Manmadha Ragangale Saba
From Balanagamma · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Balanagamma1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Haaa….aaa…..haaa….aaa……aaa….aa… | Ah... (vocalizing melody) |
| Manmadha raagangalae | O melodies of Manmatha (god of love)! |
| Saba mannavar kelungalaen | O king of the assembly, please listen! |
| Manmadha raagangalae | O melodies of Manmatha! |
| Saba mannavar kelungalaen | O king of the assembly, please listen! |
| Vaanaga tharagai irangi vandhen | I descended like a star from the celestial sky, |
| Vaalvizhi maenagai mayangi nindren | I, Menaka with sword-like sharp eyes, stood entranced. |
| Maalaiyil maiyalil ilamanam isaithathu | In the evening infatuation, the youthful heart composed |
| Manmadha raagangalae | Melodies of Manmatha! |
| Saba mannavar kelungalaen | O king of the assembly, please listen! |
| Female | |
| Vizhigal irandum thuyilavillai | Both eyes have not found sleep, |
| Viraga thaabam thaniyavillai | The longing heat of passion has not subsided, |
| Iniyum thaanga valimai illai | I have no strength left to endure this any further. |
| Arul tharum thiru ulam | Will your gracious, divine heart |
| Adaikalam kodukkumoo | Grant me refuge |
| Uyirai urukkida | To melt my soul? |
| Female | |
| Manmadha raagangalae | Melodies of Manmatha! |
| Saba mannavar kelungalaen | O king of the assembly, please listen! |
| Female | |
| Iyarkkai thandha uravugalai | The relationships granted by nature, |
| Ilamai thandha kanavugalai | The dreams bestowed by youth, |
| Iyarkkai thandha uravugalai | The relationships granted by nature, |
| Ilamai thandha kanavugalai | The dreams bestowed by youth, |
| Thadukka enna urimaigalo | What right is there to forbid them? |
| Thavathil enna perumaigaloo | What pride is there in ascetic penance? |
| Female | |
| Mazhai mugil thanal pozhiya | As rain clouds pour burning embers, |
| Vizhigalil punal vadiya | As tears stream down from eyes, |
| Nilavennum thugil avizha | As the moon-like garment unties, |
| Kalaviyal manam negizha | As the heart softens in love, |
| Female | |
| Paruva maeni viraga velvi | When this youthful body performs |
| Puriyum bothu padhavi yedhu | The sacrificial fire of passionate separation, what status matters? |
| Female | |
| Sevvari odiya kangalil | In eyes streaked with red lines, |
| Anjanam karainthida | As the dark kohl melts away, |
| Female | |
| Seiyilai kaigalil maeviya | Adorning artfully crafted hands, |
| Kaivalai kazhandrida | As bangles slip away, |
| Female | |
| Malararanaiyil madhan kanaiyil | Upon the floral bed, struck by love's arrow, |
| Udal vizhunthathu adhil ezhunthathu | The body fell, and from it arose... |
| Female | |
| Manmadha raagangalae | Melodies of Manmatha! |
| Saba mannavar kelungalaen | O king of the assembly, please listen! |
| Vaanaga tharagai irangi vandhen | I descended like a star from the celestial sky, |
| Vaalvizhi maenagai mayangi nindren | I, Menaka with sword-like sharp eyes, stood entranced. |
| Maalaiyil maiyalil ilamanam isaithathu | In the evening infatuation, the youthful heart composed |
| Manmadha raagangalae | Melodies of Manmatha! |
| Saba mannavar kelungalaen | O king of the assembly, please listen! |
ஹா....ஆ......ஹா.....ஆஅ.....
மன்மத ராகங்களே சபா மன்னவர் கேளுங்களேன்
மன்மத ராகங்களே சபா மன்னவர் கேளுங்களேன்
வானகத் தாரகை இறங்கி வந்தேன்
வாள்விழி மேனகை மயங்கி நின்றேன்
மாலையில் மையலில் இளமனம் இசைத்தது
மன்மத ராகங்களே சபா மன்னவர் கேளுங்களேன்
Ah... (vocalizing melody)
O melodies of Manmatha (god of love)!
