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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
Movie name
Thirumanam
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
8 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….ae….ae…
Kanavil idhu kandaen…..yaen….nn…kandaen
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
Kanvil idhu kandaen
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
Kanvil idhu kandaen
Vayathu paathinaarirukkum ilavayathu mangai
Vayathu paathinaarirukkum ilavayathu mangai
Pongi varum peru nilavu pondra olimugamum
Punnagaiyin puthu nilavum potra varum thotram
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
Kanvil idhu kandaen
Thungamani minpolum vadivaththaal vanthu
Thungamani minpolum vadivaththaal vanthu
Thoongathey ezhunthennai paarendru sonnaal
Angathanir kan vizhiththaen adadaa oo adadaa
Azhgennum dheivanthaan adhuvendrae arinthaen
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
Kanvil idhu kandaen
Kaalaththin vidhi madhiyai
Kadanthidumo endraen….ae…..ae….ae….
Kalaththin vithi kadanthidumo endraen
Kaalamae madhiyinukor karuviyaan endraen
Nyalaththil virumbiyathu nannumo endraen
Naalilae ondrirundu pazhiththidalaam endraen
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
Kanvil idhu kandaen
Yaelaththil viduvathundo ennaththai endraen
Enninaal enniyathu nannunkaanendraal
Moolaththai sollavo vendaamo endraen
Mugaththilarul kaattinaal mogamathu theernthaen
Mangiyathor nilavinilae….
Kanvil idhu kandaen
In the dim moonlight...
I saw this in a dream... yes, I saw it.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
A young girl, about sixteen years of age,
A young girl, about sixteen years of age,
With a glowing face like the rising full moon,
And a fresh moonlit smile, she was a sight to behold.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
She came with a form shining like pure gems and lightning,
She came with a form shining like pure gems and lightning,
And told me, "Do not sleep! Wake up and look at me."
I opened my eyes right then—ah, what a wonder!
I realized she was the very goddess of beauty.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
"Can time's destiny overcome
human wisdom?" I asked...
"Can time's destiny overcome human wisdom?" I asked.
"Time is only an instrument for the mind," she replied.
"Will we attain what we desire in this world?" I asked.
"What if dark days bring sorrow and blame?" I said.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
"Should we leave our intentions to chance?" I asked.
"If you set your mind firmly, you will surely achieve it," she said.
"Shall I speak of the source of it all or not?" I asked.
She looked at me with grace, and my deep longing was stilled.
In the dim moonlight,
I saw this in a dream.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Did you know?

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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