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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manam Kanivaana Andha

From Idhu Sathiyam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music directors
Vishwanathan, Ramamoorthy
Details
Idhu Sathiyam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manam kanivaana andha kanniyai kandaalIf one sees that maiden with a tender heart,
Kallum kaniyaagumEven a stone will turn into a sweet fruit.
Female
Ahaha aaha aaha aahaAhaha aaha aaha aaha
Aahaahaaha aahaahaahaAahaahaaha aahaahaaha
Male
Manam kanivaana andha kanniyai kandaalIf one sees that maiden with a tender heart,
Kallum kaniyaagumEven a stone will turn into a sweet fruit.
Mudhal mudhalaaga aval kaigal vizhundhaalIf her hands touch it for the very first time,
Mullum malaraagumEven a thorn will blossom into a flower.
Aaha mullum malaraagumAaha, even a thorn will turn into a flower.
Aaha kallum kaniyaagumAaha, even a stone will turn into a fruit.
Male
Paadhi kannai moodi thirandhuOpening and closing her eyes halfway,
Paarkkum paarvai kaadhal virundhuThe glance she casts is a banquet of love.
Female
Mmm..mm..mm…mm..mm…mm…mm…mm..Mmm..mm..mm…mm..mm…mm…mm…mm..
Male
M… paadhi kannai moodi thirandhuM… opening and closing her eyes halfway,
Paarkkum paarvai kaadhal virundhuThe glance she casts is a banquet of love.
Jaadhi kodiyil pootha arumbuLike a bud bloomed on a fine jasmine vine,
Saaru konda kaadhal krumbuShe is sweet, mischievous love filled with juice.
Annam endra nadaiyinai kanduSeeing her walk that resembles a swan,
Mannar thammai marandhadhum unduEven great kings have lost themselves in admiration.
Annam endra nadaiyinai kanduSeeing her walk that resembles a swan,
Mannar thammai marandhadhum unduEven great kings have lost themselves in admiration.
Male
Manam kanivaana andha kanniyai kandaalIf one sees that maiden with a tender heart,
Kallum kaniyaagumEven a stone will turn into a sweet fruit.
Mudhal mudhalaaga aval kaigal vizhundhaalIf her hands touch it for the very first time,
Mullum malaraagumEven a thorn will blossom into a flower.
Aaha mullum malaraagumAaha, even a thorn will turn into a flower.
Aaha kallum kaniyaagumAaha, even a stone will turn into a fruit.
Female
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa..aa..aa..Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa..aa..aa..
Aa…aaa….aa…aa…aa…Aa…aaa….aa…aa…aa…
Male
Vaazhai thottam pola irundhaalShe was lush like a banana plantation,
Vandu pola paadi thirindhaalShe roamed around singing like a honeybee.
Female
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa..aa..aa..Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa..aa..aa..
Male
Aa… vaazhai thottam pola irundhaalAa… she was lush like a banana plantation,
Vandu pola paadi thirindhaalShe roamed around singing like a honeybee.
Thennambaalai pola sirithaalShe smiled like a blossoming coconut flower,
Chinnak kannil ennai adaithaalShe trapped me inside her tiny eyes.
Kannam endra kanigalin meedhuUpon those soft cheeks that are like fruits,
Innum naanam modhuvadhaenoWhy does bashful shyness still crash over her?
Kannam endra kanigalin meedhuUpon those soft cheeks that are like fruits,
Innum naanam modhuvadhaenoWhy does bashful shyness still crash over her?
Female
Aval ival thaanaa ival aval thaanaaIs she that woman or is that woman her?
Adhai thelivaai chollalaamaaCan we state that clearly?
Aval varalaamaa nalam peralaamaaMay she come and attain well-being?
Avar sammadhal tharalaamaaCan he give his consent?
Avar sammadhal tharalaamaaCan he give his consent?
Adhai thelivaai chollalaamaaCan we state that clearly?
Female
Vaanampaadi pola parandhaalShe flew like a skylark,
Vaazhvu thaedi thaedi alaindhaalSearching and wandering in quest of life.
Vaanampaadi pola parandhaalShe flew like a skylark,
Vaazhvu thaedi thaedi alaindhaalSearching and wandering in quest of life.
Kaadhal thandha kalvanai kandaalShe found the thief who bestowed love upon her,
Thannai thandha kaiyil vizhundhaalShe fell into the hands that surrendered to her.
Thanjam thanjam endru malarndhaalBlossoming with cries of refuge, refuge,
Nenjam yaavum avanidam thandhaalShe surrendered her entire heart to him.
Thanjam thanjam endru malarndhaalBlossoming with cries of refuge, refuge,
Nenjam yaavum avanidam thandhaalShe surrendered her entire heart to him.
Female
Aval ival thaanaa ival aval thaanaaIs she that woman or is that woman her?
Adhai thelivaai chollalaamaaCan we state that clearly?
Aval varalaamaa nalam peralaamaaMay she come and attain well-being?
Avar sammadhal tharalaamaaCan he give his consent?
Avar sammadhal tharalaamaaCan he give his consent?
Adhai thelivaai chollalaamaaCan we state that clearly?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song, penned by Kannadasan, vividly describes the ethereal beauty, grace, and emotional transformation of a young woman in love. Through rich metaphoric expressions, the lyrics convey how her touch and presence can turn hostility and hardness into softness, turning even stones into sweet fruits and thorns into flowers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Kallum kaniyaagum / Mullum malaraagum

Exaggerating her divine gentleness by claiming a stone turns to fruit and thorns turn to flowers at her sight and touch.

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Annam endra nadaiyinai kandu

Comparing her gait to that of a swan ('Annam endra nadai').

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Thennambaalai pola sirithaal

Comparing her smile to the coconut flower blossom ('Thennambaalai').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kannam endra kanigalin meedhu

Metaphorically portraying her cheeks as tender fruits.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Idhu Sathiyam' (1963) featured music composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, starring SA Asokan and K. Jamuna Rani in key roles. Poet Kannadasan's lyrics in this track showcase classic Tamil poetic embellishments using natural imagery.

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