O Maina O Maina
From Naangu Suvargal · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Naangu Suvargal1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oh maina… oh maina… | Oh Maina… Oh Maina… |
| Oh maina… oh maina… | Oh Maina… Oh Maina… |
| Idhu un kanna pon meena | Is this your eye, a golden fish? |
| Odum pulli maana | A running spotted deer? |
| Povil sindhum thaena… | Or honey spilled from a flower…? |
| Odum pulli maana | A running spotted deer? |
| Povil sindhum thaena…. | Or honey spilled from a flower…? |
| Male | |
| Maan allada idhu | This is not a deer, my friend |
| Thaen alla da idhu | This is not honey, my friend |
| Male | |
| Aaam | Yes |
| Male | |
| Munnuraiyai naan ezhutha | Should I write the preface, |
| Mudivuraiyai nee ezhutha | And you write the epilogue? |
| Male | |
| Ippo Puriyudha | Do you understand now? |
| Male | |
| Nam uravai oorariya | For the town to know our relationship, |
| Naan tharava nee tharava | Should I give it, or should you? |
| Male | |
| Kelda rajaa | Listen, my king! |
| Kaagidha poo manakadhu | A paper flower has no fragrance, |
| Kallipaal suvaikkadhu | Cactus milk has no sweet taste, |
| Ettikkaai inikkadhu | Nux-vomica fruit is not sweet! |
| Male | |
| Saatchi veithu kaadhal seiyum | Making love with witnesses around, |
| Kaatchiyai naan andru kanden | I saw that scene back then! |
| Saatchi veithu kaadhal seiyum | Making love with witnesses around, |
| Kaatchiyai naan andru kanden | I saw that scene back then! |
| Saatchiyai thaan maatri vitten | I have altered the witness, |
| Kaatchiyai thaan thiruppugindren | I am turning the scene around! |
| Hahhahaha idamenna bayamenna | Hahaha, what is this place, why fear? |
| Idhilenna thodarattumae…. | What of it, let it continue…. |
| Male | |
| Oh maina… oh maina… | Oh Maina… Oh Maina… |
| Idhu un kanna pon meena | Is this your eye, a golden fish? |
| Odum pulli maana | A running spotted deer? |
| Povil sindhum thaena… | Or honey spilled from a flower…? |
| Male | |
| Rajaa | O King! |
| Un kiliyai nee anaithaal | If you embrace your parrot, |
| En kaniyai naan suvaippen | I will taste my fruit! |
| Male | |
| Penukkum peikkum baedham | The difference between a woman and a ghost, |
| Theriyalaiyaa vendaandaa | Don't you know? Don't do it, man! |
| Male | |
| Oorariya konjuvadhu | Cooing in front of the whole town, |
| Unakirundhaal ennakillaiyoo | If you have the right, don't I have it too? |
| Male | |
| Neruppil kulikalaama | Can one bathe in fire? |
| Aabathai rasikkalaama | Can one enjoy danger? |
| Oor sirikka pannaadhaedaa | Don't make the town laugh at you! |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal ellaam unmai dhaanae | All love is real, isn't it? |
| Kaanbathellam penmai thaanae | All that is seen is womanhood, isn't it? |
| Kaadhal ellaam unmai dhaanae | All love is real, isn't it? |
| Kaanbathellam penmai thaanae | All that is seen is womanhood, isn't it? |
| Kangalukkul baedhamenna | What discrimination is there between eyes? |
| Kaalamenna neramenna | What matters time or moment? |
| Kidaippadhu kidaikkattum | Let whatever comes be received, |
| Inippadhu inikkattumae | Let whatever is sweet remain sweet! |
| Male | |
| Oh maina… oh maina… | Oh Maina… Oh Maina… |
| Idhu un kanna pon meena | Is this your eye, a golden fish? |
| Odum pulli maana | A running spotted deer? |
| Povil sindhum thaena… | Or honey spilled from a flower…? |
ஓ மைனா.......ஓ மைனா.......
ஓ மைனா......ஓ மைனா......
இது உன் கண்ணா பொன்மீனா
ஓடும் புள்ளி மானா
பூவில் சிந்தும் தேனா
ஓடும் புள்ளி மானா
பூவில் சிந்தும் தேனா......
