Marainthirunthu Parkum
From Thillana Mohanambal · 1968
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thillana Mohanambal1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| ……………………. | |
| Female | |
| { Marainthirundhu | What is the secret behind watching from hiding, |
| Paarkum marumam enna } (2) swamy | My Lord? |
| Female | |
| { Azhagar | Is it the beauty of Azhagar |
| Malai azhaga indha | Mountain that is beautiful, or |
| Silai azhaga endru | This statue-like maiden that is beautiful? |
| Marainthirundhu | What is the secret behind watching |
| Paarkum marumam enna } (2) | From hiding? |
| Female | |
| Navarasamum | All nine emotions... |
| Mugathil navarasamum | All nine emotions upon the face... |
| Female | |
| { Malarnthirukum | Blossoming upon the face, |
| Mugathil navarasamum | All nine emotions... |
| Chekka sivanthirukum | Deep red ripe fruit-like nectar |
| Idhazhil kani rasamum } (2) kandu | Upon the lips... seeing this, |
| Female | |
| Marainthirundhu | What is the secret behind watching |
| Paarkum marumam enna | From hiding? |
| Male | |
| ……………………. | |
| Female | |
| { Engirundhaalum | Wherever you may be, |
| Unnai naan ariven | I will know you. |
| Unnai ennaiyallaal veru | Who else besides me |
| Yaar arivaar } (2) | Can truly know you? |
| Female | |
| { Paavaiyin | Are you shy to see |
| Patham kaana naanamaa } (2) | This maiden's feet? |
| { Undhan paatuku | Should I not dance |
| Naan aada vendaama } (2) | To your song? |
| Female | |
| Malavaa | Oh Lord Vishnu! |
| Velavaa maayava shanmuga | Oh Velava! Oh mysterious Shanmuga! |
| Female : Marainthirundhu | What is the secret behind watching |
| Paarkum marumam enna | From hiding? |
| Male | |
| ……………………. | |
| Female | |
| { Naathathilae | In that musical melody, |
| Thalaivan kuzhal keten | I heard my lord's flute playing. |
| Andha naanathilae | In that bashfulness, |
| Ennai naan maranthen } (2) | I forgot myself completely. |
| Female | |
| { Mogathilae | Making me submerge |
| Ennai moozhga vaithu } (2) | In deep infatuation, |
| { Oru orathilae nindru kalvanai pol } (2) | Standing in a corner like a thief, |
| Female | |
| Malavaa | Oh Lord Vishnu! |
| Velavaa maayava shanmuga | Oh Velava! Oh mysterious Shanmuga! |
| Female | |
| Marainthirundhu | What is the secret behind watching |
| Paarkum marumam enna | From hiding? |
| Male | |
| ……………………. | |
| Female | |
| Maanaada | As the deer dance, |
| Malaraada mathi aada | As the flowers sway, as the moon dances, |
| Nadhi aada mangai | As the river flows and dances, this maiden |
| Ival nadanamaada | Dances her dance. |
| Female | |
| Vaanaada | As the sky sways, |
| Mannaada kodi aada | As the earth sways, as the creepers dance, |
| Idai aada vanji ival kaigal aada | As her waist sways, this maiden's hands dance. |
| Female | |
| Suvaiyodu | With great delight, |
| Naanaada enai naadi | As I dance, seeking me, |
| Ithuvelai iravinil | At this hour of the night, |
| Thunaiyaaga odi varuvaai | Come running as my companion, |
| Female | |
| Thooyanae | Oh Pure One! |
| Maalava maayanae | Oh Lord Vishnu, Oh Illusionist! |
| Velavaa enai aalum | Oh Velava who rules over me, |
| Shanmuga vaa | Oh Shanmuga, come! |
| Female | |
| Marainthirundhu | What is the secret behind watching |
| Paarkum marumam enna | From hiding? |
| Female | |
| Azhagar | Is it the beauty of Azhagar |
| Malai azhaga indha | Mountain that is beautiful, or |
| Silai azhaga endru | This statue-like maiden that is beautiful? |
| Marainthirundhu | What is the secret behind watching |
| Paarkum marumam enna… | From hiding? |
| Male | |
| …………………….. | |
......................
{ மறைந்திருந்து
பார்க்கும் மருமம் என்ன } (2)
ஸ்வாமி
What is the secret behind watching from hiding,
My Lord?
