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Isaimozhi
Thunaivi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Muthu Manikka Kangal

From Thunaivi · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thunaivi
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
23 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Muththu maanikka kangal
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
Muththu maanikka kangal
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
Sangathamiz thottam vanna mayil aattam
Sangathamiz thottam vanna mayil aattam
Thamarayin mottu udal kattu athu thangathattu
Thaazhai madal polae neenthum koondhal
Adhai mella mella alli kolvaen thottu
Muththu maanikka kangal
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
Muththu maanikka kangal
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
Nettri ilavannam suttrum vizhi kinnam
Nettri ilavannam suttrum vizhi kinnam
Neenthi vanthu mella kadhai solla
Unai suttri kolla
Neenthi vanthu mella kadhai solla
Unai suttri kolla
Aasai mazhai vellaam enai alla
Udal ankkumingum thullum kollai kolla
Muththu maanikka kangal
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
Muththu maanikka kangal
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
Vaazhai ilang kaalgal vanjikkodi kaigal
Vaazhai ilang kaalgal vanjikkodi kaigal
Medaiyilla sorkkam adhil vetkkam
Adhu inthapakkam
Medaiyilla sorkkam adhil vetkkam
Adhu inthapakkam
Pothumena solla manamillai
Naan thangam polae angam konda mullai
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A gem-like body playing in the water,
A song sung as this lovely chariot of desire parades by.
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A gem-like body playing in the water,
A song sung as this lovely chariot of desire parades by.
A garden of Sangam (ancient Tamil literary tradition), the dance of a colorful peacock,
A garden of Sangam (ancient Tamil literary tradition), the dance of a colorful peacock,
A body shaped like a lotus bud, radiant like a golden plate,
Hair floating in the water like fragrant screw-pine leaves,
I will gently gather it with a tender touch.
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A gem-like body playing in the water,
A song sung as this lovely chariot of desire parades by.
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A gem-like body playing in the water,
A song sung as this lovely chariot of desire parades by.
A tender glow on the forehead, swirling eyes like little cups,
A tender glow on the forehead, swirling eyes like little cups,
Swimming closer to softly tell sweet stories,
And wrap myself around you,
Swimming closer to softly tell sweet stories,
And wrap myself around you,
As a flood of desire sweeps me away,
The body leaps here and there, totally enchanted.
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A gem-like body playing in the water,
A song sung as this lovely chariot of desire parades by.
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A gem-like body playing in the water,
A song sung as this lovely chariot of desire parades by.
Tender legs like young banana trees, arms like slender vines,
Tender legs like young banana trees, arms like slender vines,
A heaven without a stage, and the shyness
That rests on this side,
A heaven without a stage, and the shyness
That rests on this side,
The heart has no wish to say it is enough,
For I am a jasmine flower with a body of gold.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This sensual duet from the 1981 Tamil film 'Thunaivi' celebrates romantic passion and aquatic intimacy between lovers. Rich in classical imagery, the song portrays the heroine's physical beauty using classic Tamil poetic tropes—comparing her eyes to rubies and pearls, her hair to screwpine leaves, her legs to tender plantain stems, and her arms to delicate vines. Set against a melody composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, the track portrays a playful, affectionate exchange where physical affection and emotional closeness merge seamlessly into an uninhibited, heavenly experience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile)

“Thaazhai madal polae neenthum koondhal”

Compares long, flowing hair directly to the leaves of the screwpine tree using 'polae' (like).

Uruvagham (Metaphor)

“Sangathamiz thottam vanna mayil aattam”

Metaphorically describes the woman's beauty as an artistic, flourishing garden of Sangam Tamil poetry.

Etukai (Second letter rhyme) & Monai (Alliteration)

“Vaazhai ilang kaalgal vanjikkodi kaigal”

Uses matching initial consonants 'Va' in 'Vaazhai' and 'Vanjikkodi' along with classical physical metaphors.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by legendary maestro M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this track showcases Kannadasan's expertise in drawing metaphors straight from classical Sangam literature (such as comparing arms to vines and legs to plantain stems) and adapting them smoothly into popular film music aesthetics.

Keep listening

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