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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manasum Manasum

From Sumangali – 1959 · 1959

Lyricist
Nadarajan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, K. Rani
Music director
M. Ranga Rao
Details
Sumangali – 19591959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vegamaaga poravalae mayil ammaO Mayil, lady walking away so fast,
Un aasaiyaale pagavae urugurenae mayilammaBecause of desire for you, I am melting completely, O Mayil!
Female
Aagatha pechu idhu ennaasai athaanaeThis kind of talk is unacceptable, my dear cousin,
Appanukku therinjaalaeIf my father comes to know of this,
Kazhuthai aruthiruvaan athaanaeHe will cut my throat, my dear cousin!
Male
Manasum manasum onnu serrndhuTwo hearts coming together as one,
Vaati vadhaikkudhae mayiluIt torments and distresses me, Mayil,
Vaati vadhaikkudhaeIt torments and distresses me!
Male
Manasum manasum onnu serrndhuTwo hearts coming together as one,
Vaati vadhaikkudhae mayiluIt torments and distresses me, Mayil,
Vaati vadhaikkudhaeIt torments and distresses me!
Male
Masamellam un aasaiyaalaeFor months together, because of my desire for you,
Soru thanni ellam marandhu pogudhaeI forget even food and water!
Male
Manasum manasum onnu serrndhuTwo hearts coming together as one,
Vaati vadhaikkudhae mayiluIt torments and distresses me, Mayil,
Vaati vadhaikkudhaeIt torments and distresses me!
Female
Aasaithaan athaanIs desire something that only you feel, my cousin?
Unakku mattum irukkudhuDo you think desire belongs only to you?
Kanakku pottiyaeYou made your calculations,
Thappa kanakku pottiyaeYou made wrong calculations!
Female
Aasaithaan athaanIs desire something that only you feel, my cousin?
Unakku mattum irukkudhuDo you think desire belongs only to you?
Kanakku pottiyaeYou made your calculations,
Thappa kanakku pottiyaeYou made wrong calculations!
Female
Nesam katti nenappa moottiBinding love and sparking thoughts,
Keduthu pottiyae manasuYou ruined my mind,
Keduthu pottiyae athaanYou ruined my mind, my cousin!
Female
Manasum manasum onnu serrndhuTwo hearts coming together as one,
Vaati vadhaikkudhae athaanIt torments and distresses me, cousin,
Vaati vadhaikkudhaeIt torments and distresses me!
Male
Kaaveri thanniThe water of Kaaveri river,
Kalakalangudhu palapalakkudhuIt ripples and sparkles delightfully,
Kanna mayakkudhu paarLook how it dazzles the eyes!
Adhu pola enna mayakkudhu paarJust like that, look how it mesmerizes me,
Unnazhagu enna mayakkudhu paarLook how your beauty mesmerizes me!
Male
Karutha therinjum odhungi poriyaeEven knowing my intent, you are shying away,
Kaalum kadukkudhu paarLook, my feet are aching from standing,
Katatzhagi kaiyum thudikkudhu paarLook, my wild beauty, my hands are eager,
ThodathaanJust to touch you!
Male
Manasum manasum onnu serrndhuTwo hearts coming together as one,
Vaati vadhaikkudhae mayiluIt torments and distresses me, Mayil,
Vaati vadhaikkudhaeIt torments and distresses me!
Female
Pesalaam athaanWe could talk, my cousin,
Thanni kudamadhu vazhindhu nikkudhuBut the water pot is overflowing and waiting,
Paniyum peiyudhu paarLook, dew is also falling,
Udanae thuniyum moodanum paarLook, I must cover up with clothes right away,
Female
Unnodu pesalaam athaanI could talk with you, my cousin,
Thanni kudamadhu vazhindhu nikkudhuThe water pot is overflowing and waiting,
Paniyum peiyudhu paarLook, dew is also falling,
Udanae thuniyum moodanum paarLook, I must cover up with clothes right away,
Female
Thanimaiyilae pesa enakkuTo talk with you in solitude,
Bayamum varudhu paar enan seiyaLook, I am getting scared, what to do?
Bayamum varudhu paar athaanLook, fear is overcoming me, my cousin!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic folk duet from the 1959 movie Sumangali features a romantic back-and-forth between a young man and his beloved 'Mayil'. The hero expresses his intense love and yearning for her, claiming that his passion makes him forget food and basic needs. He admires her beauty, comparing her radiance to the shimmering waters of the Kaaveri river, and pleads with her not to ignore his earnest feelings.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Monostich / Second-letter Rhyme)

Manasum manasum onnu serrndhu / Vaati vadhaikkudhae mayilu

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'na' in 'Manasum' and 'Vaati' across consecutive couplets, creating rhythm.

Simile (Upamai)

Kaaveri thanni kalakalangudhu palapalakkudhu... Adhu pola enna mayakkudhu paar

Comparing the heroine's enchanting beauty to the sparkling, captivating flow of the Kaaveri river water.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)

Kalakalangudhu palapalakkudhu

The usage of rhythmic sound-words 'kalakalangudhu' (gurgling/rippling) and 'palapalakkudhu' (glistening) to evoke sensory imagery.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. Ranga Rao with lyrics by Nadarajan, this song highlights the traditional rural 'madurai/kongu' folk flavor of Tamil cinema in the late 1950s. The vocal pairing of Seerkazhi Govindarajan and K. Rani brings out a vibrant mix of teasing playful banter and operatic vocal range.

Keep listening

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