Manaivi Oru Mandhiri
From Manaivi Oru Mandhiri · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Manaivi Oru Mandhiri1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Manaivi oru manthiri | A wife is a minister, |
| Avathaanae raja thanthiri | She herself is the master strategist. |
| Manaivi oru manthiri | A wife is a minister, |
| Avathaanae raja thanthiri | She herself is the master strategist. |
| Pombalai ittathu sattam | What a woman lays down becomes the law, |
| Poduvaa aayiram thittam | She formulates a thousand plans. |
| Manjalil thaaliyai kattum | For anyone who ties the sacred thread around her neck, |
| Mannavan chinnavan ellarukkum | Be it a king or a common man. |
| Male | |
| Manaivi oru manthiri | A wife is a minister, |
| Avathaanae raja thanthiri | She herself is the master strategist. |
| Manaivi oru manthiri | A wife is a minister, |
| Avathaanae raja thanthiri | She herself is the master strategist. |
| Male | |
| Poo mudicha senthaamarai | She is a red lotus adorned with flowers, |
| Pottu vechcha moonaampira | She is the crescent moon adorned with a bindi. |
| Ponnu illaraththin kannu | A woman is the eye of a household. |
| Thottathellaam ponnaagalaam | Whatever she touches turns into gold, |
| Nattathellam poovaagalaam | Whatever she plants blossoms into a flower. |
| Raasi manjal mugaraasi | Her auspicious face brings good fortune. |
| Male | |
| Paattukkoru paarathiyum | Even Mahakavi Bharathi, the master of song, |
| Paadi vechchan penmaiyaththaan | Sang in glory of womanhood. |
| Paattil avan sonnathellaam | Everything he stated in his poetry, |
| Poigal alla unmaiyaththaab | Are not lies, but absolute truth. |
| Male | |
| Poosal theeravae nalla puththi kooravaa | She offers good counsel to resolve disputes, |
| Vaasal thediyae vanthu vaazhththu paaduvaa | She comes to the doorstep to sing blessings. |
| Male | |
| Manaivi oru manthiri | A wife is a minister, |
| Avathaanae raja thanthiri | She herself is the master strategist. |
| Manaivi oru manthiri | A wife is a minister, |
| Avathaanae raja thanthiri | She herself is the master strategist. |
| Male | |
| Eeramundu nenjoduthaa | She possesses compassion in her heart, |
| Veeramundu kannoduthaan | She possesses bravery in her eyes. |
| Dhesam thaaikulaththa pesum | The nation praises the motherly womanhood. |
| Kadhalilae maadhavithaan | She is like Madhavi in love, |
| Karpinilae kannagithaan | She is like Kannagi in chastity. |
| Naanam ponnu vidum paanam | Shyness is the arrow shot by a woman. |
| Male | |
| Kondavalum aasaiyilae | The wife, out of affection, |
| Koorukindra manthiranthaan | Speaks words that act as a spell. |
| Kettavudan aann maganum | Upon hearing them, even a man |
| Aadugindra enthiramthaan | Becomes a machine dancing to her tune. |
| Maaman thedidum ponjaathi aanava | She becomes the beloved wife sought by her husband, |
| Saami meniyil sari paadhiyaanava | She becomes the equal half in the divine body. |
| Male | |
| Manaivi oru manthiri | A wife is a minister, |
| Avathaanae raja thanthiri | She herself is the master strategist. |
| Manaivi oru manthiri | A wife is a minister, |
| Avathaanae raja thanthiri…. | She herself is the master strategist. |
மனைவி ஒரு மந்திரி அவதானே ராஜதந்திரி
மனைவி ஒரு மந்திரி அவதானே ராஜதந்திரி
பொம்பளை இட்டது சட்டம்
போடுவா ஆயிரம் திட்டம்
மஞ்சளில் தாலியைக் கட்டும்
மன்னவன் சின்னவன் எல்லாருக்கும்
A wife is a minister,
She herself is the master strategist.
