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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanga Amma Vanga

From Manamulla Marutharam · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, M. S. Rajeswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Manamulla Marutharam1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaanga amma vaangaCome, ladies, come.
Female :Vaanga amma vaangaFemale: Come, ladies, come.
Male :Vaanga…Male: Come...
Vaanga amma vaanga valaiyalCome, ladies, come, buy these bangles,
Vaangi pottu pongaPut them on and then go.
Vaanga amma vaanga valaiyalCome, ladies, come, buy these bangles,
Vaangi pottu pongaPut them on and then go.
Male
Poongodi pola kaigalukkethaSuitable for hands delicate like a flowering vine,
Ponnira kannaadi valaiyalGolden-colored glass bangles.
Poongodi pola kaigalukkethaSuitable for hands delicate like a flowering vine,
Ponnira kannaadi valaiyalGolden-colored glass bangles.
Male
Putham puthusaa romba sogusaaBrand new and very stylish,
Poduven malinja velaiyilI will put them on for you at a cheap price.
Putham puthusaa romba sogusaaBrand new and very stylish,
Poduven malinja velaiyilI will put them on for you at a cheap price.
Female
Aambilai avarai nambaathingaDon't trust that man over there,
Amma ippadi vaangaLadies, come over this way.
Aambilai avarai nambaathingaDon't trust that man over there,
Amma ippadi vaangaLadies, come over this way.
Vendiya thinusu aayiram irukkuThere are a thousand varieties that you may need,
Paarthu vaangalam neengaYou can look through and choose to buy.
Vendiya thinusu aayiram irukkuThere are a thousand varieties that you may need,
Paarthu vaangalam neengaYou can look through and choose to buy.
Vaanga amma vaangaCome, ladies, come.
Male
Mangaatha niram singaaram tharumWith unfading color that grants beauty,
Mangaiyar thilagam valaiyaThese bangles are the crown jewel of women.
Ithu mangaatha niram singaaram tharumThis unfading color that grants beauty,
Mangaiyar thilagam valaiyaThese bangles are the crown jewel of women.
Female
Ithu makkalai petra magaraasi podumWorn by the blessed mother blessed with children,
Chekka chivantha valaiyalBright crimson red bangles.
Makkalai petra magaraasi podumWorn by the blessed mother blessed with children,
Chekka chivantha valaiyalBright crimson red bangles.
Valaiyal amma valaiyalBangles, ladies, bangles.
Male
Seemai ellaam pugazhntha pazhaiyaFamous across all lands, classic,
Sindhaamani valaiyalChinthamani bangles.
Ithu seemai ellaam pugazhntha pazhaiyaThis famous across all lands, classic,
Sindhaamani valaiyalChinthamani bangles.
Female
Selathu viyabari anuppi vaithaSent over by the merchant from Salem,
Manthiri kumari valaiyalMinister's daughter (Manthiri Kumari) bangles.
Male :Amaa amaaMale: Yes, yes!
Female :Selathu viyabari anuppi vaithaFemale: Sent over by the merchant from Salem,
Manthiri kumari valaiyalMinister's daughter (Manthiri Kumari) bangles.
Male
Matharasuku sarakku intha singaari valaiyalGoods tailored for Madras, these charming bangles.
Female :HaanFemale: Aha!
Male :Haan matharasuku sarakku intha singaari valaiyalMale: Aha, goods tailored for Madras, these charming bangles.
Female :Manamulla maruthaaram podum mathippulla valaiyal..Female: Valuable bangles worn by a virtuous wife...
Both :Idhu manamulla maruthaaram podum mathippulla valaiyal..Both: These are valuable bangles worn by a virtuous wife...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Vaanga Amma Vaanga' is a delightful, lively street-hawker duet from the 1958 film 'Manamulla Marutharam', composed by K. V. Mahadevan and penned by A. Maruthakasi. Sung with spirited banter by S. C. Krishnan and M. S. Rajeswari, the song portrays two rival bangle sellers playfully competing for the attention of female customers on the street. The vendors use witty marketing pitch lines, calling out unique varieties of glass bangles—from golden ones suited for slender arms to bright red bangles associated with motherhood. They even name bangles after famous contemporary pop-culture films like 'Chinthamani' and 'Manthiri Kumari', highlighting the cultural importance of bangles as traditional ornaments of charm and auspiciousness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Poongodi pola kaigalukketha

Compares women's soft, delicate arms to a flowering vine ('Poongodi pola').

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai / Edhugai)

Putham puthusaa romba sogusaa

Uses matching initial and internal sounds ('Putham puthusaa' and 'sogusaa') to create a rhythmic vendor chant.

Pop-Culture Allusion

Sindhaamani valaiyal / Manthiri kumari valaiyal

Refers to iconic 1930s-50s Tamil cinema titles ('Chinthamani' and 'Manthiri Kumari') as catchy marketing names for bangles.

Anaphora / Repetition

Vaanga amma vaanga

Repetition of 'Vaanga amma vaanga' captures the authentic cadence of Tamil street hawkers calling out to prospective buyers.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist A. Maruthakasi clever incorporated references to hugely popular Tamil films of that era—'Chinthamani' (1937) and 'Manthiri Kumari' (1950)—as named bangle varieties. This clever real-world hawker technique grounded the song in urban Tamil folk culture.

Keep listening

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