Manthira Punnagaiyo
From Mandhira Punnagai · 1986
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Mandhira Punnagai1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mandhira punnagaiyo | Is it a magical smile? |
| Manjal nilavo | Or a golden moon? |
| Kannae kannae | My precious eyes, my dear one! |
| Mandhira punnagaiyo | Is it a magical smile? |
| Manjal nilavo | Or a golden moon? |
| Kannae kannae | My precious eyes, my dear one! |
| Vaazhkkai oru vaanam | Life is like a vast sky, |
| Aaasai adhil megam | Desire is a cloud within it. |
| Paasam oru dheepamae | Affection is a shining lamp, |
| Paavai manam paadudhae | And the maiden's heart sings. |
| Female | |
| Mandhira punnagaiyo | Is it a magical smile? |
| Manjal nilavo | Or a golden moon? |
| Kannae kannae | My precious eyes, my dear one! |
| Mandhira punnagaiyo | Is it a magical smile? |
| Manjal nilavo | Or a golden moon? |
| Kannae kannae | My precious eyes, my dear one! |
| Female | |
| Dhevadhaigal thaerinil | When celestial angels travel in their chariots, |
| Pogira neram | During that magical hour, |
| Thaamaraigal aayiram | A thousand lotus flowers |
| Paadhaiyil pookkum | Will bloom along the pathway. |
| Dhegam dhinam paadum | The body will sing every day, |
| Paavam adhil pogum | And sins/sorrows will fade away. |
| Nee odi vaa | Come running to me! |
| Vaazhkkai ennum kaaviyam | Life is a grand epic poem, |
| Kaalam anbin aalayam | Time is a temple of true love. |
| Vaa vaa vaa | Come, come, come! |
| Female | |
| Mandhira punnagaiyo | Is it a magical smile? |
| Manjal nilavo | Or a golden moon? |
| Kannae kannae | My precious eyes, my dear one! |
| Female | |
| Aasaigal ingae | If desires here |
| Kudhiraigal aanaal | Were to turn into horses, |
| Ezhaigal kooda | Even the poor |
| Oorvalam povaar | Would ride in grand processions. |
| Poovum malarndhaadum | Flowers will bloom and sway, |
| Naalum manam veesum | Spreading fragrance every single day. |
| Vaazhvai paarkkirom | We observe life as it unfolds, |
| Bommalaattam aadalaam | We can perform a puppet show, |
| Porum seidhu paarkkalaam | Or even wage a pretend war, |
| Endrum vaazhvilae | Always in this life! |
| Female | |
| Mandhira punnagaiyo | Is it a magical smile? |
| Manjal nilavo | Or a golden moon? |
| Kannae kannae | My precious eyes, my dear one! |
| Vaazhkkai oru vaanam | Life is like a vast sky, |
| Aasai adhil megam | Desire is a cloud within it. |
| Paasam oru dheepamae | Affection is a shining lamp, |
| Paavai manam paadudhae | And the maiden's heart sings. |
| Female | |
| Mandhira punnagaiyo | Is it a magical smile? |
| Manjal nilavo | Or a golden moon? |
| Kannae kannae | My precious eyes, my dear one! |
| Vaazhkkai oru vaanam | Life is like a vast sky, |
| Aasai adhil megam | Desire is a cloud within it. |
| Paasam oru dheepamae | Affection is a shining lamp, |
| Paavai manam paadudhae | And the maiden's heart sings. |
| Female | |
| Mandhira punnagaiyo | Is it a magical smile? |
| Manjal nilavo | Or a golden moon? |
| Kannae kannae | My precious eyes, my dear one! |
மந்திர புன்னகையோ
மஞ்சள் நிலவோ
கண்ணே கண்ணே
மந்திர புன்னகையோ
மஞ்சள் நிலவோ
கண்ணே கண்ணே
வாழ்க்கை ஒரு வானம்
ஆசை அதில் மேகம்
பாசம் ஒரு தீபமே
பாவை மனம் பாடுதே
Is it a magical smile?
Or a golden moon?
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Is it a magical smile?
Or a golden moon?
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Life is like a vast sky,
Desire is a cloud within it.
Affection is a shining lamp,
And the maiden's heart sings.
மந்திர புன்னைகையோ
மஞ்சள் நிலவோ
கண்ணே கண்ணே
மந்திர புன்னகையோ
மஞ்சள் நிலவோ
கண்ணே கண்ணே
Is it a magical smile?
Or a golden moon?
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Is it a magical smile?
Or a golden moon?
My precious eyes, my dear one!
தேவதைகள் தேரினில்
போகிற நேரம்
தாமரைகள் ஆயிரம்
பாதையில் பூக்கும்
தேகம் தினம் பாடும்
பாவம் அதில் போகும்
நீ ஓடி வா
வாழ்க்கை என்னும் காவியம்
காலம் அன்பின் ஆலயம்
வா வா வா
When celestial angels travel in their chariots,
During that magical hour,
A thousand lotus flowers
Will bloom along the pathway.
The body will sing every day,
And sins/sorrows will fade away.
Come running to me!
Life is a grand epic poem,
Time is a temple of true love.
Come, come, come!
மந்திர புன்னைகையோ
மஞ்சள் நிலவோ
கண்ணே கண்ணே
Is it a magical smile?
Or a golden moon?
My precious eyes, my dear one!