A wife is a minister,
She herself is the master strategist.
What a woman lays down becomes the law,
She formulates a thousand plans.
For anyone who ties the sacred thread around her neck,
Be it a king or a common man.
மனைவி ஒரு மந்திரி அவதானே ராஜதந்திரி
மனைவி ஒரு மந்திரி அவதானே ராஜதந்திரி
A wife is a minister,
She herself is the master strategist.
A wife is a minister,
She herself is the master strategist.
பூ முடிச்ச செந்தாமரை
பொட்டு வெச்ச மூணாம்பிற
பொண்ணு இல்லறத்தின் கண்ணு
தொட்டதெல்லாம் பொன்னாகலாம்
நட்டதெல்லாம் பூவாகலாம்
ராசி மஞ்சள் முகராசி
She is a red lotus adorned with flowers,
She is the crescent moon adorned with a bindi.
A woman is the eye of a household.
Whatever she touches turns into gold,
Whatever she plants blossoms into a flower.
Her auspicious face brings good fortune.
பாட்டுக்கொரு பாரதியும்
பாடி வெச்சான் பெண்மையத்தான்
பாட்டில் அவன் சொன்னதெல்லாம்
பொய்கள் அல்ல உண்மையத்தான்
Even Mahakavi Bharathi, the master of song,
Sang in glory of womanhood.
Everything he stated in his poetry,
Are not lies, but absolute truth.
பூசல் தீரவே நல்ல புத்தி கூறுவா
வாசல் தேடியே வந்து வாழ்த்து பாடுவா
She offers good counsel to resolve disputes,
She comes to the doorstep to sing blessings.
மனைவி ஒரு மந்திரி
அவதானே ராஜதந்திரி
மனைவி ஒரு மந்திரி
அவதானே ராஜதந்திரி
A wife is a minister,
She herself is the master strategist.
A wife is a minister,
She herself is the master strategist.
ஈரமுண்டு நெஞ்சோடுதான்
வீரமுண்டு கண்ணோடுதான்
தேசம் தாய்க்குலத்த பேசும்
காதலிலே மாதவிதான்
கற்பினிலே கண்ணகிதான்
நாணம் பொண்ணு விடும் பாணம்
She possesses compassion in her heart,
She possesses bravery in her eyes.
The nation praises the motherly womanhood.
She is like Madhavi in love,
She is like Kannagi in chastity.
Shyness is the arrow shot by a woman.
கொண்டவளும் ஆசையிலே
கூறுகின்ற மந்திரந்தான்
கேட்டவுடன் ஆண் மகனும்
ஆடுகின்ற எந்திரம்தான்
மாமன் தேடிடும் பெஞ்சாதி ஆனவ
சாமி மேனியில் சரி பாதியானவ
The wife, out of affection,
Speaks words that act as a spell.
Upon hearing them, even a man
Becomes a machine dancing to her tune.
She becomes the beloved wife sought by her husband,
She becomes the equal half in the divine body.
மனைவி ஒரு மந்திரி
அவதானே ராஜதந்திரி
மனைவி ஒரு மந்திரி
அவதானே ராஜதந்திரி....
A wife is a minister,
She herself is the master strategist.
A wife is a minister,
She herself is the master strategist.
Manaivi oru manthiri
A wife is a minister,
Avathaanae raja thanthiri
She herself is the master strategist.
Manaivi oru manthiri
A wife is a minister,
Avathaanae raja thanthiri
She herself is the master strategist.
Pombalai ittathu sattam
What a woman lays down becomes the law,
Poduvaa aayiram thittam
She formulates a thousand plans.
Manjalil thaaliyai kattum
For anyone who ties the sacred thread around her neck,
Mannavan chinnavan ellarukkum
Be it a king or a common man.
Manaivi oru manthiri
A wife is a minister,
Avathaanae raja thanthiri
She herself is the master strategist.
Manaivi oru manthiri
A wife is a minister,
Avathaanae raja thanthiri
She herself is the master strategist.
