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Thanthu Vitten Ennai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mannavane

From Thanthu Vitten Ennai · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thanthu Vitten Ennai
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
15 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mannavanae mannavanae
Manasukkaetha chinnavanae
Mannavanae mannavanae
Manasukkaetha chinnavanae
Kanni thamizh thaenae
Unai thaanae ninaithaen
Mannavalae mannavalae
Manasukkaetha chinnavalae
Mannavalae mannavalae
Manasukkaetha chinnavalae
Kanni thamizh thaenae
Unai thaanae ninaithaen
Yededuthu naan padikka
Yettu kanakku
Indru vandhu serndhadhammaa
Sondham enakku
Koottudharkku nam kanakku
Kodi kodi sugam irukku
Male :Naattam kondu koodudharkku
Nambum dheiva balam irukku
Nalladhoru paadam solla
Kaadhal vaguppu
Male :Alli dhinam kooda chollum
Aasai thoguppu
Mannavanae… mannavanae…
Mannavanae mannavanae
Manasukkaetha chinnavanae
Mannavanae mannavanae
Manasukkaetha chinnavanae
Kanni thamizh thaenae
Unai thaanae ninaithaen
Mannavalae mannavalae
Manasukkaetha chinnavalae
Mannavalae mannavalae
Manasukkaetha chinnavalae
Kanni thamizh thaenae
Unai thaanae ninaithaen
Aaa…aaa…aaa..
Aaa…aaa….aaa….
Haa…aaa…aa…haaa…aa…aa…aaa
Mutha mazhai chaaral indru
Kottuvadhenna
Sitham adhu melulagam
Thottadhum enna
Paayum ambu paarvai pattu
Paadal varum vegam enna
Female :Paayum andhi neram indru
Jaalam seiyum kolam enna
Inba rasam oorugindra
Maeniyum enna
Female :Ingu vandhu nee arundha
Thaamadham enna
Mannavalae… mannavalae…
Mannavalae mannavalae
Manasukkaetha chinnavalae
Mannavalae mannavalae
Manasukkaetha chinnavalae
Kanni thamizh thaenae
Unai thaanae ninaithaen
Mannavanae mannavanae
Manasukkaetha chinnavanae
Mannavanae mannavanae
Manasukkaetha chinnavanae
Kanni thamizh thaenae
Unai thaanae ninaithaen
My king, oh my king,
The young man after my own heart!
My king, oh my king,
The young man after my own heart!
Sweet honey of pure Tamil,
You are the only one on my mind!
My queen, oh my queen,
The young girl after my own heart!
My queen, oh my queen,
The young girl after my own heart!
Sweet honey of pure Tamil,
You are the only one on my mind!
As I opened a book to study
the arithmetic on the page,
a real bond has come to me today,
a relationship of my very own!
When we add up our shared accounts,
there are endless millions of joys!
(Male:) With deep longing to come together,
we have the strength of the god we trust!
Teaching us a wonderful lesson,
this is a classroom of love!
(Male:) Embracing each other day after day,
this is a treasury of sweet desires!
My king... oh my king...
My king, oh my king,
The young man after my own heart!
My king, oh my king,
The young man after my own heart!
Sweet honey of pure Tamil,
You are the only one on my mind!
My queen, oh my queen,
The young girl after my own heart!
My queen, oh my queen,
The young girl after my own heart!
Sweet honey of pure Tamil,
You are the only one on my mind!
Aah... aah... aah...
Aah... aah... aah...
Haa... aah... aah... haa... aah... aah... aah...
Why is this shower of gentle kisses
pouring down today?
Why has my mind
touched heaven above?
Struck by the arrow of your gaze,
why does a song burst forth so fast?
(Female:) As the twilight rushes in today,
what is this magical spell at work?
With sweet nectar flowing
through my body,
(Female:) for you to come and taste it,
why is there any delay?
My queen... oh my queen...
My queen, oh my queen,
The young girl after my own heart!
My queen, oh my queen,
The young girl after my own heart!
Sweet honey of pure Tamil,
You are the only one on my mind!
My king, oh my king,
The young man after my own heart!
My king, oh my king,
The young man after my own heart!
Sweet honey of pure Tamil,
You are the only one on my mind!
Female
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a romantic duet expressing deep affection and emotional connection between two lovers. They lovingly address each other as king ('Mannavan') and queen ('Mannaval'), comparing the sweetness of their love to virgin Tamil honey ('Kanni thamizh thaen'). Using playful metaphors of mathematics, study, and lessons of love, the song describes how their bond brings divine alignment and endless bliss. The second movement builds on intimate romantic imagery, describing kiss-like raindrops, darting glances, and the magic of twilight that draws the couple together in passionate anticipation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Mannavanae mannavanae / Manasukkaetha chinnavanae

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' across consecutive words in the line.

Metaphor (Uvamaikani)

Kanni thamizh thaenae

Comparing the beloved and the sweetness of love directly to the pure honey of virgin Tamil ('Kanni thamizh thaen').

Metaphor

Paayum ambu paarvai pattu

Comparing romantic gazes to sharp darts ('Paayum ambu paarvai') that pierce the heart and inspire songs.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thanthu Vitten Ennai' (1991) is a romantic drama film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar and stars Chiyaan Vikram in one of his earliest film roles. The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran.

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