Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manja Poosi Kulikkaiyilae

From Manakanakku · 1986

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
P. Jayachandran
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Manakanakku1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manja poosi kulikkaiyilaeWhen you were bathing after applying turmeric,
Maranjirunthu paarththathunduI have hidden and watched you.
Maththapadi thappu yaedhumApart from that, is there any other fault
Maman kitta undaa solluWith your uncle? Tell me.
Male
Thoongaiyilum un mugamthaanEven when I sleep, it is only your face
Thoonguthadi en mansilThat slumbers within my heart, my dear.
Kann vizhichchu paarkkumpothuWhen I wake up and look,
Kannukkullae nikkiriyaeYou stand right inside my eyes.
Kann vizhichchu paarkkumpothuWhen I wake up and look,
Kannukkullae nikkiriyaeYou stand right inside my eyes.
Male
Eppothum unna kann pola kaappaenI will always protect you like my own eye,
Maamana marakkaathaeDo not forget your uncle.
En mana koottukkullaeInside the cage of my heart,
Oru kiliyai valarththaenaeI raised a parrot.
Male
Adhan azhagai rasichchenaeI admired its beauty,
Naan ennai maranthaenaeI forgot myself.
Naan ennai maranthaenaeI forgot myself.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song captures a lover's playful, affection-filled confession to his beloved, who is traditionally his cousin/maternal uncle's daughter. He playfully admits to having watched her in secret while reassuring her of his clean intentions and deep devotion. He promises to cherish and protect her as dearly as his own eyes, emphasizing that her face occupies his mind whether he is awake or asleep. Expressing his total surrender to love, he compares his affection to raising a beautiful parrot inside the cage of his heart, whose charm makes him completely forget himself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Eppothum unna kann pola kaappaen

The speaker compares protecting his beloved to protecting one's own eye ('kann pola kaappaen').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En mana koottukkullae / Oru kiliyai valarththaenae

The heart is metaphorically framed as a birdcage ('mana koodu') and love/beloved as a raised parrot ('kili').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thoongaiyilum un mugamthaan / Thoonguthadi en mansil

Repetition of the initial 'Thoo' sound creates melodic flow across consecutive lines.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Kann vizhichchu paarkkumpothu / Kannukkullae nikkiriyae

Repetition of entire lines for emotional emphasis on seeing the beloved upon waking.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1986 film 'Manakanakku' is historically notable for featuring Kamal Haasan in a unique guest role alongside lead actor Vijayakanth. The soundtrack was composed by legendary music director M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by veteran Panchu Arunachalam.

Keep listening

More from Manakanakku