- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Chorus
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Thiruvarutchelvar
- Movie release year
- 1967
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Nov 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalai magal thunai kondu
Kalai vendru pugazh konda
Kaavalan vaazhga vaazhga
Malai magal varam kondu
Malai pondra balam konda
Mannavan vaazhga vaazhga
Thirumagal arul kondu porul konda
Thiruvaru chelvarae vaazhga vaazhga
Iyal isai naadagam muthamiz kaakkindra
Thalaivanae vaazhga vaazhga
Kudi makkal manam pola
Mudiyaatchi kaangindra
Kotravaa vaazhga vaazhga
Nin kodi vaazhga padai vaazhga
Kudi vaazhga kulam vaazhga
Nalamum pallaandu vaazhga
Mannavan vandhaanadi thozhi…
Mannavan vandhaanadi thozhi
Manjathilae irundhu nenjathilae amarndha
Mannavan vandhaanadi thozhi
Manjathilae irundhu nenjathilae amarndha
Mannavan vandhaanadi thozhi
Maayavano thooyavano
Naayagano naan ariyaen
Maayavano thooyavano
Naayaghano naan ariyaen
Mannavan vandhaanadi thozhi
{Senthamizh cholleduthu
Isai thoduppaen
Vanna sandhathilae
Kavidhai charam koduppaen } (2)
Moondru thamizh maalai
Soottiduvaen
Moondru thamizh maalai soottiduvaen
Ini muppozhudhum karppanaiyil
Arppudhamaai vaazhndhirukkum
Mannavan vandhaanadi thozhi
Manjathilae irundhu nenjathilae amarndha
Mannavan vandhaanadi thozhi
Thooviya poovinil maenigal aadida
Naayagan naayagi baavanai kaatta varum
Mannavan vandhaanadi…
Thatthi thaanghida thaka tharikida thom
Dhit thaanghida thaka tharikida thom
Thakadhit thaanghida thaka tharikida thom
Dhit thaanghida thaka tharikida thom
Thaka tharikida thom thaka tharikida thom
Thaka tharikida thom thaka tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thom thatthaa…
Saa ree gaa maa paa dhaa nee
Sarigama padhanee suramodu jathiyodu
Naadha geetha raaga baavam thaan peravae
Mannavan vandhaanadi…
Thakka dhinnam tharitha
Thakajanutha dhukku tharitha
Dhukku thakida thatthinghu
Thaka janakku thadheem
That thakida kidathaka tharikida thom
Thaka thakida kidathaka tharikida thom
Thaa kida thatthom
Kida thatthom kida thatthom that thaa
Kaadhar kavidhai kadalena perugida
Maadhar manamum mayilena nadamidavae
Mannavan vandhaanadi…
Thadhari thadhana
Thajanu thajanu janu thajaunu thadhimi
Junu thakadhimi tharikida
Dhit thaanghida thaka tharikida thakathaa
Junu thaanghida thaka tharikida thakathaa
Thakadhit thaanghida thaka tharikida thakathaa that thaa
Thirumalar manamura
Kurunagai nalam pera
Malar vizhi sivandhida
Kani idhazh kanindhidavae
Mannavan vandhaanadi…eee…ee…
Thirikida tharikida tharikida thirikida
Thirikida tharikida tharikida thirikida
Thirikida tharikida tharikida thirikida
Thirikida tharikida that thaa
Thitthithaal adhu sempor kinnam
Thathi thaavidum thanga kinnam
Thadhinna thaangha thadhinna thaangha
Thadhinna thaanghida tharikida
Thadhinna thaangha thadhinna thaanghida
Thaka tharikida thakathaa
Sithatthaal oru kaadhar chinnam
Thathi thaaviya paavaiyin munnam
En mannavan
Thatthitthaa kidathaka thirikida thom
Dhitthaa kidathaka tharikida thom
Thaa kitathaka tharikida thom
Kitathaka tharikida thom
Thaanghida thom thadhim
Thakatha thakajam thakida thakajunu thakida that thaa
Viraivinil nee nee…
Mana malar thaa dhaa…
Thirumaarp paa paa…
Thaamadhamaa maa…
Mayil enai paar gaa…
Viraivinil nee mana malar thaa
Thirumaarp paa thaamadhamaa
Mayil enai paar
Nee dhaa paa maa gaa
Needhaapaamaagaa nidhapamaga
Saa… sadhamadhu tharavaa
Tharikida jam theengida thaangida thaka
Tharika thakaghaa
Ree… rigamapa dhanisaa
Thajjam thajjam thajam tharikida thaa
Gaa… karunaiyin thalaivaa
Thaanghida thadheem
Kidathadheem kidathadheem thadhaa
Maa… madhi migu mudhalvaa
Tharikida thom tha tharikida
