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Isaimozhi
Varnam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Muniya

From Varnam · 2011

Lyricist
Raghu
Singer
Jayamoorthy
Music director
Isaac Thomas Kottukapally
Movie name
Varnam
Movie release year
2011
Lyrics added on
11 Feb 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Muniya
Paasakaara muniyandi
Kovakara mudiyandi
Paasakaran roshakaran
Veshakara muniyaandi
Kadhai irukku kadahi irukku
Kadahaiku oru vidhai irukku
Veppillaiyil adichu
Kadahaiyai sollatume
Malaiyinile muni irukku
Munikku oru mugam irukku
Vepillaiyil adichu
Mugathai kattatuma
Azhagarodu kuthirai thaane
Muniyanodu vaganam
Nadu saamathil kaavalukku
Varuvaan iya
Maeni nalla senniram
Uruvam rendum pana maram
Nadakayil salangai mani
Satham varum
Dhaegam engum santhanam
Solla poren manthiram
Udukka adichu ukkurathil
Ratham soodum
Ho.muniya…Ho..muniya
Mala mela kula koyil
Purangkaaka varuvan padaiyaali
Maaveeran kadai sera
Malai eri varuvane Vizhiyaali
Vizhi rendum vilaiyaadum sathiraadi
En uyire neethaandi
En uyire neethaandi
Ho.muniya…Ho..muniya
Malayil ulla nagai edukka
Guthirayile vadakkil ulla kollaikaaran
VAnthaan amma
Azhagu raani mugathai antha
Kazhugu vanthu paarkaiyil
Kaama karan Dhegathai thaan thinnaan amma
Karugi pona poomaram
Kalanji pona saamaram
GAngayile kan vizhyil
Ratham varum
Ivan vizhyil porgunam
Yuir varayil vaer vidum
VAaal edutha thala therichu odi vidum
Arai nimida porkalam
Avanum malayil iykkiyam
Kaval kara muniyaandi aanan amma
Muniya poda po
Muniya malai erada saami
Munia...
Loving Muniyandi,
Fierce-tempered Muniyandi,
Full of affection, full of fiery pride,
Muniyandi, master of many guises!
There is a story, there is a story,
There is a seed of truth behind this story!
Shall I wave the neem leaves
And tell you the story?
On the mountain resides Muni,
Muni has a majestic face,
Shall I wave the neem leaves
And reveal his face to you?
The grand horse of Lord Azhagar
Is the mount of Muniyan,
At the stroke of midnight to stand guard,
He will arrive, my friend!
His body glows bright crimson red,
Standing as tall as two palm trees,
As he walks, the bells on his ankles
Ring out with every step.
Sandalwood paste smeared all over his body,
I am about to chant the sacred mantra,
Beating the udukkai (folk drum) in fierce trance,
The blood boils hot!
Munia... ho ho ho ho!
A family shrine rests atop the mountain,
The warrior comes to guard its borders!
To welcome the great warrior,
The bright-eyed girl comes climbing up the hill!
Her eyes dance playfully,
"You are my very life!"
"You are my very life!"
Ho Munia... ho Munia!
To steal the jewels kept on the hill,
On horseback, a bandit from the north
Came riding down, mother!
When that predatory vulture of a man
Looked upon the beautiful queen,
His lustful eyes devoured her body, mother!
The flowering tree was charred,
The sacred whisk was tossed away,
With boiling rage burning inside,
Blood shot into his eyes!
A warrior spirit blazes in his eyes,
Striking root deep into his soul,
If he draws his sword, severed heads go flying!
A battle that lasted barely half a minute,
And then he merged into the mountain,
Becoming the guardian deity Muniyandi, mother!
Go on, Munia, go!
Climb up the mountain, O Lord Munia!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Muniya' is a powerful folk-deity ballad from the movie Varnam (2011), composed by Isaac Thomas Kottukapally and sung by Jayamoorthy. The song invokes Muniyandi, a revered guardian deity (Kaval Deivam) in rural Tamil folk traditions. Through rhythmic drumming (udukkai) and vivid imagery, the singer narrates the legend of a heroic warrior who protected his land and people against an invading robber from the north.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Uruvam rendum pana maram”

Compares the towering physical stature of deity Muniyandi to the height of two stacked palmyra trees.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Paasakaran roshakaran / Veshakara muniyaandi”

The second consonant 's' matches across 'Paasakaran' and 'Veshakara', creating a rhythmic cadence in Tamil folk poetry.

Imagery & Symbolism

“Veppillaiyil adichu / Kadahaiyai sollatume”

Uses ritualistic elements like neem leaves (veppillai), sandalwood paste (santhanam), and the Udukkai drum to evoke divine trance and local spiritual tradition.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Muniya' showcases authentic Tamil folk singing styles, rendered by traditional folk singer Jayamoorthy. Isaac Thomas Kottukapally, known for his subtle art-house cinema scores, utilized native percussion instruments like the Udukkai to capture the authentic ritualistic trance and spiritual fervor associated with Tamil Nadu's Kaaval Deivam (guardian deity) worship.

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