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Lyrics & meaning

Maman Mavane Unakkenna

From Sugamana Raagangal · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Sugamana Raagangal1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
En maman mavanae unakkenna kavalaiOh my maternal uncle's son, what worries do you have?
Un pakkam irukkaa intha pongathavalaIsn't this plump girl right by your side?
En maman mavanae unakkenna kavalaiOh my maternal uncle's son, what worries do you have?
Un pakkam irukkaa intha pongathavalaIsn't this plump girl right by your side?
Female
Paaya virichchaa oru anthimayakkamSpreading the mat brings an evening trance,
Unna nenaichchaa adhu enna vathaikkumThinking of you, oh how it tortures me!
Paaya virichchaa oru anthimayakkamSpreading the mat brings an evening trance,
Unna nenaichchaa adhu enna vathaikkumThinking of you, oh how it tortures me!
Female
En maman mavanae unakkenna kavalaiOh my maternal uncle's son, what worries do you have?
Un pakkam irukkaa intha pongathavalaIsn't this plump girl right by your side?
Female
Neththiyila manja kungumaththa thottu vaikkaTo place yellow kumkum on the forehead,
Pudhu maappillai vanthaachchuThe new bridegroom has arrived!
Mukkulichchu vanna muththedukka venuminnuWanting to dive deep and fetch colorful pearls,
Oru mogamum undaachchuA yearning desire has arisen!
Female
Neththiyila manja kungumaththa thottu vaikkaTo place yellow kumkum on the forehead,
Pudhu maappillai vanthaachchuThe new bridegroom has arrived!
Mukkulichchu vanna muththedukka venuminnuWanting to dive deep and fetch colorful pearls,
Oru mogamum undaachchuA yearning desire has arisen!
Female
Poongodi melae sengani polae naanirunthaalaeLike a ripe red fruit atop a flowering vine, if I stay,
Maththathellaam vilangaathoWon't everything else become clear?
Indhiraloga sundhari naanae manmathaloga manthiri naanaeI am a beauty of Indraloka, a minister of Manmathaloka,
Thottathellaam thulangaathaaWon't everything I touch flourish?
Male
Aththa magalae ennakenna kavalaiOh my paternal aunt's daughter, what worries could I have?
En pakkamirukaka intha pongaththavalaWhen this plump girl is right by my side!
Male
Ullaththilae unna pachchakuththi vachchikittuTattooing you deep inside my heart,
Kulira vaadaiyil naan yaengaI yearn in the chilly north wind.
Female :Muththathilae pala karpanaiyai pannikituFemale: Imagining so many things in a kiss,
Perumoochchaiyum naan vaangaI catch a deep sigh.
Male
Ullaththilae unna pachchakuththi vachchikittuTattooing you deep inside my heart,
Kulira vaadaiyil naan yaengaI yearn in the chilly north wind.
Female :Muththathilae pala karpanaiyai pannikituFemale: Imagining so many things in a kiss,
Perumoochchaiyum naan vaangaI catch a deep sigh.
Male
Aanathu aachchu ponathu pochchu ennadiyaachchuWhat is done is done, what is gone is gone, whatever happened has happened;
Pesina pechchu ullathellaam kidaikaathiSpoken words alone will not get everything inside.
Female :Panguni maasam sukla vaaram mangalaFemale: In the month of Panguni, during the auspicious week,
Melam kottura neram enniyathellaam nadakkaathoWhen auspicious drums play, won't all we dreamed of come true?
Female
En maman mavanae unakkenna kavalaiOh my maternal uncle's son, what worries do you have?
Un pakkam irukkaa intha pongathavalaIsn't this plump girl right by your side?
Male :Paaya virichchaa oru anthimayakkamMale: Spreading the mat brings an evening trance,
Unna nenaichchaa adhu enna vathaikkumThinking of you, oh how it tortures me!
Male
Aththa magalae ennakenna kavalaiOh my paternal aunt's daughter, what worries could I have?
En pakkamirukaka intha pongaththavalaWhen this plump girl is right by my side!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

En Maman Mavane is a playful folk-infused romantic duet from the 1985 Tamil film Sugamana Raagangal, composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali. The song revolves around traditional Tamil cross-cousin romance (Maman Magan and Athai Magal), filled with endearing banter between the couple. The heroine affectionately reassures her cousin that he has no reason to worry as long as she is right by his side, teasingly describing herself as his beloved partner. Throughout the track, the lyrics weave together themes of sweet romantic anticipation, nostalgic affection, and dreams of an upcoming wedding during the auspicious month of Panguni, highlighted by energetic vocals from Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jairam.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

En maman mavanae unakkenna kavalai

Repetition of the 'Ma' sound in the opening line creates a rhythmic folk feel.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Un pakkam irukkaa intha pongathavala

Rhyming end words ('kavalai' and 'pongathavala') establish a playful poetic cadence.

Simile (Uvamai)

Poongodi melae sengani polae naanirunthaalae

The line compares the woman staying on a flowering creeper to a ripe red fruit.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Indhiraloga sundhari naanae manmathaloga manthiri naanae

Extravagant self-praise comparing oneself to celestial beauty from Indraloka and a minister of Cupid's realm (Manmathaloka).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song celebrates the traditional Tamil custom of cross-cousin marriage ('Maman Magan' and 'Athai Magal'). Poet Vaali utilized colloquial rural Tamil phrasing like 'Pongathavala' and 'Pachchakuththi' to give M. S. Viswanathan's tune an authentic rustic flavor.

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