Manja Podi
From Shenbagamae Shenbagamae · 1988
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Mano
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Shenbagamae Shenbagamae1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
| Thanni thotta paagam ellaam | All the places that water has touched, |
| Intha kannnan thodum kaalam eppo | When will the time come for this Kannan to touch them? |
| Kannanukku nalla padhil sollu pulla | Give a good answer to Kannan, my girl! |
| Male | |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
| Male | |
| Kuththaala saarlukku yogamadi | The Courtallam drizzle is so fortunate, my dear, |
| Kundumallai poovukkoru neramadi | It is time for the round jasmine flower, my dear. |
| Vittaakkaa yaeruthoru paaramadi | If left unaddressed, the burden inside only grows, |
| Thottu thottu saerntha pinbu theerumadi | Once we touch and unite, that weight will ease away. |
| Male | |
| Onnoda kaiyaaga naanum maari | Transforming myself into your hands, |
| Ponnoda poovoda koodi | Adorned with gold and sweet flowers, |
| Kannaadi paaraatha kaayam thedi | Searching for hidden wounds no mirror can see, |
| Kannae naan themmaanga paadi | My dear, singing folk melodies (Themmangu)... |
| Male | |
| Onnaa sera vanthaa podhum | It is enough if you come to unite as one, |
| Yaerum mogam thaanaaga theerum | The rising desire will automatically subside. |
| Male | |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
| Male | |
| Mottaana mottu onnu pooththathenna | Why did a tender bud blossom like this? |
| Poovukkulla thaenu vanthu saernthathenna | How did honey collect inside the flower? |
| Thaenaaru un udhadu vanthathenna | How did a river of honey reach your lips? |
| Thaeneduththu naan aruntha neram enna | When will be the time for me to gather and drink that honey? |
| Male | |
| Onnoda poo meni odum thaeru | Your flower-like body is a gliding chariot, |
| Eppothu oorkolam kooru | Tell me when the grand procession will take place? |
| Panneeru poovaaga thoovum pothu | When showering rosewater like blossoms, |
| Panjaangam naalenna kooru | Tell me what date the almanac (panchangam) suggests? |
| Male | |
| Kaiyum kaiyum koodum neram | When hand meets hand in union, |
| Kadhal raagam kaaththum paadum | Even the gentle breeze will sing a song of love. |
| Male | |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
| Thanni thotta paagam ellaam | All the places that water has touched, |
| Intha kannnan thodum kaalam eppo | When will the time come for this Kannan to touch them? |
| Kannanukku nalla padhil sollu pulla | Give a good answer to Kannan, my girl! |
| Male | |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
| Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae | When applying turmeric powder, |
| En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla | Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart. |
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
தண்ணி தொட்ட பாகம் எல்லாம்
இந்தக் கண்ணன் தொடும் காலம் எப்போ
கண்ணனுக்கு நல்ல பதில் சொல்லு புள்ள
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
All the places that water has touched,
When will the time come for this Kannan to touch them?
Give a good answer to Kannan, my girl!
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
குத்தாலச் சாரலுக்கு யோகமடி
குண்டு மல்லிப் பூவுக்கொரு நேரமடி
விட்டாக்கா ஏறுதொரு பாரமடி
தொட்டுத் தொட்டு சேர்ந்த பின்பு தீருமடி
The Courtallam drizzle is so fortunate, my dear,
It is time for the round jasmine flower, my dear.
If left unaddressed, the burden inside only grows,
Once we touch and unite, that weight will ease away.
ஒன்னோட கையாக நானும் மாறி
பொன்னோட பூவோட கூடி
கண்ணாடி பாராத காயம் தேடி
கண்ணே நான் தெம்மாங்கு பாடி
Transforming myself into your hands,
Adorned with gold and sweet flowers,
Searching for hidden wounds no mirror can see,
My dear, singing folk melodies (Themmangu)...
ஒண்ணாச் சேர வந்தா போதும்
ஏறும் மோகம் தானாத் தீரும்....
It is enough if you come to unite as one,
The rising desire will automatically subside.
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
மொட்டான மொட்டு ஒன்னு பூத்ததென்ன
பூவுக்குள்ள தேனு வந்து சேர்ந்ததென்ன
தேனாறு உன் உதடு வந்ததென்ன
தேனெடுத்து நான் அருந்த நேரம் என்ன
Why did a tender bud blossom like this?
How did honey collect inside the flower?
How did a river of honey reach your lips?
When will be the time for me to gather and drink that honey?
ஒன்னோட பூ மேனி ஓடும் தேரு
எப்போது ஊர்கோலம் கூறு
பன்னீரு பூவாகத் தூவும் போது
பஞ்சாங்கம் நாளென்ன கூறு
Your flower-like body is a gliding chariot,
Tell me when the grand procession will take place?
