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Irandil Ondru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manamadura Thanthen

From Irandil Ondru · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
B. S. Sasirekha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Irandil Ondru
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
14 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maanaa madurai thanthaen maduraiyila paathi thanthaen
Maanaa madurai thanthaen maduraiyila paathi thanthaen
Thallaakolamum thanthaen thangachchi meenaavukku
Thallaakolamum thanthaen thangachchi meenaavukku
Velli mala viraalimala verakedukkum naagamala
Kolli mala kodagu mala
Kondu thanthaen thanaiyanukku
Iththanaiyum intha manasukkullae
Ezhuthu vachchaen en kannugalae
Iththanaiyum intha manasukkullae
Ezhuthu vachchaen en kannugalae
Saththiyamaa adhuthaan palikka saami varam thaaratheppo
Saththiyamaa adhuthaan palikka saami varam thaaratheppo
I gave Manamadurai, and I gave half of Madurai
I gave Manamadurai, and I gave half of Madurai
I gave Tallakulam too, to my little sister Meena
I gave Tallakulam too, to my little sister Meena
Velli Hills, Viralimalai, and Nagamalai where firewood is gathered,
Kolli Hills and Kodagu Hills—
I brought and gave them to my dear son.
All of these, inside this heart of mine,
I have written down, my precious darlings.
All of these, inside this heart of mine,
I have written down, my precious darlings.
Truly, when will God grant the blessing for it all to come true?
Truly, when will God grant the blessing for it all to come true?
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful rural Tamil song expresses a motherly figure's hyperbolic affection and deep devotion toward her family. Through grand figurative gifts, she pledges vast landmarks, towns, and mountain ranges—such as Madurai, Tallakulam, Kolli Hills, and Kodagu—to her younger sister and son as tokens of boundaless love. These affectionate wishes are etched deeply into her heart. She earnestly prays to the divine, asking when God will fulfill these heartfelt desires and grant her family prosperity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Maanaa madurai thanthaen maduraiyila paathi thanthaen

Exaggerated expressions of devotion where the singer claims to bequeath entire cities and mountain ranges (Madurai, Kolli Hills, Kodagu Hills) to her relatives as gifts of love.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu Thodai)

Velli mala viraalimala verakedukkum naagamala / Kolli mala kodagu mala

The rhythmic repetition of the suffix 'mala' (hills) at the end of multiple words across the fifth and sixth lines creates a lyrical folk cadence.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Iththanaiyum intha manasukkullae

The repeated phrase 'Intha manasukkullae' establishes an emotional centerpiece, reinforcing that these wishes are deeply internalized.

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Trivia

Featured in the 1988 film 'Irandil Ondru', this folk track was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran. Rendered by singer B. S. Sasirekha, the song draws heavily from traditional Madurai region 'Lullaby/Oppari' style oral traditions where mothers figuratively gift places of prominence to their children.

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