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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manamariyaa Kaadhale

From Athma Shanthi · 1952

Lyricist
T. N. Rajappa
Singer
A. P. Komala
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Athma Shanthi1952

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Manamariyaa kaadhalaeLove unknown to the mind,
Verum maanaseega kottaiyaeMerely an imaginary castle,
Thunbamaana bodhaiyae….A painful intoxication...
Thunbamaana bodhaiyae….A painful intoxication...
Female
Manamariyaa kaadhalaeLove unknown to the mind,
Verum maanaseega kottaiyaeMerely an imaginary castle,
Thunbamaana bodhaiyae….A painful intoxication...
Thunbamaana bodhaiyae….A painful intoxication...
Female
Manamae nee ini aasai kolladhaeOh heart, do not entertain desire anymore,
Manidharin vaazhvae naadagamHuman life is but a drama.
Female
Manamae nee ini aasai kolladhaeOh heart, do not entertain desire anymore,
Manidharin vaazhvae naadagamHuman life is but a drama.
Sugam kanavugal polae kaatrodu pomaePleasures vanish into the wind like dreams,
Jananamidhae sogamae aaThis very birth is filled with sorrow, ah,
Jananamidhae sogamaeThis very birth is sorrow.
Female
Manamariyaa kaadhalaeLove unknown to the mind,
Verum maanaseega kottaiyaeMerely an imaginary castle,
Thunbamaana bodhaiyae….A painful intoxication...
Thunbamaana bodhaiyae….A painful intoxication...
Female
Manamariyaa kaadhalae…aaLove unknown to the mind... ah,
Manamariyaa kaadhalae…aaLove unknown to the mind... ah,
Manamariyaa kaadhalae…aaLove unknown to the mind... ah,
Manamariyaa kaadhalae…..Love unknown to the mind...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This melancholic song reflects deep philosophical disillusionment with romantic love and human existence. Love is characterized as a painful obsession and an illusion built in the mind. The singer addresses their own heart, urging it to cease desiring worldly pleasures, comparing life to a passing play or drama where joy vanishes into thin air like ephemeral dreams, concluding that birth itself is steeped in sadness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamaai)

Verum maanaseega kottaiyae

Love is directly equated to an imaginary castle ('maanaseega kottai') and a painful intoxication ('thunbamaana bodhai').

Simile (Uvamai)

Sugam kanavugal polae kaatrodu pomae

Pleasures vanishing into the wind are explicitly compared to dreams using the comparative marker 'polae'.

Metaphor (Uruvagamaai)

Manidharin vaazhvae naadagam

Human existence is metaphorically framed as a theatrical stage/drama ('naadagam').

Alliteration (Monai)

Manamae nee ini aasai kolladhae

Initial letter 'Ma' is repeated across lines ('Manamae', 'Manidharin', 'Manamariyaa'), giving rhythmic structure.

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Trivia

'Athma Shanthi' (1952) was produced simultaneously in Tamil and Malayalam. T. N. Rajappa penned the lyrics for the Tamil soundtrack, reflecting early Tamil cinema's affinity for deeply philosophical and existential song lyrics.

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