Manjal Mugam
From Karnan · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Karnan1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa….aa….aa….aa…aa… | Vocalizing (Aa... aa...) |
| aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa..aa.. | Vocalizing (aa... aa...) |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa. | Vocalizing (Aa... aa...) |
| Aahaaha aa… aa… aa… | Vocalizing (Aahaaha aa...) |
| Chorus : Aahaaha aa… aa… aa.. | Chorus: Vocalizing (Aahaaha aa...) |
| Female | |
| Manjal mugam niram maari | As her turmeric-toned face changes color, |
| Mangai udal uru maari | As the young woman's body transforms, |
| Konjum kili pol pillai uruvaanadhae | A child takes form like a lisping parrot. |
| Chorus | |
| Manjal mugam niram maari | As her turmeric-toned face changes color, |
| Mangai udal uru maari | As the young woman's body transforms, |
| Konjum kili pol pillai uruvaanadhae | A child takes form like a lisping parrot. |
| Female | |
| Anji anji nadandhaal | She used to walk shyly and timidly, |
| Annaalilae ival | In those past days, she... |
| Andha nadai thalarndhaal | That energetic walk of hers has now slowed down, |
| Innaalilae | In these present days. |
| Chorus | |
| Anji anji nadandhaal | She used to walk shyly and timidly, |
| Annaalilae ival | In those past days, she... |
| Andha nadai thalarndhaal | That energetic walk of hers has now slowed down, |
| Innaalilae | In these present days. |
| Female | |
| Thulli vandha maan indru | The deer that used to leap around today, |
| Saei kondadhae | Has conceived a child. |
| Thulli vandha maan ind | The deer that used to leap around, |
| Saei kondadhae | Has conceived a child. |
| Chorus :Thulli vandha maan ind | Chorus: The deer that used to leap around, |
| Saei kondadhae | Has conceived a child. |
| Chorus | |
| Manjal mugam niram maari | As her turmeric-toned face changes color, |
| Mangai udal uru maari | As the young woman's body transforms, |
| Konjum kili pol pillai uruvaanadhae | A child takes form like a lisping parrot. |
| Female | |
| Malargal sootti manjal kootti | Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste, |
| Valaiyal pootti thilagam theetti | Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak, |
| Maadhindru vaazh endru | Saying 'may this woman live long today', |
| Vaazhthu paaduvom | Let us sing songs of blessings! |
| Chorus | |
| Malargal sootti manjal kootti | Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste, |
| Valaiyal pootti thilagam theetti | Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak, |
| Maadhindru vaazh endru | Saying 'may this woman live long today', |
| Vaazhthu paaduvom | Let us sing songs of blessings! |
| Female | |
| Karnan thandha pillai endraal | If it is a child bestowed by Karnan, |
| Kaar megam allavaa | Is it not akin to a rain-bearing dark cloud? |
| Chorus | |
| Karnan thandha pillai endraal | If it is a child bestowed by Karnan, |
| Kaar megam allavaa | Is it not akin to a rain-bearing dark cloud? |
| Female | |
| Edhir kaalathil indha dhesathil | In the future, in this country, |
| Avan karunai seivaan allavaa | Will he not shower benevolence? |
| Chorus | |
| Karunai seivaan allavaa | Will he not shower benevolence? |
| Chorus | |
| Malargal sootti manjal kootti | Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste, |
| Valaiyal pootti thilagam theetti | Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak, |
| Maadhindru vaazh endru | Saying 'may this woman live long today', |
| Vaazhthu paaduvom | Let us sing songs of blessings! |
| Female | |
| Aa…aa…aaa….aaa….aaa…..aaa….aa…. (Overlap) | Vocalizing fading overlap (Aa... aa...) |
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ....ஆ.....
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ....ஆ.....
Vocalizing (Aa... aa...)
Vocalizing (aa... aa...)
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ....ஆ.....
ஆஹாஹா ஆ....ஆ....ஆஅ
குழு :
ஆஹாஹா ஆ....ஆ....ஆஅ
Vocalizing (Aa... aa...)
Vocalizing (Aahaaha aa...)
Chorus: Vocalizing (Aahaaha aa...)
