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Lyrics & meaning

Manja Kayiru

From Unakkum Vazhvu Varum · 1978

Lyricist
Subbu Arumugam
Singer
Manorama
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Unakkum Vazhvu Varum1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Idhu mahalakshmi rasi manja kayiruThis yellow thread brings the auspicious fortune of Mahalakshmi
Idhu mahalakshmi rasi manja kayiruThis yellow thread brings the auspicious fortune of Mahalakshmi
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Female
Thiruppathi malaiyoramBy the hills of Tirupati
Sembaruththi panjeduththuTaking raw red hibiscus cotton
Senja noolil vanthathintha manja kayiruThis yellow thread made from handwoven yarn came to be
Idhu srinivasan arulaalae vantha kayiruThis thread came through the divine grace of Lord Srinivasa
Female
Valliyin kannaththilaeOn Goddess Valli's cheeks
Killi killi maalmaruganPinching playfully, Lord Murugan
Kattiyathu pola intha manja kayiruTied this yellow thread around her neck
Kanji kaamatchi koyil manam konda kayiruThe thread that carries the divine fragrance of Kanchi Kamakshi temple
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Female
Gandhimathu mariyamma karumaari karpagammaaGandhimathi, Mariyamma, Karumari, Karpagambal
Vadivaampigai aasi petra kayiruThe thread blessed by Goddess Vadivambigai
Idhu varalakshmi pooja manja kayiruThis yellow thread used in Varalakshmi Puja
Ramar vanam nadakka seedhai pin thodaraAs Lord Rama walked into the forest and Sita followed behind
Izhuththittu ponathuvum entha kayiruWhich thread was it that pulled them along?
Oru ramayanam padicha manja kayiruIt is this yellow thread that witnessed the epic Ramayana
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Female
Meenatchikku sokkanadharTied around Goddess Meenakshi by Lord Sundareswarar
Katti vacha thaali polaLike that exalted sacred thread
Maenmaiyulla thaaliA glorious and divine mangalsutra
Intha manja kayiruIs this yellow thread
Madhura melamaasi veedhiyilae senja kayiruMade in the Masi streets of Madurai filled with musical drums
Madhura melamaasi veedhiyilae senja kayiruMade in the Masi streets of Madurai filled with musical drums
Female
Muppathu paisa kayittrilWith a simple thread worth thirty paise
Moonu mudichchu pottu vachaaWhen three sacred knots are tied upon it
Appan ammaiIt transforms two individuals into
Aakki vidum intha kayiruA father and a mother, this thread does
Idhu adagu vaikkaThis is a thread that can never be
Mudiyaatha sintha kayiruPledged or mortgaged anywhere
Idhu adagu vaikkaThis is a thread that can never be
Mudiyaatha sintha kayiruPledged or mortgaged anywhere
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Female
Thappaana ennaththilaeComing near with wicked intentions
Pakkam varum pokkiriyaThe rogue who tries to approach
Thalli nirkka seiyyumIs pushed far away by
Intha manja kayiruThis yellow thread
Idhu thaaikulaththai kaaththuIt acts as a protective fence
Varum veli kayiruSafeguarding womanhood
Female
Sollaamal odi vanthaEloped couples who ran away secretly
Sodigalum ennidaththilCome directly to me
Thuttu thanthu vaangumGiving money to buy
Intha manja kayiru avaraiThis yellow thread, which
Sattapadi vaazha vaikkum thaali kayiruLegally binds them together in matrimony
Female
Vasukikku valluvaraiyumBinding Valluvar to Vasuki
Kasthurikku gandhiyaiyumAnd Gandhi to Kasturba
Paasamodu poottiyathu intha kayiruThis thread bound them together with deep love
Enga paattiyoda paatti thantha manja kayiruThe yellow thread handed down by my grandmother's grandmother
Female
Harichandiran chandramathiWhen Harishchandra and Chandramathi
Amponnu nikkaiyilaeStood in helpless tragedy
Adaiyaalam kaattiyathum intha kayiruIt was this thread that revealed their true identity
Harichandiran chandramathiWhen Harishchandra and Chandramathi
Amponnu nikkaiyilaeStood in helpless tragedy
Adaiyaalam kaattiyathum intha kayiruIt was this thread that revealed their true identity
Acham mydhal naaluContaining the traditional virtues
Gunamum ulla kayiruStarting with modesty and fear, this thread holds them all
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Female
Thottu thaali kattiyavarIf the man who tied this sacred thread
Vittu vittu odivittaalAbandons his wife and flees
Court varai pogumGoing all the way to court
Intha thaali kayiruThis sacred marital thread
Meendum kudumpamaakki vaikkum sakthi kayiruPossesses the power to unite the family once again
Female
Yaaro oruththiyaiyumTurning any ordinary woman
Yaaro oruvanaiyumAnd any ordinary man
Heroin-u herovaakkum manja kayiruInto a heroine and hero, this yellow thread
Intha rasiyil vaanguBuy from this fortunate hand
Vaanga thottil kayiruBuy a cradle string as well
Intha rasiyil vaanguBuy from this fortunate hand
Vaanga thottil kayiruBuy a cradle string as well
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Female
Thottaalae shock adikkumIf you touch it, it shocks you
Electrical-u wire-uAn electrical wire
Idha thodaamalae shock adikkumEven without touching, it shocks you
Ponnu thaali kayiruA woman's sacred mangalsutra thread
Female
Paramasivan kazhuththinilaeAround Lord Shiva's neck
Paambum oru kayiruThe snake is also a string
Antha paambai vida bayangaramaamBut far more formidable than that snake
Paththiniyin kayiruIs the thread worn by a chaste woman
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Female
Vaalu paiyan pattam viduraThe kite thread flown by a mischievous boy
Noolu kayiru pambara kayiruThe spinning top thread and waist thread
Ragasiyamaai thaayaththukkuSecretly tied for a protective amulet
Avasiyamaam iduppu kayiruThe necessary waist string
Female
Upaththiravatham thaangikkaamaUnable to bear life's troubles
Ooraivittu kaasi pogaLeaving home to go to Kasi
Uththiraatcham pottu kollaTo wear rudraksha beads
Veluppu kayiru sevappu kayiruWhite thread, red thread
Female
Innum kattukkayiru panthakkayiruBinding threads and wedding pavilion threads
Kaala kazhuththu karuppu kayiruThe black thread tied around Yama's neck
Antha kayiru intha kayiruThat thread and this thread
Aasai kayiru anbukkayiruThe thread of desire and the thread of love
Female
Entha kayiru kettaalumWhatever thread you ask for
Marupathae illaiI will never refuse to sell
Intha thaali kayiru mattumExcept for this sacred marital thread
Kadan koduppatheyillaiWhich can never be lent or sold as a loan
Female
Entha kayiru kettaalumWhatever thread you ask for
Marupathae illaiI will never refuse to sell
Intha thaali kayiru mattumExcept for this sacred marital thread
Kadan koduppatheyillaiWhich can never be lent or sold as a loan
Female
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiruYellow thread, mangalsutra, yellow thread
Idhu mahalakshmi rasi manja kayiru…..This yellow thread brings the auspicious fortune of Mahalakshmi
Idhu mahalakshmi rasi manja kayiru….This yellow thread brings the auspicious fortune of Mahalakshmi

