Telephone Manipol
From Indian · 1996
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Indian1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| {Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo | {Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo |
| Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2) | Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2) |
| Male | |
| Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa | Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring? |
| Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa | Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower? |
| Digital il sedhukkiya kuralaa | Is her voice sculpted digitally? |
| Elizabeth taylor in magalaa | Is she Elizabeth Taylor's daughter? |
| Zakkir hussain thabalaa ivaldhaanaa | Is she Zakir Hussain's tabla beat? |
| Male | |
| Sonaa sonaa ival angam thangam thaanaa | Sona, Sona, is her body made of gold? |
| Sonaa sonaa ival latest cellular phone aa | Sona, Sona, is she the latest cellular phone? |
| Computer kondivalai andha bhramman padaithanaa | Did Creator Brahma create her using a computer? |
| Male | |
| Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa | Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring? |
| Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa | Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower? |
| Chorus | |
| Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo | Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo |
| Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo | Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo |
| Female | |
| Neeyillai endraal veyilum adikaadhu | If you are not there, even the sun won't shine, |
| Thuli mazhaiyum irukkaadhu | Nor will there be a single drop of rain. |
| Neeyillai endraal chandhiran irukaadhu | If you are not there, the moon won't exist, |
| Oru sambavam enakkaedhu | What events could possibly happen to me? |
| Male | |
| Un perai sonaal swaasam muzhudhum | When your name is uttered, my entire breath |
| Suga vaasam veesudhadi | Wafts with a sweet fragrance, my dear! |
| Unnai pirindhaalae veesum kaatril | If separated from you, in the blowing wind, |
| Velai niruthamadi | There is a strike (it stops blowing), my dear! |
| Female | |
| Neerillai endraal aruvi irukkaadhu | Without water, a waterfall cannot exist, |
| Malai azhagu irukkaadhu | The beauty of the mountain would cease to be. |
| Nee illaamal ponaal idhayam irukkaadhu | If you are not around, my heart will not exist, |
| En ilamai pasikkaadhu | My youth will no longer hunger. |
| Male | |
| Vellai nadhiyae unnul ennai | Oh white river, inside you, allow me |
| Dhinam moozhgi aada vidu | To dip and bathe every day. |
| Vetkkam vandhaal koondhal kondu | If shyness comes, use your tresses |
| Unai konjam moodividu | To cover yourself up a little. |
| Male | |
| Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa | Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring? |
| Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa | Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower? |
| Chorus | |
| {Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo | {Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo |
| Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2) | Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2) |
| Male | |
| Un perai yaarum sollavum vidamaten | I will not let anyone utter your name, |
| Andha sugathaiyum tharamaten | Nor will I share that pleasure with anyone. |
| Un koondhal pookkal vizhavae vida maten | I will not let flowers fall from your hair, |
| Adhai veyyilil vida maten | I will not leave them out in the heat of the sun. |
| Female | |
| Pengal vaasam ennai thavira | The scent of women, except for me, |
| Ini veesakoodaadhu | Should not waft towards you anymore. |
| Annai theresa avarai thavira | Except for Mother Teresa, |
| Pirar pesakoodaadhu | No other women should talk to you. |
| Male | |
| Nee pogum theruvil aangalai vidamataen | On the street you walk, I won't allow men, |
| Sila pengalai vidamaten | Nor will I allow certain women. |
| Nee sindhum sirippai kaatril vida maten | I won't leave the smile you spill into the wind, |
| Adhai kavarven tharamaten | I will capture it and never give it away. |
| Female | |
| Pudavai kadaiyil pennin silaiyai | Even a female mannequin in a saree shop, |
| Nee theenda koodaadhu | You must not touch! |
| Kaadhal kottai karpukarasaa | Oh king of chastity in the fortress of love, |
| Nee thaanda koodaadhu… | You must not cross this boundary... |
| Male | |
| Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa | Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring? |
| Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa | Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower? |
| Digital il sedhukkiya kuralaa | Is her voice sculpted digitally? |
| Elizabeth taylor in magalaa | Is she Elizabeth Taylor's daughter? |
| Zakkir hussain thabalaa ivaldhaanaa | Is she Zakir Hussain's tabla beat? |
| Male | |
| Sonaa sonaa ival angam thangam thaanaa | Sona, Sona, is her body made of gold? |
| Sonaa sonaa ival latest cellular phone aa | Sona, Sona, is she the latest cellular phone? |
| Computer kondivalai andha bhramman padaithanaa | Did Creator Brahma create her using a computer? |
{ ஹோ ஓஓஓ
ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ ஹோ
ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ
ஓஓஓ } (2)
{Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2)
டெலிபோன்
மணி போல் சிரிப்பவள்
இவளா மெல்பௌன்
மலர் போல் மெல்லிய
மகளா டிஜிட்டலில் செதுக்கிய
குரலா எலிசபெத் டெய்லரின்
மகளா சாகிர் ஹுசைன் தபலா
இவள்தானா
Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring?
Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower?
Is her voice sculpted digitally?
Is she Elizabeth Taylor's daughter?
Is she Zakir Hussain's tabla beat?
சோனா சோனா
இவள் அங்கம் தங்கம்
தானா சோனா சோனா
இவள் லேட்டஸ்ட்
செல்லூலர் ஃபோனா
கம்ப்யூட்டர் கொண்டிவளை
அந்த பிரம்மன் படைத்தானா
Sona, Sona, is her body made of gold?
Sona, Sona, is she the latest cellular phone?
Did Creator Brahma create her using a computer?
டெலிபோன்
மணி போல் சிரிப்பவள்
இவளா மெல்பௌன்
மலர் போல் மெல்லிய
மகளா
Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring?
Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower?
ஹோ ஓஓஓ
ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ ஹோ
ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ
ஓஓஓ
Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo
நீயில்லை என்றால்
வெயிலும் அடிக்காது துளி
மழையும் இருக்காது
நீயில்லை என்றால் சந்திரன்
இருக்காது ஒரு சம்பவம்
எனக்கேது
If you are not there, even the sun won't shine,
Nor will there be a single drop of rain.
If you are not there, the moon won't exist,
What events could possibly happen to me?
உன் பேரை
சொன்னால் சுவாசம்
முழுதும் சுகவாசம் வீசுதடி
உன்னை பிரிந்தாலே வீசும்
காற்றில் வேலை நிறுத்தமடி
When your name is uttered, my entire breath
Wafts with a sweet fragrance, my dear!
If separated from you, in the blowing wind,
There is a strike (it stops blowing), my dear!
நீரில்லை என்றால்
அருவி இருக்காது மலை
அழகு இருக்காது நீ
இல்லாமல் போனால் இதயம்
இருக்காது என் இளமை பசிக்காது
Without water, a waterfall cannot exist,
The beauty of the mountain would cease to be.
If you are not around, my heart will not exist,
My youth will no longer hunger.
வெள்ளை நதியே
உன்னுள் என்னை தினம்
மூழ்கி ஆட விடு வெட்கம்
வந்தால் கூந்தல் கொண்டு
உனைக் கொஞ்சம் மூடி விடு
Oh white river, inside you, allow me
To dip and bathe every day.
If shyness comes, use your tresses
To cover yourself up a little.
டெலிபோன்
மணி போல் சிரிப்பவள்
இவளா மெல்பௌன்
மலர் போல் மெல்லிய
மகளா
Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring?
Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower?
{ ஹோ ஓஓஓ
ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ ஹோ
ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ ஓஓஓ
ஓஓஓ } (2)
{Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2)
உன் பேரை
யாரும் சொல்லவும்
விடமாட்டேன் அந்த
சுகத்தையும் தர மாட்டேன்
உன் கூந்தல் பூக்கள் விழவே
விட மாட்டேன் அதை வெயிலில்
விட மாட்டேன்
I will not let anyone utter your name,
Nor will I share that pleasure with anyone.
