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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aana Aavanna

From Anbu Engey · 1958

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
K. Jamunarani
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
Anbu Engey1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aanaa aavannaa eenaa eeyannaaA, AA, E, EE (Tamil alphabet mnemonic sounds)
Oonaa oovannaa yaenaa yaeyannaU, OO, YE, YEE (Tamil alphabet mnemonic sounds)
Chorus
Aanaa aavannaa eenaa eeyannaaA, AA, E, EE (Tamil alphabet mnemonic sounds)
Oonaa oovannaa yaenaa yaeyannaU, OO, YE, YEE (Tamil alphabet mnemonic sounds)
Female
Aanaa aavannaa…..A, AA...
Aanaa aavannaa arivai valarththavanWho cultivated wisdom starting with 'A, AA'?
Paerenna solluTell me his name!
Chorus :ValluvanChorus: Valluvan
Female
Eenaa eeyannaaE, EE
Edhaiyum vellum porulennaWhat is the ultimate force that conquers everything?
Chorus :AnbuChorus: Love
Female
Oonaa oovannaa ulaga uththamanU, OO: The noble soul of the world,
Peyarenna sollu….Tell me his name...
Chorus :Gandhi thathaaChorus: Grandpa Gandhi
Female
Yaenaa yaeyannaYE, YEE
Chorus :Ezhuthariviththavan iraivanaagumChorus: The teacher who taught literacy is revered as God.
Chorus
Aanaa aavannaa eenaa eeyannaaA, AA, E, EE
Oonaa oovannaa yaenaa yaeyannaU, OO, YE, YEE
Aanaa aavannaa…..A, AA...
Female
Aa….aa….aa….Aa... aa... aa...
Anbaai pazhagum kombai asaikkumIt is friendly, shakes its horns,
Ammaannu kaththum adhu ennaAnd cries 'Ammaa', what is that?
Anbaai pazhagum kombai asaikkumIt is friendly, shakes its horns,
Ammaannu kaththum adhu ennaAnd cries 'Ammaa', what is that?
Chorus :MaaduChorus: Cow
Female
Sonnathai sollum kanigalai thinnumIt repeats what is spoken, eats sweet fruits,
Solaiyilae vaazhum adhu ennaAnd lives in the lush grove, what is that?
Sonnathai sollum kanigalai thinnumIt repeats what is spoken, eats sweet fruits,
Solaiyilae vaazhum adhu ennaAnd lives in the lush grove, what is that?
Chorus :KiliChorus: Parrot
Female
Karuppaai irukkum kuralthaan inikkumIt is black in appearance, but its voice is sweet,
Parakkum paravai adhu ennaWhich flying bird is that?
Karuppaai irukkum kuralthaan inikkumIt is black in appearance, but its voice is sweet,
Parakkum paravai adhu ennaWhich flying bird is that?
Female
KakkaaCrow?
Female :Illai kuyilFemale: No, cuckoo!
Female
Aa….aa….aa…Aa... aa... aa...
Chorus :Aanaa aavannaa eenaa eeyannaaChorus: A, AA, E, EE
Oonaa oovannaa yaenaa yaeyannaU, OO, YE, YEE
Aanaa aavannaa…..A, AA...
Female
Anbum aramum adakkamum porumaiyumLove, virtue, humility, and patience,
Panbum kondavar pengalWomen are those who embody good character.
Chorus :Anbum aramum adakkamum porumaiyumChorus: Love, virtue, humility, and patience,
Panbum kondavar pengalWomen are those who embody good character.
Female
Aalum thiramaiyum veeramum kadamaiyumGoverning skills, courage, duty,
Perumaiyum kondavar aangalMen are those who embody honor.
Aalum thiramaiyum veeramum kadamaiyumGoverning skills, courage, duty,
Perumaiyum kondavar aangalMen are those who embody honor.
Chorus
Aanaa aavannaa eenaa eeyannaaA, AA, E, EE
Oonaa oovannaa yaenaa yaeyannaU, OO, YE, YEE
Aanaa aavannaa…..A, AA...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and educational song utilizes Tamil alphabets ('Aanaa Aavannaa') as a rhythmic framework to teach children essential values, general knowledge, and moral ethics. Through an interactive riddle-based format, the lyrics introduce great historical figures like Thiruvalluvar and Mahatma Gandhi, while framing love as the ultimate virtue and emphasizing the noble role of a teacher.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaikkal (Initial Alliteration)

Anbum aramum adakkamum porumaiyum

Repetition of the initial letter 'A' across words in 'Anbum aramum adakkamum'.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Anbum aramum adakkamum porumaiyum / Panbum kondavar pengal

Repetition of the second consonant 'n' sound in 'Anbu' and 'Panbu'.

Q&A Structure (Vina-Vidai)

Karuppaai irukkum kuralthaan inikkum / Parakkum paravai adhu enna

A pedagogical poetic technique where questions/riddles are posed to prompt answers from a chorus.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the renowned revolutionary lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for the 1958 film 'Anbu Engey', this track stands out as a classic Tamil children's educational song that seamlessly weaves moral philosophy into basic alphabet mnemonics.

Keep listening

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