Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Then Madurai Veethiyile Oorvalam

From Anbukkor Annan · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Anbukkor Annan
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
30 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thenmadurai veedhiyilae oorvalam ponaal
Annan thirumaal azhaiththu vara kanmani meenaal
Thenmadurai veedhiyilae oorvalam ponaal
Annan thirumaal azhaiththu vara kanmani meenaal
Pon malaraam thamaraiyai killi eduththaan
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa….aa…aa….aa….
Pon malaraam thamaraiyai killi eduththaan
Poongaraththai naayaganin kaiyil koduththaan
Pothigal malai santhanaththi poosi muththaan
Pongi varum vaigaiyena thangai nadanthaal
Pothigal malai santhanaththi poosi muththaan
Pongi varum vaigaiyena thangai nadanthaal
Thenmadurai veedhiyilae oorvalam ponaal
Annan thirumaal azhaiththu vara kanmani meenaal
Aanimuththu maalaigalai seedhanam thanthaan
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa….aa…aa….aa….
Annamena thulli varum thozhigal thanthaan
Maanikaththil mookkuththiyum seithu koduththaan
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa….aa…aa….aa….
Mannanudan thangaithanai saerththu mudiththaan
Sokkanukku maiththunano oruvan irunthaan
Sonthamudan iruvar ingae vanthu piranthaar
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa….aa…aa….aa….
Sokkanukku maiththunano oruvan irunthaan
Sonthamudan iruvar ingae vanthu piranthaar
Thenmadurai veedhiyilae oorvalam ponaal
Annan thirumaal azhaiththu vara kanmani meenaal
She went in a procession through the streets of South Madurai,
Darling Meenakshi, led along by her brother Lord Vishnu.
She went in a procession through the streets of South Madurai,
Darling Meenakshi, led along by her brother Lord Vishnu.
Like plucking a golden lotus flower,
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa... aa...
Like plucking a golden lotus flower,
He placed her flower-soft hand into the groom's hand.
Fragrant with sandalwood paste from the Pothigai hills,
His sister walked like the flowing Vaigai river.
Fragrant with sandalwood paste from the Pothigai hills,
His sister walked like the flowing Vaigai river.
She went in a procession through the streets of South Madurai,
Darling Meenakshi, led along by her brother Lord Vishnu.
He gave strands of pure pearls as wedding gifts,
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa... aa...
And gave companions who stepped gracefully like swans.
He had a ruby nose stud crafted for her,
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa... aa...
And united his sister in marriage with the king.
Lord Shiva (Sokkan) had only one brother-in-law,
Yet two loving brothers were born here with that very same bond!
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa... aa...
Lord Shiva (Sokkan) had only one brother-in-law,
Yet two loving brothers were born here with that very same bond!
She went in a procession through the streets of South Madurai,
Darling Meenakshi, led along by her brother Lord Vishnu.
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song draws a sublime mythological analogy between human sibling love and the divine bond shared between Lord Vishnu (Azhagar) and Goddess Meenakshi. Set against the vibrant cultural backdrop of Madurai, it describes an elder brother taking ultimate pride and tender care in arranging his beloved sister's grand wedding, adorning her with fine jewels, and giving her hand to the king.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Pongi varum vaigaiyena thangai nadanthaal

Compares the sister's graceful walk to the surging flow of the Vaigai river using the comparative marker 'ena'.

Upamai (Simile)

Annamena thulli varum thozhigal thanthaan

Compares the lively, hopping companions of the bride to swan birds using 'ena'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Poongaraththai naayaganin kaiyil koduththaan

Metaphorically addresses the sister's soft hand as a tender flower hand ('Poongaram').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pon malaraam thamaraiyai... / Poongaraththai naayaganin...

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'n' in 'Pon' and 'Poo'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics directly mirror the grand Chithirai Thiruvizha festival of Madurai, which celebrates the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Sundareswarar (Sokkanathan) and the journey of Lord Kallazhagar (her brother Vishnu) coming to hand her over.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Anbukkor Annan

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.