- Lyricist
- Jaya Ravi
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Mambazhathu Vandu
- Movie release year
- 1979
- Lyrics added on
- 5 May 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This romantic track from the 1979 Tamil film 'Mambazhathu Vandu', composed by Shankar-Ganesh and rendered by P. Jayachandran, is an affectionate serenade to a woman named Meena. The lyricist Jaya Ravi cleverly plays on the name 'Meena', which translates to 'fish' in Tamil, using it to compare her eyes and essence to fish found in the ocean, stars in the sky, golden treasures on earth, and royal flags. The protagonist expresses his deep fascination through rich nature-inspired metaphors—describing his thoughts as a parrot attracted to her fruit-like cheeks, his eyes as bees drawn to her blossom, and her movements to a timid deer and a dancing peacock. Elevating the romantic adoration, he paints them as the divine lovers Rathi and Manmadha, beckoning her to embrace the sweetness and art of love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Wordplay (Sledai)
“Meena …halomeena…kangal kadal meena”
The song repeatedly plays on the word 'Meena', which is both the heroine's name and the Tamil word for fish (meen).
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Vinnin oli meena / Mannin pon meena”
Directly compares the eyes to various symbolic fish of the ocean, sky, earth, and royal crests.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Vinnin oli meena / Mannin pon meena / Mannan kodi meena”
Matching second consonant sounds across lines (Vinnin / Mannin / Mannan) creating rhythm.
Simile and Metaphor (Upamai & Uruvam)
“Kannam kaniyendraal ennam kiliyaanadhu / Vannam malar endraal kangal vandaanadhu”
Compares her cheeks to a fruit attracting a parrot-like mind, and her colorful form to a flower attracting bee-like eyes.
Mythological Allusion
“Azhagaana rathidevi neeyallavaa dhinam / Kavi paadum manmadham naan allava”
Refers to Rathi (goddess of love and beauty) and Manmadha (the god of love), comparing the lovers to divine romantic figures.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Mambazhathu Vandu' features music by the prolific duo Shankar-Ganesh, who were among the most sought-after composers in Tamil film music during the late 1970s and 1980s. Sung by P. Jayachandran, the track's clever lyrics by Jaya Ravi showcase classical Tamil poetic conventions adapted into popular film music.
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