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Meenda Sorgam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mana Nattiya Medaiyil

From Meenda Sorgam · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, A. M. Rajah
Music director
T. Chalapathi Rao
Movie name
Meenda Sorgam
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
18 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haaa…a.aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa…
Haa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….
Mana naatiya maedaiyil aadinen
Kalai kaatiya paadhaiyil vaadugiren
Uyir kaadhalilae udal maedaiyilae
Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae
Mana naatiya maedaiyil aadinen
Kalai kaatiya paadhaiyil vaadugiren
Puvi vaazhvinil kaadhal inbam
Adhil ezhaiyin kaadhal thunbam
Puvi vaazhvinil kaadhal inbam
Adhil ezhaiyin kaadhal thunbam
Thirunaalum illai mana vaazhvum illai
Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae…ae…
Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae
Mana naatiya maedaiyil aadinen
Kalai kaatiya paadhaiyil vaadugiren
Verum kaaviya kaadhal polae
Endhan kaadhalum aanadhu naalae
Verum kaaviya kaadhal polae
Endhan kaadhalum aanadhu naalae
Udal vaazhavillai uyir sagavillai
Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae…ae….
Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae
Mana naatiya maedaiyil aadinen
Kalai kaatiya paadhaiyil vaadugiren
Vanna thaamarai paavaiyin dhaegam
Kandu thazhuvidum sooriyan maegam
Vanna thaamarai paavaiyin dhaegam
Kandu thazhuvidum sooriyan maegam
Dhinam maarividum irul moodividum
Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae…ae….
Female :Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae
Male :Mudivengae
Female :Mudivengae
Female :Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae
Male :Indha vaazhkaiyin mudivengae
Ah... ah... ah...
Ah... ah... ah...
I danced on the stage of my mind,
Now I wither on the path art showed me.
My soul is in love, but my body is on the stage;
Where is the end to this life?
I danced on the stage of my mind,
Now I wither on the path art showed me.
In this worldly life, love brings joy,
Yet for the poor, love brings only sorrow.
In this worldly life, love brings joy,
Yet for the poor, love brings only sorrow.
There is no celebration, no peaceful life for the heart;
Where is the end to this life?
Where is the end to this life?
I danced on the stage of my mind,
Now I wither on the path art showed me.
Like a love that exists only in stories,
My love too has become just like that over time.
Like a love that exists only in stories,
My love too has become just like that over time.
The body does not truly live, yet the soul does not die;
Where is the end to this life?
Where is the end to this life?
I danced on the stage of my mind,
Now I wither on the path art showed me.
Looking at the lovely lotus-like body of a woman,
The sun and the clouds embrace it.
Looking at the lovely lotus-like body of a woman,
The sun and the clouds embrace it.
Days will change, and darkness will cover everything;
Where is the end to this life?
Female: Where is the end to this life?
Male: Where is the end?
Female: Where is the end?
Female: Where is the end to this life?
Male: Where is the end to this life?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Mana Naatiya Maedaiyil from the film Meenda Sorgam (1960) is a deeply emotional lamentation on the harsh realities faced by an artist and a lover burdened by poverty and tragic circumstances. The protagonist reflects on how performing art—once a stage for dreams and passion—has led to personal sorrow and exhaustion. The lyrics poignantly highlight that while love brings happiness to many in the world, for the poor it often yields heartbreak and unfulfilled desires, leaving the narrator trapped in a state where the body refuses to live fully and the soul refuses to die. Kannadasan's evocative verses ponder the ultimate destination of a suffering existence, contrasting fleeting beauty with enduring darkness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Mana naatiya maedaiyil aadinen”

The mind and artistic life are framed as a dance stage ('Mana naatiya maedai'), comparing internal passion and life's performance to physical drama.

Etukai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Mana naatiya maedaiyil aadinen / Kalai kaatiya paadhaiyil vaadugiren”

The second consonant 'di' rhymes between 'aadinen' and 'vaadugiren', establishing Tamil prosodic rhythm.

Antithesis / Paradox

“Udal vaazhavillai uyir sagavillai”

The line 'Udal vaazhavillai uyir sagavillai' juxtaposes living and dying to express a painful state of existential limbo.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Verum kaaviya kaadhal polae”

The speaker compares their tragic love story to fictional love found only in poetic epics ('kaaviya kaadhal polae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Meenda Sorgam (1960) was directed by C. V. Sridhar and starred Gemini Ganesan and Padmini. The film's music score was composed by T. Chalapathi Rao, featuring lyrics penned by the acclaimed poet Kannadasan.

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