Manjakkulichi
From 16 Vayathinile · 1977
- Lyricist
- Alangudi Somu
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- 16 Vayathinile1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ………………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Manja kulichu alli mudichu | Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair, |
| Metti olikka mella sirichu | Smiling gently as the toe rings clink, |
| Enjottu pendugalae | Oh women of my age, |
| Ilam vaazha thandugalae | Young tender banana stems, |
| Vaazha kuruthugalae | Tender banana shoots, |
| Maaman machaan thedi pudinga | Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law! |
| Chorus | |
| Hahahahaha | Hahahahaha |
| Female | |
| Manja kulichu alli mudichu | Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair, |
| Metti olikka mella sirichu | Smiling gently as the toe rings clink, |
| Enjottu pendugalae | Oh women of my age, |
| Ilam vaazha thandugalae | Young tender banana stems, |
| Vaazha kuruthugalae | Tender banana shoots, |
| Maaman machaan thedi pudinga | Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law! |
| Female | |
| Vaararaiyaa mannaru | Here comes the king! |
| Varusham oru naal kulipaaru | He takes a bath only once a year! |
| Vayasuponna kandaakkaa | When he sees a young girl, |
| Valanju kozhanju siripaaru | He bends, twists, and smiles! |
| Male :Heehe hehee | Male: Heehe hehee |
| Female | |
| Ponnaiyaa maasam ennayaa | Ponnaiya, what month is this? |
| Ponnaiyaa maasam ennayaa | Ponnaiya, what month is this? |
| Konjam manja thechu kulichu paaraiyaa | Try applying some turmeric and taking a bath, sir! |
| Chorus :Nillaiyaa nillaiyaa | Chorus: Wait, sir, wait! |
| Sela katti kollaiyaa | Are you trying to kill us by wearing a saree? |
| Hahahhahahaha | Hahahhahahaha |
| Female | |
| Manja kulichu alli mudichu | Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair, |
| Chorus :Hey hey hey hey | Chorus: Hey hey hey hey |
| Female :Metti olikka mella sirichu | Female: Smiling gently as the toe rings clink, |
| Chorus :Hey hey hey hey | Chorus: Hey hey hey hey |
| Female :Enjottu pendugalae | Female: Oh women of my age, |
| Ilam vaazha thandugalae | Young tender banana stems, |
| Vaazha kuruthugalae | Tender banana shoots, |
| Maaman machaan thedi pudinga | Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law! |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Aalapaaru kariyaatam | Look at the man, dark as charcoal! |
| Aasayilae ithu nariyaatam | In his desire, he behaves like a fox! |
| Vaala otta narukungadi | Snip his tail right off, girls! |
| Vaaliba murukka odukungadi | Tame his youthful arrogance! |
| Female | |
| Chandiranaa azhagil inthiranaa | Is he the moon, or Lord Indra in beauty? |
| Chandiranaa azhagil inthiranaa | Is he the moon, or Lord Indra in beauty? |
| Chorus :Intha sappanikum | Chorus: Look at the desire |
| Sabalam paarungaa | Even in this lame man! |
| Hahahahahha | Hahahahahha |
| Female | |
| Azhagappa azhagapaa | Oh handsome man, handsome man, |
| Aanazhagan neeyappaa | You are the epitome of male beauty! |
| Female | |
| Manja kulichu alli mudichu | Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair, |
| Metti olikka mella sirichu | Smiling gently as the toe rings clink, |
| Ponnil kudameduthu | Taking a golden pot, |
| Vanna neereduthu | Fetching colorful water, |
| Enn aasai kannanukku | For my beloved Krishna, |
| Ennam polae neeratuven | I will bathe him as my heart desires! |
| Chorus | |
| Manja kulichu alli mudichu | Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair, |
| Metti olikka mella sirichu | Smiling gently as the toe rings clink, |
| Enjottu pendugalae | Oh women of my age, |
| Ilam vaazha thandugalae | Young tender banana stems, |
| Vaazha kuruthugalae | Tender banana shoots, |
| Maaman machaan thedi pudinga…(2) | Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law! |
ஓ ஓ ஓஒ
...