{ அழகர் மலை
அழகா இந்த சிலை
அழகா என்று மறைந்திருந்து
பார்க்கும் மருமம் என்ன } (2)
Is it the beauty of Azhagar
Mountain that is beautiful, or
This statue-like maiden that is beautiful?
What is the secret behind watching
From hiding?
நவரசமும்
முகத்தில் நவரசமும்
All nine emotions...
All nine emotions upon the face...
{ மலர்ந்திருக்கும்
முகத்தில் நவரசமும்
செக்க சிவந்திருக்கும்
இதழில் கனி ரசமும் } (2)
கண்டு
Blossoming upon the face,
All nine emotions...
Deep red ripe fruit-like nectar
Upon the lips... seeing this,
மறைந்திருந்து
பார்க்கும் மருமம் என்ன
What is the secret behind watching
From hiding?
........................
{ எங்கிருந்தாலும்
உன்னை நான் அறிவேன்
உன்னை என்னையல்லால்
வேறு யார் அறிவார் } (2)
Wherever you may be,
I will know you.
Who else besides me
Can truly know you?
{ பாவையின்
பதம் காண நாணமா } (2)
{ உந்தன் பாட்டுக்கு நான்
ஆட வேண்டாமா } (2)
Are you shy to see
This maiden's feet?
Should I not dance
To your song?
மாலவா
வேலவா மாயவா
ஷண்முகா
Oh Lord Vishnu!
Oh Velava! Oh mysterious Shanmuga!
What is the secret behind watching
From hiding?
மறைந்திருந்து
பார்க்கும் மருமம் என்ன
........................
In that musical melody,
I heard my lord's flute playing.
In that bashfulness,
I forgot myself completely.
{ நாதத்திலே
தலைவன் குழல் கேட்டேன்
அந்த நாணத்திலே என்னை
நான் மறந்தேன் } (2)
Making me submerge
In deep infatuation,
Standing in a corner like a thief,
மோகத்திலே
என்னை மூழ்க வைத்து } (2)
{ ஒரு ஓரத்திலே நின்று
கள்வனை போல் } (2)
Oh Lord Vishnu!
Oh Velava! Oh mysterious Shanmuga!
மாலவா
வேலவா மாயவா
ஷண்முகா
What is the secret behind watching
From hiding?
மறைந்திருந்து
பார்க்கும் மருமம் என்ன
........................
As the deer dance,
As the flowers sway, as the moon dances,
As the river flows and dances, this maiden
Dances her dance.
மானாட
மலராட மதி ஆட
நதி ஆட மங்கை
இவள் நடனமாட
As the sky sways,
As the earth sways, as the creepers dance,
As her waist sways, this maiden's hands dance.
வானாட
மண்ணாட கொடி
ஆட இடை ஆட
வஞ்சி இவள்
கைகள் ஆட
With great delight,
As I dance, seeking me,
At this hour of the night,
Come running as my companion,
சுவையோடு
நானாட என்னை நாடி
இதுவேளை இரவினில்
துணையாக ஓடி வருவாய்
Oh Pure One!
Oh Lord Vishnu, Oh Illusionist!
Oh Velava who rules over me,
Oh Shanmuga, come!
தூயனே மாலவா
மாயனே வேலவா என்னை
ஆளும் ஷண்முகா வா
What is the secret behind watching
From hiding?
மறைந்திருந்து
பார்க்கும் மருமம் என்ன
Is it the beauty of Azhagar
Mountain that is beautiful, or
This statue-like maiden that is beautiful?
What is the secret behind watching
From hiding?
அழகர் மலை
அழகா இந்த சிலை
அழகா என்று மறைந்திருந்து
பார்க்கும் மருமம் என்ன
........................
…………………….
{ Marainthirundhu
What is the secret behind watching from hiding,
Paarkum marumam enna } (2) swamy
My Lord?
{ Azhagar
Is it the beauty of Azhagar
Malai azhaga indha
Mountain that is beautiful, or
Silai azhaga endru
This statue-like maiden that is beautiful?
Marainthirundhu
What is the secret behind watching
Paarkum marumam enna } (2)
From hiding?
Navarasamum
All nine emotions...
Mugathil navarasamum
All nine emotions upon the face...
{ Malarnthirukum
Blossoming upon the face,
Mugathil navarasamum
All nine emotions...