I will not let flowers fall from your hair,
I will not leave them out in the heat of the sun.
பெண்கள் வாசம்
என்னைத் தவிர இனி
வீசக்கூடாது அன்னை
தெரசா அவரை தவிர
பிறர் பேசக்கூடாது
The scent of women, except for me,
Should not waft towards you anymore.
Except for Mother Teresa,
No other women should talk to you.
நீ போகும் தெருவில்
ஆண்களை விட மாட்டேன்
சில பெண்களை விட மாட்டேன்
நீ சிந்தும் சிரிப்பை காற்றில்
விட மாட்டேன் அதை கவர்வேன்
தர மாட்டேன்
On the street you walk, I won't allow men,
Nor will I allow certain women.
I won't leave the smile you spill into the wind,
I will capture it and never give it away.
புடவை கடையில்
பெண்ணின் சிலையை நீ
தீண்டக்கூடாது காதல்
கோட்டை கற்புக்கரசா நீ
தாண்ட கூடாது
Even a female mannequin in a saree shop,
You must not touch!
Oh king of chastity in the fortress of love,
You must not cross this boundary...
டெலிபோன்
மணி போல் சிரிப்பவள்
இவளா மெல்பௌன்
மலர் போல் மெல்லிய
மகளா டிஜிட்டலில் செதுக்கிய
குரலா எலிசபெத் டெய்லரின்
மகளா சாகிர் ஹுசைன் தபலா
இவள்தானா
Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring?
Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower?
Is her voice sculpted digitally?
Is she Elizabeth Taylor's daughter?
Is she Zakir Hussain's tabla beat?
சோனா சோனா
இவள் அங்கம் தங்கம்
தானா சோனா சோனா
இவள் லேட்டஸ்ட்
செல்லூலர் ஃபோனா
கம்ப்யூட்டர் கொண்டிவளை
அந்த பிரம்மன் படைத்தானா
Sona, Sona, is her body made of gold?
Sona, Sona, is she the latest cellular phone?
Did Creator Brahma create her using a computer?
{Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
{Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2)
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2)
Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa
Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring?
Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa
Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower?
Digital il sedhukkiya kuralaa
Is her voice sculpted digitally?
Elizabeth taylor in magalaa
Is she Elizabeth Taylor's daughter?
Zakkir hussain thabalaa ivaldhaanaa
Is she Zakir Hussain's tabla beat?
Sonaa sonaa ival angam thangam thaanaa
Sona, Sona, is her body made of gold?
Sonaa sonaa ival latest cellular phone aa
Sona, Sona, is she the latest cellular phone?
Computer kondivalai andha bhramman padaithanaa
Did Creator Brahma create her using a computer?
Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa
Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring?
Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa
Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower?
Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Neeyillai endraal veyilum adikaadhu
If you are not there, even the sun won't shine,
Thuli mazhaiyum irukkaadhu
Nor will there be a single drop of rain.
Neeyillai endraal chandhiran irukaadhu
If you are not there, the moon won't exist,
Oru sambavam enakkaedhu
What events could possibly happen to me?
Un perai sonaal swaasam muzhudhum
When your name is uttered, my entire breath
Suga vaasam veesudhadi
Wafts with a sweet fragrance, my dear!
Unnai pirindhaalae veesum kaatril
If separated from you, in the blowing wind,
Velai niruthamadi
There is a strike (it stops blowing), my dear!
Neerillai endraal aruvi irukkaadhu
Without water, a waterfall cannot exist,
Malai azhagu irukkaadhu
The beauty of the mountain would cease to be.
Nee illaamal ponaal idhayam irukkaadhu
If you are not around, my heart will not exist,
En ilamai pasikkaadhu
My youth will no longer hunger.
Vellai nadhiyae unnul ennai
Oh white river, inside you, allow me
Dhinam moozhgi aada vidu
To dip and bathe every day.