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic folk-style song from 'Unakkum Vazhvu Varum' (1978) celebrates the immense spiritual, social, moral, and legal significance of the 'Manja Kayiru' (the yellow sacred thread used for the Mangalsutra in Tamil tradition). Delivered in a street-vendor storytelling format by Manorama, the song cataloging various mythical and historical couples—such as Rama-Sita, Shiva-Meenakshi, Murugan-Valli, Thiruvalluvar-Vasuki, and Gandhi-Kasturba—illustrates how a simple thirty-paise yellow string carries the profound power to unite two souls into a family.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Anaphora

Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiru

The recurring line 'Manja kayiru thaali manja kayiru' acts as an anchoring chorus throughout the song, creating an authentic folk vendor melody.

Metaphor & Contrast

Thottaalae shock adikkum Electrical-u wire-u / Idha thodaamalae shock adikkum Ponnu thaali kayiru

Compares an electric wire that shocks on physical contact with a marital thread that commands respect and shocks suitors even without physical contact.

Alliteration (Ethukai / Munaiput)

Vasukikku valluvaraiyum / Kasthurikku gandhiyaiyum

Uses rhyming structural patterns across historical pairs to create lyrical symmetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by renowned Villupattu master Subbu Arumugam, the lyrics blend classical Tamil mythologies with modern social commentary. Sung onscreen by legendary actress Manorama, who was celebrated for her flawless delivery of regional Tamil dialects, this track became one of the most recognizable cultural odes to the sacred Tamil wedding thread.

Keep listening

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