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Isaimozhi
Illam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manjal Neeraattu

From Illam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Illam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
8 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raasaathi panju maga
Ragasiyamaa poothirukkaa… hoi
Raasaava kai pudikka
Nalla vazhi paatthirukkaa… hoi
Pudhu manjal poosikkittu…
Pudhu chaela kattikkittu…
Ponnaattam poovaattam
Poo onnu aalaachu…hoi
Manjal neeraattu pudhu manjal neeraattu
Vanna poo pottu indha pennai paaraattu
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Manjal neeraattu pudhu manjal neeraattu
Vanna poo pottu indha pennai paaraattu
Thangathula seervarisa thangachikku
Vaangi vandhu
Pootti vida kaathirukkum annana paaru
Vairatthula maala katti vaidooryam mela katti
Kai niraiya pottu vidum aasaiya paaru
Enga annan pon manasu dhaaraalam thaanammaa
Thangam velli mathadhellaam yaeraalam thaanammaa
Pennellaam
Aalaanaa
Oru maappilla
Ini melae
Adhu yaarunnu thaedaama
Annan thaan kondu varuvaan
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Manjal neeraattu pudhu manjal neeraattu
Vanna poo pottu indha pennai paaraattu
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Lalaalae laalaa lalaalae laalaa
Lalaalae laalaa lalaalae laalaa
Lalaalae laalaa lalaalae laalaa
Vangi vala modhiram thaan
Vaangi vandhu poottiduvaan
Annan ivan pola ingu aambala illa
Thangachinga aasappatta athanaiyum
Vaangi thandhu
Kan kulira paatthirukkum aasaigal ullae
Pulla kutti pethu pottaa aaraaro paaduvaan
Sothu sogam thaedavilla anbaaga kooduvaan
Annaachi
Annaachi
Avan anbellaam
Ponnaachu
Kalyaana naal paarkka kaalam naeram vandhaachu
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Manjal neeraattu pudhu manjal neeraattu
Vanna poo pottu indha pennai paaraattu
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
Pongattum pongattum pongattum
Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum
The little princess, soft as cotton,
has quietly blossomed into womanhood... hoy!
To take her prince's hand in marriage,
she is looking for the right time... hoy!
Applying fresh turmeric paste...
Draping a brand-new sari...
Just like gold, just like a blossom,
a flower has grown into a woman... hoy!
Turmeric bath, a fresh turmeric bath!
With a colorful flower bindi, celebrate this girl!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Turmeric bath, a fresh turmeric bath!
With a colorful flower bindi, celebrate this girl!
Ceremonial gifts of gold for his little sister,
bringing them home,
look at the brother waiting to adorn her!
Strung with diamonds, set with gemstones,
look at his desire to fill her hands with jewels!
Our brother's golden heart is so generous, isn't it?
Gold, silver, and everything else, he gives in plenty!
When a young girl
comes of age,
a suitable groom
from now on,
without her needing to search,
her brother himself will bring!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Turmeric bath, a fresh turmeric bath!
With a colorful flower bindi, celebrate this girl!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Lalale laala lalale laala
Lalale laala lalale laala
Lalale laala lalale laala
Armlets, bangles, and rings,
he will buy and dress her up in them!
There is no man quite like this brother!
Whatever his sisters ever wished for,
he buys and gives them,
longing in his heart to see them happy with joy!
When she gives birth to little children, he will sing them lullabies!
He does not chase wealth, he only embraces us with love!
Dearest brother,
dearest brother,
all of his love
is precious as gold!
The right time has come to set her wedding date!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Turmeric bath, a fresh turmeric bath!
With a colorful flower bindi, celebrate this girl!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
Let joy overflow, let it overflow, let it overflow!
May good fortune stay here, stay here, stay here!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a traditional Tamil celebration track centered around the Manjal Neeraattu Vizha (turmeric bathing ceremony / coming-of-age ceremony for a young girl). The lyrics exuberantly celebrate a young girl attaining womanhood, dressed in traditional fresh turmeric and new sarees, described poetically as a blooming flower. The central narrative highlights the deep, affectionate bond between the devoted elder brother and his younger sister. The brother takes immense joy and pride in preparing elaborate gifts, gold, diamonds, and jewels for her, taking on the protective role of finding her a suitable groom and showering her with selfless love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Pongattum pongattum pongattum / Mangalam ingu thangattum thangattum thangattum

The repetition of words like 'pongattum' and 'thangattum' creates rhythmic exuberance and emphasizes auspicious blessings.

Simile (Upama)

Ponnaattam poovaattam / Poo onnu aalaachu…hoi

'Ponnaattam poovaattam' compares the delicate grace and value of the girl to gold ('pon') and a blooming flower ('poo').

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Pudhu manjal poosikkittu… / Pudhu chaela kattikkittu…

The second letter 'dhu' matches across adjacent lines ('Pudhu' / 'Pudhu'), enhancing the lyrical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song depicts the traditional Tamil culture of 'Manjal Neeraattu Vizha', where the mother's brother (Thaai Maaman) or elder brother plays a major ritualistic role in presenting gifts, gold, and silk garments to celebrate his sister coming of age.

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