ஆசைகள் இங்கே
குதிரைகள் ஆனால்
ஏழைகள் கூட
ஊர்வலம் போவார்
பூவும் மலர்ந்தாலும்
நாளும் மனம் வீசும்
வாழ்வை பார்க்கிறோம்
பொம்மலாட்டம் ஆடலாம்
போரும் செய்து பார்க்கலாம்
என்றும் வாழ்விலே
If desires here
Were to turn into horses,
Even the poor
Would ride in grand processions.
Flowers will bloom and sway,
Spreading fragrance every single day.
We observe life as it unfolds,
We can perform a puppet show,
Or even wage a pretend war,
Always in this life!
மந்திர புன்னகையோ
மஞ்சள் நிலவோ
கண்ணே கண்ணே
வாழ்க்கை ஒரு வானம்
ஆசை அதில் மேகம்
பாசம் ஒரு தீபமே
பாவை மனம் பாடுதே
Is it a magical smile?
Or a golden moon?
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Life is like a vast sky,
Desire is a cloud within it.
Affection is a shining lamp,
And the maiden's heart sings.
மந்திர புன்னகையோ
மஞ்சள் நிலவோ
கண்ணே கண்ணே
வாழ்க்கை ஒரு வானம்
ஆசை அதில் மேகம்
பாசம் ஒரு தீபமே
பாவை மனம் பாடுதே
Is it a magical smile?
Or a golden moon?
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Life is like a vast sky,
Desire is a cloud within it.
Affection is a shining lamp,
And the maiden's heart sings.
மந்திர புன்னகையோ
மஞ்சள் நிலவோ
கண்ணே கண்ணே
Is it a magical smile?
Or a golden moon?
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Mandhira punnagaiyo
Is it a magical smile?
Manjal nilavo
Or a golden moon?
Kannae kannae
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Mandhira punnagaiyo
Is it a magical smile?
Manjal nilavo
Or a golden moon?
Kannae kannae
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Vaazhkkai oru vaanam
Life is like a vast sky,
Aaasai adhil megam
Desire is a cloud within it.
Paasam oru dheepamae
Affection is a shining lamp,
Paavai manam paadudhae
And the maiden's heart sings.
Mandhira punnagaiyo
Is it a magical smile?
Manjal nilavo
Or a golden moon?
Kannae kannae
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Mandhira punnagaiyo
Is it a magical smile?
Manjal nilavo
Or a golden moon?
Kannae kannae
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Dhevadhaigal thaerinil
When celestial angels travel in their chariots,
Pogira neram
During that magical hour,
Thaamaraigal aayiram
A thousand lotus flowers
Paadhaiyil pookkum
Will bloom along the pathway.
Dhegam dhinam paadum
The body will sing every day,
Paavam adhil pogum
And sins/sorrows will fade away.
Nee odi vaa
Come running to me!
Vaazhkkai ennum kaaviyam
Life is a grand epic poem,
Kaalam anbin aalayam
Time is a temple of true love.
Vaa vaa vaa
Come, come, come!
Mandhira punnagaiyo
Is it a magical smile?
Manjal nilavo
Or a golden moon?
Kannae kannae
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Aasaigal ingae
If desires here
Kudhiraigal aanaal
Were to turn into horses,
Ezhaigal kooda
Even the poor
Oorvalam povaar
Would ride in grand processions.
Poovum malarndhaadum
Flowers will bloom and sway,
Naalum manam veesum
Spreading fragrance every single day.
Vaazhvai paarkkirom
We observe life as it unfolds,
Bommalaattam aadalaam
We can perform a puppet show,
Porum seidhu paarkkalaam
Or even wage a pretend war,
Endrum vaazhvilae
Always in this life!
Mandhira punnagaiyo
Is it a magical smile?
Manjal nilavo
Or a golden moon?
Kannae kannae
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Vaazhkkai oru vaanam
Life is like a vast sky,
Aasai adhil megam
Desire is a cloud within it.
Paasam oru dheepamae
Affection is a shining lamp,
Paavai manam paadudhae
And the maiden's heart sings.
Mandhira punnagaiyo
Is it a magical smile?
Manjal nilavo
Or a golden moon?
Kannae kannae
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Vaazhkkai oru vaanam
Life is like a vast sky,
Aasai adhil megam
Desire is a cloud within it.
Paasam oru dheepamae
Affection is a shining lamp,
Paavai manam paadudhae
And the maiden's heart sings.
Mandhira punnagaiyo
Is it a magical smile?
Manjal nilavo
Or a golden moon?
Kannae kannae
My precious eyes, my dear one!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Mandhira Punnagaiyo is a poetic and philosophical Tamil song that reflects on the transient yet beautiful nature of life, love, and human desires. Through rich imagery, the lyrics compare life to a sky where desires float like clouds, and affection serves as a guiding light. The song captures a joyful outlook on existence, suggesting that life can be approached like an epic, a temple of love, or even a play where people act out their dreams.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagaim (Metaphor)
“Vaazhkkai oru vaanam”
Life is directly equated to the sky ('Vaazhkkai oru vaanam') and time to a temple of love ('Kaalam anbin aalayam').
Mondai / Rhyme (Initial Assonance)
“Mandhira punnagaiyo / Manjal nilavo”
Alliteration and initial rhyme between 'Vaazhkkai' and 'Kaalam' or 'Mandhira' and 'Manjal'.
Edhugai (Second-letter Agreement)
“Aasaigal ingae / Kudhiraigal aanaal / Ezhaigal kooda”
Matching second consonants across lines like 'Aasaigal' and 'Ezhaigal'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics were penned by 'Isaignani' Ilaiyaraaja himself for the 1986 film Mandhira Punnagai, showcasing his multifaceted talent as a composer and lyricist.
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