi
My fortune
Chorus :Pudhu raasi
Is a brand new fortune!
Male :Naandhaanae
It is indeed me,
Chorus :Sugavaasi
A lover of pleasures!
Thaa naanaa thananaanaa(2)
Thaa naanaa thananaanaa (2)
Male :Ellorum paadu ennodu aadu
Everyone sing, dance along with me,
Sandhoshamaaga ippodhum eppodhum
Happily now and forever!
Mainaaa mainaa
Maina bird, maina bird,
Maaman pudichcha mainaa
The maina bird caught by your uncle.
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Male :En manasukkaeththa
Suited perfectly to my heart,
Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan
A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan.
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Saethukkulla kaala vachi
Stepping into the muddy fields,
Naathu nadum pendugalae
Oh women planting the saplings,
Chorus :Ooooolululululu
Ooooolululululu!
Female :Seekkiramaa poga venum
We need to move quickly,
Naaththugala nattu mudi
Finish planting all the saplings.
Chorus :Ooooolululululu
Ooooolululululu!
Female :Maamanukku aasaiyila
With love for your uncle,
Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa
Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa,
Female :Sola kali oottividu
Feed him corn porridge,
Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa
Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa,
Female :Raaththirikku koodhalukku
For the cold chilly night,
Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa
Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa,
Female :Serndhukittu poththi padu
Snuggle together and cover up,
Chorus :Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa
Thanna nanaa thaana nanaaa.
Vaada kulir kaaththirukku…
The biting cold wind awaits...
Vayasu vandha maan irukku……
A youthful deer is right here...
Koda mazhai kaalaththula…
During the summer rain season...
Kooda oru edam irukku
There is a place under the shelter.
Aasaiku oru thaappa podadhae….
Don't put a latch on your desires...
Ada raasa…
Oh king...
Appurama veenaa vaadaadhae
Don't wither away in vain later.
Naal ponaa
Once the days go by,
Chorus :Thirumbaadhu……..
They will not return...
Male :Un vayasu
Your age,
Chorus :Erangaadhu
Will not go down!
Thaa naanaa thananaanaa(2)
Thaa naanaa thananaanaa (2)
Male :Eppodhum jolly ver yedhu joli
Always jolly, what other work is there?
Podadhae veli ippodhum eppodhum
Don't erect a fence, now and always!
Mainaa mainaa
Maina bird, maina bird,
Chorus :Heyyy
Heyyy!
Male :Mainaaa mainaa
Maina bird, maina bird,
Maaman pudichcha mainaa
The maina bird caught by your uncle.
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Male :En manasukkaeththa
Suited perfectly to my heart,
Vaattamaana mainaaa..haan
A shapely, lovely maina bird.. haan.
Chorus :Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham,
Chum cha jham cha cham
Chum cha jham cha cham.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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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