Vetkkam vandhaal koondhal kondu
If shyness comes, use your tresses
Unai konjam moodividu
To cover yourself up a little.
Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa
Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring?
Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa
Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower?
{Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
{Hoooo…ooo…oooo..oooo
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2)
Hooooo…ooooo..ooo..ooo..ooo} (2)
Un perai yaarum sollavum vidamaten
I will not let anyone utter your name,
Andha sugathaiyum tharamaten
Nor will I share that pleasure with anyone.
Un koondhal pookkal vizhavae vida maten
I will not let flowers fall from your hair,
Adhai veyyilil vida maten
I will not leave them out in the heat of the sun.
Pengal vaasam ennai thavira
The scent of women, except for me,
Ini veesakoodaadhu
Should not waft towards you anymore.
Annai theresa avarai thavira
Except for Mother Teresa,
Pirar pesakoodaadhu
No other women should talk to you.
Nee pogum theruvil aangalai vidamataen
On the street you walk, I won't allow men,
Sila pengalai vidamaten
Nor will I allow certain women.
Nee sindhum sirippai kaatril vida maten
I won't leave the smile you spill into the wind,
Adhai kavarven tharamaten
I will capture it and never give it away.
Pudavai kadaiyil pennin silaiyai
Even a female mannequin in a saree shop,
Nee theenda koodaadhu
You must not touch!
Kaadhal kottai karpukarasaa
Oh king of chastity in the fortress of love,
Nee thaanda koodaadhu…
You must not cross this boundary...
Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa
Is she the one who laughs like a telephone ring?
Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa
Is she a delicate girl like a Melbourne flower?
Digital il sedhukkiya kuralaa
Is her voice sculpted digitally?
Elizabeth taylor in magalaa
Is she Elizabeth Taylor's daughter?
Zakkir hussain thabalaa ivaldhaanaa
Is she Zakir Hussain's tabla beat?
Sonaa sonaa ival angam thangam thaanaa
Sona, Sona, is her body made of gold?
Sonaa sonaa ival latest cellular phone aa
Sona, Sona, is she the latest cellular phone?
Computer kondivalai andha bhramman padaithanaa
Did Creator Brahma create her using a computer?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Telephone Manipol is a vibrant and playful romantic track from the 1996 blockbuster film Indian, composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song captures modern romantic banter, heavily infused with contemporary tech terminology and pop culture references of the late 90s, such as cellular phones, computers, digital sculpting, and icons like Elizabeth Taylor, Mother Teresa, and Zakir Hussain. The duet highlights the lovers expressing their intense affection, possessiveness, and awe of each other's beauty and presence in imaginative, modern hyperbole.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Telephone manipol sirippaval ivalaa”
Comparing the heroine's laugh to a telephone bell (Telephone manipol sirippaval) and her soft nature to a flower in Melbourne (Melbourne malarpol melliya magalaa).
Uruvagamb (Metaphor / Modern Imagery)
“Computer kondivalai andha bhramman padaithanaa”
Describing the beloved using futuristic and modern metaphors such as digital sculpting and Brahma designing her on a computer.
Emonai / Anaphora (Initial Alliteration)
“Neeyillai endraal veyilum adikaadhu”
Repetition of similar consonant sounds at the start of words/lines, a classic Tamil poetic device (e.g., 'Neeyillai', 'Neerillai').
Athyokthi (Hyperbole)
“Unnai pirindhaalae veesum kaatril velai niruthamadi”
Exaggerating love by claiming the sun won't shine, rain won't fall, and wind will go on strike without the beloved.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A.R. Rahman for Shankar's 'Indian' (1996), this song became an instant pop phenomenon for integrating modern 1990s technology buzzwords (digital, cellular phone, computer) into Tamil film lyrics. Filmed on Prabhu Deva's brother Raju Sundaram and Manisha Koirala, the track features dynamic vocals by Hariharan and Harini, earning widespread acclaim for its fresh, upbeat sound arrangement.
Keep listening
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