Muthu Manikka Kangal
From Thunaivi · 1981
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Thunaivi1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Muththu maanikka kangal | Eyes like pearls and rubies, |
| Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal | A ruby-like body playing in the water, |
| Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal | A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire. |
| Male | |
| Muththu maanikka kangal | Eyes like pearls and rubies, |
| Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal | A ruby-like body playing in the water, |
| Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal | A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire. |
| Male | |
| Sangathamiz thottam vanna mayil aattam | A garden of Sangam Tamil, the dance of a colorful peacock, |
| Sangathamiz thottam vanna mayil aattam | A garden of Sangam Tamil, the dance of a colorful peacock, |
| Thamarayin mottu udal kattu athu thangathattu | A body structured like a lotus bud, an exquisite golden plate, |
| Thaazhai madal polae neenthum koondhal | Hair flowing like the leaves of a screwpine tree, |
| Adhai mella mella alli kolvaen thottu | I shall gently gather and hold it with a tender touch. |
| Male | |
| Muththu maanikka kangal | Eyes like pearls and rubies, |
| Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal | A ruby-like body playing in the water, |
| Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal | A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire. |
| Male | |
| Muththu maanikka kangal | Eyes like pearls and rubies, |
| Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal | A ruby-like body playing in the water, |
| Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal | A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire. |
| Female | |
| Nettri ilavannam suttrum vizhi kinnam | A forehead blooming with youthful hue, eyes rounded like small bowls, |
| Nettri ilavannam suttrum vizhi kinnam | A forehead blooming with youthful hue, eyes rounded like small bowls, |
| Neenthi vanthu mella kadhai solla | To swim up gently and tell a story, |
| Unai suttri kolla | To wrap around and hold you tight, |
| Neenthi vanthu mella kadhai solla | To swim up gently and tell a story, |
| Unai suttri kolla | To wrap around and hold you tight, |
| Female | |
| Aasai mazhai vellaam enai alla | The flood of desire's rain engulfs me completely, |
| Udal ankkumingum thullum kollai kolla | The body leaps here and there, stealing hearts away. |
| Male | |
| Muththu maanikka kangal | Eyes like pearls and rubies, |
| Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal | A ruby-like body playing in the water, |
| Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal | A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire. |
| Male | |
| Muththu maanikka kangal | Eyes like pearls and rubies, |
| Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal | A ruby-like body playing in the water, |
| Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal | A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire. |
| Male | |
| Vaazhai ilang kaalgal vanjikkodi kaigal | Legs like tender plantain stems, arms like slender creeping vines, |
| Vaazhai ilang kaalgal vanjikkodi kaigal | Legs like tender plantain stems, arms like slender creeping vines, |
| Medaiyilla sorkkam adhil vetkkam | A stageless heaven filled with romantic shyness, |
| Adhu inthapakkam | That heaven resides right here on this side, |
| Medaiyilla sorkkam adhil vetkkam | A stageless heaven filled with romantic shyness, |
| Adhu inthapakkam | That heaven resides right here on this side, |
| Female | |
| Pothumena solla manamillai | The heart does not have the will to say it is enough, |
| Naan thangam polae angam konda mullai | I am a jasmine blossom endowed with a golden frame. |
முத்து மாணிக்க கண்கள்
ரத்தின மேனி நீர் விளையாடல்
எழில் மோக ரதம் ஊர்வலத்தில் பாடிடும் பாடல்
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
முத்து மாணிக்க கண்கள்
ரத்தின மேனி நீர் விளையாடல்
எழில் மோக ரதம் ஊர்வலத்தில் பாடிடும் பாடல்
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
சங்கத் தமிழ் தோட்டம் வண்ண மயில் ஆட்டம்
சங்கத் தமிழ் தோட்டம் வண்ண மயில் ஆட்டம்
தாமரையின் மொட்டு உடல் கட்டு அது தங்கத்தட்டு
தாழை மடல் போலே நீந்தும் கூந்தல்
அதை மெல்ல மெல்ல அள்ளிக் கொள்வேன் தொட்டு
A garden of Sangam Tamil, the dance of a colorful peacock,
A garden of Sangam Tamil, the dance of a colorful peacock,
A body structured like a lotus bud, an exquisite golden plate,
Hair flowing like the leaves of a screwpine tree,
I shall gently gather and hold it with a tender touch.
