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Salangai Oli album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mounamaana Neram

From Salangai Oli · 1983

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Salangai Oli
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
8 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mounamaana neram
Mounamaana neram ila manadhil enna bhaaram
Mounamaana neram ila manadhil enna bhaaram
Manadhil osaigal idhazhil mounangal
Manadhil osaigal idhazhil mounangal
Yenn endru kelungal
Ithu mounamaana neram ila manadhil enna bhaaram
Ilamai sumaiyai manam thaangi kollumo
Pulambum alaiyai kadal moodi kollumo
Female :Kozhikkum orr kili kodhikkum neer thuli
Kozhikkum orr kili kodhikkum neer thuli
Male :Oodalaana maargazhi neelamaana raathiri
Female :Nee vanthu aadhari
Mounamaana neram ila manadhil enna bhaaram
Ivalin manadhil innum iravin geethamo
Kodiyil malargal kulir kaayum neramo
Male :Paadhai thediyae paadham pogumo
Paadhai thediyae paadham pogumo
Female :Aadalaana nesamo kanavu kandu koosumo
Male :Thanimaiyodu pesumo
Mounamaana neram ila manadhil enna bhaaram
Ithu mounamaana neram ila manadhil enna bhaaram
Manadhil osaigal idhazhil mounangal
Manadhil osaigal idhazhil mounangal
Yenn endru kelungal
Ithu mounamaana neram ila manadhil enna bhaaram
A silent hour...
In this silent hour, what burden weighs upon this young heart?
In this silent hour, what burden weighs upon this young heart?
Echoes in the heart, silence on the lips...
Echoes in the heart, silence on the lips...
Ask me why...
This is a silent hour, what burden weighs upon this young heart?
Can the heart bear the heavy burden of youth?
Can the sea ever conceal its crying waves?
A tender parrot, a boiling drop of water...
A tender parrot, a boiling drop of water...
A sulking Margazhi (winter season), a long and restless night...
Come, hold and comfort me...
In this silent hour, what burden weighs upon this young heart?
Is the song of the night still echoing in her heart?
Is it time for flowers on the vine to warm themselves against the cold?
Will searching feet wander looking for a path?
Will searching feet wander looking for a path?
Is this a dancing love, shyly blushing in its dreams?
Will it speak only to loneliness?
In this silent hour, what burden weighs upon this young heart?
This is a silent hour, what burden weighs upon this young heart?
Echoes in the heart, silence on the lips...
Echoes in the heart, silence on the lips...
Ask me why...
This is a silent hour, what burden weighs upon this young heart?
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Mounamaana Neram captures a deep, quiet intimacy between two lovers who share intense emotions that words cannot fully express. The song contrasts the loud, tumultuous emotions raging within the heart ('Manadhil osaigal') with the serene silence held on the lips ('idhazhil mounangal'). Through delicate natural metaphors—such as ocean waves, winter nights in the month of Maargazhi, and flowers seeking warmth—it expresses the vulnerability, longing, and delicate warmth of love during a quiet night.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

Manadhil osaigal idhazhil mounangal

Contrasts inner emotional noise ('osaigal') with external silence ('mounangal') to emphasize deep unexpressed feelings.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Pulambum alaiyai kadal moodi kollumo

Compares internal emotional grief to waves lamenting inside an ocean that tries to conceal them.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kozhikkum orr kili kodhikkum neer thuli

Repetition of the 'Ko' phonetic sound ('Kozhikkum', 'kodhikkum') creating a rhythmic, musical quality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Salangai Oli (1983) is the Tamil version of the legendary Telugu musical film Sagara Sangamam directed by K. Viswanath, starring Kamal Haasan and Jayaprada. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, and this iconic duet was rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

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