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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mandhira Punnagai

From Manal Kayiru · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, B. S. Sasirekha
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Manal Kayiru1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manthira punnagaiMagical smile,
Minnidum maenagaia glowing Menaka,
Santhana poongodiyois she a sandalwood flower vine?
Male
Inthiran maaligaiIn Indra's palace,
Sundara devathaia beautiful goddess,
Chithira paingiliyois she a picturesque parrot?
Male
Aval thaano ival thaanoIs she that woman or this woman?
Ila maano isai thaenoIs she a young deer or musical honey?
Vanna mozhi vaarthaiAre her colorful spoken words
Thiruvaasagam thaanothe sacred Thiruvasagam itself?
Male
Manthira punnagaiMagical smile,
Minnidum maenagaia glowing Menaka,
Santhana poongodiyois she a sandalwood flower vine?
Male
Inthiran maaligaiIn Indra's palace,
Sundara devathaia beautiful goddess,
Chithira paingiliyois she a picturesque parrot?
Female
Aaa….ahaaa…aaaAaa... ahaaa... aaa
Ahaaa…aaaa…Ahaaa... aaaa...
Ahaaa…aaaa…Ahaaa... aaaa...
Ahaaa…aaaa…Ahaaa... aaaa...
Male
{Gopurathin kalasamadhai{Like the temple tower's finial
Aadaigal moodacovered by garments,
Koonthal mudhal paatham varaifrom hair to feet
Aasaigal oda} (2)desires run rampant} (2)
Male
Urchavathu manippolaeLike the festival bell,
Otharathu valai aadaas her bangles jingle on her lips and wrists,
Nenjai alli pogum inthathis heroine who steals the heart,
Naayagi yaarooowho is she?
Male
Manthira punnagaiMagical smile,
Minnidum maenagaia glowing Menaka,
Santhana poongodiyois she a sandalwood flower vine?
Male
Inthiran maaligaiIn Indra's palace,
Sundara devathaia beautiful goddess,
Chithira paingiliyois she a picturesque parrot?
Male
Maamadurai vaazhnthirukkumIs she Angayarkanni who resides
Anagayarkanniin the great city of Madurai?
Thaamaraiyil veetritukkumIs she the auspicious Lakshmi
Mangalachelviseated upon a lotus?
Male
Kai irandil isai veenaiOr Kalaivani holding a musical veena
Vaithirukkum kalaivaaniin her two hands?
Mangai ival yaaroWho is this maiden?
Antha moovarum thaanoooIs she an embodiment of all three goddesses?
Male
Manthira punnagaiMagical smile,
Minnidum maenagaia glowing Menaka,
Santhana poongodiyois she a sandalwood flower vine?
Male
Inthiran maaligaiIn Indra's palace,
Sundara devathaia beautiful goddess,
Chithira paingiliyois she a picturesque parrot?
Female
Aaa….ahaaa…aaaAaa... ahaaa... aaa
Ahaaa…aaaa…Ahaaa... aaaa...
Ahaaa…aaaa…Ahaaa... aaaa...
Ahaaa…aaaa…Ahaaa... aaaa...
Male
Kolam ittu vilakketriDrawing rangoli and lighting lamps
Kudumbathai kaakkato protect the family,
Naan varaintha oviyam pollike a painting I drew,
Naayagi vaaikkamay I be blessed with such a heroine.
Male
Kungumathu chimizhoduWith a vermilion box,
Sangamathai ethirpaakkaawaiting our union,
Vanji magal koodum inthawhere this maiden unites,
Vaalibam vaazhgalong live this youth!
Male
Manthira punnagaiMagical smile,
Minnidum maenagaia glowing Menaka,
Santhana poongodiyois she a sandalwood flower vine?
Male
Inthiran maaligaiIn Indra's palace,
Sundara devathaia beautiful goddess,
Chithira paingiliyois she a picturesque parrot?
Male
Ila maano isai thaenoA young deer or musical honey,
Kalaithaero kanichaaroa chariot of arts or fruit juice,
Ennai vanthu serum inthalong live this Indhirai
Indhirai vaazhgawho comes to join me!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Manthira Punnagai' from the 1982 film Manal Kayiru expresses the protagonist's deep admiration and romantic idealization of his dream bride. He poetically compares her grace, beauty, and virtues to heavenly celestial nymphs like Menaka and divine goddesses like Meenakshi (Angayarkanni), Lakshmi, and Saraswati (Kalaivani).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaie (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Manthira punnagai / Minnidum maenagai

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across consecutive words like 'Manthira' and 'Minnidum'.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Santhana poongodiyo / Inthiran maaligai

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Santhana' and 'Inthiran'.

Uvamaani (Metaphor / Simile)

Ila maano isai thaeno / Vanna mozhi vaarthai / Thiruvaasagam thaano

Comparing the heroine to a celestial nymph (Menaka), a sandalwood vine, and sacred texts like Thiruvasagam.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manal Kayiru' (1982) was directed by Visu and stars S. Ve. Shekher, Shanthi Krishna, and Visu himself. The music for this hit romantic track was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics penned by Vaali and vocals rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

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