- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha Mohan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Dharma
- Movie release year
- 1998
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Sept 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Chinna mani kiliyo
Sirikkum nitthhila maniyo
Manjal vanna nilavo
Manasil ethanai kanavo
Andha naal mangala naal
Nenjinil thaen sindhudhadi
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Nandhana vana kuyilae
Chorus :Nadakkum sithira mayilae
Male :Chinna mani kiliyae
Chorus :Sirikkum nitthhila maniyae
Male :Andha naal mangala naal
Nenjinil thaen sindhudhadi
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Thenmadhurai veeranukku
Ennudaiya maamanukku
Thaekkumara dhaegamadi
Yammaa yammaa
Maaman konda pen unakku
Mai ezhudhum kan edhukku
Ennai vandhu kolludhadi
Yammaa yammaa
Aathula naan kulichaen
Aasaiyaa nee pudicha
Thola thaan nee pudicha
Sorgatha naan pudichaen
Adadaa oru angulam angulamaaga
Nee aasaiyil muthangal poda
Adhai ennannu solluven
Eppadi solluven naanae
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Oooo…. chinna mani kiliyo
Sirikkum niththila maniyo
Manjal vanna nilavo
Manasil ethanai kanavo
Andha naal mangala naal
Nenjinil thaen sindhudhadi
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Kaiyalavu chinna idai
Solli kodu enna vilai
Ketta vilai naan koduppen
Kannae kannae
Aasai adhu evvalavu
Alli kodu avvalavu
Un alavum en alavum
Onnae onnae
Vinnilae vennilavu
Veettilae pennilavu
Indru thaan nalliravu
Naan sollavaa nal varavu
Adadaa idhu thanneeril
Thaamarai alla
Idhu panneer thaamaraiyammaa
Indha thaamarai mottukal
Pooppadhen maamanukkaaga
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Nandhavana kuyilae
Nadakkum sithira mayilae
Chinna mani kiliyae
Sirikkum niththila maniyae
Andha naal mangala naal
Nenjinil thaen sindhudhadi
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Manakkum sandhanamae
Kungumamae nilladiyo
Inikkum senthamizhil
Sandham onnu solladiyo
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
Are you a tiny, precious parrot?
Or a smiling pearl?
Are you a golden yellow moon?
How many dreams are in your heart?
That auspicious day is coming,
And honey overflows in my heart!
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
Oh cuckoo of the pleasure garden,
Chorus: Oh walking picture-peacock!
Male: Oh tiny, precious parrot,
Chorus: Oh smiling pearl!
Male: That auspicious day is coming,
And honey overflows in my heart!
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
For the brave hero of southern Madurai,
For my beloved man,
He has a body strong as teakwood,
Oh my, oh my!
For you, the girl this man has claimed,
Why do you need kohl-lined eyes?
They pierce right through me and slay me,
Oh my, oh my!
As I was bathing in the river,
You held me with all your love,
You held me by my shoulders,
And I held heaven in my hands!
Oh, every single inch of me,
As you showered with eager kisses,
How can I even describe it?
How can I find words for it?
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
Oh... Are you a tiny, precious parrot?
Or a smiling pearl?
Are you a golden yellow moon?
How many dreams are in your heart?
That auspicious day is coming,
And honey overflows in my heart!
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
A tiny waist just a handful wide,
Tell me, what is the price for it?
I will pay whatever price you ask,
My darling, my dearest!
However much desire you have,
Give it all to me generously,
For your measure and my measure
Are one and the same!
There is a bright moon in the sky,
And a moonlight of a girl at home!
Midnight has arrived at last,
Shall I welcome it in?
Oh, this is not a lotus
That grows in water,
This is a lotus bathed in rosewater!
These blooming lotus buds
Are meant only for my southern sweetheart!
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
Oh cuckoo of the pleasure garden,
Oh walking picture-peacock,
Oh tiny, precious parrot,
Oh smiling pearl,
That auspicious day is coming,
And honey overflows in my heart!
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
Fragrant sandalwood,
Kumkum beauty, stop a while!
In sweet, pure Tamil,
Sing me a lovely tune!
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Manakkum Sandhanamae' from the 1998 movie Dharma is a romantic duet expressing the deep affection and playful intimacy between two lovers. The lyrics draw upon traditional Tamil poetic imagery, comparing the heroine to precious jewels, sandalwood, vermillion, and a garden peacock, while praising the hero's strength and stature. The lovers express their longing, fond memories of affectionate moments, and anticipation of a joyful union.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)
“Manakkum sandhanamae”
Comparing the heroine to 'Manakkum Sandhanam' (fragrant sandalwood), 'Chinna mani kili' (tiny gem parrot), and 'Pennilavu' (woman-moon).
Emona / Rhyme (எதுகை)
“Inikkum senthamizhil / Sandham onnu solladiyo”
Second-letter rhyming across lines: 'Inikkum' and 'Sandham', 'Vinnilae' and 'Veettilae'.
Anaphora / Repetition (அடுக்குத் தொடர்)
“Kannae kannae”
Repetition of terms like 'Kannae kannae' and 'Yammaa yammaa' for poetic rhythm and emotional emphasis.
Did you know?
Trivia
The track 'Manakkum Sandhanamae' features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the Vijayakanth-starrer film Dharma (1998), with lyrics penned by the veteran Tamil poet Pulamaipithan.
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