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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manathai Kavarntha

From Manimekalai · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Radha Jayalakshmi
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Manimekalai1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manadhai kavarndha mangai varuvaaloWill the maiden who stole my heart come?
Manadhai kavarndha mangai varuvaaloWill the maiden who stole my heart come?
Maiyal theera kalandhu inbam tharuvaaloWill she unite with me to grant bliss and quench my longing?
Manadhai kavarndha mangai varuvaaloWill the maiden who stole my heart come?
Maiyal theera kalandhu inbam tharuvaaloWill she unite with me to grant bliss and quench my longing?
Manadhai kavarndha mangai varuvaaloWill the maiden who stole my heart come?
Male
Inithidum mozhiyaale haa aa aaWith her sweet speech, haa aa aa
Haa aa aa haa aa aa aaHaa aa aa haa aa aa aa
Inithidum mozhiyaaleWith her sweet speech,
Inai malar vizhiyaaleWith her pair of flower-like eyes,
Inithidum mozhiyaaleWith her sweet speech,
Inai malar vizhiyaaleWith her pair of flower-like eyes,
Munivarum mayangidum vadivaaleWith a form that could entrance even great sages,
Vindhaigal purindhaale indhira vil polaeShe worked wonders like a rainbow in the sky,
Vindhaigal purindhaale indhira vil polaeShe worked wonders like a rainbow in the sky,
Engirundhoo vandhu engo maraindhaaleAppearing out of nowhere and vanishing into the unknown,
Engirundhoo vandhu engo maraindhaaleAppearing out of nowhere and vanishing into the unknown.
Male
Manadhai kavarndha mangai varuvaaloWill the maiden who stole my heart come?
Maiyal theera kalandhu inbam tharuvaaloWill she unite with me to grant bliss and quench my longing?
Manadhai kavarndha mangai varuvaaloWill the maiden who stole my heart come?
Female
Manadhai kavarndha mannan varuvaanoWill the king who stole my heart come?
Manadhai kavarndha mannan varuvaanoWill the king who stole my heart come?
Maiyal theera kalandhu inbam tharuvaanoWill he unite with me to grant bliss and quench my longing?
Manadhai kavarndha mannan varuvaanoWill the king who stole my heart come?
Maiyal theera kalandhu inbam tharuvaanoWill he unite with me to grant bliss and quench my longing?
Manadhai kavarndha mannan varuvaanoWill the king who stole my heart come?
Female
Kaamanum avan dhaano kaandhanum avandhaanoIs he Kamadeva, the god of love, or is he my beloved?
Haa aa aa aa aa aa aa haa aa aaHaa aa aa aa aa aa aa haa aa aa
Kaamanum avan dhaano kaandhanum avandhaanoIs he Kamadeva, the god of love, or is he my beloved?
Somanum avan dhaano sooriyanoIs he the cool moon, or is he the radiant sun?
Somanum avan dhaano sooriyanoIs he the cool moon, or is he the radiant sun?
Kanavinile vandhu kaatchi inbam thandhuAppearing in my dreams and granting visual bliss,
Kanavinile vandhu kaatchi inbam thandhuAppearing in my dreams and granting visual bliss,
Enaiyum mayakki engoo maraindhaanaeEnchanting me and vanishing into the unknown,
Enaiyum mayakki engoo maraindhaanaeEnchanting me and vanishing into the unknown.
Female
Endhan manadhai kavarndha mannan varuvaanoWill the king who stole my heart come?
Maiyal theera kalandhu inbam tharuvaanoWill he unite with me to grant bliss and quench my longing?
Manadhai kavarndha mannan varuvaanoWill the king who stole my heart come?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic duet from the 1959 Tamil mythological epic Manimekalai expresses the romantic yearning between two lovers who are captivated by each other's beauty and presence. In the first half, the male protagonist pines for the lovely maiden whose sweet voice and flower-like eyes could enchant even severe ascetics, comparing her fleeting appearance to a wondrous rainbow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upama)

Vindhaigal purindhaale indhira vil polae

The line compares the maiden's magical and mysterious presence to a rainbow (indhira vil).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Inai malar vizhiyaale

The eyes are metaphorically described as paired flowers ('Inai malar vizhi').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Manadhai kavarndha mangai varuvaalo

Repetition of the initial 'm' sound in 'Manadhai', 'mangai', and 'Maiyal'.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Inithidum mozhiyaale / Inai malar vizhiyaale

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Inithidum' and 'Inai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Manimekalai (1959) was based on the ancient Tamil Buddhist epic of the same name written by Seethalai Saathanaar. The music was composed by legendary composer G. Ramanathan, featuring vocals by Seerkazhi Govindarajan and Radha Jayalakshmi with lyrics by famous poet A. Maruthakasi.

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