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Lyrics & meaning

Amaravathiye

From Ambikapathy (Old) · 1957

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Ambikapathy (Old)1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Amaraavathiyae… en aasai kaniyamudhae…O Amaravathi... my desired sweet nectar of fruit...
Kamazhum thamizh manamae…ae…ae…Fragrant essence of Tamil...
Kattazhaghae… nithilamae… ae…ae…ae…O ultimate beauty... O pure pearl...
Imaiyaadhu enai nokkiGazing at me without blinking,
En uyirai kollai konduPlundering and stealing my life,
Amaiyaadha min pol agandraayaeYou disappeared like an ever-restless flash of lightning!
Aattruveno aattruveno…Will I ever console myself? Will I ever recover?
Male
Andhamaevum aravindha maa malarilIn the grand lotus flower brimming with beauty,
Vandha vedhavalliyaIs she Goddess Saraswati (Vedhavalli) who appeared?
Andhamaevum aravindha maa malarilIn the grand lotus flower brimming with beauty,
Vandha vedhavalliyaIs she Goddess Saraswati who appeared?
Kadal thandha ponnin selviyaaOr is she Goddess Lakshmi (Ponni) birthed by the ocean?
Kadal thandha ponnin selviyaaOr is she Goddess Lakshmi birthed by the ocean?
Male
Madhan sindhai vaazhum velliyaaOr is she the bright Venus living in the mind of the Love God, Manmatha?
Eendru kanda podhil aiyam kondu pesumWhenever seen, she causes doubt to arise in the mind,
Ezhil nindrulaavum killaiyaalA parrot wandering in majestic beauty!
Endru kanda podhil aiyam kondu pesumWhenever seen, she causes doubt to arise in the mind,
Ezhil nindrulaavum killaiyaalA parrot wandering in majestic beauty!
Male
Thunga maevum ila nangaiyaalinOf this pure and noble young maiden,
Ezhil angam yaavum thangamaeEvery lovely limb is pure gold,
Thunga maevum ila nangaiyaalinOf this pure and noble young maiden,
Ezhil angam yaavum thangamaeEvery lovely limb is pure gold,
Mugam pongum chandra bimbamaeHer face is a overflowing lunar disc,
Mugam pongum chandra bimbamaeHer face is an overflowing lunar disc,
Male
Sattrum angillai kalangamaeWithout even a trace of blemish on it!
Pirai thundu polaHer forehead is like a crescent moon,
Nettri sangu pol kazhuthumHer neck is shaped like a smooth conch shell,
Sollum naadha inbamaeHer speech is the sweet joy of musical notes,
Pirai thundu polaHer forehead is like a crescent moon,
Nettri sangu pol kazhuthumHer neck is shaped like a smooth conch shell,
Sollum naadha inbamaeHer speech is the sweet joy of musical notes,
Male
Kondal naanumHair dark as rain clouds,
Kuzhal sendai naadumTresses that surpass the beauty of a drum-like weave,
Kuzhal vandu naanum vizhiyaal…Eyes that rival the black honeybees...
Aa… aa… ae… aa… aa… aa…Aa… aa… ae… aa… aa… aa…
Male
Kondal naanumHair dark as rain clouds,
Kuzhal sendai naadumTresses that surpass the beauty of a drum-like weave,
Kuzhal vandu naanum vizhiyaal…Eyes that rival the black honeybees...
Karkandu naanum mozhiyaalWords sweeter than rock sugar,
Karkandu naanum mozhiyaalWords sweeter than rock sugar,
Vallai thandu naanum seviyaalEars that put the delicate bindweed stem to shame,
Minnal kandu naanumA waist that makes lightning feel humbled,
Idai kondu thaenum suvaiLips containing the richness and taste of sweet honey,
Kundhi naanum idhazhaalIn which sweetness resides!
Male
Andhamaevum aravindha maa malarilIn the grand lotus flower brimming with beauty,
Vandha vedhavalliyaIs she Goddess Saraswati who appeared,
Kadal thandha ponnin selviyaaOr Goddess Lakshmi birthed by the ocean,
Endru kanda podhil aiyam kondu pesumWhenever seen, she causes doubt to arise in the mind,
Ezhil nindrulaavum killaiyaalA parrot wandering in majestic beauty!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from the movie Ambikapathy (1957) is a poetic ode to the heroine Amaravathi, sung by the protagonist Ambikapathy in anguish and adoration. He marvels at her divine beauty, comparing her to goddesses like Saraswati and Lakshmi, as well as natural elements such as rainclouds, lightning, pearls, and the moon.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagandhu)

Amaraavathiyae… en aasai kaniyamudhae…

Comparing Amaravathi directly to 'Thamizh manam' (Tamil fragrance), 'nithilam' (pearl), and 'kaniyamudhu' (nectar of fruit).

Simile (Upamani)

Amaiyaadha min pol agandraayae

Comparing the heroine's quick disappearance to lightning ('min pol') and her forehead to a crescent moon ('Pirai thundu pola').

Emoni (Anaphora / Rhyme scheme)

Kondal naanum / Kuzhal sendai naadum

Use of second-letter rhyming (Edhugai) across consecutive lines such as 'Kondal', 'Kuzhal', and 'Karkandu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1957 film Ambikapathy featured Sivaji Ganesan and Bhanumathi Ramakrishna in lead roles, with iconic music composed by G. Ramanathan and lyrics authored by Kannadasan based on the legendary Tamil poet Ambikapathy.

Keep listening

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