O king of the assembly, please listen!
O melodies of Manmatha!
O king of the assembly, please listen!
I descended like a star from the celestial sky,
I, Menaka with sword-like sharp eyes, stood entranced.
In the evening infatuation, the youthful heart composed
Melodies of Manmatha!
O king of the assembly, please listen!
விழிகள் இரண்டும் துயிலவில்லை
விரக தாபம் தணியவில்லை
இனியும் தாங்க வலிமை இல்லை
அருள் தரும் திருவுள்ளம்
அடைக்கலம் கொடுக்குமோ
உயிரை உருக்கிட............
Both eyes have not found sleep,
The longing heat of passion has not subsided,
I have no strength left to endure this any further.
Will your gracious, divine heart
Grant me refuge
To melt my soul?
மன்மத ராகங்களே சபா மன்னவர் கேளுங்களேன்
Melodies of Manmatha!
O king of the assembly, please listen!
இயற்கை தந்த உறவுகளை
இளமை தந்த கனவுகளை
இயற்கை தந்த உறவுகளை
இளமை தந்த கனவுகளை
தடுக்க என்ன உரிமைகளோ
தவத்தில் என்ன பெருமைகளோ
The relationships granted by nature,
The dreams bestowed by youth,
The relationships granted by nature,
The dreams bestowed by youth,
What right is there to forbid them?
What pride is there in ascetic penance?
மழை முகில் தணல் பொழிய
விழிகளில் புனல் வடிய
நிலவென்னும் துகில் அவிழ
கலவியில் மனம் நெகிழ
As rain clouds pour burning embers,
As tears stream down from eyes,
As the moon-like garment unties,
As the heart softens in love,
பருவ மேனி விரக வேள்வி
புரியும் போது பதவி ஏது
When this youthful body performs
The sacrificial fire of passionate separation, what status matters?
செவ்வரி ஓடிய கண்களில்
அஞ்சனம் கரைந்திட
In eyes streaked with red lines,
As the dark kohl melts away,
சேயிழை கைகளில் மேவிய
கைவளை கழன்றிட
Adorning artfully crafted hands,
As bangles slip away,
மலரணையில் மதன் கணையில்
உடல் விழுந்தது அதில் எழுந்தது
Upon the floral bed, struck by love's arrow,
The body fell, and from it arose...
மன்மத ராகங்களே சபா மன்னவர் கேளுங்களேன்
வானகத் தாரகை இறங்கி வந்தேன்
வாள்விழி மேனகை மயங்கி நின்றேன்
மாலையில் மையலில் இளமனம் இசைத்தது
மன்மத ராகங்களே சபா மன்னவர் கேளுங்களேன்
Melodies of Manmatha!
O king of the assembly, please listen!
I descended like a star from the celestial sky,
I, Menaka with sword-like sharp eyes, stood entranced.
In the evening infatuation, the youthful heart composed
Melodies of Manmatha!
O king of the assembly, please listen!
Haaa….aaa…..haaa….aaa……aaa….aa…
Ah... (vocalizing melody)
Manmadha raagangalae
O melodies of Manmatha (god of love)!
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
O king of the assembly, please listen!
Manmadha raagangalae
O melodies of Manmatha!
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
O king of the assembly, please listen!
Vaanaga tharagai irangi vandhen
I descended like a star from the celestial sky,
Vaalvizhi maenagai mayangi nindren
I, Menaka with sword-like sharp eyes, stood entranced.
Maalaiyil maiyalil ilamanam isaithathu
In the evening infatuation, the youthful heart composed
Manmadha raagangalae
Melodies of Manmatha!
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
O king of the assembly, please listen!
