Mangiyathor Nilavinile
From Paavai Vilakku · 1960
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Paavai Vilakku1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae | In the dim moonlight |
| Kanavil idhu kanden…kanden | I saw this in a dream... I saw |
| Male | |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae | In the dim moonlight |
| Kanavil idhu kanden… | I saw this in a dream... |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae | In the dim moonlight |
| Kanavil idhu kanden… | I saw this in a dream... |
| Male | |
| Vayadhu padhinaaru irukkum | A young maiden who appeared |
| Ilavayasu mangai | To be sixteen years of age |
| Vayadhu padhinaaru irukkum | A young maiden who appeared |
| Ilavayasu mangai | To be sixteen years of age |
| Pongi varum perunilavu | With a face glowing radiant like |
| Pondra oli mugamum | An overflowing full moon |
| Punnagaiyin pudhu nilavum | And a smile like a fresh moon |
| Pottra varum thottram | A majestic presence worthy of praise |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae | In the dim moonlight |
| Kanavil idhu kanden… | I saw this in a dream... |
| Male | |
| Thungamani minn polum | Like a pure, sparkling gem |
| Vadivathaal vandhu | She approached with a divine form |
| Thungamani minn polum | Like a pure, sparkling gem |
| Vadivathaal vandhu | She approached with a divine form |
| Thoongaadhae ezhundhennai | Do not sleep, wake up and look at me |
| Paar endru sonnaal | So she commanded me |
| Male | |
| Angadhanil kann vizhithen | At that moment, I opened my eyes |
| Adadaa o ada daa | Oh my, ah oh my! |
| Azhagennum deivam thaan | That she was none other than the deity of beauty |
| Adhuvendrae arindhen | That is what I realized |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae | In the dim moonlight |
| Kanavil idhu kanden… | I saw this in a dream... |
| Male | |
| Kaalathin vidhi madhiyai | Will the fate of time overcome intellect? |
| Kadanthidumoo endraen..hae | I asked... oh |
| Kaalathin vidhi madhiyai | Will the fate of time overcome intellect? |
| Kadanthidumoo endraen | I asked |
| Kaalamae madhiyinukorr | Time is merely an instrument for intellect |
| Karuviyaam endraal | She replied to me |
| Gnyalathil virumbhiyadhu | Will what one desires in this world |
| Nannumoo endraen | Ever come to fruition? I asked |
| Naalilae ondrirandu | Out of four desires, one or two |
| Palithidalaam endraal | May indeed come true, she said |
| Mangiyathor nilavinilae | In the dim moonlight |
| Kanavil idhu kanden… | I saw this in a dream... |
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்...கண்டேன்
In the dim moonlight
I saw this in a dream... I saw
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
In the dim moonlight
I saw this in a dream...
In the dim moonlight
I saw this in a dream...
வயது பதினாறு இருக்கும்
இளவயது மங்கை
வயது பதினாறு இருக்கும்
இளவயது மங்கை
பொங்கி வரும் பெருநிலவு
போன்ற ஒலி முகமும்
புன்னகையின் புது நிலவும்
போற்ற வரும் தோற்றம்
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
A young maiden who appeared
To be sixteen years of age
A young maiden who appeared
To be sixteen years of age
With a face glowing radiant like
An overflowing full moon
And a smile like a fresh moon
A majestic presence worthy of praise
In the dim moonlight
I saw this in a dream...
துங்கமணி மின் போலும்
வடிவத்தால் வந்து
துங்கமணி மின் போலும்
வடிவத்தால் வந்து
தூங்காதே எழுந்தென்னைப்
பார் என்று சொன்னாள்
Like a pure, sparkling gem
She approached with a divine form
Like a pure, sparkling gem
She approached with a divine form
Do not sleep, wake up and look at me
So she commanded me
அங்கதனில் கண் விழித்தேன்
அடடா ஒ அட டா
அழகென்னும் தெய்வம்தான்
அதுவென்றே அறிந்தேன் !
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
At that moment, I opened my eyes
Oh my, ah oh my!
That she was none other than the deity of beauty
That is what I realized
In the dim moonlight
I saw this in a dream...
