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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mangala Mangaiyum Maappillaiyum

From Neela Vaanam · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Neela Vaanam1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sangoli pongida panjanaiyilAs the sound of the conch resonated upon the soft bed mattress,
Oru sambavam undaagaAn event transpired,
Female
Thaamarai kovilil pillai valarndhaanA child grew inside the lotus temple of the womb,
Malligai sendaagaLike a bunch of jasmine flowers.
Female
Sangoli pongida panjanaiyilAs the sound of the conch resonated upon the soft bed mattress,
Oru sambavam undaagaAn event transpired,
Female
Thaamarai kovilil pillai valarndhaanA child grew inside the lotus temple of the womb,
Malligai sendaagaLike a bunch of jasmine flowers.
Female
Paeru vilanga naalaikkuFor the child who will bring fame tomorrow,
Pirakka pogum kaalaikkuFor the noble young one to be born,
Paeru vilanga naalaikkuFor the child who will bring fame tomorrow,
Pirakka pogum kaalaikkuFor the noble young one to be born,
Female
Thullum azhagu tholukkuFor those shoulders full of vibrant beauty,
Solli vaithom maalaikkuWe have reserved the wedding garland.
Thullum azhagu tholukkuFor those shoulders full of vibrant beauty,
Solli vaithom maalaikkuWe have reserved the wedding garland.
Female
Pillai azhagum pinju mugamumThe beauty of the child and its tender face,
Killaiya vettrilai paakkuRed like chewed betel leaf and nut,
Female
Siru ellu poovai azhagu paarkkumLooking as delicate as a tiny sesame flower,
Ilaiya kannanin mookkuIs the nose of this young Krishna.
Female
Sangoli pongida panjanaiyilAs the sound of the conch resonated upon the soft bed mattress,
Oru sambavam undaagaAn event transpired,
Female
Thaamarai kovilil pillai valarndhaanA child grew inside the lotus temple of the womb,
Malligai sendaagaLike a bunch of jasmine flowers.
Female
Kodai kaalam pirakkumAs the summer season arrives,
Pillai kuppura thirumbi padukkumThe child will flip onto its belly.
Kodai kaalam pirakkumAs the summer season arrives,
Pillai kuppura thirumbi padukkumThe child will flip onto its belly.
Female
Aadum vasantham sirikkumThe joyous spring season will smile,
Adhu ammaa endrunnai azhaikkumAnd the child will call you 'Mother'.
Aadum vasantham sirikkumThe joyous spring season will smile,
Adhu ammaa endrunnai azhaikkumAnd the child will call you 'Mother'.
Female
Ammaa mugamum appaa gunamumWith the mother's face and the father's character,
Amaindhu pirakkum pillaiThe child will be born.
Female
Adhan azhagai nandraai alandhu vaikkaTo properly measure and praise its beauty,
Thamizhil vaarthai illaiThere are no sufficient words in the Tamil language.
Female
Aaaa……aaa…..aaa…..aa…..aaa….aa…Aaaa...aaa...aaa...aa...aaa...aa...
Ooo….ooo…ooo…ooo..ooo…oooOoo...ooo...ooo...ooo..ooo...ooo
Females :Mangala mangaiyumFemales: On that day when the auspicious maiden
Maappillaiyum andruAnd the bridegroom
Kaigal kalandhaadaJoined their hands together,
Manjal mugathinil ven pirai nettriyilOn her turmeric-laden face and crescent-moon forehead,
Vaervai vazhindhodaDrops of sweat began to flow.
Sangoli pongida panjanaiyilAs the sound of the conch resonated upon the soft bed mattress,
Oru sambavam undaagaAn event transpired,
Thaamarai kovilil pillai valarndhaanA child grew inside the lotus temple of the womb,
Malligai sendaagaLike a bunch of jasmine flowers.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply poetic narration celebrating love, marriage, intimacy, and the anticipation of childbirth. Written by Kannadasan, it portrays the sacred union of newlyweds and metaphorically describes the mother's womb as a lotus temple where a child grows like a cluster of jasmine blossoms. The lyrics lovingly anticipate the newborn's developmental milestones and physical attributes, comparing its nose to a delicate sesame flower and predicting that it will inherit its mother's features and father's temperament.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Malligai sendaaga

Compares the growing baby to a delicate bunch of jasmine flowers ('Malligai sendaaga').

Rupakam (Metaphor)

Thaamarai kovilil pillai valarndhaan

Metaphorically describes the womb as a lotus temple ('Thaamarai kovil').

Sangam Literary Motif (Ellu Poo Mookku)

Siru ellu poovai azhagu paarkkum / Ilaiya kannanin mookku

Uses the classical Tamil literary imagery of a sesame flower to describe a sharp, delicate nose.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Mangala mangaiyum / Maappillaiyum andru

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Mangala' and 'Maappillaiyum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The imagery of 'Ellu poo mookku' (a nose like a sesame blossom) used by lyricist Kannadasan in this song is drawn directly from classical Tamil Sangam literature and devotional poetry, where sesame flowers were used as the gold standard of beauty for describing a delicate, perfectly proportioned nose.

Keep listening

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