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Lyrics & meaning

Meena Hello Meena

From Mambazhathu Vandu · 1979

Lyricist
Jaya Ravi
Singer
P. Jayachandran
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Mambazhathu Vandu1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Meena …halomeena…kangal kadal meenaMeena... hello Meena... your eyes are fish of the sea,
Vinnin oli meenaA starlight fish of the sky,
Mannin pon meenaA golden fish of the earth,
Mannan kodi meena pudhu mogam unnidamA king's flag fish, a new passion arises towards you!
Male
Meena …halomeena…kangal kadal meenaMeena... hello Meena... your eyes are fish of the sea,
Vinnin oli meenaA starlight fish of the sky,
Mannin pon meenaA golden fish of the earth,
Mannan kodi meena pudhu mogam unnidamA king's flag fish, a new passion arises towards you!
Male
Kannam kaniyendraal ennam kiliyaanadhuIf your cheek is a fruit, my thoughts became a parrot,
Vannam malar endraal kangal vandaanadhuIf your shade is a flower, my eyes became a honeybee,
Kannam kaniyendraal ennam kiliyaanadhuIf your cheek is a fruit, my thoughts became a parrot,
Vannam malar endraal kangal vandaanadhuIf your shade is a flower, my eyes became a honeybee,
Paadadha pudhu raagam naan paadavaShall I sing an unsung new melody?
Pazhagaadha mayilattam nee aada vaaCome dance an unfamiliar peacock dance!
Paadadha pudhu raagam naan paadavaShall I sing an unsung new melody?
Pazhagaadha mayilattam nee aada vaaCome dance an unfamiliar peacock dance!
Kaadhal inimai thandhadhuLove has brought sweetness,
Kaadhal inimai thandhadhuLove has brought sweetness,
Male
Meena …halomeena…kangal kadal meenaMeena... hello Meena... your eyes are fish of the sea,
Vinnin oli meenaA starlight fish of the sky,
Mannin pon meenaA golden fish of the earth,
Mannan kodi meena pudhu mogam unnidamA king's flag fish, a new passion arises towards you!
Male
Minnal kodi thaanae undhan idaiyanadhuYour waist itself became a flash of lightning,
Meiyum maanthaanae anjum nadaiyanadhuYour body is like a gentle deer, walking with timid steps,
Minnal kodi thaanae undhan idaiyanadhuYour waist itself became a flash of lightning,
Meiyum maanthaanae anjum nadaiyanadhuYour body is like a gentle deer, walking with timid steps,
Azhagaana rathidevi neeyallavaa dhinamAren't you the beautiful goddess Rathi every day?
Kavi paadum manmadham naan allavaAm I not the poetically singing Manmadha (Cupid)?
Azhagaana rathidevi neeyallavaa dhinamAren't you the beautiful goddess Rathi every day?
Kavi paadum manmadham naan allavaAm I not the poetically singing Manmadha (Cupid)?
Kaadhal kalaiyae arugil vaaO art of love, come closer!
Kaadhal kalaiyae arugil vaaO art of love, come closer!
Male
Meena …halomeena…kangal kadal meenaMeena... hello Meena... your eyes are fish of the sea,
Vinnin oli meenaA starlight fish of the sky,
Mannin pon meenaA golden fish of the earth,
Mannan kodi meena pudhu mogam unnidamA king's flag fish, a new passion arises towards you!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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