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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ambigaiye Unnai Nambi

From Oli Piranthathu · 1980

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Oli Piranthathu
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
3 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ambigaiyae unnai nambi vanthaen
Yae….yae….yae….yae….yaen….
Ambigaiyae unnai nambi vanthaen
Unthan aalaya vaasalilae
Thavam kidanthaen thavam kidanthaen
Maagamaagasasa thaamathaamagaga
Neethaneethamama kamathanisa
Thanisanithasa
Saathamaaga thaamathama nee sugamaa sammathaama
Unnai naan santhiththaen
Nee aayiraththil oruththi
Unnai naan santhiththaen
Nee aayiraththil oruththi
Ullaththaal rasiththaen
Enthan paarvaiyilae niruththi
Paarvaiyilae niruththi
Unnai naan santhiththaen
Nee aayiraththil oruththi
Ambigaiyae unnai nambi vanthaen
Unthan aalaya vaasalilae
Thavam kidanthaen
……………..
Mohana punnagai malarnthidumpothu
Malligai thoranam manathai thodaathu
Mohana punnagai malarnthidumpothu
Malligai thoranam manathai thodaathu
Mogaththin vasamaagi mayakkam tharaathu
Ma ma ga ni tha maanganithaa
Ma ma ga ni tha maanganithaa
Gama gama gama gama kanithaa maanganitha
Sammathamaa….saagasamaa….
Sammathamma sammathammaa
Naan unthan kooda vara sammathammaa
Sammathammaa
Naan unthan kooda vara sammathammaa
Sarisamamaaga nizhal polae
Naan koodavara sammathammaa….eppadi
Naan unthan kooda vara sammathammaa
Ambigaiyae unnai nambi vanthaen
Unthan aalaya vaasalilae
Thavam kidanthaen thavam kidanthaen
Aasaiyin paathaiyil nee vantha kolam
Anantha pothaiyil mithanthathu raagam
Raagam….raagam….raagam…..
Aasaiyin paathaiyil nee vantha kolam
Anantha pothaiyil mithanthathu raagam
Aarambam aagattum perinba geetham perinba geetham
Haha oru naal pothumaa
Indroru naal pothumaa
Naan paada indroru naal pothumaa
Naathamaa geethamaa naathamaa geethamaa
Unnai naan paada indru oru naal pothumaa
Pothumaa…. pothumaa….pothumaa…..
O Ambikai, I came trusting in you,
Why... why... why... why... why?
O Ambikai, I came trusting in you,
At the entrance of your temple,
I waited in deep prayer, I waited in deep prayer.
Ma ga ma ga sa sa, dha ma dha ma ga ga,
Nee dha nee dha ma ma, ga ma dha ni sa,
Dha ni sa ni dha sa.
Peacefully, why the delay? Are you fine, do you agree?
I met you,
you are one in a thousand.
I met you,
you are one in a thousand.
I admired you from the depth of my heart,
holding you within my gaze.
Holding you within my gaze.
I met you,
you are one in a thousand.
O Ambikai, I came trusting in you,
At the entrance of your temple,
I waited in deep prayer.
...
When your charming smile blossoms,
even a garland of jasmine cannot touch the heart.
When your charming smile blossoms,
even a garland of jasmine cannot touch the heart.
Won't falling under passion's spell bring sweet intoxication?
Ma ma ga ni dha, give me the sweet mango!
Ma ma ga ni dha, give me the sweet mango!
Ga ma ga ma ga ma ga ma, give the fruit, give the mango!
Do you agree? Or is it a playful dare?
I agree, my love, I agree!
I agree to come along with you.
I agree!
I agree to come along with you.
As your equal, just like your shadow,
I agree to walk beside you... How about that?
I agree to come along with you.
O Ambikai, I came trusting in you,
At the entrance of your temple,
I waited in deep prayer, I waited in deep prayer.
The graceful way you walked along the path of desire,
made the melody float in pure bliss.
Melody... melody... melody...
The graceful way you walked along the path of desire,
made the melody float in pure bliss.
Let it begin, this song of supreme joy, this song of supreme joy!
Haha, is one day enough?
Is just this one day enough?
Is just today enough for me to sing?
Is it pure sound or a song? Is it music or a melody?
Is just today enough for me to sing of you?
Is it enough? Is it enough? Is it enough?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song 'Ambigaiyae Unnai Nambi Vanthaen' weaves devotional metaphors with romantic praise. The protagonist addresses his beloved as 'Ambigai' (the divine mother Goddess), describing how he waited at the entrance of her temple in deep penance just to catch a glimpse of her. He praises her uniqueness as 'one in a thousand' whose enchanting smile surpasses the beauty of jasmine garlands, leaving him spellbound. As the song progresses, it mixes classical Carnatic swara passages (solfege) with playful lyrical rhythm. Towards the end, referencing the classical music tradition, the singer exuberantly asks whether just 'one day is enough' to sing all the praises of his beloved, bringing an energetic, blissful conclusion to the composition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Ambigaiyae unnai nambi vanthaen / Unthan aalaya vaasalilae”

Comparing the beloved directly to a Goddess (Ambigai) and her presence to a temple entrance.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Mohana punnagai malarnthidumpothu / Malligai thoranam manathai thodaathu”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Ma' in 'Mohana' and 'Malligai'.

Simile (Uvamaani)

“Sarisamamaaga nizhal polae”

Comparing accompanying the beloved closely to that of a shadow ('nizhal polae').

Cultural/Intertextual Allusion

“Haha oru naal pothumaa / Indroru naal pothumaa”

The line 'Oru naal pothumaa' references the iconic Carnatic-style film song 'Oru Naal Pothuma' from Thiruvilayadal, used here in a playful, energetic vocal improvisational context.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ambigaiyae Unnai Nambi Vanthaen' is a notable track from the 1980 Tamil film 'Oli Piranthathu', scored by the popular duo Shankar-Ganesh. S.P. Balasubrahmanyam's vocal performance is celebrated for effortlessly combining classical swaram vocalizations with high-energy romantic improvisations.

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