When showering rosewater like blossoms,
Tell me what date the almanac (panchangam) suggests?
கையும் கையும் கூடும் நேரம்
காதல் ராகம் காத்தும் பாடும்........
When hand meets hand in union,
Even the gentle breeze will sing a song of love.
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
தண்ணி தொட்ட பாகம் எல்லாம்
இந்தக் கண்ணன் தொடும் காலம் எப்போ
கண்ணனுக்கு நல்ல பதில் சொல்லு புள்ள
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
All the places that water has touched,
When will the time come for this Kannan to touch them?
Give a good answer to Kannan, my girl!
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
மஞ்சப் பொடி தேய்க்கையிலே
என் நெஞ்சத் தொட்டு தேய்ச்ச புள்ள
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
When applying turmeric powder,
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Thanni thotta paagam ellaam
All the places that water has touched,
Intha kannnan thodum kaalam eppo
When will the time come for this Kannan to touch them?
Kannanukku nalla padhil sollu pulla
Give a good answer to Kannan, my girl!
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Kuththaala saarlukku yogamadi
The Courtallam drizzle is so fortunate, my dear,
Kundumallai poovukkoru neramadi
It is time for the round jasmine flower, my dear.
Vittaakkaa yaeruthoru paaramadi
If left unaddressed, the burden inside only grows,
Thottu thottu saerntha pinbu theerumadi
Once we touch and unite, that weight will ease away.
Onnoda kaiyaaga naanum maari
Transforming myself into your hands,
Ponnoda poovoda koodi
Adorned with gold and sweet flowers,
Kannaadi paaraatha kaayam thedi
Searching for hidden wounds no mirror can see,
Kannae naan themmaanga paadi
My dear, singing folk melodies (Themmangu)...
Onnaa sera vanthaa podhum
It is enough if you come to unite as one,
Yaerum mogam thaanaaga theerum
The rising desire will automatically subside.
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Mottaana mottu onnu pooththathenna
Why did a tender bud blossom like this?
Poovukkulla thaenu vanthu saernthathenna
How did honey collect inside the flower?
Thaenaaru un udhadu vanthathenna
How did a river of honey reach your lips?
Thaeneduththu naan aruntha neram enna
When will be the time for me to gather and drink that honey?
Onnoda poo meni odum thaeru
Your flower-like body is a gliding chariot,
Eppothu oorkolam kooru
Tell me when the grand procession will take place?
Panneeru poovaaga thoovum pothu
When showering rosewater like blossoms,
Panjaangam naalenna kooru
Tell me what date the almanac (panchangam) suggests?
Kaiyum kaiyum koodum neram
When hand meets hand in union,
Kadhal raagam kaaththum paadum
Even the gentle breeze will sing a song of love.
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Thanni thotta paagam ellaam
All the places that water has touched,
Intha kannnan thodum kaalam eppo
When will the time come for this Kannan to touch them?
Kannanukku nalla padhil sollu pulla
Give a good answer to Kannan, my girl!
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae
When applying turmeric powder,
En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla
Girl, you touched and rubbed my heart.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae is a quintessential 1980s Tamil rural romantic track composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Gangai Amaran for the film Shenbagamae Shenbagamae (1988). Sung by Mano, the protagonist affectionately teases his beloved while observing her traditional bath ritual of applying turmeric. He playfully asks when he will get the privilege to touch her with love, framing his desire in sweet, culturally rooted imagery. Throughout the song, the lyricist uses rich nature-inspired metaphors such as the cool drizzle of Courtallam waterfalls, blooming jasmine flowers, nectar-filled buds, and grand temple chariots. The hero eagerly awaits their wedding day and romantic union, expressing how even the wind will celebrate their love once they are united.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Onnoda poo meni odum thaeru”
Compares the beloved's soft, delicate body to a temple procession chariot gliding smoothly.
Personification
“Kadhal raagam kaaththum paadum”
Attributes human musical ability to the wind, stating it will sing a melody of love when the lovers unite.
Assonance & Alliteration (Monai / Edhugai)
“Mottaana mottu onnu pooththathenna”
Uses rhythmic starting consonants and internal rhymes like 'Mottaana' and 'Poovukkulla' / 'Thaenaaru' to build a poetic folk cadence.
Sensory Imagery
“Manja podi thaeikkaiyilae En nenja thottu thaeichcha pulla”
Evokes vivid visual and tactile imagery of traditional bath rituals involving turmeric powder and water.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track highlights the golden era of Ilaiyaraaja's rural folk orchestration during the late 1980s, where singer Mano emerged as one of the leading voices for rural village-centric films starring Ramarajan. Gangai Amaran's lyrics authentically reflect authentic Tamil village traditions like using 'manjal podi' (turmeric powder) for bathing routines, transforming mundane rural domesticity into high poetic romance.
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