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Mathar Kula Manickam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oho Anathaiyai

From Mathar Kula Manickam · 1956

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Movie name
Mathar Kula Manickam
Movie release year
1956
Lyrics added on
22 May 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ohoo anadhaiyae paaraai
Un vaazhvaiyae
Inba kadalil neendhiyadhae
Thunbha puyalum soozhndhadhae
Maharajan karamadhilae
Magara veenai polavae
Manadhilae madhura geedhamaagavae
Malar vizhiyilae aadum jodhiyaaghavae
Vanidhai nee thigazhndhaaiyae
Unakkae immudivaaghumoo
Muraiyoo …muraiyoo
Anbae jodiyaai andril polavae
Ondraagha irundhu naam magizhndhomae
Manam vaadudhae
Unnaiyum veru maadhu manandhidum bodhu
Uyir vaazhndhae palan yedhu
Vidhiyin vilaivae idhudhaanoo
Ohoo anadhaiyae
Muraiyoo …hoo…muraiyoo..hoo..
Oh, look, you helpless soul,
Look at your own life!
It once swam in an ocean of joy,
Yet now a storm of sorrow surrounds it...
In the hands of a great king,
Like a sweet veena (stringed instrument),
As a sweet melody in his heart,
As the bright light dancing in his eyes,
You once lived as a cherished woman,
Must this be your end?
Is this fair? Is this just?
My love, like a pair of andril birds (inseparable lovebirds),
We lived together and shared such joy,
Now my heart withers in pain...
When another woman marries you,
What is the point of staying alive?
Is this the cruel work of fate?
Oh, you helpless soul...
Is this fair? Ah... is this fair? Ah...
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song from Mathar Kula Manickam (1956) expresses deep grief, betrayal, and tragic resignation. The singer laments her sudden transition from a cherished, joyous life into profound helplessness and sorrow, comparing her former happiness to swimming in an ocean of joy and being held tenderly like a prized lute. She questions the cruelty of fate as her beloved marries another woman, feeling that living on without his love is meaningless. She questions divine justice, invoking the imagery of inseparable lovebirds that cannot endure being torn apart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile

Magara veenai polavae

Compares the woman's former cherished state in her lover's care to a precious makara veena held gently in a king's hands.

Metaphor

Inba kadalil neendhiyadhae

Depicts happiness as a vast ocean ('inba kadal') and suffering as an enveloping storm ('thunbha puyal').

Cultural Symbolism

Anbae jodiyaai andril polavae

References the mythic 'andril' bird, a traditional Tamil symbol of deep marital love where two birds are inseparable and die if parted.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mathar Kula Manickam (1956) was a popular Tamil drama film produced by Gemini Studios with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.

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