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Payanangal Mudivathillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mani Osai

From Payanangal Mudivathillai · 1982

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Payanangal Mudivathillai
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
5 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mani osai kettu ezhundhu
Nenjil aasai kodi sumandhu
Thiru thaeril naanum amarndhu
Oru kovil serndha pozhudhu
Andha kovilin mani vaasalai
Ingu moodudhal muraiyoo…hm…hmum..
Mani osai kettu ezhundhu
Nenjil aasai kodi sumandhu
Kannan paadum paadal ketkka aaa
Raadhai vandhaal aagaadhoo
Raadhaiyodu aasaik kannan…haa..
Pesa koodaadhoo
Kannan paadum paadal ketkka
Raadhai vandhaal aagaadhoo
Raadhaiyodu aasaik kannan…
Pesa koodaadhoo
Raadhai manam yengalaamoo
Kannan manam vaadalaamoo
Vazhkkai maarumoo nenjam thaangumoo
Mani osai kettu ezhundhu
Nenjil aasai kodi sumandhu
Paadhai maari pogumbodhu…
Oorum vandhae seraadhu
Thaalam maari podumbodhu aa…
Ragam thondraadhu
Paadhai maari pogumbodhu…
Oorum vandhae seraadhu
Thaalam maari podumbodhu aa…
Ragam thondraadhu
Paadum pudhu veenai ingae
Raagam adhil maarum angae
Kaalam maarumoa thaalam serumoo
Oho…oh…mani osai kettu ezhundhu
Male :Nenjil aasai kodi sumandhu
Female :Thiru thaeril naanum amarndhu
Male :Oru kovil serndha pozhudhu
Female :Andha kovilin mani vaasalai
Ingu moodudhal muraiyoo…
Hhm…hmum..
Mani osai kettu ezhundhu
Nenjil aasai kodi sumandhu
Waking up to the sound of the temple bell,
carrying countless desires in my heart,
riding in a sacred chariot,
when I finally reached the temple,
to shut the main gates of that temple—
is it right to do so? Mmm... mmm...
Waking up to the sound of the temple bell,
carrying countless desires in my heart,
To listen to the song Kannan sings,
is it wrong if Radha comes?
With Radha, can her beloved Kannan... ha...
not even speak?
To listen to the song Kannan sings,
is it wrong if Radha comes?
With Radha, can her beloved Kannan...
not even speak?
Should Radha's heart be left to yearn?
Should Kannan's heart wither in pain?
Will life change course? Can the heart endure it?
Waking up to the sound of the temple bell,
carrying countless desires in my heart,
When taking a wrong path,
one will never reach the destination.
When the rhythm is lost,
a melody cannot form.
When taking a wrong path,
one will never reach the destination.
When the rhythm is lost,
a melody cannot form.
A new veena plays its song here,
but the melody changes over there.
Will time change? Will the rhythm align again?
Oho... oh... waking up to the sound of the temple bell,
Male: Carrying countless desires in the heart,
Female: Riding in a sacred chariot,
Male: When arriving at the temple,
Female: The main gates of that temple—
is it right to shut them now?
Mmm... mmm...
Waking up to the sound of the temple bell,
carrying countless desires in my heart.
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Mani osai kettu ezhundhu is a melancholic song that uses vivid spiritual and musical allegories to express emotional pain, longing, and destiny's cruel irony. The singer draws a parallel between a devotee traveling on a sacred chariot to a temple only to find its doors shut, and a lover seeking union only to face rejection and obstacles. Through references to Krishna (Kannan) and Radha, along with musical metaphors of lost beats (thaalam) and altered ragas, the song conveys the heartbreak of a life derailed by unexpected circumstances.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai / Ethirukai (Tamil Rhyme and Assonance)

“Mani osai kettu ezhundhu / Nenjil aasai kodi sumandhu / Thiru thaeril naanum amarndhu”

Consistent second-letter rhyming (Ethirukai) across initial lines such as ezhundhu, sumandhu, amarndhu creating a rhythmic flow.

Allegory / Metaphor

“Thaalam maari podumbodhu aa… Ragam thondraadhu”

Compares life's journey and disrupted love to losing the beat (thaalam) in music or straying off the main path.

Mythological Allusion

“Kannan paadum paadal ketkka aaa Raadhai vandhaal aagaadhoo”

Uses the divine lovers Radha and Kannan (Krishna) to symbolize deep spiritual and romantic devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Payanangal Mudivathillai (1982), directed by R. Sundarrajan and starring Mohan and Poornima Bhagyaraj, became a massive blockbuster largely due to its timeless soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja. This song features S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

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