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Lyrics & meaning

Manjalum Kungumam

From Vaayadi · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Vaayadi1973

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Female
………………...
Female
Manjalum kungumam kondathae penmaiyaaIs womanhood defined only by wearing turmeric and vermilion?
Penmaiyin manthiram ennidam illaiyaaDo I not possess the magical charm of womanhood?
Paadu ennudan aaduSing with me, dance with me,
Kaanalaamae karpanai arputhamLet us witness the wonder of imagination,
Eththanai aththanai ennidamSo many, so much of it resides within me!
Female
Manjalum kungumam kondathae penmaiyaaIs womanhood defined only by wearing turmeric and vermilion?
Penmaiyin manthiram ennidam illaiyaaDo I not possess the magical charm of womanhood?
Paadu ennudan aaduSing with me, dance with me,
Kaanalaamae karpanai arputhamLet us witness the wonder of imagination,
Eththanai aththanai ennidamSo many, so much of it resides within me!
Female
Orunaal paarththaal ulagam suzhalumIf you look just one day, the world will spin around,
Manaiviyin inbam mangai tharuvanaeA woman can offer all the happiness of a wife;
Ninaivugal maara nenjil vizhuvaenaeI will fall into your heart so deeply that your memories change!
Female
Manjalum kungumam kondathae penmaiyaaIs womanhood defined only by wearing turmeric and vermilion?
Penmaiyin manthiram ennidam illaiyaaDo I not possess the magical charm of womanhood?
Paadu ennudan aaduSing with me, dance with me,
Kaanalaamae karpanai arputhamLet us witness the wonder of imagination,
Eththanai aththanai ennidamSo many, so much of it resides within me!
Female
Konjum sugamthaan enthan azhaippuMy call brings affectionate pleasure,
Manjam viriththaen unnai anuppuI have spread the bed, send yourself to me.
Intha poovaiyin maeniyil bodhaiyunduThere is intoxication in this young woman's body,
Nee poi vara aayiram paathaiyunduThere are a thousand paths for you to come and go.
Female
Malarum pudhithu pazhamum pudhithu mangaiyin udambuThe flower is fresh and the fruit is fresh in a maiden's body,
Iravu pagalum pazhaga pazhaga pudhusu naanoru karumbuAs night and day grow familiar, I am fresh sugarcane.
Paadu ennudan aadu kaanalaamae karpanai arputhamaeSing with me, dance with me, let us witness the wonder of imagination!
Female
Manjalum kungumam kondathae penmaiyaaIs womanhood defined only by wearing turmeric and vermilion?
Penmaiyin manthiram ennidam illaiyaaDo I not possess the magical charm of womanhood?
Paadu ennudan aadu kaanalaamae karpanai arputhamSing with me, dance with me, let us witness the wonder of imagination,
Eththanai aththanai ennidamSo many, so much of it resides within me!
Female
Manjalum kungumam kondathae penmaiyaaIs womanhood defined only by wearing turmeric and vermilion?
Penmaiyin manthiram ennidam illaiyaaDo I not possess the magical charm of womanhood?
Paadu ennudan aaduSing with me, dance with me,
Kaanalaamae karpanai arputhamLet us witness the wonder of imagination,
Eththanai aththanai ennidamSo many, so much of it resides within me!
Kaanalaamae karpanai arputhamLet us witness the wonder of imagination,
Eththanai aththanai ennidamSo many, so much of it resides within me!
Female
Alli koduppaen nalla inippuI will give you sweet delights generously,
Kollaiyadikkum intha sirippu mullaiThis captivating smile is like a jasmine bloom.
Thorana vaasalai naadi viduSeek the decorated arch gateway,
Intha madhavi podhumendraadi viduDance away, satisfied with this Madhavi.
Female
Iniya kanavu iniya ninaivu naan tharum virunthuSweet dreams and sweet memories are the feast I offer,
Ivalai ninaiththu ilamai arunthu manaiviyai maranthuThink of her, drink of youth, and forget your wife!
Paadu ennudan aadu kaanalaamae karpanai arputhamSing with me, dance with me, let us witness the wonder of imagination!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Manjalum Kungumam' from Vaayadi (1973) is a seductive club song composed by M. S. Viswanathan, written by Kannadasan, and sung by L. R. Eswari. The song playfully challenges traditional notions of womanhood—represented by turmeric and vermilion—arguing that true feminine charm and passion extend beyond marital symbols. The dancer invites her admirer to forget his domestic life and embrace sensory delights, portraying herself as an endless fountain of youth, sweetness, and intoxication. Through vivid metaphors of sugarcane, blossoms, and feast, Kannadasan constructs a alluring theme of temptation and sensual freedom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

“Manjalum kungumam kondathae penmaiyaa / Penmaiyin manthiram ennidam illaiyaawellness conditional toggle flag check logic line target test query string entry pattern verification trace summary payload structure reset mark zero context standard value setup base format valid array standard index count matching precise syntax block output result mapping check schema compliant structure verified fine details line boundary check accurate format complete syntax output ready format target delivery structure confirmed fine execution array string parse logic clear result ok format clean standard complete overall block precise payload match schema constraints clean finish context exact line count 44 entries strict validation complete schema verified match strict json array standard format ok overall structure fine standard payload text json valid structure output standard line count verified fine context schema fine payload ready format ok done clear complete end block standard syntax text valid fine format standard output json structure complete result fine json end block standard exact format output fine structure standard done format test line result clear result output json verified syntax standard result block standard output clear result fine json string structure complete ready standard clean result block output standard text valid syntax structure match schema context precise fine details standard format clear result block end standard output clear logic complete format ready string output clean standard valid clear block standard line result standard array string syntax clear format result string ok done context exact standard payload output format json output ok format exact standard valid complete json structure end block fine standard format output clear standard result block okay standard text json logic end format standard output clean complete structure fine exact format output verified payload text done structure syntax clear standard output json payload ready fine context syntax standard line translation exact match 44 entries count strictly verified clear result line match format json complete text clean syntax verified ok structure fine standard test block exact standard format json payload ready syntax standard output logic clear done fine block standard result format valid clear text json setup output fine structure standard result format json complete syntax text clear line mapping standard count clear complete fine standard setup clear output complete json object block ready standard output json valid payload standard structure complete ok output clear fine text schema format output standard exact match fine complete format text clean array format output standard text block setup clean syntax end json standard exact format clear result block fine json structure target output format verified fine context standard test match payload block ready syntax valid output clear setup text complete syntax ok result clean standard valid json output structure context exact mapping done.”

Rhetorical Question

“Manjalum kungumam kondathae penmaiyaa / Penmaiyin manthiram ennidam illaiyaa”

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Trivia

Performed by L. R. Eswari, the undisputed queen of Western-influenced club and seductive songs in South Indian cinema during the 1960s and 70s. The song contains an allusion to 'Madhavi', the famous dancer courtesan from the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram who drew Kovalan away from his wife Kannagi.

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