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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naalum En Manam

From Nilavu Suduvathillai · 1984

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki, GK. Vidhya
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nilavu Suduvathillai1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Kangal theettum anjanamThe kohl that adorns the eyes
Kaigal poosum sandhanamThe sandalwood paste applied by the hands
Un manam pon manamYour heart is a golden heart
Female
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Female
Raasa raasa chozhan tharumGiven by the great King Chola
SimhaasanamA grand throne
Male :Thevai illai paavai udalMale: Is not needed; the lady's body
Pon aasanamIs a golden seat
Female
Thendral vandhu podumThe gentle breeze comes and lays
Oru poo aasanamA seat of flowers
Male :Thaenil gangai odumMale: The Ganges flows with honey
Adhil neer paasanamIrrigating with that water
Female
Ezhu vanna vaanavililIn the seven-colored rainbow
Aadum thoranamHangs a swaying festoon
Ezhu vanna vaanavililIn the seven-colored rainbow
Aadum thoranamHangs a swaying festoon
Male
Naalai nalla naalai paarthuLooking forward to a good day tomorrow
Paadum naayanamThe Nadaswaram pipe plays
Male
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Kangal theettum anjanamThe kohl that adorns the eyes
Kaigal poosum sandhanamThe sandalwood paste applied by the hands
Un manam pon manamYour heart is a golden heart
Male
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Male
Angum ingum thullum vizhiyaeOh eyes that leap here and there
Maan inamBelonging to the deer breed
Female :Aasai kondu pesum thamizhaeFemale: Oh Tamil language spoken with desire
Thaen inamIs like sweet honey
Male
Kann varaindha ponnoviyamA golden painting drawn by the eyes
Nee noodhanamYou are novel and unique
Female :Kaadhal inbam naalum tharumFemale: Giving the bliss of love every day
Un poo vanamIs your flower garden
Male
Poo marangal engum engalEverywhere on flowering trees is our
Kaadhal saasanamEdict of love
Poo marangal engum engalEverywhere on flowering trees is our
Kaadhal saasanamEdict of love
Female
Boomiyodu vaanam saatchiWith earth and sky as witnesses
Inba dharisanamA blissful divine vision
Female
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Naalum en manamEvery day, my heart
Ini paadum moganamWill now sing the Mohanam ragam
Male
Kangal theettum anjanamThe kohl that adorns the eyes
Kaigal poosum sandhanamThe sandalwood paste applied by the hands
Un manam pon manamYour heart is a golden heart

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naalum En Manam from Nilavu Suduvathillai is a romantic duet expressing deep affection, joy, and eternal devotion between two lovers. The lyrics compare the sweet bliss of love to the enchanting notes of the Mohanam raga, sweet sandalwood, and vibrant kohl. Through vivid poetic metaphors—such as royal thrones, rainbow festoons, and flowering trees inscribed with decrees of love—the lovers celebrate their bond. The couple lovingly admires each other's beauty, describing playful eyes like restless deer and sweet speech like honeyed Tamil. With the earth and sky as cosmic witnesses, their union is painted as a divine and blissful vision of lifelong togetherness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (Rhyming Ends)

Kangal theettum anjanam / Kaigal poosum sandhanam

The usage of matching ending sounds across lines such as Moganam, Anjanam, Sandhanam, and Aasanam creates a rhythmic flow.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Un manam pon manam

The lover's heart is directly equated to gold ('pon manam') to symbolize pure and precious love.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kangal theettum anjanam / Kaigal poosum sandhanam

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in consecutive lines to enhance musicality.

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Trivia

The song features rich classical Tamil imagery penned by legendary lyricist Pulamaipithan. The movie Nilavu Suduvathillai (1984) starred Sivakumar and Radhika in lead roles, showcasing traditional romantic poetry intertwined with Carnatic raga references like Mohanam.

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