Thom tha tharikida thaa
Paa… param porul iraivaa
Dhaa… thanimaiyil varavaa
Nee… iraiyarul peravaa
Aalum puvi ezhum
Kadal ezhum nadamaadum padi vaaraai
Arul thaaraai…
Tharikida dhim thirikidathaa
Aalum puvi ezhum
Kadal ezhum nadamaadum
Padi vaaraai arul thaaraai
Anudhinam unai vazhipadum valam
Ini oru thalaivanai panivadhillai
Mannavan… vandhaanadi…
Thakadhit thaanghida thaka tharikida thaka
Thadhit thaanghida thaka tharikida thaka
Tharikida thom tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thom thaa
Blessed with the help of Kalaimagal (Saraswati, goddess of arts),
Triumphant in the arts and crowned with fame,
Long live the guardian king, long live!
Blessed by the grace of Malaimagal (Parvati, goddess of the mountains),
Endowed with strength as mighty as a mountain,
Long live the king, long live!
Favored with wealth by Thirumagal (Lakshmi, goddess of fortune),
O Thiruvarutchelvar (blessed one of divine grace), long live, long live!
You who protect the three realms of Tamil: poetry, music, and drama,
Long live, O leader, long live!
Ruling just as your people desire in their hearts,
O monarch who guides this kingdom,
Long live, O victorious ruler, long live!
Long live your flag, long live your army!
Long live your people, long live your lineage!
May good health and prosperity last for many years!
The king has arrived, my friend...
The king has arrived, my friend!
Moving from his royal seat to take his place in my heart,
The king has arrived, my friend!
Moving from his royal seat to take his place in my heart,
The king has arrived, my friend!
Is he a mysterious enchanter, or is he pure and noble?
Is he my lover and lord? I do not know!
Is he a mysterious enchanter, or is he pure and noble?
Is he my lover and lord? I do not know!
The king has arrived, my friend!
Gathering words of rich, pure Tamil,
I shall weave a melody,
To colorful, rhythmic meters,
I shall offer a garland of poetry!
A garland woven from the three arts of Tamil,
I shall place upon him!
I shall adorn him with a garland of the three arts of Tamil,
From now on, in my thoughts at all hours of the day,
Living a wondrous life,
The king has arrived, my friend!
Moving from his royal seat to take his place in my heart,
The king has arrived, my friend!
As our bodies sway gently over scattered flowers,
Coming to portray the love between the hero and his beloved,
The king has arrived...
Thathi thaangida thaka tharikida thom
Thith thaangida thaka tharikida thom
Thakathith thaangida thaka tharikida thom
Thith thaangida thaka tharikida thom
Thaka tharikida thom thaka tharikida thom
Thaka tharikida thom thaka tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thom thaththaa...
Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni (musical notes)
With the notes Sa-Ri-Ga-Ma-Pa-Dha-Ni and rhythmic beats,
Bringing forth pure sound, song, melody, and deep emotion,
The king has arrived...
Thakka thinnum tharitha
Thakajanutha thukku tharitha
Thukku thakida thaththingu
Thaka janakku thadheem
Thath thakida kidathaka tharikida thom
Thaka thakida kidathaka tharikida thom
Thaa kida thaththom
Kida thaththom kida thaththom thath thaa
As the poetry of love swells like an ocean,
And a woman's heart dances like a peacock,
The king has arrived...
Thathari thathana
Thajanu thajanu janu thajavunu thadhimi
Joonu thakathimi tharikida
Thith thaangida thaka tharikida thakathaa
Joonu thaangida thaka tharikida thakathaa
Thakathith thaangida thaka tharikida thakathaa thath thaa
As a lovely blossom spreads its sweet fragrance,
As a gentle smile brings warmth and grace,
As flower-like eyes blush with tender longing,
And sweet lips grow ripe with love,
The king has arrived...