மஞ்சள் முகம் நிறம் மாறி
மங்கை உடல் உரு மாறி
கொஞ்சும் கிளி போல்
பிள்ளை உருவானதே
As her turmeric-toned face changes color,
As the young woman's body transforms,
A child takes form like a lisping parrot.
மஞ்சள் முகம் நிறம் மாறி
மங்கை உடல் உரு மாறி
கொஞ்சும் கிளி போல்
பிள்ளை உருவானதே
As her turmeric-toned face changes color,
As the young woman's body transforms,
A child takes form like a lisping parrot.
அஞ்சி அஞ்சி நடந்தாள்
அந்நாளிலே இவள்
அந்த நடை தளர்ந்தாள்
இந்நாளிலே
She used to walk shyly and timidly,
In those past days, she...
That energetic walk of hers has now slowed down,
In these present days.
அஞ்சி அஞ்சி நடந்தாள்
அந்நாளிலே இவள்
அந்த நடை தளர்ந்தாள்
இந்நாளிலே
She used to walk shyly and timidly,
In those past days, she...
That energetic walk of hers has now slowed down,
In these present days.
துள்ளி வந்த மான் இன்று
சேய் கொண்டதே
துள்ளி வந்த மான் இன்று
சேய் கொண்டதே
குழு :
துள்ளி வந்த மான் இன்று
சேய் கொண்டதே
The deer that used to leap around today,
Has conceived a child.
The deer that used to leap around,
Has conceived a child.
Chorus: The deer that used to leap around,
Has conceived a child.
மஞ்சள் முகம் நிறம் மாறி
மங்கை உடல் உரு மாறி
கொஞ்சும் கிளி போல்
பிள்ளை உருவானதே
As her turmeric-toned face changes color,
As the young woman's body transforms,
A child takes form like a lisping parrot.
மலர்கள் சூட்டி மஞ்சள் கூட்டி
வளையல் பூட்டி திலகம் தீட்டி
மாதின்று வாழ் என்று
வாழ்த்து பாடுவோம்
Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste,
Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak,
Saying 'may this woman live long today',
Let us sing songs of blessings!
மலர்கள் சூட்டி மஞ்சள் கூட்டி
வளையல் பூட்டி திலகம் தீட்டி
மாதின்று வாழ் என்று
வாழ்த்து பாடுவோம்
Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste,
Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak,
Saying 'may this woman live long today',
Let us sing songs of blessings!
கர்ணன் தந்த பிள்ளை என்றால்
கார் மேகம் அல்லவா
If it is a child bestowed by Karnan,
Is it not akin to a rain-bearing dark cloud?
கர்ணன் தந்த பிள்ளை என்றால்
கார் மேகம் அல்லவா
If it is a child bestowed by Karnan,
Is it not akin to a rain-bearing dark cloud?
எதிர் காலத்தில் இந்த தேசத்தில்
அவன் கருணை செய்வான் அல்லவா
In the future, in this country,
Will he not shower benevolence?
கருணை செய்வான் அல்லவா
Will he not shower benevolence?
மலர்கள் சூட்டி மஞ்சள் கூட்டி
வளையல் பூட்டி திலகம் தீட்டி
மாதின்று வாழ் என்று
வாழ்த்து பாடுவோம்
Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste,
Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak,
Saying 'may this woman live long today',
Let us sing songs of blessings!
ஆ....ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ....ஆ.....
Vocalizing fading overlap (Aa... aa...)
Aa… aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…
Vocalizing (Aa... aa...)
aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa..aa..
Vocalizing (aa... aa...)
Aa… aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa.
Vocalizing (Aa... aa...)
Aahaaha aa… aa… aa…
Vocalizing (Aahaaha aa...)
Chorus : Aahaaha aa… aa… aa..
Chorus: Vocalizing (Aahaaha aa...)
Manjal mugam niram maari
As her turmeric-toned face changes color,
Mangai udal uru maari
As the young woman's body transforms,
Konjum kili pol pillai uruvaanadhae
A child takes form like a lisping parrot.
Manjal mugam niram maari
As her turmeric-toned face changes color,
Mangai udal uru maari
As the young woman's body transforms,
Konjum kili pol pillai uruvaanadhae
A child takes form like a lisping parrot.
