Mayakkama Oru Thayakkama
From Naan Potta Savaal · 1980
- Lyricist
- Puratchi Dasan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Naan Potta Savaal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa | Is it infatuation or a hesitation? |
| Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa | Is it infatuation or a hesitation? |
| Intha mangai vanthu nindraalae | Now that this young woman has come and stood before you, |
| Sugam pongum inbam thannaalae | Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically. |
| Ilamaiyilae inimaiyilae thanimai enna | In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude? |
| Female | |
| Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa | Is it infatuation or a hesitation? |
| Female | |
| Ponnaadai thulla thulla | As the golden attire flutters and bounces, |
| Poo vannam kandaayaa | Did you behold the floral complexion? |
| Poo vannam kandu killa | Having seen the flower-like form, to pluck, |
| Paal vannam kandaayaa | Did you behold the milky white complexion? |
| Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa | Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman? |
| Female | |
| Ponnaadai thulla thulla | As the golden attire flutters and bounces, |
| Poo vannam kandaayaa | Did you behold the floral complexion? |
| Poo vannam kandu killa | Having seen the flower-like form, to pluck, |
| Paal vannam kandaayaa | Did you behold the milky white complexion? |
| Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa | Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman? |
| Female | |
| Unnodu kadhal endraal | If love is to be with you, |
| Oorodu vaazhvu endraal | If living life with the world is the way, |
| Ennenna aasai kannaa mayakkamaa | What endless desires do you hold, my dear? Is it infatuation? |
| Female | |
| Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa | Is it infatuation or a hesitation? |
| Intha mangai vanthu nindraalae | Now that this young woman has come and stood before you, |
| Sugam pongum inbam thannaalae | Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically. |
| Ilamaiyilae inimaiyilae thanimai enna | In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude? |
| Female | |
| Penn vaadai killa killa | As the woman's fragrance tickles your senses, |
| Pesaamal nindraayaa | Did you stand there speechlessly? |
| Pesaamal nindru mella koosaamal vanthaayaa | Standing silently, did you come softly without shyness? |
| Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa | Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman? |
| Female | |
| Penn vaadai killa killa | As the woman's fragrance tickles your senses, |
| Pesaamal nindraayaa | Did you stand there speechlessly? |
| Pesaamal nindru mella koosaamal vanthaayaa | Standing silently, did you come softly without shyness? |
| Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa | Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman? |
| Female | |
| Inbangal vaazhvu endraal | If life is meant for pleasures, |
| Eppothum sorkkam endraal | If it is meant to be an eternal paradise, |
| Ennenna aasai kannaa mayakkamaa | What endless desires do you hold, my dear? Is it infatuation? |
| Female | |
| Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa | Is it infatuation or a hesitation? |
| Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa | Is it infatuation or a hesitation? |
| Intha mangai vanthu nindraalae | Now that this young woman has come and stood before you, |
| Sugam pongum inbam thannaalae | Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically. |
| Ilamaiyilae inimaiyilae thanimai enna | In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude? |
மயக்கமா ஒரு தயக்கமா
மயக்கமா ஒரு தயக்கமா
இந்த மங்கை வந்து நின்றாலே
சுகம் பொங்கும் இன்பம் தன்னாலே
இளமையிலே இனிமையிலே தனிமை என்ன
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Now that this young woman has come and stood before you,
Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically.
In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude?
மயக்கமா ஒரு தயக்கமா
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
பொன்னாடைத் துள்ளத் துள்ள
பூ வண்ணம் கண்டாயா
பூ வண்ணம் கண்டு கிள்ள
பால் வண்ணம் கண்டாயா
மண்ணாசையா பொன்னாசையா பெண்ணாசையா
As the golden attire flutters and bounces,
Did you behold the floral complexion?
Having seen the flower-like form, to pluck,
Did you behold the milky white complexion?
Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman?
பொன்னாடைத் துள்ளத் துள்ள
பூ வண்ணம் கண்டாயா
பூ வண்ணம் கண்டு கிள்ள
பால் வண்ணம் கண்டாயா
மண்ணாசையா பொன்னாசையா பெண்ணாசையா
As the golden attire flutters and bounces,
Did you behold the floral complexion?
Having seen the flower-like form, to pluck,
Did you behold the milky white complexion?
Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman?
உன்னோடு காதல் என்றாள்
ஊரோடு வாழ்வு என்றாள்
என்னென்ன ஆசை கண்ணா மயக்கமா
If love is to be with you,
If living life with the world is the way,
What endless desires do you hold, my dear? Is it infatuation?
மயக்கமா ஒரு தயக்கமா
இந்த மங்கை வந்து நின்றாலே
சுகம் பொங்கும் இன்பம் தன்னாலே
இளமையிலே இனிமையிலே தனிமை என்ன
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Now that this young woman has come and stood before you,
Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically.
In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude?
பெண் வாடை கிள்ளக் கிள்ள
பேசாமல் நின்றாயா
பேசாமல் நின்று மெல்ல கூசாமல் வந்தாயா
மண்ணாசையா பொன்னாசையா பெண்ணாசையா
As the woman's fragrance tickles your senses,
Did you stand there speechlessly?