Vizhigal irandum thuyilavillai
Both eyes have not found sleep,
Viraga thaabam thaniyavillai
The longing heat of passion has not subsided,
Iniyum thaanga valimai illai
I have no strength left to endure this any further.
Arul tharum thiru ulam
Will your gracious, divine heart
Adaikalam kodukkumoo
Grant me refuge
Uyirai urukkida
To melt my soul?
Manmadha raagangalae
Melodies of Manmatha!
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
O king of the assembly, please listen!
Iyarkkai thandha uravugalai
The relationships granted by nature,
Ilamai thandha kanavugalai
The dreams bestowed by youth,
Iyarkkai thandha uravugalai
The relationships granted by nature,
Ilamai thandha kanavugalai
The dreams bestowed by youth,
Thadukka enna urimaigalo
What right is there to forbid them?
Thavathil enna perumaigaloo
What pride is there in ascetic penance?
Mazhai mugil thanal pozhiya
As rain clouds pour burning embers,
Vizhigalil punal vadiya
As tears stream down from eyes,
Nilavennum thugil avizha
As the moon-like garment unties,
Kalaviyal manam negizha
As the heart softens in love,
Paruva maeni viraga velvi
When this youthful body performs
Puriyum bothu padhavi yedhu
The sacrificial fire of passionate separation, what status matters?
Sevvari odiya kangalil
In eyes streaked with red lines,
Anjanam karainthida
As the dark kohl melts away,
Seiyilai kaigalil maeviya
Adorning artfully crafted hands,
Kaivalai kazhandrida
As bangles slip away,
Malararanaiyil madhan kanaiyil
Upon the floral bed, struck by love's arrow,
Udal vizhunthathu adhil ezhunthathu
The body fell, and from it arose...
Manmadha raagangalae
Melodies of Manmatha!
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
O king of the assembly, please listen!
Vaanaga tharagai irangi vandhen
I descended like a star from the celestial sky,
Vaalvizhi maenagai mayangi nindren
I, Menaka with sword-like sharp eyes, stood entranced.
Maalaiyil maiyalil ilamanam isaithathu
In the evening infatuation, the youthful heart composed
Manmadha raagangalae
Melodies of Manmatha!
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
O king of the assembly, please listen!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In 'Manmadha Raagangale' from Balanagamma (1981), the protagonist sings an impassioned song of temptation, love, and emotional surrender. Comparing herself to the celestial nymph Menaka sent to break a sage's penance, she appeals to the king's heart to hear her plea of romantic longing. She challenges the harshness of asceticism, arguing that nature and youth are meant for love and union rather than denial. Through vivid sensual imagery, the lyrics describe her intense inner turmoil, tears melting her kohl, and the overwhelming power of love's arrows. Vaali's poetic verses, combined with Ilaiyaraaja's evocative classical melody and Vani Jayaram's expressive vocals, create an enchanting atmosphere where spiritual penance meets classical romantic yearning.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Vaanaga tharagai irangi vandhen”
Comparing the heroine to a falling star from the celestial sky to highlight her ethereal beauty.
Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Thadukka enna urimaigalo / Thavathil enna perumaigaloo”
Repetition of the initial 'Tha' sound across adjacent poetic lines for rhythmic flow.
Sensory Imagery (Katchi Inbam)
“Sevvari odiya kangalil / Anjanam karainthida”
Vivid visual imagery of eyes with red streaks and kohl running down in passionate longing.
Contrast / Paradox
“Mazhai mugil thanal pozhiya”
Juxtaposition of soothing rain clouds with burning embers ('thanal') to express the heat of emotional separation.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung brilliantly by Vani Jayaram, 'Manmadha Raagangale' stands as one of the finest classical-pop fusion dance numbers in 1980s Tamil cinema. Lyricist Vaali wove high-flown classical Tamil terminology with vivid mythological metaphors reflecting the Menaka-Vishwamitra lore.
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