Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Netru Oru Menagai

From Manmadha Leelai · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Manmadha Leelai1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pat pat pat pat padaapadaa patPat pat pat pat padaapadaa pat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Chat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chatChat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Pat pat pat pat padaapadaa patPat pat pat pat padaapadaa pat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Chat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chatChat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Male
Heiiiiiiii…………………………..Hey! (Vocal exclamation)
Pat pat pat pat padaapadaa patPat pat pat pat padaapadaa pat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Chat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chatChat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Pat pat pat pat padaapadaa patPat pat pat pat padaapadaa pat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Chat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chatChat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Male
Netroru menagai indroru urvasiYesterday a celestial Menaka, today a divine Urvasi!
Netroru menagai indroru urvasiYesterday a celestial Menaka, today a divine Urvasi!
Thaen saar pudhuso eerettu vayasoIs it fresh sweet honey, or a maiden sixteen years old?
Thaen saar pudhuso eerettu vayasoIs it fresh sweet honey, or a maiden sixteen years old?
Engae pirandhaval mandhirikumaariWhere was she born, the minister's daughter?
Enakkum kidaithaval raajakumaariThe one I found is a royal princess!
Male
Pat pat pat pat padaapadaa patPat pat pat pat padaapadaa pat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Chat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chatChat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Pat pat pat pat padaapadaa patPat pat pat pat padaapadaa pat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Chat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chatChat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Male
………………………………
Male
Indhiranukku ethanai undoHow many consorts does Lord Indra have?
Chandhiranukku ethanai undoHow many consorts does the Moon God Chandra have?
Unakkum adhupol undalloYou too have as many, don't you?
Thandhiramenna mandhiramennaWhat kind of trickery is this, what kind of spell?
Ennidam sonnaal nalladhu kannaaIt would be great if you told me, my dear!
Enakkum unpol gunamalloAfter all, I possess the very same nature as you!
Male
Ahaa indhiranukku ethanai undoAha, how many consorts does Lord Indra have?
Chandhiranukku ethanai undoHow many consorts does the Moon God Chandra have?
Unakkum adhupol undalloYou too have as many, don't you?
Thandhiramenna mandhiramennaWhat kind of trickery is this, what kind of spell?
Ennidam sonnaal nalladhu kannaaIt would be great if you told me, my dear!
Enakkum unpol gunamalloAfter all, I possess the very same nature as you!
Male
Pat pat pat pat padaapadaa patPat pat pat pat padaapadaa pat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Chat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chatChat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Pat pat pat pat padaapadaa patPat pat pat pat padaapadaa pat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Chat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chatChat chat chat chat chadaa chadaa chat (Rhythmic beat sound)
Male
Naadugaldhorum penngalirukkuThere are beautiful women in every country,
Aandavan thandha kanngalirukkuAnd God has given us eyes to admire them!
Nadathu nadathu maharaajaaKeep marching on, O King!
Jaadhi irukkaa baedhamirukkaaIs there caste here? Is there discrimination?
Needhirukkaa niyayamirukkaaIs there justice here? Is there morality?
Kadathu kadathu yuvaraajaaCross past all barriers, O Prince!
Male
Ahaa naadugaldhorum penngalirukkuAha, there are beautiful women in every country,
Aandavan thandha kanngalirukkuAnd God has given us eyes to admire them!
Nadathu nadathu maharaajaaKeep marching on, O King!
Jaadhi irukkaa baedhamirukkaaIs there caste here? Is there discrimination?
Needhirukkaa niyayamirukkaaIs there justice here? Is there morality?
Kadathu kadathu yuvaraajaaCross past all barriers, O Prince!
Male
Netroru menagai indroru urvasiYesterday a celestial Menaka, today a divine Urvasi!
Netroru menagai indroru urvasiYesterday a celestial Menaka, today a divine Urvasi!
Male
Sangeedhathil moganamunduThere is the Mohanam raga in music,
Sandhoshathil saagasamunduThere is thrilling adventure in happiness!
Irandum kidathaal un paaduIf you attain both, your life is blessed!
Paavam enna punniyamennaWhat is sin, and what is virtue?
Kaadhal kaatil kanniyamennaWhat is decency in the wild forest of love?
Idhudhaan namadhu pannbaaduThis alone is our modern culture!
Male
Meri jhaan meri jhaanMy life, my darling sweetheart!
Aaiye mere bul bulCome to me, my lovely nightingale!
Meri jhaan meri jhaanMy life, my darling sweetheart!
Aaiye mere bul bulCome to me, my lovely nightingale!
Mohabat hogaiyeLove has blossomed!
Kahani kaisa yehWhat kind of a story is this?
Mohabat hogaiyeLove has blossomed!
Kahani kaisa yehWhat kind of a story is this?
Dil ek mandhir haiThe heart is like a sacred temple,
Ham dhono khusboo haiAnd both of us are its fragrant incense!
………………………………………Look, the heart is like a strong wall,
Dil dehko deewar haiYouth is wild and passionate!
Jawaani deewaniThere is still friendship between us now!
Aab bhi dhosthi haiMy life, my darling sweetheart!
Meri jhaan meri jhaanCome to me, my lovely nightingale!
Aaiye mere bul bulMy life, my darling sweetheart!
Meri jhaan meri jhaanCome to me, my lovely nightingale!
Aaiye mere bul bulMy life, my darling sweetheart!
Meri jhaan meri jhaanCome to me, my lovely nightingale!
Aaiye mere bul bul

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song captures the hedonistic and carefree lifestyle of the protagonist in the film 'Manmadha Leelai'. The lyrics celebrate a playboy persona who pursues romance without societal inhibitions, comparing the women he meets to mythological celestial beauties like Menaka and Urvasi. By referencing deities like Indra and Chandra, the song humorously justifies a life filled with flirtation and romantic pursuits. Kannadasan uses playful questioning of societal norms, asking what truly defines sin, virtue, or propriety when it comes to love and desire. The blending of Tamil lyrics with trendy Hindi phrases underlines the cosmopolitan, jaunty urban spirit of 1970s cinema, portraying youth, freedom, and the pursuit of pleasure.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Netroru menagai indroru urvasi

The second letter sound 't' (த்) in 'Netroru' rhymes with the second letter sound 'nd'/'t' in 'Indroru'.

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Thandhiramenna mandhiramenna

The second consonant group 'ndhi' (ந்தி) in 'Thandhiramenna' rhymes with 'mandhiramenna'.

Purana Ani / Mythological Allusion

Indhiranukku ethanai undo / Chandhiranukku ethanai undo

References Hindu mythological figures (Indra and Chandra) and their numerous consorts to metaphorically validate the protagonist's romantic escapades.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Dil ek mandhir hai / Ham dhono khusboo hai

Directly equates the heart to a temple and the lovers to the fragrance within it.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Nadathu nadathu maharaajaa / Kadathu kadathu yuvaraajaa

The lines end with rhyming titles 'maharaajaa' and 'yuvaraajaa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manmadha Leelai' (1976) is a cult romantic drama directed by K. Balachander, starring Kamal Haasan in a landmark role as an unapologetic playboy named Madhu. Composed by legendary music director M.S. Viswanathan with vocals by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, this track famously integrates Hindi phrases ('Meri Jhaan', 'Bulbul', 'Dil ek mandhir hai') to reflect the suave, modern, and youthful character portrayed by Kamal Haasan. Lyricist Kannadasan cleverly subverts traditional moral values in the song through lighthearted mythological comparisons.

Keep listening

More from Manmadha Leelai