Mandhara Malare
From Naan Avan Illai (1974) · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- L. R. Eswari, P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Naan Avan Illai (1974)1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae | O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower, |
| Neeraattu kazhinjillae | Haven't you finished your bath yet? |
| Manmatha shoththiraththil innaanu pooja | Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid, |
| Nee kooda varunnillae | Aren't you coming along? |
| Male | |
| Manmathan ivvidaththannae undu | Cupid himself is present right here! |
| Female :Ooh…entho | Female: Oh... what is it? |
| Male | |
| Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae | O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower, |
| Neeraadi mudiththaayo | Have you finished your bath? |
| Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae | O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower, |
| Neeraadi mudiththaayo | Have you finished your bath? |
| Manmatha saalaiyil anantha poojaikku | For the eternal worship in Cupid's domain, |
| Nee kooda varuvaayo | Will you come along with me? |
| Female | |
| Kunkumam aniyum munnaalae | Before applying the vermilion, |
| Koondhal vaarum munnaalae | Before combing the hair, |
| Sundhara purushan vanthallo | The handsome husband has arrived! |
| Sangathi paraiyaan vanthallo | He has come to speak intimately! |
| Aa madhanaa aa idhuthaan | Ah Cupid, ah is this it? |
| Aa madhanaa aa idhuthaan mudhal naal | Ah Cupid, ah is this the very first day? |
| Male | |
| Indhira mandala dhesathilae | In the heavenly realm of Indra, |
| Sundari ninnai poliyillaa | Beautiful woman, there is no match for you! |
| Manthiram ondru sollattaa | Shall I recite a incantation? |
| Thanthiram ondru illallallo…. | There is no trickery involved here at all... |
| Female | |
| Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae | O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower, |
| Neeraattu kazhinjillae | Haven't you finished your bath yet? |
| Manmatha shoththiraththil innaanu pooja | Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid, |
| Nee kooda varunnillae | Aren't you coming along? |
| Male | |
| Ee malaranda perenna | What is the name of this flower? |
| Female :Ammu kutti | Female: Ammu Kutti. |
| Male :Ammu kutti | Male: Ammu Kutti. |
| Ammu kutti suganthannae… | Ammu Kutti is doing well... |
| Male | |
| Thaththithaavum thaththammae | O prancing parrot! |
| Siththam kavarum chellammae | O darling who steals the heart! |
| Mannan thaedum magarani | The queen sought by the king, |
| Manmathan naattil yuvarani | The crown princess in the land of Cupid! |
| Madhan naan tharuvaen thirunaal | I, Cupid, will give you a grand festive day! |
| Madhan naan tharuvaen thirunaal | I, Cupid, will give you a grand festive day! |
| Female | |
| Penkodi ennuda ullaththai | The young maiden opened my heart, |
| Kannmunai kondu thiranthallo | With just the glance of her eyes! |
| Mannan thannuda vaakkukalaal | By the charming words of the king, |
| Ennai naanum maranthallo | I completely forgot myself! |
| Male | |
| Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae | O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower, |
| Neeraattu kazhinjillae | Haven't you finished your bath yet? |
| Female :Manmatha shoththiraththil innaanu pooja | Female: Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid, |
| Nee kooda varunnillae | Aren't you coming along? |
| Male | |
| Jeevitha saagaraththil nyaan paai maram | In the ocean of life, I am the sail mast, |
| Female :Jeevitha yaathraiyil nyaan nin nayagi | Female: In the journey of life, I am your heroine. |
| Male :Jeevitha saagaraththil nyaan paai maram | Male: In the ocean of life, I am the sail mast, |
| Female :Jeevitha yaathraiyil nyaan nin nayagi | Female: In the journey of life, I am your heroine. |
மந்தார மலரே மந்தார மலரே
நீராட்டுக் கழிஞ்சில்லே
மன்மத ஷேத்திரத்தில் இன்னானு பூஜா
நீ கூட வருன்னில்லே......
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Haven't you finished your bath yet?
Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid,
Aren't you coming along?
மன்மதன் இவிடத்தன்னே உண்டு
ஓ..எந்தோ
Cupid himself is present right here!
Female: Oh... what is it?