Oh Maina… Oh Maina…
Oh Maina… Oh Maina…
Is this your eye, a golden fish?
A running spotted deer?
Or honey spilled from a flower…?
A running spotted deer?
Or honey spilled from a flower…?
மானல்லடா இது
தேனல்லடா இது
This is not a deer, my friend
This is not honey, my friend
ஆம்.....
Yes
முன்னுரையை நீ எழுத
முடிவுரையை நான் எழுத....
Should I write the preface,
And you write the epilogue?
இப்பப் புரியுதா....
Do you understand now?
நம் உறவை ஊர் அறிய
நான் தரவா நீ தரவா
For the town to know our relationship,
Should I give it, or should you?
கேளடா ராஜா
காகிதப்பூ மணக்காது
கள்ளிப்பால் சுவைக்காது
எட்டிக்காய் இனிக்காது
Listen, my king!
A paper flower has no fragrance,
Cactus milk has no sweet taste,
Nux-vomica fruit is not sweet!
சாட்சி வைத்துக் காதல் செய்யும்
காட்சியை நான் அன்று கண்டேன்
சாட்சி வைத்துக் காதல் செய்யும்
காட்சியை நான் அன்று கண்டேன்
சாட்சியைத்தான் மாற்றி விட்டேன்
காட்சியைத்தான் திருப்புகின்றேன்
ஹஹஹா இடமென்ன பயமென்ன
இதிலென்ன தொடரட்டுமே...
Making love with witnesses around,
I saw that scene back then!
Making love with witnesses around,
I saw that scene back then!
I have altered the witness,
I am turning the scene around!
Hahaha, what is this place, why fear?
What of it, let it continue….
ஓ மைனா......ஓ மைனா......
இது உன் கண்ணா பொன்மீனா
ஓடும் புள்ளி மானா
பூவில் சிந்தும் தேனா
Oh Maina… Oh Maina…
Is this your eye, a golden fish?
A running spotted deer?
Or honey spilled from a flower…?
ராஜா......
உன் கிளியை நீ அணைத்தால்
என் கனியை நான் சுவைப்பேன்
O King!
If you embrace your parrot,
I will taste my fruit!
பெண்ணுக்கும் பேய்க்கும்
பேதம் தெரியலையா வேண்டாண்டா.........
The difference between a woman and a ghost,
Don't you know? Don't do it, man!
ஊரறியக் கொஞ்சுவது
உனக்கிருந்தால் எனக்கில்லையோ
Cooing in front of the whole town,
If you have the right, don't I have it too?
நெருப்பில் குளிக்கலாமா
ஆபத்தை ரசிக்கலாமா
ஊர் சிரிக்கப் பண்ணாதேடா........
Can one bathe in fire?
Can one enjoy danger?
Don't make the town laugh at you!
காதலெல்லாம் உண்மைதானே
காண்பதெல்லாம் பெண்மைதானே
காதலெல்லாம் உண்மைதானே
காண்பதெல்லாம் பெண்மைதானே
கண்களுக்குள் பேதமென்ன
காலமென்ன நேரமென்ன
கிடைப்பது கிடைக்கட்டும்
இனிப்பது இனிக்கட்டுமே...
All love is real, isn't it?
All that is seen is womanhood, isn't it?
All love is real, isn't it?
All that is seen is womanhood, isn't it?
What discrimination is there between eyes?
What matters time or moment?
Let whatever comes be received,
Let whatever is sweet remain sweet!
ஓ மைனா......ஓ மைனா......
இது உன் கண்ணா பொன்மீனா
ஓடும் புள்ளி மானா
பூவில் சிந்தும் தேனா
Oh Maina… Oh Maina…
Is this your eye, a golden fish?
A running spotted deer?
Or honey spilled from a flower…?
Oh maina… oh maina…
Oh Maina… Oh Maina…
Oh maina… oh maina…
Oh Maina… Oh Maina…
Idhu un kanna pon meena
Is this your eye, a golden fish?
Odum pulli maana
A running spotted deer?
Povil sindhum thaena…
Or honey spilled from a flower…?
