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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manthoppu Kiliye

From Manthoppu Kiliye · 1979

Lyricist
M. A. Kaja
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Manthoppu Kiliye1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maanthoppu kiliyae machaana paaruOh parrot of the mango grove, look at your cousin!
Manasanthi kaana manasaara pazhagu pazhaguTo attain peace of mind, mingle wholeheartedly!
Female :Aaththottam polae azhagaaga pesiFemale: Speaking beautifully like the flowing river,
Kaathottam polae kalanthitten machaan machaanI blended in like the breeze, my dear cousin!
Male
Ambuttu podhum achaaram thaarenThat much is enough, I shall give my formal token.
Female :Ammammaa naanum aalana ponnuFemale: Oh my, I am a grown woman now!
Male
Ada ambuttu podhum achaaram thaarenHey, that much is enough, I shall give my formal token.
Female :Ammammaa naanum aalana ponnuFemale: Oh my, I am a grown woman now!
Male
Maanthoppu kiliyae machaana paaruOh parrot of the mango grove, look at your cousin!
Manasanthi kaana manasaara pazhagu pazhaguTo attain peace of mind, mingle wholeheartedly!
Female :Aaththottam polae azhagaaga pesiFemale: Speaking beautifully like the flowing river,
Kaathottam polae kalanthitten machaan machaanI blended in like the breeze, my dear cousin!
Male
Aalaana unna aalathaan ennaWhy shouldn't I rule over you, who has come of age?
Aandavan padachaan aasaiya vedhachaanGod created us and sowed desire in us.
Aalaana unna aalathaan ennaWhy shouldn't I rule over you, who has come of age?
Aandavan padachaan aasaiya vedhachaanGod created us and sowed desire in us.
Female
Aavani maasam thaavani pottenIn the month of Aavani, I wore the half-saree,
Adhukkullae pulla thaaladhu machaan machaanBefore long, a child cannot wait, my dear cousin!
Male
Maanthoppu kiliyae machaana paaruOh parrot of the mango grove, look at your cousin!
Manasanthi kaana manasaara pazhagu pazhaguTo attain peace of mind, mingle wholeheartedly!
Female :Aaththottam polae azhagaaga pesiFemale: Speaking beautifully like the flowing river,
Kaathottam polae kalanthitten machaan machaanI blended in like the breeze, my dear cousin!
Male
En maaman ponnae un maeni nogaOh my uncle's daughter, lest your body suffer,
Oru moonu varusham oru pulla vendamWe don't need a child for three years!
En maaman ponnae un maeni nogaOh my uncle's daughter, lest your body suffer,
Oru moonu varusham oru pulla vendamWe don't need a child for three years!
Female
Neruppoda panju nerungitta pochuIf cotton gets close to fire, it gets burned!
Neruppoda panju nerungitta pochuIf cotton gets close to fire, it gets burned!
Male
Naadengum onnu adhukaaga irukkuThere is something available across the country for that purpose...
Pulla…aaa….Child... ah...
Male
Maanthoppu kiliyae machaana paaruOh parrot of the mango grove, look at your cousin!
Manasanthi kaana manasaara pazhagu pazhaguTo attain peace of mind, mingle wholeheartedly!
Female :Aaththottam polae azhagaaga pesiFemale: Speaking beautifully like the flowing river,
Kaathottam polae kalanthitten machaan machaanI blended in like the breeze, my dear cousin!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Manthoppu Kiliye is a lively, folk-inspired romantic duet where a newly married or courting couple exchange playful expressions of love. The man addresses his beloved affectionately as a sweet parrot from the mango orchard, urging her to open her heart, while she responds by describing how effortlessly she fell for him like a gentle breeze along a flowing river.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Aaththottam polae azhagaaga pesi / Kaathottam polae kalanthitten

Compares her speech to a flowing river (Aaththottam polae) and her blending in love to a gentle breeze (Kaathottam polae).

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Maanthoppu kiliyae machaana paaru

Addresses the woman metaphorically as a 'parrot of the mango grove' (Maanthoppu kiliyae) symbolizing sweet beauty.

Metaphorical Proverb

Neruppoda panju nerungitta pochu

Uses the image of cotton catching fire when near flame to describe intense physical proximity and passion.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Aaththottam polae / Kaathottam polae

Rhyming of second consonants across lines (Aaththottam / Kaathottam).

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is from the 1979 Tamil film 'Naan Vazhavaippen' starring Sivaji Ganesan and K.R. Vijaya, with music composed by Shankar-Ganesh. The song creatively weaves family planning awareness—a major government initiative in late 1970s India—into a catchy rural folk romance.

Keep listening

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