மந்தார மலரே மந்தார மலரே
நீராடி முடித்தாயோ
மந்தார மலரே மந்தார மலரே
நீராடி முடித்தாயோ
மன்மத சாலையில் ஆனந்த பூஜைக்கு
நீ கூட வருவாயோ.......
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Have you finished your bath?
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Have you finished your bath?
For the eternal worship in Cupid's domain,
Will you come along with me?
குங்குமம் அணியும் முன்னாலே
கூந்தல் வாரும் முன்னாலே
சுந்தர புருஷன் வந்தல்லோ
சங்கதி பரையான் வந்தல்லோ
அ மதனா அ இதுதான்
அ மதனா அ இதுதான் முதல் நாள்
Before applying the vermilion,
Before combing the hair,
The handsome husband has arrived!
He has come to speak intimately!
Ah Cupid, ah is this it?
Ah Cupid, ah is this the very first day?
இந்திர மண்டல தேசத்திலே
சுந்தரி நின்னைப் போலில்லா
மந்திரம் ஒன்னு சொல்லட்டா
தந்திரம் ஒன்று இல்லல்லோ......
In the heavenly realm of Indra,
Beautiful woman, there is no match for you!
Shall I recite a incantation?
There is no trickery involved here at all...
மந்தார மலரே மந்தார மலரே
நீராட்டுக் கழிஞ்சில்லே
மன்மத ஷேத்திரத்தில் இன்னானு பூஜா
நீ கூட வருன்னில்லே......
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Haven't you finished your bath yet?
Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid,
Aren't you coming along?
ஈ மலரண்ட பேரென்ன
அம்மு குட்டி...
அம்மு குட்டி
அம்மு குட்டி சுகந்தன்னே.......
What is the name of this flower?
Female: Ammu Kutti.
Male: Ammu Kutti.
Ammu Kutti is doing well...
தத்தித்தாவும் தத்தம்மே
சித்தம் கவரும் செல்லம்மே
மன்னன் தேடும் மகராணி
மன்மதன் நாட்டில் யுவராணி
மதன் நான் தருவேன் திருநாள்
மதன் நான் தருவேன் திருநாள்
O prancing parrot!
O darling who steals the heart!
The queen sought by the king,
The crown princess in the land of Cupid!
I, Cupid, will give you a grand festive day!
I, Cupid, will give you a grand festive day!
பெண்கொடி என்னுட உள்ளத்தை
கண்முனை கொண்டு திறந்தல்லோ
மன்னன் தன்னுட வாக்குகளால்
என்னை நானும் மறந்தல்லோ......
The young maiden opened my heart,
With just the glance of her eyes!
By the charming words of the king,
I completely forgot myself!
மந்தார மலரே மந்தார மலரே
நீராட்டுக் கழிஞ்சில்லே
மன்மத ஷேத்திரத்தில் இன்னானு பூஜா
நீ கூட வருன்னில்லே.....
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Haven't you finished your bath yet?
Female: Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid,
Aren't you coming along?
ஜீவித சாகரத்தில் ஞான் பாய் மரம்
ஜீவித யாத்ரையில் ஞான் நின் நாயகி
ஜீவித சாகரத்தில் ஞான் பாய் மரம்
ஜீவித யாத்ரையில் ஞான் நின் நாயகி
In the ocean of life, I am the sail mast,
Female: In the journey of life, I am your heroine.
Male: In the ocean of life, I am the sail mast,
Female: In the journey of life, I am your heroine.
கடலும் கரையும் தாண்டித் தாண்டி
காதல் தீரத்தில் இறங்கும்.......
காதல் தீரத்தில் இறங்கும்.......
கல்யாணப் பந்தலில் கைகோர்த்த சொந்தம்
கடலலை போலே நிரந்தர பந்தம்
ஆஹா மந்தார மலரே மந்தார மலரே
நீராட்டுக் கழிஞ்சில்லே
மன்மத ஷேத்திரத்தில் இன்னானு பூஜா
நீ கூட வருன்னில்லே......
Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Neeraattu kazhinjillae
Haven't you finished your bath yet?
Manmatha shoththiraththil innaanu pooja
Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid,
Nee kooda varunnillae
Aren't you coming along?
Manmathan ivvidaththannae undu
Cupid himself is present right here!
Female :Ooh…entho
Female: Oh... what is it?
Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Neeraadi mudiththaayo
Have you finished your bath?
Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Neeraadi mudiththaayo
Have you finished your bath?
Manmatha saalaiyil anantha poojaikku
For the eternal worship in Cupid's domain,
Nee kooda varuvaayo
Will you come along with me?
Kunkumam aniyum munnaalae
Before applying the vermilion,
Koondhal vaarum munnaalae
Before combing the hair,
Sundhara purushan vanthallo
The handsome husband has arrived!
Sangathi paraiyaan vanthallo
He has come to speak intimately!
Aa madhanaa aa idhuthaan
Ah Cupid, ah is this it?
Aa madhanaa aa idhuthaan mudhal naal
Ah Cupid, ah is this the very first day?
Indhira mandala dhesathilae
In the heavenly realm of Indra,
Sundari ninnai poliyillaa
Beautiful woman, there is no match for you!
Manthiram ondru sollattaa
Shall I recite a incantation?
Thanthiram ondru illallallo….
There is no trickery involved here at all...
Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Neeraattu kazhinjillae
Haven't you finished your bath yet?
Manmatha shoththiraththil innaanu pooja
Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid,
Nee kooda varunnillae
Aren't you coming along?
Ee malaranda perenna
What is the name of this flower?
Female :Ammu kutti
Female: Ammu Kutti.
Male :Ammu kutti
Male: Ammu Kutti.
Ammu kutti suganthannae…
Ammu Kutti is doing well...
Thaththithaavum thaththammae
O prancing parrot!
Siththam kavarum chellammae
O darling who steals the heart!
Mannan thaedum magarani
The queen sought by the king,
Manmathan naattil yuvarani
The crown princess in the land of Cupid!
Madhan naan tharuvaen thirunaal
I, Cupid, will give you a grand festive day!
Madhan naan tharuvaen thirunaal
I, Cupid, will give you a grand festive day!
Penkodi ennuda ullaththai
The young maiden opened my heart,
Kannmunai kondu thiranthallo
With just the glance of her eyes!
Mannan thannuda vaakkukalaal
By the charming words of the king,
Ennai naanum maranthallo
I completely forgot myself!
Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae
O Mandhara flower, O Mandhara flower,
Neeraattu kazhinjillae
Haven't you finished your bath yet?
Female :Manmatha shoththiraththil innaanu pooja
Female: Today is the ritual worship in the scripture of Cupid,
Nee kooda varunnillae
Aren't you coming along?
Jeevitha saagaraththil nyaan paai maram
In the ocean of life, I am the sail mast,
Female :Jeevitha yaathraiyil nyaan nin nayagi
Female: In the journey of life, I am your heroine.
Male :Jeevitha saagaraththil nyaan paai maram
Male: In the ocean of life, I am the sail mast,
Female :Jeevitha yaathraiyil nyaan nin nayagi
Female: In the journey of life, I am your heroine.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Mandhara Malare is a romantic duet from the film Naan Avan Illai (1974). The song features a playful interaction between the male protagonist, who is adopting a Keralite alter-ego (Harihara Iyer), and his love interest, Ammukutti. Through a blend of Malayalam-infused Tamil phrases, the lyrics express poetic romance, playfully likening their love to divine rituals dedicated to Manmatha (the Hindu god of love). The dialogue-style song captures early moments of intimacy, courtship, and mutual devotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Jeevitha saagaraththil nyaan paai maram”
Life is compared to an ocean ('Jeevitha saagaram'), where the husband acts as the sail mast guiding through and the wife as his lifelong companion.
Apostrophe / Personification
“Manthaara malarae manthaara malarae”
Addressing the beloved metaphorically as a 'Mandhara flower' and a 'prancing parrot' to convey grace and affection.
Rhyme and Assonance (Monai / Etukai)
“Kunkumam aniyum munnaalae / Koondhal vaarum munnaalae”
The lyrics use pleasing end-rhymes and initial consonant rhyming across lines such as 'Kunkumam' and 'Koondhal', or 'Sundhara purushan' and 'Sangathi paraiyaan'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Naan Avan Illai (1974), directed by K. Balachander and starring Gemini Ganesan, features the protagonist adopting nine different disguises to deceive women. In this song sequence, Gemini Ganesan plays a Keralite character, which inspired lyricist Kannadasan to write lines blending Tamil and Malayalam syntax and vocabulary.
Keep listening
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