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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mannava Mannava

From Walter Vetrivel · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Sunanda
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Walter Vetrivel
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
26 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
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
O mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa
Naal thorum kaaval nindru Namai kaakkum thandhai undu Indha vaazhvu enbadhu Andha dheivam thandhadhu
Raajaadhi raajan endru Pala dhesam neeyum vendru Vara vendum kanmani Vetrivelin pillai nee
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
Mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa
Aaaa….aaaa…aaa…aaa… Aaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…. Aaaa….aaaa…aaa…aaa… Aaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….
Meenaatchi kaiyil kondu Arul koorum killai ondru Uru maari nindradho Endhan maganaai vandhadho
Kaamaatchi koyil kandu Sudar veesum dheepam ondru Endhan veedu vandhadho Pillai vadivaai nindradho
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
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
O mannavaa mannavaa Mannaadhi mannan allavaa Nee punnagai sindhidum Singaara kannan allavaa
Mmm... mm... Oh king, my king, aren't you a king of kings? Aren't you the charming Krishna who showers smiles? Is your baby babble sweet honey, or an emerald veena (lute)? Are you a chariot of flowers swaying on my lap? A mother's heart sings this lullaby.
Oh king, my king, aren't you a king of kings?
We have a father who stands guard and protects us every day; this life of ours is a gift from that very god.
Hailed as a king of kings, you must conquer many lands and return, my precious darling! You are the child of Vetrivel.
Seeing you rule over the entire land of Madurai, who will be the queen to garland your shoulders? A bright future will rise here tomorrow; sleep gently, my flower, upon my lap.
Oh king, my king, aren't you a king of kings? Aren't you the charming Krishna who showers smiles?
Aaa... aaa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa... aa... aa... Aaa... aaa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Has the parrot that speaks blessings from Goddess Meenakshi's hand changed its form and come to me as my son?
Has the glowing lamp from Goddess Kamakshi's temple entered my home and taken the form of a child?
If even a fly settles on you, won't a mother's heart ache? If I see a tear in the corner of your eye, won't a mother's blood boil? I will raise you on my shoulders without any sorrow; sleep gently, my flower, upon my lap.
Oh king, my king, aren't you a king of kings? Aren't you the charming Krishna who showers smiles? Is your baby babble sweet honey, or an emerald veena (lute)? Are you a chariot of flowers swaying on my lap? A mother's heart sings this lullaby.
Oh king, my king, aren't you a king of kings? Aren't you the charming Krishna who showers smiles?
Female
Female
Female
Female
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Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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