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Isaimozhi
Balanagamma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manmadha Ragangale Saba

From Balanagamma · 1981

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Balanagamma
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
27 Jun 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haaa….aaa…..haaa….aaa……aaa….aa…
Manmadha raagangalae
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
Manmadha raagangalae
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
Vaanaga tharagai irangi vandhen
Vaalvizhi maenagai mayangi nindren
Maalaiyil maiyalil ilamanam isaithathu
Manmadha raagangalae
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
Vizhigal irandum thuyilavillai
Viraga thaabam thaniyavillai
Iniyum thaanga valimai illai
Arul tharum thiru ulam
Adaikalam kodukkumoo
Uyirai urukkida
Manmadha raagangalae
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
Iyarkkai thandha uravugalai
Ilamai thandha kanavugalai
Iyarkkai thandha uravugalai
Ilamai thandha kanavugalai
Thadukka enna urimaigalo
Thavathil enna perumaigaloo
Mazhai mugil thanal pozhiya
Vizhigalil punal vadiya
Nilavennum thugil avizha
Kalaviyal manam negizha
Paruva maeni viraga velvi
Puriyum bothu padhavi yedhu
Sevvari odiya kangalil
Anjanam karainthida
Seiyilai kaigalil maeviya
Kaivalai kazhandrida
Malararanaiyil madhan kanaiyil
Udal vizhunthathu adhil ezhunthathu
Manmadha raagangalae
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
Vaanaga tharagai irangi vandhen
Vaalvizhi maenagai mayangi nindren
Maalaiyil maiyalil ilamanam isaithathu
Manmadha raagangalae
Saba mannavar kelungalaen
Ah... ah... ha... ah... ah... ah...
Melodies of love,
O king of the court, please listen!
Melodies of love,
O king of the court, please listen!
A heavenly star, I have descended to earth,
Like Menaka with sword-sharp eyes, I stand enraptured!
In the evening's passion, my youthful heart sang...
Melodies of love,
O king of the court, please listen!
Both of my eyes have found no sleep,
The burning ache of longing has not cooled,
I have no strength left to bear it,
Will your gracious, noble heart
offer me refuge?
As it melts my very soul,
Melodies of love,
O king of the court, please listen!
The bonds given by nature,
The dreams brought by youth,
The bonds given by nature,
The dreams brought by youth,
What right is there to stop them?
What pride is there in strict penance?
As rain clouds shower burning heat,
As tears stream from the eyes,
As the moon-like garment slips away,
As the heart softens in secret romance,
When this youthful body performs
a sacred fire of longing, what does rank matter?
In eyes traced with delicate red lines,
as the kohl melts away,
From hands tender like fresh leaves,
as the bangles slip off,
On a bed of flowers, struck by love's arrow,
the body fell, and from it arose...
Melodies of love,
O king of the court, please listen!
A heavenly star, I have descended to earth,
Like Menaka with sword-sharp eyes, I stand enraptured!
In the evening's passion, my youthful heart sang...
Melodies of love,
O king of the court, please listen!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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