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Manmadha Leelai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manmadha Leelai

From Manmadha Leelai · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Manmadha Leelai
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
4 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manmatha leelai
Mayakkuthu aalai
Manthiram polae
Suzhaluthu kalai
Manmatha leelai
Mayakkuthu aalai
Manthiram polae
Suzhaluthu kalai
Mayakkam pirakka vaikkum
Urundu pirandu nirkkum
Vadivangal undu
Whistling :………………………..
Mayakkum pirakka vaikkum
Urundu pirandu nirkkum
Vadivangal undu
Enakku enakku endru
Thanakkul ninaithu kondu
Thodarbavar undu
Manmatha leelai
Mayakkuthu aalai
Manthiram polae
Suzhaluthu kalai
Sirikkindra pengalai
Parkindra kannukku
Azhaippathu pol oru sitha thudippu
Ah ahaa…. hey hey… zu zu.. ah ahha…
Sirikkindra pengalai
Parkindra kannukku
Azhaippathu pol oru sitha thudippu
Chidambara ragasiyam arinthukolla
Avan saagasam purivathu enna nadippu
Chidambara ragasiyam arinthukolla
Avan saagasam purivathu enna nadippu
Ethanai kinnathil ittaalum
Madhu athaniyum suvai ondraagum
Ethanai kinnathil ittaalum
Madhu athaniyum suvai ondraagum
Siththira kinnathil baedham illai
Un sinthaiyilaethaan baedhamada
Ah ahaa…. hey hey… zu zu.. ah ahha…
Aandavan vaarisu velmurugan
Antha aadhavan vaarisu vennilavu
Aandavan vaarisu velmurugan
Antha aadhavan vaarisu vennilavu
Innoru vaarisu vendumendro
Intha manmathan vaarisu vanthuvittaan
Innoru vaarisu vendumendro
Intha manmathan vaarisu vanthuvittaan
Manmatha leelai
Mayakkuthu aalai
Manthiram polae
Suzhaluthu kalai
The playful game of love
intoxicates a person;
like a magic spell,
this art whirls all around.
The playful game of love
intoxicates a person;
like a magic spell,
this art whirls all around.
Stirring up intoxication,
with sensuous, rolling curves,
beautiful figures exist.
[Whistling]
Stirring up intoxication,
with sensuous, rolling curves,
beautiful figures exist.
Thinking to themselves,
"She is mine, only mine,"
there are those who chase after them.
The playful game of love
intoxicates a person;
like a magic spell,
this art whirls all around.
To the eyes looking at
women who smile,
there is a flutter in the heart as if being beckoned!
Ah aha... Hey hey... Joo joo... Ah aha...
To the eyes looking at
women who smile,
there is a flutter in the heart as if being beckoned!
Just to uncover the hidden secret,
what a grand performance he puts on with all his tricks!
Just to uncover the hidden secret,
what a grand performance he puts on with all his tricks!
No matter how many cups it is poured into,
the wine within still tastes the same.
No matter how many cups it is poured into,
the wine within still tastes the same.
There is no difference in the painted cups;
the difference is only in your mind, my friend!
Ah aha... Hey hey... Joo joo... Ah aha...
Lord Murugan is the heir to God,
and the bright moon is the heir to the sun.
Lord Murugan is the heir to God,
and the bright moon is the heir to the sun.
As if asking whether another heir was needed,
this heir to Manmadha (the god of love) has arrived!
As if asking whether another heir was needed,
this heir to Manmadha (the god of love) has arrived!
The playful game of love
intoxicates a person;
like a magic spell,
this art whirls all around.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic song from the 1976 film 'Manmadha Leelai' encapsulates the intoxicating nature of desire and romantic charm. Kannadasan uses vivid imagery to compare love and beauty to a spell that hypnotizes individuals, causing them to pursue pleasure blindly. Through philosophical allegories, such as wine maintaining its flavor regardless of the container, the song highlights that human desires remain constant across different forms, and divisions or perceptions are merely creations of the mind. It ultimately introduces the protagonist as an unapologetic heir to Manmadha, the divine deity of love and romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal (Initial Alliteration)

“Manmatha leelai / Mayakkuthu aalai”

Repetition of the initial letter 'Ma' sound in consecutive lines.

Upamai (Simile)

“Manthiram polae / Suzhaluthu kalai”

Comparing the movement of romantic art to a spell using the direct comparative word 'polae' (like).

Uruvagaimai (Metaphor)

“Ethanai kinnathil ittaalum / Madhu athaniyum suvai ondraagum”

Comparing different women/attractions to vessels ('kinnam') and romantic passion to wine ('madhu').

Anaphora (Repetition)

“Aandavan vaarisu velmurugan / Antha aadhavan vaarisu vennilavu”

Repetition of parallel heritage lines to create a dramatic rhythm and heighten the mythological comparison.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manmadha Leelai' was directed by K. Balachander, starring Kamal Haasan in a famous role portraying a youth caught in multiple romantic entanglements. The iconic soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with vocals by K. J. Yesudas, while legendary poet Kannadasan crafted the lyrics combining philosophical depth with sensual themes.

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