- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Mambazhathu Vandu
- Movie release year
- 1979
- Lyrics added on
- 10 May 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Tajmahalum yedhu oru mumtaj illadhu' from the 1979 Tamil film 'Mambazhathu Vandu' is a classical-fusion romantic duet celebrating love, elegance, and feminine beauty through grand poetic allegories. The lyrics invoke romantic icons and artistic symbols such as the Taj Mahal, Mumtaz, and Persian poet Omar Khayyam to emphasize that romantic grandeur is incomplete without a beloved muse. The singers express passionate longing, likening beauty to a crescent moon, a speaking portrait, and a graceful peacock. Throughout the track, romantic intimacy is portrayed with rich imagery—silk clothing, rose garlands, ocean-blue eyes, and silent gazes acting as bridges connecting two souls. The song elevates romantic affection into a philosophical art form, underscoring how mutual attraction and deep gaze create an enduring bond of intimacy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile / Metaphor)
“Ilam pirai pol uruvam valaivaaga”
Compares the woman's curved silhouette directly to a crescent moon ('Ilam pirai pol uruvam valaivaaga') and her eyes to the blue depth of the sea ('kadal konda neelam').
Uruvagamb (Metaphor)
“Ival pesugindra oviyam”
Metaphorically describes the woman as a 'speaking painting' ('pesugindra oviyam') and the eyes as a 'bridge where lovers meet' ('Sandhikkindra paalam').
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Angae en roobam alangaara deepam”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'ng' across consecutive lines ('Angae' / 'Allaamal').
Alliteration & Imagery
“Pattaadai paadhi moodum maeni”
Use of vivid imagery with repeating melodic consonants ('Pattaadai', 'Panneeril', 'Paamalai').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the legendary music director duo Shankar-Ganesh, this song is notable for featuring a rare female duet performance by two of South Indian cinema's greatest playback singers, P. Susheela and Vani Jayaram. Lyricist Vaali incorporated Persian and Mughal cultural motifs—such as Omar Khayyam, Taj Mahal, Mumtaz, and Begum—to give the song a distinct Ghazal-influenced, royal aesthetic within a Tamil film music framework.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Mambazhathu Vandu
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.