Mannava Mannava
From Walter Vetrivel · 1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mmmm… mmm… Mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa Mazhalaigal yaavum thaeno Maragadha veenai thaano Madi melae aadum poonthaero Annai manam thaan paadum aaraaro | Oh my king, my lord! Are you not the supreme king of kings? |
| Female | |
| O mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa | Are you not the charming Krishna who scatters sweet smiles everywhere? |
| Female | |
| Naal thorum kaaval nindru Namai kaakkum thandhai undu Indha vaazhvu enbadhu Andha dheivam thandhadhu | Is your baby babble as sweet as honey, or is it like a green emerald veena? |
| Female | |
| Raajaadhi raajan endru Pala dhesam neeyum vendru Vara vendum kanmani Vetrivelin pillai nee | You are a flower chariot swaying on my lap; the mother's heart sings a lullaby. |
| Female | |
| Then madhurai cheemai ellaam Arasaalum unnai kandu Thiru tholil maalai soodum Magaraani yaaro ingu Oli vidum edhir kaalam ondru Uruvaagum naalai ingu Panivaai malarae madi mel urangu | There is a father who stands guard every single day to protect us. |
| Female | |
| Mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa | This life we have received is a sacred gift given by the divine God above. |
| Chorus | |
| Aaaa….aaaa…aaa…aaa… Aaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…. Aaaa….aaaa…aaa…aaa… Aaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…. | As a king of kings, you must conquer many lands and return victorious, my darling, the child of Vetrivel! |
| Female | |
| Meenaatchi kaiyil kondu Arul koorum killai ondru Uru maari nindradho Endhan maganaai vandhadho | Seeing you rule the entire region of Southern Madurai, who will be the queen to garland your shoulders? |
| Female | |
| Kaamaatchi koyil kandu Sudar veesum dheepam ondru Endhan veedu vandhadho Pillai vadivaai nindradho | Did the grace-bestowing parrot held in Goddess Meenakshi's hand transform and come as my beloved son? |
| Female | |
| Unnai oru eeyum moithaal Urugaadhaa thaayin sitham Vizhi oram neerai kandaan Kodhikkaadhaa annai ratham Unakkoru kurai nerndhidaadhu Valarppenae tholin meedhu Panivaai malarae madi mel urangu | Did the radiant lamp shining from Goddess Kamakshi's temple enter my home taking the form of a child? |
| Female | |
| Mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa Mazhalaigal yaavum thaeno Maragadha veenai thaano Madi melae aadum poonthaero Annai manam thaan paadum aaraaro | If even a single fly sits upon you, wouldn't a mother's tender heart melt with worry? |
| Female | |
| O mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa | Sleep gently on my lap, my blossom like soft dew; a mother's heart sings your lullaby. |
ம்ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்....
மன்னவா மன்னவா
மன்னாதி மன்னன் அல்லவா
நீ புன்னகை சிந்திடும்
சிங்கார கண்ணன் அல்லவா
மழலைகள் யாவும் தேனோ
மரகத வீணை தானோ
மடிமேலே.....ஆடும் பூந்தேரோ
அன்னை மனம்தான் பாடும் ஆராரோ
Oh my king, my lord! Are you not the supreme king of kings?
ஒ மன்னவா மன்னவா
மன்னாதி மன்னன் அல்லவா
Are you not the charming Krishna who scatters sweet smiles everywhere?
நாள்தோறும் காவல் நின்று
நம்மை காக்கும் தந்தை உண்டு
இந்த வாழ்வு என்பது
அந்த தெய்வம் தந்தது
Is your baby babble as sweet as honey, or is it like a green emerald veena?
ராஜாதிராஜன் என்று
பல தேசம் நீயும் வென்று
வர வேண்டும் கண்மணி
வெற்றிவேலின் பிள்ளை நீ
You are a flower chariot swaying on my lap; the mother's heart sings a lullaby.
தென் மதுரை சீமை எல்லாம்
அரசு ஆளும் உன்னை கண்டு
திரு தோளில் மாலை சூடும்
மகாராணி யாரோ இங்கு
ஒளி விடும் எதிர்காலம் ஒன்று
உருவாகும் நாளை இங்கு
பணிவாய் மலரே மடிமேல் உறங்கு
There is a father who stands guard every single day to protect us.
மன்னவா மன்னவா
மன்னாதி மன்னன் அல்லவா
நீ புன்னகை சிந்திடும்
சிங்கார கண்ணன் அல்லவா
This life we have received is a sacred gift given by the divine God above.
ஆஆ.......ஆஆ......ஆஆ....ஆஅ......
ஆஆ.....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
ஆஆ.......ஆஆ......ஆஆ....ஆஅ......
ஆஆ.....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
As a king of kings, you must conquer many lands and return victorious, my darling, the child of Vetrivel!
மீனாட்சி கையில் கொண்டு
அருள் கூறும் பிள்ளை ஒன்று
உருமாறி நின்றதோ
எந்தன் மகனாய் வந்ததோ
Seeing you rule the entire region of Southern Madurai, who will be the queen to garland your shoulders?
காமாட்சி கோயில் கொண்டு
சுடர் வீசும் தீபம் ஒன்று
எந்தன் வீடு வந்ததோ
பிள்ளை வடிவாய் நின்றதோ
Did the grace-bestowing parrot held in Goddess Meenakshi's hand transform and come as my beloved son?
