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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mangalyam

From Neenga Nalla Irukkanum · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Neenga Nalla Irukkanum1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mangalya pichaikku madiyendhinenI held out my lap begging for marital alms.
Malai pondra sumai kodi manam thaanginenMy heart endured a burden as heavy as a mountain.
Mangalya pichaikku madiyendhinenI held out my lap begging for marital alms.
Malai pondra sumai kodi manam thaanginenMy heart endured a burden as heavy as a mountain.
Female
Naan kaatril alaigira deepamI am a lamp flickering in the wind.
Thunba kadalil thaaladum odamA boat swaying in an ocean of sorrow.
Naan kaatril alaigira deepamI am a lamp flickering in the wind.
Thunba kadalil thaaladum odamA boat swaying in an ocean of sorrow.
Female
Mangalya pichaikku madiyendhinenI held out my lap begging for marital alms.
Malai pondra sumai kodi manam thaanginenMy heart endured a burden as heavy as a mountain.
Female
{Annaigalae thandhaigalaeOh mothers and fathers,
Ungalaiyae nambi varum pillai naanaeI am the child who comes trusting only you.
Kaavalanai kovalanai paarthidavaeTo see my protector, my Kovalan,
Kaanalilae thullum meenae} (2)I am a fish leaping in a mirage.
Female
Nalladhai naadum ullathai thaediOh mothers and fathers,
Illangal thorum nadappenaeI am the child who comes trusting only you.
Oorae orangiya bothum en ullam thoongavillaiyaeTo see my protector, my Kovalan,
En vaazhvil endrum andha thunbamI am a fish leaping in a mirage.
Adhai yaarum kaanavillaiyaeSearching for hearts that seek goodness,
Female
Mangalya pichaikku madiyendhinenI will walk to every household.
Malai pondra sumai kodi manam thaanginenEven when the entire town slept, my heart did not sleep.
Female
Manjaludan kungumamnum mangalamumThat sorrow remains forever in my life,
Thangidanum illam dhorumAnd no one has ever witnessed it.
Maadiyilum kooraiyilum thaali illaI held out my lap begging for marital alms.
Pen manadhil thunbam koodumMy heart endured a burden as heavy as a mountain.
Female
Vovvoru paatum ungalai serumAuspiciousness along with turmeric and vermilion,
Undiyal podum nenjangalaeShould reside in every home.
Udhavum idhayangal yaavum en vaazhvilWithout a mangalsutra, whether in a mansion or a hut,
Kaaval deivam thaanSorrow increases in a woman's heart.
Oli muthaai serum indha vellamEvery song will reach you,
Naan thaedi pogum selvam thaanOh generous hearts who offer donations!
Female
Mangalya pichaikku madiyendhinenAll the helping hearts in my life,
Malai pondra sumai kodi manam thaanginenAre indeed my guardian deities.
Female
Naan kaatril alaigira deepamThis flood of support joining like shiny pearls,
Thunba kadalil thaaladum odamIs the true wealth that I go searching for.
Naan kaatril alaigira deepamI held out my lap begging for marital alms.
Thunba kadalil thaaladum odamMy heart endured a burden as heavy as a mountain.
Female
Mangalya pichaikku madiyendhinenI am a lamp flickering in the wind.
Malai pondra sumai kodi manam thaanginenA boat swaying in an ocean of sorrow.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song portrays a deeply poignant plea from a distressed woman seeking societal support and goodwill. Expressing her emotional anguish, she compares her fragile life to a lamp flickering in a harsh wind and a boat tossed on an ocean of grief. Carrying a heavy burden of hardship, she appeals to the collective conscience of society to help secure peace and marital dignity for women everywhere. The lyrics also praise charitable and compassionate hearts, viewing kind supporters as guardian deities. She walks from house to house seeking empathy, describing how true wealth lies in the shared benevolence and kindness of humanity that lifts women out of suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Malai pondra sumai kodi manam thaanginen

Compares the weight of her grief to a massive mountain using the comparative word 'pondra'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thunba kadalil thaaladum odam

Equates sorrow to a vast ocean in which her life drifts like a boat.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaanalilae thullum meenae

Compares her futile search for support to a fish hopelessly leaping in a mirage.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Naan kaatril alaigira deepam / Thunba kadalil thaaladum odam

The second consonant 'n' (naa / thu) creates subtle Tamil metrical harmony across the paired lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Neenga Nalla Irukkanum (1992) was a social welfare feature film directed by Visu and produced by the Government of Tamil Nadu to raise awareness against alcohol addiction. The film won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues in 1993.

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