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Lyrics & meaning

Achcham Ennadi

From Kaalam Maari Pochu · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Kaalam Maari Pochu1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………....
Female
Acham ennadi naanam ennadiWhat is fear, girl? What is shyness, girl?
Aangal mudhugil kummi kottadiClap your hands in Kummi folk dance on men's backs!
Acham ennadi naanam ennadiWhat is fear, girl? What is shyness, girl?
Aangal mudhugil kummi kottadiClap your hands in Kummi folk dance on men's backs!
Female
Hae….koottu puzhuvae konjam veliyil vaaHey... cocoon worm, come out a little!
Nee pattampoochchiyaai maari paranthu vaaTransform into a butterfly and fly away!
Hae….koottu puzhuvae konjam veliyil vaaHey... cocoon worm, come out a little!
Nee pattampoochchiyaai maari paranthu vaaTransform into a butterfly and fly away!
Chorus
Acham ennadi naanam ennadiWhat is fear, girl? What is shyness, girl?
Aangal mudhugil kummi kottadiClap your hands in Kummi folk dance on men's backs!
Female
Palkalaikazhaga thervilaeIn university examinations,
Engal pengalae perithum munnaniOur women are prominently at the top.
Endru endrumae pulli vivaram solgirathaeStatistics prove this day after day.
Female
Raanuvam kaaval thuraiyilaeIn the military and police departments,
Pengal Yaegamaai vanthu saerntha pinEver since women joined in large numbers,
Aangal aanavam konjam konjam madikirathaeMen's arrogance is gradually fading away.
Female
Bharatha maadha penthanaeMother India is a woman,
Paayum nadhiyum penthaanaeThe flowing river is also a woman.
Intha mann veliyil antha vinn veliyilIn this earthly realm and in that space above,
Nam penmai vellum kaalam sollumTime will tell that our womanhood triumphs.
Chorus
Acham ennadi naanam ennadiWhat is fear, girl? What is shyness, girl?
Aangal mudhugil kummi kottadiClap your hands in Kummi folk dance on men's backs!
Female
Nenjilae aanai sumanthavalShe who bore commands in her heart,
Karpap paiyilae pillai sumanthavalShe who carried a child in her womb,
Sontha vaazhvaiyum endrumthaanae sumakkindraalAlways carries her own life's burdens too.
Female
Kattilil konjam theintha pinAfter wearing down a little on the bed,
Samaiyal kattilae konjam theintha pinAfter wearing down a little in the kitchen,
Mezhuguvarththi pol urugi endrum vaazhgindraalShe lives forever melting away like a candle.
Female
Pillai petrum porumai kaattuvaalEven after giving birth, she demonstrates patience,
Muttaalukku karunai kaattuvaalShe even shows mercy to a fool.
Aval thuninthu vittaala ondril irangivittaalIf she dares and steps into something,
Aval siragai peruvaal sigaram thoduvaalShe will gain wings and touch the summit!
Female
Acham ennadi naanam ennadiWhat is fear, girl? What is shyness, girl?
Aangal mudhugil kummi kottadiClap your hands in Kummi folk dance on men's backs!
Chorus
Acham ennadi naanam ennadiWhat is fear, girl? What is shyness, girl?
Aangal mudhugil kummi kottadiClap your hands in Kummi folk dance on men's backs!
Female
Hae….koottu puzhuvae konjam veliyil vaaHey... cocoon worm, come out a little!
Nee pattampoochchiyaai maari paranthu vaaTransform into a butterfly and fly away!
Hae….koottu puzhuvae konjam veliyil vaaHey... cocoon worm, come out a little!
Nee pattampoochchiyaai maari paranthu vaaTransform into a butterfly and fly away!
Chorus
Acham ennadi naanam ennadiWhat is fear, girl? What is shyness, girl?
Aangal mudhugil kummi kottadiClap your hands in Kummi folk dance on men's backs!
Acham ennadi naanam ennadiWhat is fear, girl? What is shyness, girl?
Aangal mudhugil kummi kottadiClap your hands in Kummi folk dance on men's backs!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This spirited song from Kaalam Maari Pochu serves as a powerful feminist anthem celebrating women's liberation, equality, and achievement. Vaali's lyrics call upon women to throw away traditional social restraints like excessive fear and bashfulness, urging them to emerge from their metaphorical cocoons like butterflies. The song highlights women's remarkable success in modern fields such as higher education, the armed forces, and law enforcement, which challenges long-standing male dominance and chauvinism. Furthermore, the song acknowledges the incredible strength and emotional endurance women display while carrying life's responsibilities, balancing family life, and making quiet sacrifices. By equating womanhood to divine and natural forces like Mother India and flowing rivers, the song asserts that given determination and opportunity, women are bound to scale the greatest heights and shape the future.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Hae….koottu puzhuvae konjam veliyil vaa / Nee pattampoochchiyaai maari paranthu vaa

Comparing women restrained by traditional societal norms to cocoon worms (koottu puzhu) that must emerge and transform into free butterflies (pattampoochchi).

Simile (Uvamai)

Mezhuguvarththi pol urugi endrum vaazhgindraal

Using 'pol' (like) to compare a woman's selfless devotion and sacrifice in her household life to a candle melting away.

Anaphora / Refrain

Acham ennadi naanam ennadi

Repetition of the line questioning traditional female virtues ('acham' and 'naanam') to emphasize liberation and confidence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kaalam Maari Pochu (1996) is a hit Tamil family drama directed by V. Sekhar. The song was composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by Vaali, and sung energeticially by K. S. Chithra and Anuradha Sriram. The film focuses on gender equality, marriage dynamics, and female empowerment.

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