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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manjal Araikkum Pothu

From Aalukkoru Aasai · 1977

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aalukkoru Aasai1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hmm huhmm mm mmHmm, humm, mm, mm
Huhmm mm mmmHummm, mm, mmm
Hmm mm mmmHmm, mm, mmm
Hm mm hmm mm mmmHm, mm, hmm, mm, mmm
Female
Manjal araikkum podhuWhile I was grinding turmeric,
Madhilaeri paartha machaanMy beloved peeked over the boundary wall;
Pakkathil vandhaalennaWhat if he comes close to me
Sondham kaana..To embrace our relationship?
Pala naalaa thookkam illaeI haven't slept for many days,
Mogam theeraadho….Will this intense longing never subside?
Female
Manjal araikkum podhuWhile I was grinding turmeric,
Madhilaeri paartha machaanMy beloved peeked over the boundary wall;
Pakkathil vandhaalennaWhat if he comes close to me
Sondham kaana..To embrace our relationship?
Pala naalaa thookkam illaeI haven't slept for many days,
Mogam theeraadho….Will this intense longing never subside?
Female
Udhadellaam chekka chevakkaWith my lips turned bright red,
Veththalaiya pottukkondenI chewed betel leaves,
Vaangathaan aalakkaanomaeYet the man is nowhere to be found to claim a kiss!
Female
Udhadellaam chekka chevakkaWith my lips turned bright red,
Veththalaiya pottukkondenI chewed betel leaves,
Vaangathaan aalakkaanomaeYet the man is nowhere to be found to claim a kiss!
Female
Thangam pol maeni engumAll over my golden glowing body,
Javvaadhu poosi vechenI applied fragrant civet perfume,
Thazhuvathaan neram varaliyae ..ae..Has the time still not arrived to embrace me?
Thazhuvathaan neram varaliyae ..ae..Has the time still not arrived to embrace me?
Female
Manjal araikkum podhuWhile I was grinding turmeric,
Madhilaeri paartha machaanMy beloved peeked over the boundary wall;
Pakkathil vandhaalennaWhat if he comes close to me
Sondham kaana..To embrace our relationship?
Pala naalaa thookkam illaeI haven't slept for many days,
Mogam theeraadho….Will this intense longing never subside?
Female
Aalukkoru aasai vechuPlacing a desire in each person's heart,
Avaravara pirichum vechuSeparating us from one another,
Yekkathai pangu vechaanaeGod distributed yearning between us!
Female
Aalukkoru aasai vechuPlacing a desire in each person's heart,
Avaravara pirichum vechuSeparating us from one another,
Yekkathai pangu vechaanaeGod distributed yearning between us!
Female
Dhaegathil vegam vechuInstilling passion in the physical body,
Vegathil bodhai vechuAnd intoxication into that passion,
Vilayaadum aala kaanenae ..ae…I cannot find the man who comes to play with me!
Vilayaadum aala kaanenae ..ae…I cannot find the man who comes to play with me!
Female
Manjal araikkum podhuWhile I was grinding turmeric,
Madhilaeri paartha machaanMy beloved peeked over the boundary wall;
Pakkathil vandhaalennaWhat if he comes close to me
Sondham kaana..To embrace our relationship?
Pala naalaa thookkam illaeI haven't slept for many days,
Mogam theeraadho….Will this intense longing never subside?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Manjal Araikkum Podhu is a sensual, folk-based romantic song from the 1977 Tamil movie 'Aalukkoru Aasai', composed by Ilaiyaraaja, written by Panchu Arunachalam, and sung by S. Janaki. The protagonist reminisces about her lover peeping over the wall while she was performing her daily routine of grinding turmeric. She describes her restless, sleepless nights filled with yearning. She details how she prepares herself for her beloved—chewing betel leaves to make her lips crimson red and applying fragrant civet (javvaadhu) on her gold-like body. She laments the cruel fate that keeps them apart despite the overwhelming heat of passion, eagerly awaiting the moment he comes near to embrace her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Dhaegathil vegam vechu / Vegathil bodhai vechu

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic cadence (e.g., 'Manjal' and 'Madhil', 'Dhaegathil' and 'Vegathil').

Upamai (Simile)

Thangam pol maeni engum

Comparing the heroine's glowing complexion directly to pure gold using 'pol'.

Monae (Alliteration / Initial Consonants)

Udhadellaam chekka chevakka

Repetition of initial phonetic sound 'Ch' across adjacent words to emphasize color and vibrancy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki for the film 'Aalukkoru Aasai' (1977), this track became popular for its rustic tune and evocative expression of female desire, blending traditional village imagery (like grinding turmeric and chewing paan) with sensual melody.

Keep listening

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