Poo mudicha senthaamarai
She is a red lotus adorned with flowers,
Pottu vechcha moonaampira
She is the crescent moon adorned with a bindi.
Ponnu illaraththin kannu
A woman is the eye of a household.
Thottathellaam ponnaagalaam
Whatever she touches turns into gold,
Nattathellam poovaagalaam
Whatever she plants blossoms into a flower.
Raasi manjal mugaraasi
Her auspicious face brings good fortune.
Paattukkoru paarathiyum
Even Mahakavi Bharathi, the master of song,
Paadi vechchan penmaiyaththaan
Sang in glory of womanhood.
Paattil avan sonnathellaam
Everything he stated in his poetry,
Poigal alla unmaiyaththaab
Are not lies, but absolute truth.
Poosal theeravae nalla puththi kooravaa
She offers good counsel to resolve disputes,
Vaasal thediyae vanthu vaazhththu paaduvaa
She comes to the doorstep to sing blessings.
Manaivi oru manthiri
A wife is a minister,
Avathaanae raja thanthiri
She herself is the master strategist.
Manaivi oru manthiri
A wife is a minister,
Avathaanae raja thanthiri
She herself is the master strategist.
Eeramundu nenjoduthaa
She possesses compassion in her heart,
Veeramundu kannoduthaan
She possesses bravery in her eyes.
Dhesam thaaikulaththa pesum
The nation praises the motherly womanhood.
Kadhalilae maadhavithaan
She is like Madhavi in love,
Karpinilae kannagithaan
She is like Kannagi in chastity.
Naanam ponnu vidum paanam
Shyness is the arrow shot by a woman.
Kondavalum aasaiyilae
The wife, out of affection,
Koorukindra manthiranthaan
Speaks words that act as a spell.
Kettavudan aann maganum
Upon hearing them, even a man
Aadugindra enthiramthaan
Becomes a machine dancing to her tune.
Maaman thedidum ponjaathi aanava
She becomes the beloved wife sought by her husband,
Saami meniyil sari paadhiyaanava
She becomes the equal half in the divine body.
Manaivi oru manthiri
A wife is a minister,
Avathaanae raja thanthiri
She herself is the master strategist.
Manaivi oru manthiri
A wife is a minister,
Avathaanae raja thanthiri….
She herself is the master strategist.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song celebrates the crucial role, intelligence, compassion, and authority of a wife in family and societal life. It elevates the wife from a passive domestic partner to a chief advisor, strategist, and guiding force behind a man's life, comparing her touch to turning things into gold and her words to wise council that resolves conflicts. Furthermore, the song weaves cultural and literary ideals of Tamil womanhood, drawing upon classical epic archetypes like Kannagi and Madhavi, as well as Mahakavi Bharathi's vision of empowered women, concluding with the sacred idea of Ardhanarishvara where a wife completes her husband as an equal half.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Manaivi oru manthiri / Avathaanae raja thanthiri”
The song repeatedly uses metaphors, directly comparing the wife to a 'minister' (manthiri) and a 'king's strategist' (raja thanthiri) to highlight her decision-making intellect.
Literary Allusion
“Kadhalilae maadhavithaan / Karpinilae kannagithaan”
Vaali references Tamil literary figures Kannagi (embodying chastity) and Madhavi (embodying passionate love) from Silappatikaram to highlight the multifaceted character of womanhood.
Historical/Literary Allusion
“Paattukkoru paarathiyum paadi vechchan penmaiyaththaan”
Refers to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, who wrote extensively about women's liberation and empowerment in modern Tamil poetry.
Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Kadhalilae maadhavithaan / Karpinilae kannagithaan”
Repetition of initial consonants like 'Ka' in adjacent lines to create rhythmic balance.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song incorporates references to Tamil epic literature (Silappatikaram's Kannagi and Madhavi) and modern Tamil literature (Subramania Bharati), ending with a philosophical reference to 'Ardhanarishvara' (Lord Shiva sharing half his body with Goddess Parvati).
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