மஞ்சக் குளிச்சு அள்ளி முடிச்சு
மெட்டி ஒலிக்க மெல்ல சிரிச்சு
என் சோட்டு செண்டுகளே
இளவாழத் தண்டுகளே
வாழை குருத்துகளே
மாமன் மச்சான் தேடி புடிங்க
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Oh women of my age,
Young tender banana stems,
Tender banana shoots,
Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law!
மஞ்சக் குளிச்சு அள்ளி முடிச்சு
மெட்டி ஒலிக்க மெல்ல சிரிச்சு
என் சோட்டு செண்டுகளே
இளவாழத் தண்டுகளே
வாழை குருத்துகளே
மாமன் மச்சான் தேடி புடிங்க
Hahahahaha
வாரார் அய்யா மன்னாரு
வருஷம் பொறந்தா குளிப்பாரு
வயசு பெண்ண கண்டாத்தான்
வளைஞ்சு குழைஞ்சி சிரிப்பாரு
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Oh women of my age,
Young tender banana stems,
Tender banana shoots,
Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law!
பொன்னையா மாசம் எண்ணெய்ய
பொன்னையா மாசம் எண்ணெய்ய
கொஞ்சம் மஞ்சள்
தேய்ச்சு வழிக்கி பாரய்யா
நில்லய்யா நில்லய்யா
சேலை கட்டிக் கொள்ளய்யா
Here comes the king!
He takes a bath only once a year!
When he sees a young girl,
He bends, twists, and smiles!
Male: Heehe hehee
மஞ்சக் குளிச்சு அள்ளி முடிச்சு
மெட்டி ஒலிக்க மெல்ல சிரிச்சு
என் சோட்டு செண்டுகளே
இளவாழத் தண்டுகளே
வாழை குருத்துகளே
மாமன் மச்சான் தேடி புடிங்க
Ponnaiya, what month is this?
Ponnaiya, what month is this?
Try applying some turmeric and taking a bath, sir!
Chorus: Wait, sir, wait!
Are you trying to kill us by wearing a saree?
Hahahhahahaha
ஆளப்பாரு கரியாட்டம்
ஆசையிலே இது நரியாட்டம்
வாழை ஓட்ட நறுக்குங்கடி
வாலிப முறுக்கை ஒடுக்குங்கடி
சந்திரன அழகு இந்திரன
இந்த சப்பாணிக்கு சபலம் பாருங்க
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Female: Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Female: Oh women of my age,
Young tender banana stems,
Tender banana shoots,
Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law!
அழகப்பா அழகப்பா
ஆணழகன் நீயப்பா
...
மஞ்சக் குளிச்சு அள்ளி முடிச்சு
மெட்டி ஒலிக்க மெல்ல சிரிச்சு
பொன்னில் குட மெடுத்து
வண்ண நீரெடுத்து
என்னாசை கண்ணனுக்கு
எண்ணம்போல நீராட்டுவேன்
Look at the man, dark as charcoal!
In his desire, he behaves like a fox!
Snip his tail right off, girls!
Tame his youthful arrogance!
மஞ்சக் குளிச்சு அள்ளி முடிச்சு
மெட்டி ஒலிக்க மெல்ல சிரிச்சு
என் சோட்டு செண்டுகளே
இளவாழத் தண்டுகளே
வாழை குருத்துகளே
மாமன் மச்சான் தேடி புடிங்க
மாமன் மச்சான் தேடி புடிங்க
Is he the moon, or Lord Indra in beauty?
Is he the moon, or Lord Indra in beauty?
Chorus: Look at the desire
Even in this lame man!
Hahahahahha
Oh handsome man, handsome man,
You are the epitome of male beauty!
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Taking a golden pot,
Fetching colorful water,
For my beloved Krishna,
I will bathe him as my heart desires!
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Oh women of my age,
Young tender banana stems,
Tender banana shoots,
Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law!
……………………….
...
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Metti olikka mella sirichu
Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Enjottu pendugalae
Oh women of my age,
Ilam vaazha thandugalae
Young tender banana stems,
Vaazha kuruthugalae
Tender banana shoots,
Maaman machaan thedi pudinga
Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law!