Standing silently, did you come softly without shyness?
Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman?
பெண் வாடை கிள்ளக் கிள்ள
பேசாமல் நின்றாயா
பேசாமல் நின்று மெல்ல கூசாமல் வந்தாயா
மண்ணாசையா பொன்னாசையா பெண்ணாசையா
As the woman's fragrance tickles your senses,
Did you stand there speechlessly?
Standing silently, did you come softly without shyness?
Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman?
இன்பங்கள் வாழ்வு என்றால்
எப்போதும் சொர்க்கம் என்றால்
என்னென்ன ஆசை கண்ணா மயக்கமா
If life is meant for pleasures,
If it is meant to be an eternal paradise,
What endless desires do you hold, my dear? Is it infatuation?
மயக்கமா ஒரு தயக்கமா"
மயக்கமா ஒரு தயக்கமா
இந்த மங்கை வந்து நின்றாலே
சுகம் பொங்கும் இன்பம் தன்னாலே
இளமையிலே இனிமையிலே தனிமை என்ன....
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Now that this young woman has come and stood before you,
Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically.
In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude?
Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Intha mangai vanthu nindraalae
Now that this young woman has come and stood before you,
Sugam pongum inbam thannaalae
Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically.
Ilamaiyilae inimaiyilae thanimai enna
In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude?
Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Ponnaadai thulla thulla
As the golden attire flutters and bounces,
Poo vannam kandaayaa
Did you behold the floral complexion?
Poo vannam kandu killa
Having seen the flower-like form, to pluck,
Paal vannam kandaayaa
Did you behold the milky white complexion?
Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa
Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman?
Ponnaadai thulla thulla
As the golden attire flutters and bounces,
Poo vannam kandaayaa
Did you behold the floral complexion?
Poo vannam kandu killa
Having seen the flower-like form, to pluck,
Paal vannam kandaayaa
Did you behold the milky white complexion?
Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa
Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman?
Unnodu kadhal endraal
If love is to be with you,
Oorodu vaazhvu endraal
If living life with the world is the way,
Ennenna aasai kannaa mayakkamaa
What endless desires do you hold, my dear? Is it infatuation?
Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Intha mangai vanthu nindraalae
Now that this young woman has come and stood before you,
Sugam pongum inbam thannaalae
Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically.
Ilamaiyilae inimaiyilae thanimai enna
In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude?
Penn vaadai killa killa
As the woman's fragrance tickles your senses,
Pesaamal nindraayaa
Did you stand there speechlessly?
Pesaamal nindru mella koosaamal vanthaayaa
Standing silently, did you come softly without shyness?
Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa
Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman?
Penn vaadai killa killa
As the woman's fragrance tickles your senses,
Pesaamal nindraayaa
Did you stand there speechlessly?
Pesaamal nindru mella koosaamal vanthaayaa
Standing silently, did you come softly without shyness?
Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa
Is it desire for land, desire for wealth, or desire for a woman?
Inbangal vaazhvu endraal
If life is meant for pleasures,
Eppothum sorkkam endraal
If it is meant to be an eternal paradise,
Ennenna aasai kannaa mayakkamaa
What endless desires do you hold, my dear? Is it infatuation?
Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa
Is it infatuation or a hesitation?
Intha mangai vanthu nindraalae
Now that this young woman has come and stood before you,
Sugam pongum inbam thannaalae
Pleasure overflows, bringing joy automatically.
Ilamaiyilae inimaiyilae thanimai enna
In youth and in sweetness, why this solitude?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This sensual and playful track depicts a woman enticing her lover while questioning his lingering hesitation and shyness. She wonders why he remains distant and isolated during the prime of youth when joy and romantic pleasure are readily available in her presence. The lyrics tap into classical Tamil concepts of worldly cravings—categorized traditionally as 'Mannaasai' (desire for land), 'Ponnaasai' (desire for wealth), and 'Pennaasai' (desire for women)—to tease him about what truly holds him back. Ultimately, she invites him to abandon his reservations and surrender to the sweetness of love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emonai / Initial Alliteration
“Ilamaiyilae inimaiyilae thanimai enna”
Repetition of initial vowel sound 'I' across 'Ilamaiyilae' and 'inimaiyilae' creating a melodic flow.
Iyaibu / End Rhyme & Internal Rhyme
“Mannaasaiyaa ponnaasaiyaa pennaasaiyaa”
Rhyming of classical Tamil worldly desire categories ending with '-aasaiyaa'.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Mayakkamaa oru thayakkaamaa”
Rhythmic repetition of the opening rhetorical question emphasizing the theme of hesitation.
Metaphor
“Poo vannam kandaayaa ... Paal vannam kandaayaa”
Comparing complexion and youthfulness to 'Poo vannam' (flower hue) and 'Paal vannam' (milk hue).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Naan Potta Savaal' (1980) was directed by Puratchi Dasan, who also penned the lyrics for this song. It starred Rajinikanth in a western-influenced action role. The song features a distinct sultry, western-cabaret style composition by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, rendered with expressive finesse by Vani Jairam.
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