Mannavan Oorvalamo
From Kaalam · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Jesudass
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Kaalam1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mannavan oorvalamo | Is this a king's grand procession? |
| Thaai manamenum theri varumo | Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving? |
| Pon magal seedhanamo | Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry? |
| Un punnagai moganamo | Is your gentle smile a captivating spell? |
| Vaan nilavo vinnmeengalin nayanangalo | Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens? |
| Thaen malaro manamediyin nalinangalo | Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage? |
| Male | |
| Mannavan oorvalamo | Is this a king's grand procession? |
| Thaai manamenum theri varumo | Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving? |
| Pon magal seedhanamo | Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry? |
| Un punnagai moganamo | Is your gentle smile a captivating spell? |
| Male | |
| Kaaviriyo kaaviyamo | Is it the holy River Kaveri, or a classic epic poem? |
| Kaalaththin kolangalo | Are these the artistic patterns drawn by time? |
| Kaaviriyo kaaviyamo | Is it the holy River Kaveri, or a classic epic poem? |
| Kaalaththin kolangalo | Are these the artistic patterns drawn by time? |
| Maargazhi maadhamo malligai vaasamo | Is it the sacred month of Margazhi, or the fragrance of jasmine? |
| Vasanthame vanthatho…. | Has spring itself arrived in full bloom? |
| Male | |
| Mannavan oorvalamo | Is this a king's grand procession? |
| Thaai manamenum theri varumo | Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving? |
| Pon magal seedhanamo | Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry? |
| Un punnagai moganamo | Is your gentle smile a captivating spell? |
| Vaan nilavo vinnmeengalin nayanangalo | Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens? |
| Thaen malaro manamediyin nalinangalo | Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage? |
| Male | |
| Mannavan oorvalamo | Is this a king's grand procession? |
| Thaai manamenum theri varumo | Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving? |
| Pon magal seedhanamo | Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry? |
| Un punnagai moganamo | Is your gentle smile a captivating spell? |
| Male | |
| Poonguyilo pon ezhilo | Is it a sweet cuckoo bird, or golden elegance? |
| Thendralin aalaapanai | Is it the melodic improvisation of a gentle breeze? |
| Poonguyilo pon ezhilo | Is it a sweet cuckoo bird, or golden elegance? |
| Thendralin aalaapanai | Is it the melodic improvisation of a gentle breeze? |
| Anantha raagamo anbenum dheepamo | Is it a melody of pure bliss, or a divine lamp of love? |
| Dheivamae thanthatho | Has God Himself bestowed this precious gift? |
| Male | |
| Mannavan oorvalamo | Is this a king's grand procession? |
| Thaai manamenum theri varumo | Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving? |
| Pon magal seedhanamo | Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry? |
| Un punnagai moganamo | Is your gentle smile a captivating spell? |
| Vaan nilavo vinnmeengalin nayanangalo | Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens? |
| Thaen malaro manamediyin nalinangalo | Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage? |
| Male | |
| Mannavan oorvalamo | Is this a king's grand procession? |
| Thaai manamenum theri varumo | Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving? |
| Pon magal seedhanamo | Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry? |
| Un punnagai moganamo… | Is your gentle smile a captivating spell? |
மன்னவன் ஊர்வலமோ
தாய் மனமெனும் தேர் வருமோ
பொன் மகள் சீதனமோ
உன் புன்னகை மோகனமோ
வான் நிலவோ விண்மீன்களின் நயனங்களோ
தேன் மலரோ மணமேடையின் நளினங்களோ
Is this a king's grand procession?
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens?
Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage?
மன்னவன் ஊர்வலமோ
தாய் மனமெனும் தேர் வருமோ
பொன் மகள் சீதனமோ
உன் புன்னகை மோகனமோ
Is this a king's grand procession?
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
காவிரியோ காவியமோ
காலத்தின் கோலங்களோ
காவிரியோ காவியமோ
காலத்தின் கோலங்களோ
மார்கழி மாதமோ மல்லிகை வாசமோ
வசந்தமே வந்ததோ....
Is it the holy River Kaveri, or a classic epic poem?
Are these the artistic patterns drawn by time?
Is it the holy River Kaveri, or a classic epic poem?
Are these the artistic patterns drawn by time?
Is it the sacred month of Margazhi, or the fragrance of jasmine?
Has spring itself arrived in full bloom?
மன்னவன் ஊர்வலமோ
தாய் மனமெனும் தேர் வருமோ
பொன் மகள் சீதனமோ
உன் புன்னகை மோகனமோ
வான் நிலவோ விண்மீன்களின் நயனங்களோ
தேன் மலரோ மணமேடையின் நளினங்களோ
Is this a king's grand procession?
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens?
Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage?
மன்னவன் ஊர்வலமோ
தாய் மனமெனும் தேர் வருமோ
பொன் மகள் சீதனமோ
உன் புன்னகை மோகனமோ
Is this a king's grand procession?
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
பூங்குயிலோ பொன் எழிலோ
தென்றலின் ஆலாபனை
பூங்குயிலோ பொன் எழிலோ
தென்றலின் ஆலாபனை
ஆனந்த ராகமோ அன்பெனும் தீபமோ
தெய்வமே தந்ததோ.......
