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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Ponmaanai Naan Kaana

From Mythili Ennai Kaathali · 1986

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
T. Rajendar
Details
Mythili Ennai Kaathali1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
……………..
Male
Oru pon maanai naan kaana thaga thimithomAs I behold a golden deer, dance to the rhythm 'thaga thimithom'
Oru ammaanaai naan paada thaga thimithomAs I sing a song of Ammaanai, dance to the rhythm 'thaga thimithom'
Salangai ittaal oru maathu sangeetham nee paaduWhen a woman wears anklets, you sing a melody
Aval vizhigalil oru pazharasamThere is a sweet fruit juice-like nectar in her eyes
Adhai kaanbathil enthan paravasamAnd witnessing it brings me sheer ecstasy
Male
Oru pon maanai naan kaana thaga thimithomAs I behold a golden deer, dance to the rhythm 'thaga thimithom'
Oru ammaanaai naan paada thaga thimithomAs I sing a song of Ammaanai, dance to the rhythm 'thaga thimithom'
Salangai ittaal oru maathu sangeetham nee paaduWhen a woman wears anklets, you sing a melody
Aval vizhigalil oru pazharasamThere is a sweet fruit juice-like nectar in her eyes
Adhai kaanbathil enthan paravasamAnd witnessing it brings me sheer ecstasy
Male
……………….
Male
Thadaagaththil meen indru kaamaththil thadumaariDid the fish in the pond stumble today in passionate desire,
Thaamarai poo meeddhu vizhunthanavoAnd fall right upon the lotus flower?
Idhai kanda vegaththil brahmanum mogaththilSeeing this scene swiftly, did Lord Brahma in infatuation,
Padaiththitta paagamthaan un kangaloCreate your eyes as that very masterpiece?
Male
Kaattril asainthu varum nanthavanththukiliA parrot from the garden swaying in the breeze,
Kaalgal mulaiththathendru nadaipottaalIf it sprouted feet and started walking...
Jadhi ennum mazhaiyinilae radhi ival nanainthidaveyAs this goddess Rati gets drenched in the rain of rhythmic beats,
Adhil bharathamthaan thulir vittuThe art of Bharatanatyam sprouts and blossoms within it,
Poopola pooththaada manam engum manam veesuthuBlooms like a flower and spreads fragrance all over my heart,
Enthan manam engum manam veesuthuIt wafts its sweet fragrance all over my heart!
Male
Salangai ittaal oru maathu sangeetham nee paaduWhen a woman wears anklets, you sing a melody
Male
…………………
Male
Santhana kinnaththila kunguma sangamamThe union of vermilion inside a sandalwood bowl,
Arangera adhuthaanae un kannamIs that not the stage set upon your cheeks?
Megaththai mananthida vaanaththil suyavaramA swayamvara in the sky to wed the clouds,
Nadanthidum vaanavil un vannamThe rainbow walking there is your radiance!
Male
Idaiyin pin azhagil irandu kudaththai kondaBearing two water pots on the exquisite rear curve of her waist,
Pudhiya thampooraavai meetti sendraalShe walked past like playing a new tanpura instrument,
Kalai nilaa meniyilae sulai palaa suvaiyai kandaenIn her artful, moon-like body, I tasted the sweetness of jackfruit carpels,
Antha kattudal mottudal udhiraamal sadhiraadiAs her sculpted body dances like a tender flower bud without falling,
Madhi thannil kavi serkkuthuIt adds poetry to the mind,
Enthan madhi thannil kavi serkkuthuIt inspires poetry in my mind!
Male
Salangai ittaal oru maadhu sangeetham nee paaduWhen a woman wears anklets, you sing a melody
Aval vizhigalil oru pazharasamThere is a sweet fruit juice-like nectar in her eyes
Adhai kaanpathil enthan paravasamAnd witnessing it brings me sheer ecstasy
Male
Oru pon maanai naan kaana thaga thimithomAs I behold a golden deer, dance to the rhythm 'thaga thimithom'
Oru ammaanaai naan paada thaga thimithomAs I sing a song of Ammaanai, dance to the rhythm 'thaga thimithom'
Salangai ittaal oru maathu sangeetham nee paaduWhen a woman wears anklets, you sing a melody
Aval vizhigalil oru pazharasamThere is a sweet fruit juice-like nectar in her eyes
Adhai kaanbathil enthan paravasamAnd witnessing it brings me sheer ecstasy

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oru Pon Maanai' from Mythili Ennai Kaathali (1986) is an exuberant, poetic celebration of feminine beauty, classical dance, and romantic fascination. Composed and written by T. Rajendar and sung with joyous expression by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, the song describes the enchanting effect a dancing woman—compared to a golden deer and goddess Rati—has on the narrator. The lyricist weaves rich traditional imagery: her eyes are likened to a fish landing on a lotus flower created by Brahma in a moment of passion, her rosy cheeks to crimson vermilion inside a sandalwood bowl, and her movement to a walking rainbow. As she dances to rhythmic syllables ('solkattu'), the art of Bharatanatyam blooms, filling the narrator's heart with aroma and inspiring divine poetry in his mind.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Santhana kinnaththila kunguma sangamam / Arangera adhuthaanae un kannam

Her blushing cheeks are metaphorically described as the union of red vermilion mixed inside a sandalwood vessel.

Uvamaani (Simile)

Aval vizhigalil oru pazharasam

Compares the sweet, expressive gaze of the woman's eyes to sweet fruit nectar.

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Oru pon maanai... / Oru ammaanaai...

Rhyming of the second letter 'r' (ru) across consecutive lines in the chorus.

Iyaipu (End rhyme)

pazharasam / paravasam

Matching end sounds ('sam') creating a melodious rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

T. Rajendar wrote, composed, directed, and starred in 'Mythili Ennai Kaathali' (1986). Known for his unique style of rhyming Tamil lyrics with classical rhythm words (solkattu) like 'thaga thimithom', this track showcases his signature songwriting style paired with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's dynamic vocal delivery, making it one of the most popular dance-based tracks of the mid-1980s.

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