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Thenum Paalum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manjalum Thanthal

From Thenum Paalum · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Janaki, Jikki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thenum Paalum
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
19 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal
Mangala mangai meenatchi
Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal
Mangala mangai meenatchi
Nenjam oruvansontham endraal
Devi engal meenatchi
Nenjam oruvansontham endraal
Devi engal meenatchi
Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal
Mangala mangai meenatchi
Aadiperukkil aadikalikkum
Vaigai vellam kondaada
Thaali saradu kaaval irukka
Vaazhugindraen nandraaga
Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal
Mangala mangai meenatchi
Mangala maalai ondru vendumena
Yaettri vaithaen dheepam
Pongiya vaigai devi unnarulil
Thondra vendum kaalam
Vaigaiyin karaigal irandu
Nalla vaazhvinil inaiyum irandu
Angayarkanni en devi
Unnarulil adaiven ponveli
Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal
Mangala mangai meenatchi
Alliyao poa anthi maalaithanil
Vaazha vendum penmai
Malligai vaasam veesum thendralena
Kaanavendum menmai
Sundharameenaal manjam ena
Sugaththil mithanthu nenjam
Naayagan thanthathu adhigam endrum
Naanae avanathu udhayam
Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal
Mangala mangai meenatchi
Kannagi vaazhvai kadhal madhaviyai
Saerththu paadum tamizhae
Maathavi polae enthan devanidam
Yaarumillai tamizhae
Yaetriya deepangal saatchi
En idhayam aadidum kaatchi
Pottriya naayagan vaazhga
Avan poojaiyil naanum vaazhga
Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal
Mangala mangai meenatchi
Nenjam oruvansontham endraal
Devi engal meenatchi
Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal
Mangala mangai meenatchi
She gave turmeric, she gave flowers,
The auspicious goddess Meenakshi.
She gave turmeric, she gave flowers,
The auspicious goddess Meenakshi.
She declared my heart belongs to one man,
Our goddess Meenakshi.
She declared my heart belongs to one man,
Our goddess Meenakshi.
She gave turmeric, she gave flowers,
The auspicious goddess Meenakshi.
Dancing with joy in the floods of Aadi (Tamil monsoon season),
As the overflowing Vaigai river celebrates,
With the sacred thali (wedding thread) protecting me,
I live a happy and blessed life.
She gave turmeric, she gave flowers,
The auspicious goddess Meenakshi.
Praying for an auspicious wedding garland,
I lit a sacred lamp.
O goddess of the flowing Vaigai, by your grace,
That blessed time must soon arrive.
Like the two banks of the Vaigai river,
Two lives will unite in a good life.
O Angayarkanni (fish-eyed goddess Meenakshi), my goddess,
By your grace, I will find a golden shelter.
She gave turmeric, she gave flowers,
The auspicious goddess Meenakshi.
Like a water lily in the evening twilight,
A woman's life should blossom and thrive.
Like a gentle breeze carrying the scent of jasmine,
Life should reveal such tenderness.
Resting like the divine couple Meenakshi and Sundarar,
My heart floats in pure bliss.
Everything my beloved gave me is boundless,
And I am the dawn of his life.
She gave turmeric, she gave flowers,
The auspicious goddess Meenakshi.
Singing of the life of Kannagi and loving Madhavi,
O sweet Tamil poetry that joins them both,
Just like Madhavi stood by her lover,
No one else stands beside my man, O Tamil.
The lit lamps are my witness,
To this sight of my heart dancing with joy.
Long live my cherished beloved,
And may I flourish forever in his devotion.
She gave turmeric, she gave flowers,
The auspicious goddess Meenakshi.
She declared my heart belongs to one man,
Our goddess Meenakshi.
She gave turmeric, she gave flowers,
The auspicious goddess Meenakshi.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses a woman's deep devotion to Goddess Meenakshi and her profound happiness in marital bliss. Sheattributes her marital prosperity, joy, and security to the divine grace of Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai. Using metaphors of the overflowing Vaigai river and classical Tamil literary motifs, she celebrates her husband's love and prays for a harmonious, lasting union. In the second half, Kannadasan cleverly incorporates epic references from Silappatikaram—contrasting Kannagi and Madhavi—to affirm that her relationship with her husband is secure and free of any third-person interference. The song blends marital devotion, spiritual gratitude, and classical Tamil literary elegance into a joyous ode to traditional womanhood.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Manjalum thanthaal malargal thanthaal”

Repetition of the initial letter 'Ma' across words in the line for rhythmic harmony.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Alliyao poa anthi maalaithanil / Malligai vaasam veesum thendralena”

Matching of the second consonant 'll' in adjacent lines ('Alliyao' and 'Malligai').

Upamai (Simile)

“Malligai vaasam veesum thendralena”

Comparing gentle womanhood to the fragrant jasmine breeze.

Literary Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

“Kannagi vaazhvai kadhal madhaviyai”

Direct reference to Kannagi and Madhavi, the key female figures from the ancient epic Silappatikaram.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, 'Thenum Paalum' (1971) starred Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, and B. Saroja Devi. The song features a duet between renowned playback singers S. Janaki and Jikki, set against the backdrop of traditional Tamil devotional and cultural themes centered around Madurai Meenakshi.

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