Hahahahaha
Hahahahaha
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Metti olikka mella sirichu
Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Enjottu pendugalae
Oh women of my age,
Ilam vaazha thandugalae
Young tender banana stems,
Vaazha kuruthugalae
Tender banana shoots,
Maaman machaan thedi pudinga
Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law!
Vaararaiyaa mannaru
Here comes the king!
Varusham oru naal kulipaaru
He takes a bath only once a year!
Vayasuponna kandaakkaa
When he sees a young girl,
Valanju kozhanju siripaaru
He bends, twists, and smiles!
Male :Heehe hehee
Male: Heehe hehee
Ponnaiyaa maasam ennayaa
Ponnaiya, what month is this?
Ponnaiyaa maasam ennayaa
Ponnaiya, what month is this?
Konjam manja thechu kulichu paaraiyaa
Try applying some turmeric and taking a bath, sir!
Chorus :Nillaiyaa nillaiyaa
Chorus: Wait, sir, wait!
Sela katti kollaiyaa
Are you trying to kill us by wearing a saree?
Hahahhahahaha
Hahahhahahaha
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Chorus :Hey hey hey hey
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Female :Metti olikka mella sirichu
Female: Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Chorus :Hey hey hey hey
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Female :Enjottu pendugalae
Female: Oh women of my age,
Ilam vaazha thandugalae
Young tender banana stems,
Vaazha kuruthugalae
Tender banana shoots,
Maaman machaan thedi pudinga
Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law!
………………………..
...
Aalapaaru kariyaatam
Look at the man, dark as charcoal!
Aasayilae ithu nariyaatam
In his desire, he behaves like a fox!
Vaala otta narukungadi
Snip his tail right off, girls!
Vaaliba murukka odukungadi
Tame his youthful arrogance!
Chandiranaa azhagil inthiranaa
Is he the moon, or Lord Indra in beauty?
Chandiranaa azhagil inthiranaa
Is he the moon, or Lord Indra in beauty?
Chorus :Intha sappanikum
Chorus: Look at the desire
Sabalam paarungaa
Even in this lame man!
Hahahahahha
Hahahahahha
Azhagappa azhagapaa
Oh handsome man, handsome man,
Aanazhagan neeyappaa
You are the epitome of male beauty!
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Metti olikka mella sirichu
Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Ponnil kudameduthu
Taking a golden pot,
Vanna neereduthu
Fetching colorful water,
Enn aasai kannanukku
For my beloved Krishna,
Ennam polae neeratuven
I will bathe him as my heart desires!
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Taking a turmeric bath and tying up the hair,
Metti olikka mella sirichu
Smiling gently as the toe rings clink,
Enjottu pendugalae
Oh women of my age,
Ilam vaazha thandugalae
Young tender banana stems,
Vaazha kuruthugalae
Tender banana shoots,
Maaman machaan thedi pudinga…(2)
Go find your maternal uncles and brothers-in-law!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Manja Kulichu is a vibrant folk song from the iconic 1977 movie 16 Vayathinile. Set in a traditional Tamil village, the song captures young women engaging in playful banter while bathing and dressing up. They celebrate their youth, dream of marriage, and playfully tease local village men, including the village outcast Chappani.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Ilam vaazha thandugalae / Vaazha kuruthugalae”
Compares young unmarried village maidens to tender banana stems (Ilam vaazha thandugalae) and fresh banana leaves/shoots (Vaazha kuruthugalae) representing youth, innocence, and freshness.
Monaai / Alliteration
“Manja kulichu / Metti olikka”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'M' across line starters creating rhythmic musicality.
Irony / Sarcasm
“Chandiranaa azhagil inthiranaa... Intha sappanikum sabalam paarungaa”
Hyperbolic comparison comparing a humble village man to Lord Indra and the Moon to sarcastically mock his romantic desires.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Alangudi Somu for Bharathiraja's directorial debut '16 Vayathinile' (1977). This film revolutionized Tamil cinema by moving filming out of studio sets into real rural landscapes, and its soundtrack set a new standard for authentic Tamil folk music.
Keep listening
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