- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Movie name
- Michael Raj
- Movie release year
- 1987
- Lyrics added on
- 17 Feb 2021
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………
Mani adikkuthu mani adikkuthu
Madhura kottaiyilae
Mangammaa kadhaiya solli
Saerththudikkaiyilae
Mani adikkuthu mani adikkuthu
Madhura kottaiyilae
Mangammaa kadhaiya solli
Saerththudikkaiyilae
Chinna kutti naaththanaa
Ada sela thaana kattunaa
Chinna kutti naaththanaa
Ada sela thaana kattunaa
Edhirigala thaakkunaa
Ellaaththaiyum maaththinaa
Mani adikkuthu mani adikkuthu
Madhura kottaiyilae
Mangammaa kadhaiya solli
Saerththudikkaiyilae
Mani adikkuthu mani adikkuthu
Madhura kottaiyilae
Mangammaa kadhaiya solli
Saerththudikkaiyilae
Vellarikka thottaththukku veli irukku
Thottavala thoraththi vittaa thaali edhukku
Paththu maasamaa iruntha veettukku
Vaadagai ketkavae varamaattaa
Nenaichchaa pombala
Chorus :Aa hoo
Male :Azhippaa ungala
Chorus :Aa hoo
Male :Eduththaa yaaraiyum vidamaattaa
Sattaththula niyaayamilla
Tharmaththukku vaayumilla naaga ketkurom
Mani adikkuthu mani adikkuthu
Madhura kottaiyilae
Mangammaa kadhaiya solli
Saerththudikkaiyilae
………………
Aadu vetti naanga
Oru pongal vaikkirom
Aasaiyoda athukkuththaanae
Ingae nikkirom
Aaththaa kattalai adha naan thattala
Adidaa veppila ava melae
Karuppu kanakkilae
Chorus :Ho hoo
Male :Neruppu pudikkuth
Chorus :Ho hoo
Male :Manasu kuluruthu poopola
Thaayoruththi thunai irukkaa
Thaduppatharkku yaar irukkaa vaanga pogalaam
Mani adikkuthu mani adikkuthu
Madhura kottaiyilae
Mangammaa kadhaiya solli
Saerththudikkaiyilae
Chinna kutti naaththanaa
Ada sela thaana kattunaa
Chinna kutti naaththanaa
Ada sela thaana kattunaa
Edhirigala thaakkunaa
Ellaaththaiyum maaththinaa
Mani adikkuthu mani adikkuthu
Madhura kottaiyilae
Mangammaa kadhaiya solli
Saerththudikkaiyilae…
...
The bell is ringing, the bell is ringing,
In the fort of Madurai!
Telling the story of Queen Mangammal,
As the udukkai drum beats along!
The bell is ringing, the bell is ringing,
In the fort of Madurai!
Telling the story of Queen Mangammal,
As the udukkai drum beats along!
The little sister-in-law,
Look, she tied her saree tight,
The little sister-in-law,
Look, she tied her saree tight,
She fought off the enemies,
And changed everything around!
The bell is ringing, the bell is ringing,
In the fort of Madurai!
Telling the story of Queen Mangammal,
As the udukkai drum beats along!
The bell is ringing, the bell is ringing,
In the fort of Madurai!
Telling the story of Queen Mangammal,
As the udukkai drum beats along!
A cucumber garden has a fence to guard it,
Why tie the thali (sacred marriage thread) if you chase away the woman you wed?
For the home where you stayed for ten months,
She will never come asking for rent!
If a woman sets her mind to it,
Chorus: Aa ho!
Male: She will destroy you!
Chorus: Aa ho!
Male: Once she rises, she will spare no one!
There is no justice in the law,
And righteousness has no voice, so we demand it!
The bell is ringing, the bell is ringing,
In the fort of Madurai!
Telling the story of Queen Mangammal,
As the udukkai drum beats along!
...
Sacrificing a goat,
We cook the pongal offering,
With eager hearts, for that very purpose,
We are standing right here!
It is Mother Goddess's command, I will not refuse it,
Wave the neem leaves over her!
In the reckoning of Lord Karuppu,
Chorus: Ho ho!
Male: A fire is catching ablaze,
Chorus: Ho ho!
Male: And the heart cools down like a gentle flower!
When a mother is there to support us,
Who is there to stop us? Come, let's go!
The bell is ringing, the bell is ringing,
In the fort of Madurai!
Telling the story of Queen Mangammal,
As the udukkai drum beats along!
The little sister-in-law,
Look, she tied her saree tight,
The little sister-in-law,
Look, she tied her saree tight,
She fought off the enemies,
And changed everything around!
The bell is ringing, the bell is ringing,
In the fort of Madurai!
Telling the story of Queen Mangammal,
As the udukkai drum beats along!
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song from the film 'Michael Raj' (1987) evokes rural folk energy and celebrates female strength through historical and cultural allegories like Queen Mangamma of Madurai. It highlights theme of justice, traditional rituals, and righteous rage against oppressors when law and morality fail.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for emphasis)
“Mani adikkuthu mani adikkuthu”
The phrase 'Mani adikkuthu' is repeated consecutively to create rhythmic drum-beat cadence typical of folk songs.
Emonai / Rhyme scheme (Iyaibu)
“Edhirigala thaakkunaa / Ellaaththaiyum maaththinaa”
Rhyming end sounds 'thattala', 'melae' and action words ending in '-aa' (kattunaa, thaakkunaa, maaththinaa) enrich the oral tradition folk style.
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Manasu kuluruthu poopola”
Comparing the heart soothing or calming down to a soft flower ('poopola').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed in a fast-paced folk 'Dappankuthu' style by composer Chandrabose for the movie Michael Raj, starring Raghuvaran and Sarath Babu, featuring lyrics by acclaimed Tamil poet Mu. Metha.
Keep listening
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