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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manmadan Ambu

From Manmadhan Ambu · 2010

Lyricist
Kamal Haasan
Singer
Devi Sri Prasad
Music director
Devi Sri Prasad
Details
Manmadhan Ambu2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Manmadhan ambhu…Cupid's arrow...
Male
Hei jora parakkudhaeHey, it flies in grand style
Seera sorugudhaeIt pierces with precision
Koora irukkudhaeIt is sharp and keen
Oora kalakkudhaeIt stirs up the entire town
Male
Hey..hey ..hey…Hey..hey..hey...
Male
Hei megam karukkudhaeHey, dark clouds gather
Saaral adikkudhaeA light drizzle showers down
Dhegam kodhikkudhaeThe body boils with heat
Kaadhal parakkudhae ..hey..heyLove flies in the air..hey..hey
Male
Hei evanaiyum evalaiyumHey, any man or any woman
Tholaikkira baanamIt is the arrow that makes them lose themselves
Janaththogai perukkum sirubaanamA small arrow that multiplies the population
Male
Hei kanavilum nanavilumHey, in dreams and in reality
Thorathura baanamIt is the arrow that chases you
Kavalaiya pokkidum perumbaanamA great arrow that removes all worries
Male
Man madhan ambu……..Cupid's arrow...
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Idhu kuththaadha nenjulaIn a heart it hasn't pierced yet
Vidaadhu nammalaIt will not leave us alone
Nambu nambuBelieve it, believe it
Male
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Idhu ettaadha thisaiyumThere is no direction it cannot reach
Vettaadha kaniyum illa nambuAnd no fruit it cannot pluck, believe it
Chorus
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Male
Aei saaraayam thokkudhaeHey, even liquor falls short before it
Bodha thalaikkerudhaeIntoxication rushes to the head
Naaraayanan naamamaeEven praising Lord Narayana's name
Ambu nenjil paayudaeIs forgotten when this arrow pierces the heart
Hoo..hey hae….Hoo..hey hae....
Male
Aei veenaa pora sollaHey, words spoken in vain
Thaana padikkidhaeLearn to speak themselves
Thaanaa thedivandhuComing on their own accord
Kooda solludhaeThey speak along
Hoo..hey hae…Hoo..hey hae...
Male
Oh..thani thani aalaOh.. separate individuals
Onnaa serththuBringing them together as one
Uyir seiyumCreating life itself
Manmadha baanamIs Cupid's arrow
Male
Oh..karumbula kattiOh.. shot from a bow of sugarcane
Eiyura baanamThe arrow that is aimed
IrumburugumEven iron melts before it
Manmadha baanamCupid's arrow
Male
Man madhan ambu……..Cupid's arrow...
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Idhu kuththaadha nenjulaIn a heart it hasn't pierced yet
Vidaadhu nammalaIt will not leave us alone
Nambu nambuBelieve it, believe it
Male
Manmadhan ambu…uuu…Cupid's arrow...uuu...
Manmadhan ambu..uu…uuu…Cupid's arrow..uu...uuu...
Idhu ettaadha thisaiyumThere is no direction it cannot reach
Vettaadha kaniyum illada.. nambuAnd no fruit it cannot pluck, man.. believe it
Chorus
…………………...............
Male
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Idhu kuththaadha nenjulaIn a heart it hasn't pierced yet
Vidaadhu nammalaIt will not leave us alone
Male
Manmadhan ambu…uuu…Cupid's arrow...uuu...
Manmadhan ambu…uu..uu…Cupid's arrow...uu..uu...
Idhu ettaadha thisaiyumThere is no direction it cannot reach
Vettaadha kaniyum illada..oh ho hoAnd no fruit it cannot pluck, man.. oh ho ho
Male
Veeran aanaalumBe it a valiant warrior
Sooran aanaalumBe it a mighty hero
Maaran ambuthaanIt is Cupid's arrow alone
Aala padham paarkkudhaeThat tests a person's vulnerability
Male
Hei hei hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei hei hei
Male
Aei thaaram aanaalumBe it a legally wedded wife
Soaram ponaalumOr someone who strays astray
Kaaman leelaithanCupid's play of love
Angum arangerudhuUnfolds everywhere
Male
Aei thairiyam illaaHey, even a person without courage
Aalaiyum kooda thatti ezhuppumWill be woken up and shaken by
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Male
Thaamarai ilaiyaaLike a lotus leaf
Nee irundhaalumEven if you remain detached
NanaichuppudumIt will drench you completely
Manmadhan ambu…..Cupid's arrow.....
Male
Man madhan ambu…hei…..Cupid's arrow...hei.....
Manmadhan ambu ..heiCupid's arrow ..hei
Manmadhan ambuCupid's arrow
Idhu kuththaadha nenjulaIn a heart it hasn't pierced yet
Vidaadhu nammalaIt will not leave us alone
Nambu nambu nambuBelieve it, believe it, believe it
Male
Manmadhan ambu…uuu…Cupid's arrow...uuu...
Manmadhan ambu..uu…uuu…Cupid's arrow..uu...uuu...
Idhu ettaadha thisaiyumThere is no direction it cannot reach
Vettaadha kaniyum illa.. nambuAnd no fruit it cannot pluck.. believe it
Chorus
{Ambu ambu ambu{Arrow arrow arrow, arrow arrow arrow, arrow arrow, Cupid's arrow} (2)
Amhu ambu ambuCupid's arrow...
Ambu ambuCupid's arrow...
Man madhan ambu} (2)
Male
Man madhan ambu…
Man madhan ambu…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Manmadhan Ambu' serves as the high-energy title track for the 2010 romantic comedy starring Kamal Haasan. Penned by Kamal Haasan himself, the lyrics celebrate the unstoppable, universal, and transformative power of Cupid's arrow (love). Through playful imagery and rhythmic rhyming, the song describes how love spares no one—whether a warrior, a hero, a timid person, or someone trying to remain detached like water on a lotus leaf.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Hei jora parakkudhae / Seera sorugudhae / Koora irukkudhae / Oora kalakkudhae

The usage of matching ending syllables like 'parakkudhae', 'sorugudhae', 'irukkudhae', and 'kalakkudhae' creates a quick, energetic rhythmic flow.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Irumburugum Manmadha baanam

Describing Cupid's arrow as capable of melting solid iron highlights the extreme, irresistible intensity of love.

Metaphor

Thaamarai ilaiyaa nee irundhaalum nanaichuppudum

Comparing a human trying to stay unaffected by love to a lotus leaf ('Thaamarai ilai') that repels water, yet love manages to wet it anyway.

Etukai (Second letter rhyming)

Aei saaraayam thokkudhae / Bodha thalaikkerudhae

The second consonant 'ra' matches across adjacent lines, maintaining traditional Tamil poetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Manmadhan Ambu' was composed by Devi Sri Prasad, and the track was sung by Kamal Haasan alongside Devi Sri Prasad. Kamal Haasan wrote the lyrics for all songs in this movie soundtrack.

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