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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mangiyathor Nilavinile

From Thirumanam · 1958

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music directors
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, T. G. Lingappa
Details
Thirumanam1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….ae….ae…In the dim light of the moon...
Kanavil idhu kandaen…..yaen….nn…kandaenI saw this in a dream... why... oh I saw...
Male
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaenI saw this in a dream.
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaenI saw this in a dream.
Male
Vayathu paathinaarirukkum ilavayathu mangaiA young maiden of sixteen years of age,
Vayathu paathinaarirukkum ilavayathu mangaiA young maiden of sixteen years of age,
Pongi varum peru nilavu pondra olimugamumWith a face radiant like the overflowing full moon,
Punnagaiyin puthu nilavum potra varum thotramAnd an appearance praised for her smile bright like a new moon.
Male
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaenI saw this in a dream.
Male
Thungamani minpolum vadivaththaal vanthuShe came possessing a form like a shining gem or lightning,
Thungamani minpolum vadivaththaal vanthuShe came possessing a form like a shining gem or lightning,
Thoongathey ezhunthennai paarendru sonnaalShe said, 'Do not sleep! Wake up and look at me!'
Angathanir kan vizhiththaen adadaa oo adadaaRight there, I opened my eyes in amazement, oh my!
Azhgennum dheivanthaan adhuvendrae arinthaenI realized she was indeed the deity of Beauty itself.
Male
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaenI saw this in a dream.
Male
Kaalaththin vidhi madhiyaiThe fate of time...
Kadanthidumo endraen….ae…..ae….ae….Will it overcome intellect? I asked...
Kalaththin vithi kadanthidumo endraenI asked, 'Will destiny overcome human wisdom?'
Kaalamae madhiyinukor karuviyaan endraenShe said, 'Time itself is merely an instrument for the intellect.'
Nyalaththil virumbiyathu nannumo endraenI asked, 'Will that which is desired in this world be attained?'
Naalilae ondrirundu pazhiththidalaam endraenShe said, 'Out of days, one or two might fail, but you will achieve it.'
Male
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaenI saw this in a dream.
Male
Yaelaththil viduvathundo ennaththai endraenI asked, 'Can thoughts be put up for auction or abandoned?'
Enninaal enniyathu nannunkaanendraalShe said, 'If you focus your mind, whatever you focus on will surely be reached!'
Moolaththai sollavo vendaamo endraenI asked, 'Should I reveal the ultimate root source or not?'
Mugaththilarul kaattinaal mogamathu theernthaenShe showed grace on her face, and my delusion was cured.
Male
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….In the dim light of the moon...
Kanvil idhu kandaenI saw this in a dream.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mangiyathor Nilavinilae is a deeply philosophical and mystical poem written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, adapted for the 1958 Tamil movie Thirumanam. In this poem, the narrator experiences a spiritual dream vision under faint moonlight. A divine sixteen-year-old maiden, embodying beauty and higher wisdom, appears before him and urges him to awaken from his physical and spiritual slumber. The narrator engages in a dialogue with her about fundamental existential questions: whether fate dominates intellect, whether human desires can be fulfilled, and how to control thoughts. The maiden offers sublime philosophical truths, stating that time is just an instrument of intellect, steadfast concentration brings goals to fruition, and divine grace removes all worldly delusions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Pongi varum peru nilavu pondra olimugamum

Compares the maiden's radiant face directly to an overflowing full moon using the comparison word 'pondra'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Azhgennum dheivanthaan adhuvendrae arinthaen

Identifies the maiden as the personified divine deity of Beauty itself.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kaalaththin vidhi madhiyai / Kalaththin vithi kadanthidumo endraen

The second letter 'la' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Kaalaththin' / 'Kalaththin' / 'Naalilae').

Personification

Thoongathey ezhunthennai paarendru sonnaal

Divine wisdom and ultimate beauty are personified as a young maiden conversing with the poet.

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Trivia

This poem is one of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's famous mystical works reflecting Advaita philosophy and spiritual devotion. In the 1958 film Thirumanam, the song was set to music composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. Bharathiyar often used dream motifs and personification of divine entities (like Kannan, Parasakthi, or Beauty) to explain deep Vedantic truths in simple Tamil.

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