Thirikida tharikida thirikida thirikida
Thirikida tharikida thirikida thirikida
Thirikida tharikida thirikida thirikida
Thirikida tharikida thath thaa
If it tastes sweet, it is like a bowl of pure red gold,
A golden vessel skipping and leaping with joy,
Thathinna thaanga thathinna thaanga
Thathinna thaangida tharikida
Thathinna thaanga thathinna thaangida
Thaka tharikida thakathaa
A symbol of love created in the soul,
Before this young woman dancing gracefully,
My king...
Thathithaa kidathaka thirikida thom
Thithaa kidathaka thirikida thom
Thaa idathaka tharikida thom
Kidathaka tharikida thom
Thaangida thom thadheem
Thakath thakajam thakida thakajunu thakida thath thaa
Come quickly, you (Ni)...
Give (Dha) the blossom of your heart...
O noble-chested lord (Pa)...
Why any delay (Ma)...?
Look upon and protect (Ga) me, your dancing peacock...
Come quickly, you, offer the blossom of your heart,
O noble-chested lord, why the delay?
Look upon me, your peacock!
Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga (musical notes)
Ni-Dha-Pa-Ma-Ga, Ni-Dha-Pa-Ma-Ga
Sa... shall I bring you eternal joy?
Tharikida jam theengida thaangida thaka
Tharika thakakaa
Ri... Ri-Ga-Ma-Pa-Dha-Ni-Sa
Thajjam thajjam thajam tharikida thaa
Ga... O lord of boundless mercy!
Thaangida thadheem
Kidathadheem kidathadheem thathaa
Ma... O foremost leader of great wisdom!
Tharikida thom thaa tharikida
Thom thaa tharikida thaa
Pa... O supreme Lord of all creation!
Dha... may I come to you in solitude?
Ni... shall I receive your divine grace?
Ruling over all the seven worlds,
Come, dancing across the seven seas,
Shower your divine grace...
Tharikida thim thirikidathaa
Ruling over all the seven worlds,
Dancing across the seven seas,
Come to me and bestow your grace!
This devoted heart that worships you every day
Will never bow before any other lord!
The king... has arrived!
Thakathith thaangida thaka tharikida thaka
Thathith thaangida thaka tharikida thaka
Tharikida thom tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thom thaa
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Mannavan Vandhaanadi' is a masterpiece classical Bharatanatyam song from the 1967 Tamil film 'Thiruvarutchelvar'. Written by Kannadasan and set to music by K. V. Mahadevan, the song begins with formal courtly panegyrics praising a virtuous king blessed by Goddesses Saraswati, Parvati, and Lakshmi. The main narrative shifts to the heroine joyfully announcing to her friend (thozhi) that the king—who moved from his throne directly into her heart—has arrived. The lyrics seamlessly integrate high literary Tamil poetry with traditional Carnatic solkattu (jathis) and intricate Svarakshara passages, creating an exquisite blend of romance, musical craftsmanship, and spiritual devotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Kalai magal thunai kondu / Malai magal varam kondu”
The second consonant sound 'lai' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Kalai' / 'Malai').
Monai (Initial letter alliteration)
“Mannavan vandhaanadi thozhi / Manjathilae irundhu”
Alliteration of the initial letter 'Ma' across the line.
Upamai (Simile)
“Maadhar manamum mayilena nadamidavae”
Comparing the joy in women's hearts to the dancing of a peacock ('mayilena nadamidavae').
Svarakshara (Musical Swara Integration)
“Viraivinil nee / Mana malar thaa / Thirumaarp paa / Thaamadhamaa / Mayil enai paar gaa”
The spoken Tamil words ending or beginning with sound syllables matching Carnatic notes (Ni, Dha, Pa, Ma, Ga).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Mannavan Vandhaanadi' in Thiruvarutchelvar (1967) is widely considered one of the finest dance compositions in Tamil cinema, brilliantly performed on screen by actress Padmini. Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered by P. Susheela, Kannadasan famously wrote the lyrics incorporating Svarakshara—a complex poetic feat where word syllables match musical notes (Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni).
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