Is it a sweet cuckoo bird, or golden elegance?
Is it the melodic improvisation of a gentle breeze?
Is it a sweet cuckoo bird, or golden elegance?
Is it the melodic improvisation of a gentle breeze?
Is it a melody of pure bliss, or a divine lamp of love?
Has God Himself bestowed this precious gift?
மன்னவன் ஊர்வலமோ
தாய் மனமெனும் தேர் வருமோ
பொன் மகள் சீதனமோ
உன் புன்னகை மோகனமோ
வான் நிலவோ விண்மீன்களின் நயனங்களோ
தேன் மலரோ மணமேடையின் நளினங்களோ
Is this a king's grand procession?
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens?
Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage?
மன்னவன் ஊர்வலமோ
தாய் மனமெனும் தேர் வருமோ
பொன் மகள் சீதனமோ
உன் புன்னகை மோகனமோ
Is this a king's grand procession?
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Mannavan oorvalamo
Is this a king's grand procession?
Thaai manamenum theri varumo
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Pon magal seedhanamo
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Un punnagai moganamo
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Vaan nilavo vinnmeengalin nayanangalo
Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens?
Thaen malaro manamediyin nalinangalo
Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage?
Mannavan oorvalamo
Is this a king's grand procession?
Thaai manamenum theri varumo
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Pon magal seedhanamo
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Un punnagai moganamo
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Kaaviriyo kaaviyamo
Is it the holy River Kaveri, or a classic epic poem?
Kaalaththin kolangalo
Are these the artistic patterns drawn by time?
Kaaviriyo kaaviyamo
Is it the holy River Kaveri, or a classic epic poem?
Kaalaththin kolangalo
Are these the artistic patterns drawn by time?
Maargazhi maadhamo malligai vaasamo
Is it the sacred month of Margazhi, or the fragrance of jasmine?
Vasanthame vanthatho….
Has spring itself arrived in full bloom?
Mannavan oorvalamo
Is this a king's grand procession?
Thaai manamenum theri varumo
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Pon magal seedhanamo
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Un punnagai moganamo
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Vaan nilavo vinnmeengalin nayanangalo
Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens?
Thaen malaro manamediyin nalinangalo
Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage?
Mannavan oorvalamo
Is this a king's grand procession?
Thaai manamenum theri varumo
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Pon magal seedhanamo
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Un punnagai moganamo
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Poonguyilo pon ezhilo
Is it a sweet cuckoo bird, or golden elegance?
Thendralin aalaapanai
Is it the melodic improvisation of a gentle breeze?
Poonguyilo pon ezhilo
Is it a sweet cuckoo bird, or golden elegance?
Thendralin aalaapanai
Is it the melodic improvisation of a gentle breeze?
Anantha raagamo anbenum dheepamo
Is it a melody of pure bliss, or a divine lamp of love?
Dheivamae thanthatho
Has God Himself bestowed this precious gift?
Mannavan oorvalamo
Is this a king's grand procession?
Thaai manamenum theri varumo
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Pon magal seedhanamo
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Un punnagai moganamo
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Vaan nilavo vinnmeengalin nayanangalo
Is it the sky's moon, or the starry eyes of the heavens?
Thaen malaro manamediyin nalinangalo
Is it a honeyed flower, or the graceful charm of the wedding stage?
Mannavan oorvalamo
Is this a king's grand procession?
Thaai manamenum theri varumo
Is it the chariot of a mother's heart arriving?
Pon magal seedhanamo
Is it a golden daughter's cherished dowry?
Un punnagai moganamo…
Is your gentle smile a captivating spell?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Mannavan Oorvalamo is a deeply expressive and affectionate song from the 1981 Tamil film Kaalam, set to music by Shankar-Ganesh and soulfully rendered by K. J. Yesudas with lyrics by Vaali. The song is framed around a series of poetic rhetorical questions comparing the beloved subject to grand, divine, and auspicious images of nature and Tamil culture. The singer marvels at the overwhelming joy and beauty before him, questioning whether it represents a royal procession, a mother's infinite love, a holy river, or a gift directly bestowed by God.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyam / Rhetorical Questioning (Uvamaigal)
“Mannavan oorvalamo / Thaai manamenum theri varumo”
The entire song uses the poetic interrogative suffix '-o' (e.g., oorvalamo, kaaviyamo) to express awe, wonder, and poetic hesitation between magnificent comparisons.
Uruvagham (Metaphor)
“Thaai manamenum theri varumo”
Equating a mother's heart directly to a grand temple chariot (theri), highlighting its holiness and greatness.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Maargazhi maadhamo malligai vaasamo”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'ra'/'r' in consecutive words or lines across stanzas.
Moonaal / Alliteration
“Kaaviriyo kaaviyamo / Kaalaththin kolangalo”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Ka' in Kaaviriyo/Kaaviyamo/Kaalaththin.
Did you know?
Trivia
This composition showcases the classic 1980s Tamil film song structure where lyricist Vaali seamlessly integrated rich cultural motifs such as the month of Margazhi, the River Kaveri, and temple chariots (theru) into a melodious track composed by Shankar-Ganesh and voiced by K. J. Yesudas.
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