- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Movie name
- Raja Naagam
- Movie release year
- 1974
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Mar 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Mannavan Thottaanadi' is a classic romantic song from the 1974 Tamil movie 'Raja Naagam', composed by V. Kumar and written by Vaali. Sung soulfully by P. Susheela, the song conveys the euphoria and romantic awakening of a young woman after being gently touched by her lover, whom she affectionately calls her 'king'. She compares her inner transformation to a flower blooming from a bud and playing in the wind. Throughout the song, nature imagery is heavily used to reflect her intimate emotions—her body's thrill is compared to the earth getting goosebumps when rain falls, and her sleeplessness is tied to the cool evening breeze swaying the coconut palms while she longs for her beloved. It stands out as a poetic celebration of love, delicacy, and emotional excitement.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Mannavan thottaanadi mella mella / Ammammaa inbam enna solla solla”
Words like 'mella mella' (gently, gently) and 'solla solla' (to tell, to tell) are repeated to create a soft, rhythmic feel that mirrors the gentle nature of the lover's touch.
Uwamai (Simile)
“Bhoomi silirppathu pola maeni silirththathu paarum”
The poet explicitly compares the physical goosebumps on her body to the thrill of the earth receiving rain clouds ('Bhoomi silirppathu pola maeni silirththathu paarum').
Ethirai (Second-Letter Rhyme)
“Mottaanathu poovaanathu nerthu / Poovaanathu panthaaduthu kaaththu”
The second consonants rhyme across consecutive lines ('Mottaanathu' and 'Poovaanathu'), creating a harmonious Tamil poetic structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Raja Naagam' (1974) was the official Tamil remake of the pathbreaking 1972 Kannada film 'Nagarahavu', directed by Puttanna Kanagal. Music director V. Kumar was celebrated for creating sweet, melody-driven tracks in the late 1960s and 1970s, and this song remains one of P. Susheela's most beloved romantic renditions from that era.
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