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Kizhakke Pogum Rail album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mancholai Kilithano

From Kizhakke Pogum Rail · 1978

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Jayachandran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kizhakke Pogum Rail
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
12 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maanjolai kili thaano… maan thaano…
Vaeppanthoppu kuyilum nee thaano…
Maanjolai kili thaano maan thaano…
Vaeppanthoppu kuyilum nee thaano…
Ival aavaaram poo thaano nadai thaer thaano
Salangaigal tharum isai thaen thaano… oo…
Maanjolai kili thaano maan thaano…
Vaeppanthoppu kuyilum nee thaano…
Ival aavaaram poo thaano nadai thaer thaano
Salangaigal tharum isai thaen thaano… oo…
Neerodai polavae sirithaadi odinaal
Neerodai polavae sirithaadi odinaal
Valaiyosaiyae kaadhilae sindhu paadudhae
Palingu chilaiyae pavala kodiyae
Kulungi varum idaiyil puralum
Sadaiyil mayakkum malar kodi
Maanjolai kili thaano maan thaano…
Vaeppanthoppu kuyilum nee thaano…
Ival aavaaram poo thaano nadai thaer thaano
Salangaigal tharum isai thaen thaano… oo…
Minnal oli ena kannai parithidum azhago
Dhaevadhaiyo
Minnal oli ena kannai parithidum azhago
Dhaevadhaiyo
Angam oru thanga kudam azhaginil
Mangai oru gangai nadhi ulaginil
Thullum isai thaen thaan allum karam naan thaan
Manjam adhil vanji kodi varuvaal sugamae
Varuvaal sugamae tharuvaal magizhvaen
Kan kaaviyam pan paadidum pen oviyam senthaamaraiyae
Maelaadai maangani asaindhaadum vaelaiyil
Pala kodigal aasaiyae vandhu modhudhae
Karumbu vayalae kurumbu mozhiyae
Ilamai enum thanimai neruppai
Anaikkum paruva mazhai mugil
Maanjolai kili thaano maan thaano…
Vaeppanthoppu kuyilum nee thaano…
Ival aavaaram poo thaano nadai thaer thaano
Salangaigal tharum isai thaen thaano… oo…
Maanjolai kili thaano maan thaano…
Vaeppanthoppu kuyilum nee thaano…
Are you a parrot from the mango grove? Or a deer?
Are you also the cuckoo from the neem grove?
Are you a parrot from the mango grove? Or a deer?
Are you also the cuckoo from the neem grove?
Is she a golden Aavaram flower? Does she walk like a majestic chariot?
Is the sound of her anklets as sweet as honey? Ooh...
Are you a parrot from the mango grove? Or a deer?
Are you also the cuckoo from the neem grove?
Is she a golden Aavaram flower? Does she walk like a majestic chariot?
Is the sound of her anklets as sweet as honey? Ooh...
Like a running stream, she laughed, danced, and ran.
Like a running stream, she laughed, danced, and ran.
The chime of her bangles sings a sweet tune in my ears.
A marble statue! A vine of coral!
Swaying gracefully as she moves, rolling over her waist,
she is a flowering vine who charms with her long braid!
Are you a parrot from the mango grove? Or a deer?
Are you also the cuckoo from the neem grove?
Is she a golden Aavaram flower? Does she walk like a majestic chariot?
Is the sound of her anklets as sweet as honey? Ooh...
Is this a beauty dazzling like a flash of lightning?
Or is she an angel from heaven?
Is this a beauty dazzling like a flash of lightning?
Or is she an angel from heaven?
Her body is a golden pot of beauty,
and this young woman is the pure river Ganga to this world.
She is lively, sweet honey of music, and my hands will embrace her.
To the bed, this slender vine of a girl will come in comfort,
she will come, give sweet pleasure, and make me happy!
Her eyes are poetry, a living painting of a woman humming a tune, a red lotus!
When the garment over her mango-like bosom sways,
millions of desires come crashing over me!
A sugarcane field of sweetness, with playful words!
The lonely fire of youth,
she is the seasonal raincloud that cools and puts it out!
Are you a parrot from the mango grove? Or a deer?
Are you also the cuckoo from the neem grove?
Is she a golden Aavaram flower? Does she walk like a majestic chariot?
Is the sound of her anklets as sweet as honey? Ooh...
Are you a parrot from the mango grove? Or a deer?
Are you also the cuckoo from the neem grove?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maanjolai Kili Thaano is a classic Tamil romantic song from the 1978 film Kizhakke Pogum Rail. The protagonist expresses his mesmerizing adoration for his beloved through vivid pastoral and natural imagery, wondering whether she is a parrot, a cuckoo, a deer, or a divine nymph. He compares her beauty to pristine nature, including golden pots, flowing streams, lotus blossoms, and rainclouds that soothe the fires of loneliness. The song captures the innocence, passion, and poetic romanticism characteristic of rural Tamil cinema.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

Neerodai polavae sirithaadi odinaal

Compares the heroine's joyful movement and laughter to a flowing stream.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Angam oru thanga kudam azhaginil

Directly identifies her body as a golden pot and a marble statue.

Rhetorical Question (Iyya Alangaaram)

Maanjolai kili thaano maan thaano…

Poetic expression of doubt questioning whether she is a parrot, a deer, or a cuckoo.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Ethukai)

Palingu chilaiyae pavala kodiyae

Rhythmic sound harmony produced by matching consonants across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kizhakke Pogum Rail (1978) was directed by Bharathiraja and marked the film debut of lead actors Sudhakar and Radhika Sarathkumar. The iconic soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Muthulingam and vocal performance by P. Jayachandran.

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