காலத்தின் விதி மதியை
கடந்திடுமோ என்றேன் ...ஹே
காலத்தின் விதி மதியை
கடந்திடுமோ என்றேன்
காலமே மதியினுக்கோர்
கருவியாம் என்றாள்
ஞாலத்தில் விரும்பியது
நண்ணுமோ என்றேன்
நாளிலே ஒன்றிரண்டு
பலித்திடலாம் என்றாள்
மங்கியதோர் நிலவினிலே
கனவில் இது கண்டேன்
Will the fate of time overcome intellect?
I asked... oh
Will the fate of time overcome intellect?
I asked
Time is merely an instrument for intellect
She replied to me
Will what one desires in this world
Ever come to fruition? I asked
Out of four desires, one or two
May indeed come true, she said
In the dim moonlight
I saw this in a dream...
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
In the dim moonlight
Kanavil idhu kanden…kanden
I saw this in a dream... I saw
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
In the dim moonlight
Kanavil idhu kanden…
I saw this in a dream...
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
In the dim moonlight
Kanavil idhu kanden…
I saw this in a dream...
Vayadhu padhinaaru irukkum
A young maiden who appeared
Ilavayasu mangai
To be sixteen years of age
Vayadhu padhinaaru irukkum
A young maiden who appeared
Ilavayasu mangai
To be sixteen years of age
Pongi varum perunilavu
With a face glowing radiant like
Pondra oli mugamum
An overflowing full moon
Punnagaiyin pudhu nilavum
And a smile like a fresh moon
Pottra varum thottram
A majestic presence worthy of praise
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
In the dim moonlight
Kanavil idhu kanden…
I saw this in a dream...
Thungamani minn polum
Like a pure, sparkling gem
Vadivathaal vandhu
She approached with a divine form
Thungamani minn polum
Like a pure, sparkling gem
Vadivathaal vandhu
She approached with a divine form
Thoongaadhae ezhundhennai
Do not sleep, wake up and look at me
Paar endru sonnaal
So she commanded me
Angadhanil kann vizhithen
At that moment, I opened my eyes
Adadaa o ada daa
Oh my, ah oh my!
Azhagennum deivam thaan
That she was none other than the deity of beauty
Adhuvendrae arindhen
That is what I realized
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
In the dim moonlight
Kanavil idhu kanden…
I saw this in a dream...
Kaalathin vidhi madhiyai
Will the fate of time overcome intellect?
Kadanthidumoo endraen..hae
I asked... oh
Kaalathin vidhi madhiyai
Will the fate of time overcome intellect?
Kadanthidumoo endraen
I asked
Kaalamae madhiyinukorr
Time is merely an instrument for intellect
Karuviyaam endraal
She replied to me
Gnyalathil virumbhiyadhu
Will what one desires in this world
Nannumoo endraen
Ever come to fruition? I asked
Naalilae ondrirandu
Out of four desires, one or two
Palithidalaam endraal
May indeed come true, she said
Mangiyathor nilavinilae
In the dim moonlight
Kanavil idhu kanden…
I saw this in a dream...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soul-stirring song written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar describes a profound mystical dream sequence occurring under dim moonlight. The poet encounters a sixteen-year-old maiden whose presence radiates divine beauty, comparing her face to an overflowing full moon. Upon awakening him, she reveals herself to be the divine embodiment of beauty ('Azhagennum Deivam'). A deep philosophical dialogue unfolds between the poet and the divine vision. When asked if fate and time can overcome human intellect, she reveals that time is merely a tool driven by intellect. When questioned if human desires in this world will ever be fulfilled, she pragmatically and wisdom-filled answers that out of four desires, one or two will indeed come true.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Pongi varum perunilavu Pondra oli mugamum”
Compares the maiden's radiant face to the glowing, overflowing full moon using 'pondra' (like/similar to).
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Azhagennum deivam thaan Adhuvendrae arindhen”
Directly identifies beauty itself as a living deity ('Azhagennum Deivam').
Modhai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaalathin vidhi madhiyai / Kaalamae madhiyinukorr”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of consecutive philosophical lines.
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kadanthidumoo endraen / Karuviyaam endraal”
The second letter 'da/tha' harmony present across lines creating rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
This philosophical poem was originally authored by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar and was later adapted for the film 'Paavai Vilakku' (1960), which starred Sivaji Ganesan. C. S. Jayaraman's unique classical rendering combined with K. V. Mahadevan's orchestration made it one of the most celebrated philosophical songs in Tamil cinema history.
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