உன்னை ஒரு ஈயும் மொய்த்தால்
உருகாதா தாயின் சித்தம்
விழியோரம் நீரை கண்டால்
கொதிக்காதா அன்னை ரத்தம்
உனக்கு ஒரு குறை நேர்ந்திடாது
வளர்ப்பேனே தோளின் மீது
பணிவாய் மலரே மடிமேல் உறங்கு
Did the radiant lamp shining from Goddess Kamakshi's temple enter my home taking the form of a child?
மன்னவா மன்னவா
மன்னாதி மன்னன் அல்லவா
நீ புன்னகை சிந்திடும்
சிங்கார கண்ணன் அல்லவா
மழலைகள் யாவும் தேனோ
மரகத வீணை தானோ
மடிமேலே ஆடும் பூந்தேரோ
அன்னை மனம்தான் பாடும் ஆராரோ
If even a single fly sits upon you, wouldn't a mother's tender heart melt with worry?
ஓ.....
மன்னவா மன்னவா
மன்னாதி மன்னன் அல்லவா
நீ புன்னகை சிந்திடும்
சிங்கார கண்ணன் அல்லவா
Sleep gently on my lap, my blossom like soft dew; a mother's heart sings your lullaby.
Mmmm… mmm… Mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa Mazhalaigal yaavum thaeno Maragadha veenai thaano Madi melae aadum poonthaero Annai manam thaan paadum aaraaro
Oh my king, my lord! Are you not the supreme king of kings?
O mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa
Are you not the charming Krishna who scatters sweet smiles everywhere?
Naal thorum kaaval nindru Namai kaakkum thandhai undu Indha vaazhvu enbadhu Andha dheivam thandhadhu
Is your baby babble as sweet as honey, or is it like a green emerald veena?
Raajaadhi raajan endru Pala dhesam neeyum vendru Vara vendum kanmani Vetrivelin pillai nee
You are a flower chariot swaying on my lap; the mother's heart sings a lullaby.
Then madhurai cheemai ellaam Arasaalum unnai kandu Thiru tholil maalai soodum Magaraani yaaro ingu Oli vidum edhir kaalam ondru Uruvaagum naalai ingu Panivaai malarae madi mel urangu
There is a father who stands guard every single day to protect us.
Mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa
This life we have received is a sacred gift given by the divine God above.
Aaaa….aaaa…aaa…aaa… Aaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…. Aaaa….aaaa…aaa…aaa… Aaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….
As a king of kings, you must conquer many lands and return victorious, my darling, the child of Vetrivel!
Meenaatchi kaiyil kondu Arul koorum killai ondru Uru maari nindradho Endhan maganaai vandhadho
Seeing you rule the entire region of Southern Madurai, who will be the queen to garland your shoulders?
Kaamaatchi koyil kandu Sudar veesum dheepam ondru Endhan veedu vandhadho Pillai vadivaai nindradho
Did the grace-bestowing parrot held in Goddess Meenakshi's hand transform and come as my beloved son?
Unnai oru eeyum moithaal Urugaadhaa thaayin sitham Vizhi oram neerai kandaan Kodhikkaadhaa annai ratham Unakkoru kurai nerndhidaadhu Valarppenae tholin meedhu Panivaai malarae madi mel urangu
Did the radiant lamp shining from Goddess Kamakshi's temple enter my home taking the form of a child?
Mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa Mazhalaigal yaavum thaeno Maragadha veenai thaano Madi melae aadum poonthaero Annai manam thaan paadum aaraaro
If even a single fly sits upon you, wouldn't a mother's tender heart melt with worry?
O mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa
Sleep gently on my lap, my blossom like soft dew; a mother's heart sings your lullaby.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic lullaby from 'Walter Vetrivel' expresses a mother's deep love, devotion, and grand aspirations for her infant child. She adores her child by comparing his innocence and beauty to divine entities, such as Lord Krishna, the parrot in Goddess Meenakshi's hands, and a bright sacred lamp from Goddess Kamakshi's temple. The mother acknowledges the protective father figure, Vetrivel, and envisions a glorious future where her son grows up to be a victorious ruler of lands. Throughout the song, themes of maternal tenderness, divine blessings, and family honor are beautifully intertwined. The lyricist captures the purest form of maternal affection—where every small murmur of the baby sounds like divine music, and any minor harm to the child affects the mother's soul deeply.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Mazhalaigal yaavum thaeno Maragadha veenai thaano Madi melae aadum poonthaero”
The child's innocence and baby talk are directly equated to honey ('thaen'), an emerald veena ('maragadha veenai'), and a flower chariot ('poonthaero').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa”
Repetition of the 'Ma' sound at the beginning of adjacent words creates a melodious rhythmic flow.
Rhetorical Questioning (Vinaa Ani)
“Meenaatchi kaiyil kondu Arul koorum killai ondru Uru maari nindradho Endhan maganaai vandhadho”
The lyricist uses poetic questions to express wonder at the divine nature of the child.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although credited as unknown in the prompt, the soundtrack for 'Walter Vetrivel' (1993) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali. This soulful lullaby 'Mannava Mannava' was rendered by singer Sunanda and remains one of the iconic mother-child bonding melodies in 90s Tamil cinema.
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