Odum pulli maana
A running spotted deer?
Povil sindhum thaena….
Or honey spilled from a flower…?
Maan allada idhu
This is not a deer, my friend
Thaen alla da idhu
This is not honey, my friend
Aaam
Yes
Munnuraiyai naan ezhutha
Should I write the preface,
Mudivuraiyai nee ezhutha
And you write the epilogue?
Ippo Puriyudha
Do you understand now?
Nam uravai oorariya
For the town to know our relationship,
Naan tharava nee tharava
Should I give it, or should you?
Kelda rajaa
Listen, my king!
Kaagidha poo manakadhu
A paper flower has no fragrance,
Kallipaal suvaikkadhu
Cactus milk has no sweet taste,
Ettikkaai inikkadhu
Nux-vomica fruit is not sweet!
Saatchi veithu kaadhal seiyum
Making love with witnesses around,
Kaatchiyai naan andru kanden
I saw that scene back then!
Saatchi veithu kaadhal seiyum
Making love with witnesses around,
Kaatchiyai naan andru kanden
I saw that scene back then!
Saatchiyai thaan maatri vitten
I have altered the witness,
Kaatchiyai thaan thiruppugindren
I am turning the scene around!
Hahhahaha idamenna bayamenna
Hahaha, what is this place, why fear?
Idhilenna thodarattumae….
What of it, let it continue….
Oh maina… oh maina…
Oh Maina… Oh Maina…
Idhu un kanna pon meena
Is this your eye, a golden fish?
Odum pulli maana
A running spotted deer?
Povil sindhum thaena…
Or honey spilled from a flower…?
Rajaa
O King!
Un kiliyai nee anaithaal
If you embrace your parrot,
En kaniyai naan suvaippen
I will taste my fruit!
Penukkum peikkum baedham
The difference between a woman and a ghost,
Theriyalaiyaa vendaandaa
Don't you know? Don't do it, man!
Oorariya konjuvadhu
Cooing in front of the whole town,
Unakirundhaal ennakillaiyoo
If you have the right, don't I have it too?
Neruppil kulikalaama
Can one bathe in fire?
Aabathai rasikkalaama
Can one enjoy danger?
Oor sirikka pannaadhaedaa
Don't make the town laugh at you!
Kaadhal ellaam unmai dhaanae
All love is real, isn't it?
Kaanbathellam penmai thaanae
All that is seen is womanhood, isn't it?
Kaadhal ellaam unmai dhaanae
All love is real, isn't it?
Kaanbathellam penmai thaanae
All that is seen is womanhood, isn't it?
Kangalukkul baedhamenna
What discrimination is there between eyes?
Kaalamenna neramenna
What matters time or moment?
Kidaippadhu kidaikkattum
Let whatever comes be received,
Inippadhu inikkattumae
Let whatever is sweet remain sweet!
Oh maina… oh maina…
Oh Maina… Oh Maina…
Idhu un kanna pon meena
Is this your eye, a golden fish?
Odum pulli maana
A running spotted deer?
Povil sindhum thaena…
Or honey spilled from a flower…?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the 1971 movie Naangu Suvargal features a playful and philosophical verbal exchange between characters. It opens with poetic adoration, comparing eyes and beauty to golden fish, spotted deer, and honey. The lyrics then transition into a witty duel about love, social norms, caution, and illusion, contrasting outward appearances with underlying realities.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)
“Idhu un kanna pon meena / Odum pulli maana / Povil sindhum thaena…”
Compares eyes to a golden fish, a running spotted deer, and honey dripping from a flower.
Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)
“Kaagidha poo manakadhu / Kallipaal suvaikkadhu / Ettikkaai inikkadhu”
Uses contrasting truths (a paper flower does not smell, cactus milk is not sweet) to highlight deceptive realities.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Kaadhal ellaam unmai dhaanae / Kaanbathellam penmai thaanae”
Matching end sounds ('dhaanae' and 'thaanae') creates rhythmic harmony in the verse.
Did you know?
Trivia
Naangu Suvargal (1971) was directed by K. Balachander, starring Jaishankar, Ravichandran, and Nagesh, with lyrics written by Kannadasan and music composed by M. S. Viswanathan.
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