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Lyrics & meaning

Mana Mohana

From Puthumai Pithan · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Puthumai Pithan1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mana mohana marandhu povenaaOh enchanter of my mind, will I ever forget you?
Kannalanae unnaasai ennalum naanOh beloved with sweet eyes, I am forever filled with desire for you.
Mana mohana marandhu povenaaOh enchanter of my mind, will I ever forget you?
Kannalanae unnaasai ennalum naanOh beloved with sweet eyes, I am forever filled with desire for you.
Female
Mangaatha deepamae singaar deepamaeOh unextinguishable lamp, oh beautiful lamp!
Maga kanam kanam un dhegameExtremely majestic is your frame at every moment!
Mangaatha deepamae singaar deepamaeOh unextinguishable lamp, oh beautiful lamp!
Maga kanam kanam un dhegameExtremely majestic is your frame at every moment!
Ponnaana bimbamae ennaasai inbamaeOh golden image, oh my desired joy!
Polladha kaatil vaazhum singameOh lion living in the perilous forest!
Ponnaana bimbamae ennaasai inbamaeOh golden image, oh my desired joy!
Polladha kaatil vaazhum singameOh lion living in the perilous forest!
Poiyyaguma en kaadhale poiyyaagumaWill my love turn out to be false? Will it become untrue?
Female
Mana mohana marandhu povenaaOh enchanter of my mind, will I ever forget you?
Kannalanae unnaasai ennalum naanOh beloved with sweet eyes, I am forever filled with desire for you.
Female
Ennodu pesunga yen indha veshangaSpeak with me; why these disguises?
Panpaaduven ullaasam kaanungaI shall sing sweet melodies; behold the joyous pleasure!
Ennodu pesunga yen indha veshangaSpeak with me; why these disguises?
Panpaaduven ullaasam kaanungaI shall sing sweet melodies; behold the joyous pleasure!
Sonnalae kelunga joraana naalungaListen when I speak; these are wonderful days!
Sokkadha pergal ingae yaarungaWho among the people here is not captivated?
Sonnalae kelunga joraana naalungaListen when I speak; these are wonderful days!
Sokkadha pergal ingae yaarungaWho among the people here is not captivated?
Kollamalae kollathinga sallabameDo not torment me without killing me, oh sweet playfulness!
Female
Mana mohana marandhu povenaaOh enchanter of my mind, will I ever forget you?
Kannalanae unnaasai ennalum naanOh beloved with sweet eyes, I am forever filled with desire for you.
Female
Veerathi veeranae soorathi sooranaeOh bravest of the brave, oh hero of heroes!
Poraadum puli pola paayum theeraneOh valiant warrior who leaps like a fighting tiger!
Veerathi veeranae soorathi sooranaeOh bravest of the brave, oh hero of heroes!
Poraadum puli pola paayum theeraneOh valiant warrior who leaps like a fighting tiger!
Maaratha vannanae maampazha kannanaeOh unfading colorful one, oh one with mango-sweet eyes!
Malai polae nirkkadhae en mannanaeDo not stand unyielding like a mountain, my king!
Maaratha vannanae maampazha kannanaeOh unfading colorful one, oh one with mango-sweet eyes!
Malai polae nirkkadhae en mannanaeDo not stand unyielding like a mountain, my king!
Un kobamum en dhabamum ondraanathaeYour anger and my burning longing have merged into one!
Female
Mana mohana marandhu povenaaOh enchanter of my mind, will I ever forget you?
Kannalanae unnaasai ennalum naanOh beloved with sweet eyes, I am forever filled with desire for you.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mana Mohana Marandhu Povenaa is a classical romantic composition from the 1957 Tamil film Puthumai Pithan, composed by G. Ramanathan and rendered by P. Leela. The protagonist sings of her deep passion and adoration for her beloved, addressing him as the enchanter of her soul. She praises his physical charm, noble stature, and tiger-like valor on the battlefield while playfully coaxing him to set aside his stern disguise and share in the joy of love. Throughout the track, the lyrics weave vivid metaphors of golden images, glowing lamps, and wild lions. She pleads with her lover not to stand unyielding like an unmovable mountain, concluding that his righteous anger and her intense romantic yearning are ultimately two sides of the exact same devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Poraadum puli pola paayum theerane

Compares the hero's swift leap in battle to a fighting tiger using 'pola'.

Simile (Upamai)

Malai polae nirkkadhae en mannanae

Compares the unyielding stance of the beloved to a mountain using 'polae'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Mangaatha deepamae singaar deepamae

Directly addresses the beloved as an unextinguishable lamp of beauty.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ponnaana bimbamae ennaasai inbamae

Refers to the hero as a golden reflection/image and a majestic lion.

Alliteration (Monai)

Mana mohana marandhu povenaa

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound across words ('Mana', 'mohana', 'marandhu').

Rhyme (Edhukai)

Veerathi veeranae soorathi sooranae

Consonance in the second letter ('r') across 'Veerathi' and 'Soorathi'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Puthumai Pithan (1957), starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and T. R. Rajakumari, featured brilliant classical music by G. Ramanathan. The song 'Mana Mohana' opens in the classical raga Mohanam, clever wordplay on the song's opening phrase 'Mana Mohana'.

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