Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Rickshaw Mama album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manakkum Malligai

From Rickshaw Mama · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Rickshaw Mama
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
1 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manakkum malligai
Manjaththil virichu
Kanakku pannunga
Kanni ponn irukku maamaa
Sirichu mayakkum
Chinnappen unakku
Edhukku ippadi
Buddhiyum irukku pommaa
Manakkum malligai
Manjaththil virichu
Kanakku pannunga
Kanni ponn irukku maamaa
Sirichu mayakkum
Chinnappen unakku
Edhukku ippadi
Buddhiyum irukku pommaa
Chellamma killavaa
Onnu naan sollavaaa
Male :Thallammaa sellamaa
Thalliyae nillaammaa
Manakkum malligai
Manjaththil virichu
Kanakku pannunga
Kanni ponn irukku maamaa
Sirichu mayakkum
Chinnappen unakku
Edhukku ippadi
Buddhiyum irukku pommaa
Thaaliya kattina pinnae
Thalli nikkalaamaa
Nana naa na na nana naaa
Nana nannannaana naananan naa
Veliya thottu pirichu
Allikkollu maamaa
Adi raani indha raajaangam
Desam kidayaadhu
Idhu ezhai padum paadammaa
Unnaal mudiyadhu
Raani indha veettu maharani
Male :Unga bhaani pudhu bhaani
Thalliippo nee
Manakkum malligai
Manjaththil virichu
Kanakku pannunga
Kanni ponn irukku maamaa
Sirichu mayakkum
Chinnappen unakku
Edhukku ippadi
Buddhiyum irukku pommaa
Maadiyin thanga kalasam
Man padalaamaa
Ahaa haa aha haa haa haa hahaha haahaha
Hohoh hoo hoo
Seriyil sandhanam vandhu
Manam kedalaamaa
Nadhi vaanam varaipponaalum
Keezhae varavenum
Oru kelvi enai kekkaadhu
Yaavum tharavenum
Hoho ini yedhum puriyaadhu
Female :Mudivaedhu vidiyaadhu
Theriyaadhu
Manakkum malligai
Manjaththil virichu
Kanakku pannunga
Kanni ponn irukku maamaa
Sirichu mayakkum
Chinnappen unakku
Edhukku ippadi
Buddhiyum irukku pommaa
Chellamma killavaa
Onnu naan sollavaaa
Male :Yeeiii
Thallammaa sellamaa
Thalliyae nillaammaa
Manakkum malligai
Manjaththil virichu
Kanakku pannunga
Kanni ponn irukku maamaa
Huhmmm
Sirichu mayakkum
Chinnappen unakku
Edhukku ippadi
Buddhiyum irukku pommaa
Humm… mmmm ….
Male :Haa…aa aah
Fragrant jasmine is
Spread upon the bed,
Come settle your romantic score,
A young girl is waiting for you, mister!
Charming with your smile,
O young girl, why do you
Have such mischievous thoughts?
Go away, girl!
Fragrant jasmine is
Spread upon the bed,
Come settle your romantic score,
A young girl is waiting for you, mister!
Charming with your smile,
O young girl, why do you
Have such mischievous thoughts?
Go away, girl!
My darling, can I pinch you?
Shall I tell you something?
Male: Step aside, my dear,
Keep your distance and stand back!
Fragrant jasmine is
Spread upon the bed,
Come settle your romantic score,
A young girl is waiting for you, mister!
Charming with your smile,
O young girl, why do you
Have such mischievous thoughts?
Go away, girl!
After tying the sacred wedding knot,
Can you still keep away?
Nana naa na na nana naa
Nana nannannaana naanannan naa
Break through the barriers,
And sweep me into your arms, mister!
Listen girl, this is no royal realm,
Nor is it a grand empire!
This is the struggle of a poor man,
You will not be able to bear it!
A queen, the grand queen of this house!
Male: Your ways are totally new,
So move away from me!
Fragrant jasmine is
Spread upon the bed,
Come settle your romantic score,
A young girl is waiting for you, mister!
Charming with your smile,
O young girl, why do you
Have such mischievous thoughts?
Go away, girl!
Should the golden spire of a mansion
Be stained with dust?
Aaha ha aha ha ha ha hahaha haaha
Hoho ho ho
Should sweet sandalwood enter a slum
And lose its fragrance?
Even if a river rises to the clouds,
It must come down to the earth!
Without asking me a single question,
You must give me everything!
Ho ho, nothing makes sense anymore!
Female: What is the way out? The dawn won't break...
I just don't know!
Fragrant jasmine is
Spread upon the bed,
Come settle your romantic score,
A young girl is waiting for you, mister!
Charming with your smile,
O young girl, why do you
Have such mischievous thoughts?
Go away, girl!
My darling, can I pinch you?
Shall I tell you something?
Male: Hey!
Step aside, my dear,
Keep your distance and stand back!
Fragrant jasmine is
Spread upon the bed,
Come settle your romantic score,
A young girl is waiting for you, mister!
Huhmm
Charming with your smile,
O young girl, why do you
Have such mischievous thoughts?
Go away, girl!
Hmmm... mmm...
Male: Haa... aa aah
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful track from Rickshaw Mama features a romantic banter between the female lead and the male protagonist. The heroine tries to entice her spouse with affectionate coaxing, referencing traditional imagery of post-wedding romance like jasmine flowers spread on a bed. In response, the hero playfully keeps his distance, pointing out the stark reality of his humble background compared to her elevated status. Through metaphors of rivers, golden finials, and sandalwood, the song juxtaposes innocent romantic persistence against pragmatic reality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Manakkum malligai / Manjaththil virichu

Repetition of the 'Ma' sound across words in the line.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Chellamma killavaa / Male: Thallammaa sellamaa

Rhyming second letter sound between 'Chellamma' and 'Thallammaa'.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Maadiyin thanga kalasam / Man padalaamaa

Comparing nobility and wealth to a golden finial on a rooftop ('Maadiyin thanga kalasam') versus poverty represented as mud ('Man').

Did you know?

Trivia

Rickshaw Mama (1992) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali. The film stars Sathyaraj, Kushboo, and Gautami, with this song featuring a playful duet rhythm characteristic of 90s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Rickshaw Mama

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.