முத்து மாணிக்க கண்கள்
ரத்தின மேனி நீர் விளையாடல்
எழில் மோக ரதம் ஊர்வலத்தில் பாடிடும் பாடல்
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
முத்து மாணிக்க கண்கள்
ரத்தின மேனி நீர் விளையாடல்
எழில் மோக ரதம் ஊர்வலத்தில் பாடிடும் பாடல்
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
நெற்றி இளவண்ணம் சுற்றும் விழி கிண்ணம்
நெற்றி இளவண்ணம் சுற்றும் விழி கிண்ணம்
நீந்தி வந்து மெல்ல கதை சொல்ல
உனைச் சுற்றிக் கொள்ள
நீந்தி வந்து மெல்ல கதை சொல்ல
உனைச் சுற்றிக் கொள்ள
A forehead blooming with youthful hue, eyes rounded like small bowls,
A forehead blooming with youthful hue, eyes rounded like small bowls,
To swim up gently and tell a story,
To wrap around and hold you tight,
To swim up gently and tell a story,
To wrap around and hold you tight,
ஆசை மழை வெள்ளம் எனை அள்ள
உடல் அங்குமிங்கும் துள்ளும் கொள்ளை கொள்ள
The flood of desire's rain engulfs me completely,
The body leaps here and there, stealing hearts away.
முத்து மாணிக்க கண்கள்
ரத்தின மேனி நீர் விளையாடல்
எழில் மோக ரதம் ஊர்வலத்தில் பாடிடும் பாடல்
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
முத்து மாணிக்க கண்கள்
ரத்தின மேனி நீர் விளையாடல்
எழில் மோக ரதம் ஊர்வலத்தில் பாடிடும் பாடல்
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
..............................
Legs like tender plantain stems, arms like slender creeping vines,
Legs like tender plantain stems, arms like slender creeping vines,
A stageless heaven filled with romantic shyness,
That heaven resides right here on this side,
A stageless heaven filled with romantic shyness,
That heaven resides right here on this side,
வாழை இளங்கால்கள் வஞ்சிக்கொடி கைகள்
வாழை இளங்கால்கள் வஞ்சிக்கொடி கைகள்
மேடையிட்ட சொர்க்கம் அதில் வெட்கம்
அது இந்தப் பக்கம்
மேடையிட்ட சொர்க்கம் அதில் வெட்கம்
அது இந்தப் பக்கம்
The heart does not have the will to say it is enough,
I am a jasmine blossom endowed with a golden frame.
போதுமென சொல்ல மனமில்லை
நான் தங்கம் போலே அங்கம் கொண்ட முல்லை
{முத்து மாணிக்க கண்கள்
ரத்தின மேனி நீர் விளையாடல்
எழில் மோக ரதம் ஊர்வலத்தில் பாடிடும் பாடல்} (2)
Muththu maanikka kangal
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
Muththu maanikka kangal
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
Sangathamiz thottam vanna mayil aattam
A garden of Sangam Tamil, the dance of a colorful peacock,
Sangathamiz thottam vanna mayil aattam
A garden of Sangam Tamil, the dance of a colorful peacock,
Thamarayin mottu udal kattu athu thangathattu
A body structured like a lotus bud, an exquisite golden plate,
Thaazhai madal polae neenthum koondhal
Hair flowing like the leaves of a screwpine tree,
Adhai mella mella alli kolvaen thottu
I shall gently gather and hold it with a tender touch.
Muththu maanikka kangal
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
Muththu maanikka kangal
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
Nettri ilavannam suttrum vizhi kinnam
A forehead blooming with youthful hue, eyes rounded like small bowls,
Nettri ilavannam suttrum vizhi kinnam
A forehead blooming with youthful hue, eyes rounded like small bowls,
Neenthi vanthu mella kadhai solla
To swim up gently and tell a story,
Unai suttri kolla
To wrap around and hold you tight,
Neenthi vanthu mella kadhai solla
To swim up gently and tell a story,
Unai suttri kolla
To wrap around and hold you tight,
Aasai mazhai vellaam enai alla
The flood of desire's rain engulfs me completely,
Udal ankkumingum thullum kollai kolla
The body leaps here and there, stealing hearts away.
Muththu maanikka kangal
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
Muththu maanikka kangal
Eyes like pearls and rubies,
Raththina meni neer vilaiyaadal
A ruby-like body playing in the water,
Ezhil moga ratham oorvalaththil paadidum paadal
A song sung during the grand procession of the beautiful chariot of desire.
Vaazhai ilang kaalgal vanjikkodi kaigal
Legs like tender plantain stems, arms like slender creeping vines,
Vaazhai ilang kaalgal vanjikkodi kaigal
Legs like tender plantain stems, arms like slender creeping vines,
Medaiyilla sorkkam adhil vetkkam
A stageless heaven filled with romantic shyness,
Adhu inthapakkam
That heaven resides right here on this side,
Medaiyilla sorkkam adhil vetkkam
A stageless heaven filled with romantic shyness,
Adhu inthapakkam
That heaven resides right here on this side,
Pothumena solla manamillai
The heart does not have the will to say it is enough,
Naan thangam polae angam konda mullai
I am a jasmine blossom endowed with a golden frame.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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