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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mangalathu Kunguma Pottu

From Saami Potta Mudichu · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Saami Potta Mudichu1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mangalathu kunguma pottuThe auspicious saffron vermilion dot,
Vandhadhenna nethiyai thottuWhy did it come and adorn my forehead?
Indha kolam andha saami sammadhamaaIs this sacred form blessed by God above?
Indha neram nalla kaadhal sangamamaaIs this auspicious time a grand confluence of love?
Andhi vaanathu megangalaeO clouds of the dusk sky,
Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalaeCome and sing songs of congratulations!
Andhi vaanathu megangalaeO clouds of the dusk sky,
Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalaeCome and sing songs of congratulations!
Female
Mangalathu kunguma pottuThe auspicious saffron vermilion dot,
Vandhadhenna nethiyai thottuWhy did it come and adorn my forehead?
Female
Naetrennai vaattiyadhuYesterday it tormented me,
Raathiri vennilavuThe white moon of the night;
Indrennai vaazhthiyadhuToday it blesses me,
Naan oru pen nilavuFor I am a maiden moon.
Female
Yaaridathil solvadhendruNot knowing whom to confide in,
Oridathil thavithaenI suffered in solitude.
Vaeridathil dheivam vandhuDid I ever imagine a divine intervention,
Udhavum endraa ninaithaenComing from elsewhere to rescue me?
Ellam nalla neramEverything happens in good time,
Adhu munnaal vandhu koodaArriving even earlier than expected.
Thannaal vandha kaalaiThe heroic man who arrived on his own,
Iru kannaal maalai podaI garland him with both my eyes.
Adhai naanum pesa vaarthai illaiyammaaI have no words left to express this, my dear,
Pennin naanam kooda kaadhal thollaiyammaaEven a woman's shyness becomes a delightful hindrance in love, my dear.
Female
Andhi vaanathu megangalaeO clouds of the dusk sky,
Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalaeCome and sing songs of congratulations!
Andhi vaanathu megangalaeO clouds of the dusk sky,
Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalaeCome and sing songs of congratulations!
Female
Mangalathu kunguma pottuThe auspicious saffron vermilion dot,
Vandhadhenna nethiyai thottuWhy did it come and adorn my forehead?
Indha kolam andha saami sammadhamaaIs this sacred form blessed by God above?
Indha neram nalla kaadhal sangamamaaIs this auspicious time a grand confluence of love?
Andhi vaanathu megangalaeO clouds of the dusk sky,
Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalaeCome and sing songs of congratulations!
Andhi vaanathu megangalaeO clouds of the dusk sky,
Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalaeCome and sing songs of congratulations!
Female
Vasanthathin kaalam adhuThat lovely spring season
Vaasalai thaedi vandhuCame searching right to my doorstep,
Ilaiyudhir kaalam iniAnd proclaimed that autumn days of sadness
Illai endru kooriyadhuShall exist no more.
Female
Poigai ellaam poo malaraAs flowers bloomed in the pond,
Kaigalinaal parithaenI plucked them tenderly with my hands.
Aasai enum noolinilaeUpon the thread of deep desire,
Azhagazhgaai thoduthaenI strung them together so beautifully.
Maalai kollum kannan indruThe Lord Krishna who accepts the garland,
Vandhaan andha mannanThat king has arrived today.
Ini kollai kollai inbamFrom now on, there is endless bliss,
Ingu pongum nalla anbumAnd pure love overflowing here.
Adhai naanum pesa vaarthai illaiyammaaI have no words left to express this, my dear,
Pennin naanam kooda kaadhal thollaiyammaaEven a woman's shyness becomes a delightful hindrance in love, my dear.
Female
Andhi vaanathu megangalaeO clouds of the dusk sky,
Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalaeCome and sing songs of congratulations!
Andhi vaanathu megangalaeO clouds of the dusk sky,
Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalaeCome and sing songs of congratulations!
Female
Mangalathu kunguma pottuThe auspicious saffron vermilion dot,
Vandhadhenna nethiyai thottuWhy did it come and adorn my forehead?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Mangalathu Kunguma Pottu' expresses the joy, relief, and romantic ecstasy of a young bride experiencing her dream union. She reflects on her past loneliness and uncertainty, contrasting it with the present arrival of her beloved hero, which she views as a divine gift and the dawn of an everlasting spring. Calling upon the evening clouds to bear witness and shower blessings, she expresses how even her own maiden shyness feels like a sweet, overwhelming obstruction in her journey of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Andhi vaanathu megangalae

Addressing evening clouds as guests and asking them to sing songs of blessings ('Andhi vaanathu megangalae, Vandhu vaazhthukkal paadungalae').

Metaphor

Naan oru pen nilavu

Comparing the heroine to a 'maiden moon' ('pen nilavu') and her feelings/thoughts to flowers woven on a thread of desire ('Aasai enum noolinilae').

Ethirayodai / Contrast

Naetrennai vaattiyadhu ... Indrennai vaazhthiyadhu

Contrasting yesterday's tormenting night moon with today's blessing and spring replacing autumn ('Vasanthathin kaalam adhu... Ilaiyudhir kaalam ini illai').

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Mangalathu kunguma pottu / Vandhadhenna nethiyai thottu

Rhyming of second letters across adjacent lines ('Mangalathu' / 'Vandhadhenna', 'Naetrennai' / 'Raathiri').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the legendary Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the film 'Saami Potta Mudichu' (1991), directed by R. Sundarrajan and starring Murali and Sindhu. The lyrics penned by Vaali evoke traditional Tamil wedding imagery through nature metaphors.

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