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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aanaa Aavanna

From Mamiyargal Jakkiradhai · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Mamiyargal Jakkiradhai1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa…..nnaaAa... (The vowel sound 'A')
Female :Aa…..nnaaAa... (The vowel sound 'A')
Female :Aaa….nnnaaAaa... (The vowel sound 'Aa')
Female :Aaa….nnnaaAaa... (The vowel sound 'Aa')
Female :E…..nnaaE... (The vowel sound 'I')
Female :E…..nnaaE... (The vowel sound 'I')
Female :Ee…..yannaaEe... (The vowel sound 'Ee')
Female :Ee…..yannaaEe... (The vowel sound 'Ee')
Female
Ou…..nnaaU... (The vowel sound 'U')
Female :Ou…..nnaaU... (The vowel sound 'U')
Female :Oo….vannaaOo... (The vowel sound 'Oo')
Female :Oo….vannaaOo... (The vowel sound 'Oo')
Female :Ye…..nnaaYe... (The vowel sound 'E')
Female :Ye…..nnaaYe... (The vowel sound 'E')
Female :Yae…..yannaaYae... (The vowel sound 'Aae')
Female :Yae…..yannaaYae... (The vowel sound 'Aae')
Female
A….nnaa aa vannaa e nnaa ee-yannaaA, Aa, I, Ee...
U nnaa oo vannaa ye nnaa yae yaannaU, Oo, E, Aae...
Female
Panirendu thaanae uyirezhuththuThere are only twelve vowels in Tamil.
Adhil intha a nnaa mudhal ezhuththuAmong them, this 'A' is the first letter.
Tamilukku idhuthaan thalai ezhuththuFor the Tamil language, this itself is the destiny.
Female
A….nnaa aa vannaa e nnaa ee-yannaaA, Aa, I, Ee...
Female
Kallaa vizhunthu kidakka neeyum koyil saamiyaaAre you a temple deity to lie down like a stone?
Karadi singam puliyaa sollu namma mamiyaaTell me, is our mother-in-law a bear, a lion, or a tiger?
Kuttumpothu thatti kettaal kaigal oongumaaIf you question back when being hit, will their hands rise to strike again?
Oomai pennaai innum vaazhnthaal ullam thaangumaaIf you continue to live as a mute woman, can your heart endure it?
Female
A….nnaa aa vannaa e nnaa ee-yannaaA, Aa, I, Ee...
U nnaa oo vannaa ye nnaa yae yaannaU, Oo, E, Aae...
Female
Panirendu thaanae uyirezhuththuThere are only twelve vowels in Tamil.
Adhil intha a nnaa mudhal ezhuththuAmong them, this 'A' is the first letter.
Tamilukku idhuthaan thalai ezhuththuFor the Tamil language, this itself is the destiny.
Female
A….nnaa aa vannaa e nnaa ee-yannaaA, Aa, I, Ee...
Female
Thuvaichchaa oongi adichchaa entha thuniyum velukkuthuWhen washing, any cloth brightens if struck with force.
Thuninthu ninnu edhirththaa nalla theerppu kidaikkuthuIf you stand up boldly and oppose, a good resolution is attained.
Kaalam neram koodumpothu modhi paaradiWhen time and opportunity align, fight and see!
Poove unnai killumpothu mullaai maaradiO flower, turn into a thorn when someone pinches you!
Female
A….nnaa aa vannaa e nnaa ee-yannaaA, Aa, I, Ee...
U nnaa oo vannaa ye nnaa yae yaannaU, Oo, E, Aae...
Female
Panirendu thaanae uyirezhuththuThere are only twelve vowels in Tamil.
Adhil intha a nnaa mudhal ezhuththuAmong them, this 'A' is the first letter.
Tamilukku idhuthaan thalai ezhuththuFor the Tamil language, this itself is the destiny.
Female
A….nnaa aa vannaa e nnaa ee-yannaA, Aa, I, Ee...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song uses the fundamental Tamil vowels (Uyir Ezhuthukkal) as a metaphor for awakening self-respect and basic life lessons. It addresses women suffering under tyrannical mothers-in-law or societal oppression, urging them not to remain passive or silent like stones or mute statues. By drawing parallels to laundry getting clean only when beaten hard and flowers turning to thorns when pinched, the lyricist encourages oppressed women to stand up, voice their concerns, and fight for their rights when pushed beyond boundaries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagathal)

Poove unnai killumpothu mullaai maaradi

Comparing a passive woman to a stone temple deity ('Kallaa vizhunthu kidakka neeyum koyil saamiyaa') and urging a soft woman ('poove') to act like a sharp thorn ('mullaai') when attacked.

Monai (Alliteration)

Thuvaichchaa oongi adichchaa entha thuniyum velukkuthu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines like 'Kallaa' / 'Karadi' and 'Thuvaichchaa' / 'Thuninthu'.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Panirendu thaanae uyirezhuththu

Rhyming of the second letter across lines such as 'Panirendu', 'Adhil', and 'Tamilukku'.

Wordplay / Metaphor

Panirendu thaanae uyirezhuththu

Using the dual meaning of 'Uyirezhuthu' (vowel letters / letters of life) to symbolize beginning the fundamentals of life and self-defense.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Vaali cleverly weaves the basic Tamil alphabet teaching (Uyir Ezhuthukkal) into a social empowerment theme in this movie focused on family conflicts and mother-in-law dominance, which was a very popular sub-genre in Tamil cinema during the 1980s.

Keep listening

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