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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mannavan Thottaanadi

From Raja Naagam · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Raja Naagam1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mannavan thottaanadi mella mellaMy king touched me gently, gently
Ammammaa inbam enna solla sollaOh my, what bliss it is to describe again and again
Mannavan thottaanadi mella mellaMy king touched me gently, gently
Ammammaa inbam enna solla sollaOh my, what bliss it is to describe again and again
Female
Ennai naan maranthaen inbamaai mithanthaenI forgot myself and floated in happiness
Ennai naan maranthaen inbamaai mithanthaenI forgot myself and floated in happiness
Oo….oo….oo….ooh…..oh…..hoi….Oo....oo....oo....ooh.....oh.....hoi....
Female
Mannavan mannavanMy king, my king
Mannavan thottaanadi mella mellaMy king touched me gently, gently
Female
Mottaanathu poovaanathu nerthuYesterday's bud bloomed into a flower
Poovaanathu panthaaduthu kaaththuThe flower is now playing in the breeze
Mottaanathu poovaanathu nerthuYesterday's bud bloomed into a flower
Poovaanathu panthaaduthu kaaththuThe flower is now playing in the breeze
Ponnaanaval kannaalai paaththuLooking with her eyes, she who is like gold
Ninnaalaiyyaa unnaasaiyil pooththuStood blooming in her desire for you
Female
Mazhai pozhigindra megamWhen the rain-bearing cloud
Mannil varugindra neramDescends upon the earth
Bhoomi silirppathu polaJust like the earth shivers with delight
Maeni silirththathu paarumLook, my body thrilled with goosebumps too
Oo….oo….oo….ooh…..oh…..hoi….Oo....oo....oo....ooh.....oh.....hoi....
Female
Mannavan thottaanadi mella mellaMy king touched me gently, gently
Ammammaa inbam enna solla sollaOh my, what bliss it is to describe again and again
Female
Muththaaramaai nenjodu naan aadaAs I sway like a pearl necklace against your chest
Achcharamaai anjaaru nee podaAs you place five or six tokens of love
Aa…..muththaaramaai nenjodu naan aadaAa... As I sway like a pearl necklace against your chest
Achcharamaai anjaaru nee podaAs you place five or six tokens of love
Anbaana en aththaanai naan koodaWhen I join with my loving beloved
Angae ingae engae endru thedaSearching everywhere, here and there
Female
Thennai marangalin meedhuOver the tops of the coconut trees
Thendral anaikkindrapothuWhen the gentle breeze embraces
Unnai ninaikkindra maathuThis woman who thinks only of you
Kangal urankuvathaethuHow can her eyes ever sleep?
Oo….oo….oo….ooh…..oh…..hoi….Oo....oo....oo....ooh.....oh.....hoi....
Female
Mannavan thottaanadi mella mellaMy king touched me gently, gently
Ammammaa inbam enna solla sollaOh my, what bliss it is to describe again and again
Female
Mannavan mannavanMy king, my king
Mannavan thottaanadi mella mellaMy king touched me gently, gently
Aahaa haa aa….aa…aahaa ha aa….aa…aa….Aahaa haa aa....aa...aahaa ha aa....aa...aa....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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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