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16 Vayathinile album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manjakkulichi

From 16 Vayathinile · 1977

Lyricist
Alangudi Somu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
16 Vayathinile
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
25 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………………….
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Metti olikka mella sirichu
Enjottu pendugalae
Ilam vaazha thandugalae
Vaazha kuruthugalae
Maaman machaan thedi pudinga
Hahahahaha
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Metti olikka mella sirichu
Enjottu pendugalae
Ilam vaazha thandugalae
Vaazha kuruthugalae
Maaman machaan thedi pudinga
Vaararaiyaa mannaru
Varusham oru naal kulipaaru
Vayasuponna kandaakkaa
Valanju kozhanju siripaaru
Male :Heehe hehee
Ponnaiyaa maasam ennayaa
Ponnaiyaa maasam ennayaa
Konjam manja thechu kulichu paaraiyaa
Chorus :Nillaiyaa nillaiyaa
Sela katti kollaiyaa
Hahahhahahaha
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Chorus :Hey hey hey hey
Female :Metti olikka mella sirichu
Chorus :Hey hey hey hey
Female :Enjottu pendugalae
Ilam vaazha thandugalae
Vaazha kuruthugalae
Maaman machaan thedi pudinga
………………………..
Aalapaaru kariyaatam
Aasayilae ithu nariyaatam
Vaala otta narukungadi
Vaaliba murukka odukungadi
Chandiranaa azhagil inthiranaa
Chandiranaa azhagil inthiranaa
Chorus :Intha sappanikum
Sabalam paarungaa
Hahahahahha
Azhagappa azhagapaa
Aanazhagan neeyappaa
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Metti olikka mella sirichu
Ponnil kudameduthu
Vanna neereduthu
Enn aasai kannanukku
Ennam polae neeratuven
Manja kulichu alli mudichu
Metti olikka mella sirichu
Enjottu pendugalae
Ilam vaazha thandugalae
Vaazha kuruthugalae
Maaman machaan thedi pudinga…(2)
……………………….
Having taken a turmeric bath and tied up my hair,
With toe-rings jingling and a soft smile,
Oh girls of my age,
Oh tender banana stems,
Oh young banana shoots,
Go find your maternal uncle or cousin brother!
Hahahahaha
Having taken a turmeric bath and tied up my hair,
With toe-rings jingling and a soft smile,
Oh girls of my age,
Oh tender banana stems,
Oh young banana shoots,
Go find your maternal uncle or cousin brother!
Here comes the kingly man!
He takes a bath once a year!
When he sees a young woman,
He bends, sways, and smiles!
Male: Heehe hehee
Hey Ponnaiya, what month is it, sir?
Hey Ponnaiya, what month is it, sir?
Try applying a little turmeric and taking a bath, sir!
Chorus: Stop there, sir! Stop there, sir!
Wear a saree and look grand, sir!
Hahahhahahaha
Having taken a turmeric bath and tied up my hair,
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Female: With toe-rings jingling and a soft smile,
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Female: Oh girls of my age,
Oh tender banana stems,
Oh young banana shoots,
Go find your maternal uncle or cousin brother!
………………………..
Look at this man, dark as charcoal!
In his lust, he behaves like a sneaky fox!
Trim his tail right down to the root, girls!
Subdue his youthful arrogance, girls!
Is he the Moon, or Indra in beauty?
Is he the Moon, or Indra in beauty?
Chorus: Look at the foolish craving,
Even of this crippled man!
Hahahahahha
Oh handsome fellow, handsome fellow,
You are the ultimate paragon of male beauty, sir!
Having taken a turmeric bath and tied up my hair,
With toe-rings jingling and a soft smile,
Taking a golden pot,
Drawing fragrant, colorful water,
For my beloved Kannan,
I shall bathe him to his heart's desire!
Having taken a turmeric bath and tied up my hair,
With toe-rings jingling and a soft smile,
Oh girls of my age,
Oh tender banana stems,
Oh young banana shoots,
Go find your maternal uncle or cousin brother! (2)
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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From the same album

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