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Manmadha Leelai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manaivi Amaivathellam

From Manmadha Leelai · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Manmadha Leelai
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
31 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Manadhu mayangi enna
Unakkum vaazhvu varum
Manadhu mayangi enna
Unakkum vaazhvu varum
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Iravil nilavondru undu
Uravinil sugamondru undu
Iravil nilavondru undu
Uravinil sugamondru undu
Manaiviyin kanavondru undu
Enakkathu purinthathu indru
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Manadhu mayangi enna
Unakkum vaazhvu varum
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Porutham udalilum vendum
Purindhavan thunaiyaaga vendum
Porutham udalilum vendum
Purindhavan thunaiyaaga vendum
Kanavanin thunaiyodu thaanae
Kaamanai vendraaga vendum
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Kavignan kandaalae kavidhai
Kaanbavan kandaalae kaadhal
Kavignan kandaalae kavidhai
Kaanbavan kandaalae kaadhal
Azhaginai puriyaatha paavam
Aruginil irunthenna laabam
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Manadhu mayangi enna
Unakkum vaazhvu varum
Manaivi amaivathellaam
Iraivan kodutha varam
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
Why let your heart lose hope?
A good life will come to you too.
Why let your heart lose hope?
A good life will come to you too.
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
There is the moon in the night,
there is sweet joy in closeness.
There is the moon in the night,
there is sweet joy in closeness.
A wife has a dream of her own,
and I understood it today.
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
Why let your heart lose hope?
A good life will come to you too.
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
There must be harmony between bodies too,
and you need a partner who understands.
There must be harmony between bodies too,
and you need a partner who understands.
Only with her husband by her side
can the god of desire be conquered.
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
When a poet looks, it becomes poetry;
when one who truly sees looks, it becomes love.
When a poet looks, it becomes poetry;
when one who truly sees looks, it becomes love.
What a pity to not understand beauty—
what is the use of being close to it?
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
Why let your heart lose hope?
A good life will come to you too.
Getting the right wife
is a blessing from God.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses the philosophy that obtaining a compatible and loving life partner is one of the greatest divine blessings in human life. It offers comfort to those seeking partnership, reassuring them that happiness and love will eventually come their way at the right time. The lyrics emphasize that true marital bliss requires both emotional understanding and physical compatibility. Kannadasan poetically explores how genuine love transforms ordinary existence into poetry and stresses the importance of appreciating the subtle beauty and dreams of one's spouse.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mōnai (Initial Alliteration)

Manaivi amaivathellaam / Manadhu mayangi enna

Repetition of the initial consonant 'Ma' sound in consecutive lines.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Iravil nilavondru undu / Uravinil sugamondru undu

Matching of the second consonant 'ra' sound across structural units.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Iravil nilavondru undu / Uravinil sugamondru undu

Repetition of the ending sound 'undu' to create rhythmic symmetry.

Metaphor

Kavignan kandaalae kavidhai / Kaanbavan kandaalae kaadhal

Comparing a lover's gaze to a poet's vision, suggesting love elevates perception to art.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song from the 1976 film 'Manmadha Leelai' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas, picturized on Kamal Haasan. Kannadasan's opening philosophical line draws thematic inspiration from classical Tamil literature, particularly the Thirukkural's virtues on domestic life.

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