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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mental Manadhil

From O Kadhal Kanmani · 2015

Lyricist
A. R. Rahman
Singers
A. R. Rahman, Jonita Gandhi
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
O Kadhal Kanmani2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Laila …like-a like my lailaLaila... like my Laila
Female :Like-a like your lailaFemale: Like your Laila
Male :Like-a like my lailaMale: Like my Laila
Male
Mana mana mana mental manadhilIn this crazy, crazy heart
Laka laka laka polla vayadhilIn this naughty, youthful age
Taka taka taka kottum isaiyilTo the fast-rhythmed beating music
OK en kanmani madiyilIt's OK in my darling's lap
Male
Mana mana mana mental manadhilIn this crazy, crazy heart
Laka laka laka polla vayadhilIn this naughty, youthful age
Taka taka taka kottum isaiyilTo the fast-rhythmed beating music
OK en kanmani madiyilIt's OK in my darling's lap
Male
Netru enbadhu indru illaiYesterday does not exist today
Naalai ninaippae oh thollaiThinking about tomorrow is a trouble
Like-a like my laila lailaLike my Laila, Laila
Indru mattum king and queenaJust for today, shall we be king and queen?
Male
Mana mana mana mental manadhilIn this crazy, crazy heart
Laka laka laka polla vayadhilIn this naughty, youthful age
Taka taka taka kottum isaiyilTo the fast-rhythmed beating music
OK en kanmani madiyilIt's OK in my darling's lap
Male
Laila …like-a like my lailaLaila... like my Laila
Female :Like-a like your lailaFemale: Like your Laila
Male :Like-a like my lailaMale: Like my Laila
Male
Kannalae killadhaeDon't pinch me with your eyes
Seendaamal selladhaeDon't leave without provoking me
Thottalae thulladhaeDon't leap away when touched
Vitaalum pogaadheDon't leave even if I let you go
Male
Kalyanam katcheriMarriage and grand celebrations
Samsaaram sammandhiFamily life and in-laws
Pen pillai aan pillaiGirl child and boy child
Aiyaiyo oh maanaeOh my goodness, dear!
Male
Mana mana mana mental manadhilIn this crazy, crazy heart
Laka laka lakaFemale :Polla vayadhilFemale: In this naughty youthful age
Taka taka takaFemale :Kottum isaiyilFemale: To the fast-rhythmed music
OK en kanmani madiyilIt's OK in my darling's lap
Male
Laila …like-a like my lailaLaila... like my Laila
Female :Like-a like your lailaFemale: Like your Laila
Male :Like-a like my lailaMale: Like my Laila
Female :Like-a like your lailaFemale: Like your Laila
Male :Lailaaa..lailaa..lailaaMale: Laila... Laila... Laila

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Mental Manadhil' is a vibrant, youthful anthem from Mani Ratnam's 'O Kadhal Kanmani' (2015), expressing the carefree, present-focused mindset of modern young lovers. The song rejects traditional marital expectations, domestic responsibilities, and future worries, advocating instead for living in the moment and enjoying youth and romance without commitments.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monal / Rhyming Onomatopoeia

Mana mana mana mental manadhil

Rhythmic repetition of catchy non-lexical words ('Mana mana', 'Laka laka', 'Taka taka') creates a high-energy beat and memorable hook.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Netru enbadhu indru illai / Naalai ninaippae oh thollai

The second consonant 't' ('tt') rhymes across lines to create internal structural harmony in classical Tamil prosody.

Anaphora / Alliteration

Laka laka laka polla vayadhil

Repetition of the 'Laka', 'Taka', and 'Mana' consonant patterns at the start of consecutive lines builds dynamic tempo.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Mental Manadhil' was composed by A. R. Rahman, who also penned the Tamil lyrics jointly with director Mani Ratnam. A Telugu version of the track was simultaneously released under the title 'Mental Madhilo'.

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