Anji anji nadandhaal
She used to walk shyly and timidly,
Annaalilae ival
In those past days, she...
Andha nadai thalarndhaal
That energetic walk of hers has now slowed down,
Innaalilae
In these present days.
Anji anji nadandhaal
She used to walk shyly and timidly,
Annaalilae ival
In those past days, she...
Andha nadai thalarndhaal
That energetic walk of hers has now slowed down,
Innaalilae
In these present days.
Thulli vandha maan indru
The deer that used to leap around today,
Saei kondadhae
Has conceived a child.
Thulli vandha maan ind
The deer that used to leap around,
Saei kondadhae
Has conceived a child.
Chorus :Thulli vandha maan ind
Chorus: The deer that used to leap around,
Saei kondadhae
Has conceived a child.
Manjal mugam niram maari
As her turmeric-toned face changes color,
Mangai udal uru maari
As the young woman's body transforms,
Konjum kili pol pillai uruvaanadhae
A child takes form like a lisping parrot.
Malargal sootti manjal kootti
Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste,
Valaiyal pootti thilagam theetti
Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak,
Maadhindru vaazh endru
Saying 'may this woman live long today',
Vaazhthu paaduvom
Let us sing songs of blessings!
Malargal sootti manjal kootti
Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste,
Valaiyal pootti thilagam theetti
Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak,
Maadhindru vaazh endru
Saying 'may this woman live long today',
Vaazhthu paaduvom
Let us sing songs of blessings!
Karnan thandha pillai endraal
If it is a child bestowed by Karnan,
Kaar megam allavaa
Is it not akin to a rain-bearing dark cloud?
Karnan thandha pillai endraal
If it is a child bestowed by Karnan,
Kaar megam allavaa
Is it not akin to a rain-bearing dark cloud?
Edhir kaalathil indha dhesathil
In the future, in this country,
Avan karunai seivaan allavaa
Will he not shower benevolence?
Karunai seivaan allavaa
Will he not shower benevolence?
Malargal sootti manjal kootti
Adorning her with flowers, applying turmeric paste,
Valaiyal pootti thilagam theetti
Wearing bangles, applying the holy tilak,
Maadhindru vaazh endru
Saying 'may this woman live long today',
Vaazhthu paaduvom
Let us sing songs of blessings!
Aa…aa…aaa….aaa….aaa…..aaa….aa…. (Overlap)
Vocalizing fading overlap (Aa... aa...)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Manjal Mugam Niram Maari' is a traditional baby shower (Seemantham / Valaikaappu) song from the classical 1964 Tamil epic film 'Karnan'. Sung in celebration of Karnan's pregnant wife, the lyricist Kannadasan beautifully describes the physical transformations and gentle grace of an expectant mother, contrasting her earlier energetic demeanor with her delicate present state. The women of the household gather to adorn her with traditional symbols of prosperity such as flowers, turmeric, bangles, and tilak while bestowing heartfelt blessings. The song also glorifies Karnan's legendary philanthropy by comparing the unborn child to a rain-filled dark cloud that will grow to shower compassion and prosperity upon the land.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai)
“Konjum kili pol pillai uruvaanadhae”
Compares the unborn baby taking shape to a lisping parrot ('konjum kili pol').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thulli vandha maan indru saei kondadhae”
Compares the young expectant mother to a playful, leaping deer ('thulli vandha maan').
Iyaibu / Monai & Rhyme (Internal Rhyme)
“Malargal sootti manjal kootti / Valaiyal pootti thilagam theetti”
Uses matching internal rhyming endings ('sootti', 'kootti', 'pootti', 'theetti') to create a rhythmic ceremonial cadence.
Symbolic Metaphor
“Karnan thandha pillai endraal kaar megam allavaa”
Compares the child of Karnan to a dark rain cloud ('kaar megam'), symbolizing generous giving and boundless benevolence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and rendered predominantly by P. Susheela, this song from 'Karnan' (1964) remains one of the most famous cultural representations of the South Indian traditional Valaikaappu (bangle ceremony) in Tamil cinema.
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