Chekka sivanthirukum
Deep red ripe fruit-like nectar
Idhazhil kani rasamum } (2) kandu
Upon the lips... seeing this,
Marainthirundhu
What is the secret behind watching
Paarkum marumam enna
From hiding?
…………………….
{ Engirundhaalum
Wherever you may be,
Unnai naan ariven
I will know you.
Unnai ennaiyallaal veru
Who else besides me
Yaar arivaar } (2)
Can truly know you?
{ Paavaiyin
Are you shy to see
Patham kaana naanamaa } (2)
This maiden's feet?
{ Undhan paatuku
Should I not dance
Naan aada vendaama } (2)
To your song?
Malavaa
Oh Lord Vishnu!
Velavaa maayava shanmuga
Oh Velava! Oh mysterious Shanmuga!
Female : Marainthirundhu
What is the secret behind watching
Paarkum marumam enna
From hiding?
…………………….
{ Naathathilae
In that musical melody,
Thalaivan kuzhal keten
I heard my lord's flute playing.
Andha naanathilae
In that bashfulness,
Ennai naan maranthen } (2)
I forgot myself completely.
{ Mogathilae
Making me submerge
Ennai moozhga vaithu } (2)
In deep infatuation,
{ Oru orathilae nindru kalvanai pol } (2)
Standing in a corner like a thief,
Malavaa
Oh Lord Vishnu!
Velavaa maayava shanmuga
Oh Velava! Oh mysterious Shanmuga!
Marainthirundhu
What is the secret behind watching
Paarkum marumam enna
From hiding?
…………………….
Maanaada
As the deer dance,
Malaraada mathi aada
As the flowers sway, as the moon dances,
Nadhi aada mangai
As the river flows and dances, this maiden
Ival nadanamaada
Dances her dance.
Vaanaada
As the sky sways,
Mannaada kodi aada
As the earth sways, as the creepers dance,
Idai aada vanji ival kaigal aada
As her waist sways, this maiden's hands dance.
Suvaiyodu
With great delight,
Naanaada enai naadi
As I dance, seeking me,
Ithuvelai iravinil
At this hour of the night,
Thunaiyaaga odi varuvaai
Come running as my companion,
Thooyanae
Oh Pure One!
Maalava maayanae
Oh Lord Vishnu, Oh Illusionist!
Velavaa enai aalum
Oh Velava who rules over me,
Shanmuga vaa
Oh Shanmuga, come!
Marainthirundhu
What is the secret behind watching
Paarkum marumam enna
From hiding?
Azhagar
Is it the beauty of Azhagar
Malai azhaga indha
Mountain that is beautiful, or
Silai azhaga endru
This statue-like maiden that is beautiful?
Marainthirundhu
What is the secret behind watching
Paarkum marumam enna…
From hiding?
……………………..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Marainthirundhu Paarkum Marumam Enna is an iconic classical Bharatanatyam song from the film Thillana Mohanambal (1968). In this song, the heroine Mohanambal (played by Padmini) performs a captivating dance while playfully questioning her beloved (who is hiding behind a pillar) about why he watches her in secret instead of stepping forward. She tantalizingly asks if he is entranced by the grandeur of the Azhagar hill or by her sculpted, statue-like form as she dances to his music. The song artfully blends divine devotion (Bhakti) with romantic longing (Sringara Rasa), drawing rich parallels with nature where the moon, rivers, and deer all seem to dance in harmony with her movements.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Maanaada Malaraada mathi aada”
Repetition of the initial 'M' sound across words creates melodic rhythm.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Vaanaada Mannaada kodi aada”
Repetition of the ending sound '-aada' across multiple lines to build rhythmic momentum during the dance.
Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)
“Silai azhaga endru / Oru orathilae nindru kalvanai pol”
Compares her sculpted dancer body to an exquisite statue (Silai) and her lover standing in the corner to a thief (Kalvan).
Rhetorical Question (Aanandhavina)
“Marainthirundhu Paarkum marumam enna”
Repeatedly asking 'What is the mystery behind watching secretly?' to express romantic playful tease.
Did you know?
Trivia
This classic song was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, written by the legendary poet Kannadasan, and rendered by P. Susheela for the landmark Tamil film Thillana Mohanambal (1968). Set in the grand carnatic ragam Shanmukhapriya, the song features intricate solkattu (rhythmic syllables) that showcase Padmini's mastery over Bharatanatyam.
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