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Siraichalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mannan Koorai Selai

From Siraichalai · 1996

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Siraichalai
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
1 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mannan koorai chelai
Manjam paarkkum maalai
Kanavugal thaan kai koodaathoo…
Sirai kadhavugal thaan thaazh thiravaathoo…
Kannan vanthu neril ennai cherum naalil
Ennuyiril minnal thaanoo..
Ini poo mazhaiyum konjum thaenoo..
Ila maapillaikku pudhu ponnum naan thaana
Nal muthae vaa vaa.. oho ..ohooo..hooo.
Mannan koorai chelai
Manjam paarkkum maalai
Kanavugal thaan kai koodaathoo…
Sirai kadhavugal thaan thaazh thiravaathoo…
Hey.. hey.. hey
Thaen eduthu vachirukkum thaenee
Hoo hoo…
Maru pournamikkul thaen kudikkum
Paar nee
Hoo…hooo
Adi kuyilgal paadum naal vanthaal
Adi kulavai satham ketkaadha
Un thavikkum thuyaram theerkka thaan
Avan kaaladi satham ketkaatha
Pattaadai mel ellaam
En mannavan vaasanai undu
Naal dhorum naan vaippen pon vilaketri
Poo thoongum manjathil
Mugam vetkaiyil dhaavani veesi
Ini naal dhorum thaalaatum
Thaayum naan thaan
Theeyil theerum mogangal
Neeril theeraa dhaagangal
Chorus :Huiyooo huiyoo
Huiyooo huiyoo
Kappal karpanai vegathaal
Poi indrae avarudan vanthiduma
Chorus :Huiyooo huiyoo
Huiyooo huiyoo
Un vazhi paarkum
Kanniyin iru vizhi oivum kollattum
Mutham padithavan nenjil naanae
Methai idum naal thaan ..
Raagangal poochoodum
Mannan koorai chelai
Manjam paarkkum maalai
Kanavugal thaan kai koodaathoo…
Sirai kadhavugal thaan thaazh thiravaathoo…
Ila maapillaikku pudhu ponnum naan thaana
Nal muthae vaa vaa.. oho ..ohooo..hooo.
Mannan koorai chelai
Manjam paarkkum maalai
Kanavugal thaan kai koodaathoo…
Sirai kadhavugal thaan thaazh thiravaathoo…
The wedding saree from my beloved,
The evening that awaits our bridal bed,
Won't my dreams finally come true?
Won't the prison doors unlock?
On the day my love comes in person to unite with me,
Will a flash of lightning strike through my soul?
Will sweet honey pour down like a shower of flowers?
Am I the new bride for the young groom?
Come, my precious pearl, come! Oho... oho... ho...
The wedding saree from my beloved,
The evening that awaits our bridal bed,
Won't my dreams finally come true?
Won't the prison doors unlock?
Hey.. hey.. hey
The honeybee that has gathered sweet honey,
Ho ho...
Will drink that honey before the next full moon,
Just wait and see!
Ho... ho...
Hey girl, when the day comes for the cuckoos to sing,
Won't the joyful wedding cries (kulavai) ring out?
To put an end to your aching sorrow,
Won't you hear the sound of his footsteps?
All over this silk garment,
Lingers the fragrance of my beloved.
Every day I will light a golden lamp and wait,
On the bed where fresh flowers rest,
Fanning his warm face with my scarf,
Lulling him to sleep every day,
I will be a mother to him too.
Passions that burn out in fire,
Desires that water cannot quench...
Chorus: Huyyo... huyyo
Huyyo... huyyo
At the speed of my imagination,
Could a ship go and bring him back today?
Chorus: Huyyo... huyyo
Huyyo... huyyo
Watching and waiting along your path,
Let this young girl's tired eyes finally find rest.
Upon the chest of the one who knows love's kisses,
On the day I make my bed,
Melodies will blossom with flowers!
The wedding saree from my beloved,
The evening that awaits our bridal bed,
Won't my dreams finally come true?
Won't the prison doors unlock?
Am I the new bride for the young groom?
Come, my precious pearl, come! Oho... oho... ho...
The wedding saree from my beloved,
The evening that awaits our bridal bed,
Won't my dreams finally come true?
Won't the prison doors unlock?
Female
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Male
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Mannan Koorai Chelai' from the film Siraichalai (1996) is a deeply emotional song depicting a young bride's sorrow, longing, and hope as she waits for her beloved who is imprisoned far away. She yearns for the day her husband will return so that their unfulfilled marriage can finally blossom. Symbolism like the 'koorai chelai' (wedding saree) and 'manjam' (nuptial bed) emphasizes her pure love and expectation of his return. The lyrics mix painful longing with delicate romantic imagination—from hearing phantom footsteps to wishing a ship could travel at the speed of thought to bring him back. Ultimately, the song serves as a poignant expression of eternal hope amidst captivity and distance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)

“Mannan koorai chelai / Manjam paarkkum maalai”

Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines ('Mannan' and 'Manjam').

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kanavugal thaan kai koodaathoo… / Sirai kadhavugal thaan thaazh thiravaathoo…”

Matching second letter rhyming scheme ('Kanavugal' and 'Sirai kadhavugal').

Metaphor (Ruvagam)

“Kannan vanthu neril ennai cherum naalil”

Addressing the beloved as 'Kannan' (Lord Krishna) and calling him 'Nal muthae' (precious pearl).

Antithesis / Contrast (Maranpatta Sorkkal)

“Theeyil theerum mogangal / Neeril theeraa dhaagangal”

Contrasting passions extinguished in fire with thirsts unquenched by water.

Did you know?

Trivia

Siraichalai (1996) is the Tamil dubbed release of Priyadarshan's acclaimed Malayalam epic period film 'Kaalapani', starring Mohanlal, Prabhu, and Tabu. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Arivumathi, this track (originally 'Aattirambile Aalamaram' in Malayalam) was beautifully rendered in Tamil by K. S. Chithra.

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