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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Kannu

From Gnana Oli · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Gnana Oli1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ammaa kannu summaa solluMy dear girl, tell me truthfully,
Aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire?
En mel aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire for me?
Unnai alli katti kollum podhuWhen I gather you in my arms and embrace you,
Inbam vallaiyoDoesn't bliss overflow?
Andha inbam vallaiyoDoesn't that divine bliss overflow?
Male
Ammaa kannu summaa solluMy dear girl, tell me truthfully,
Aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire?
En mel aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire for me?
Unnai alli katti kollum podhuWhen I gather you in my arms and embrace you,
Inbam vallaiyoDoesn't bliss overflow?
Andha inbam vallaiyoDoesn't that divine bliss overflow?
Female
Yaedho sonnaen kobam kondenI blurted something out and got angry,
Paasam illaamaeWithout showing affection.
Neenga ippo sonnaa yaedhum seivenNow if you tell me, I will do anything you ask,
Kobam kollaamae kobam kollaamaeWithout getting angry, without getting angry.
Male
Vaadaa kannu unnai polaeCome, my darling, is there anyone like you,
Raajaathi undoA queen like you?
Vaadaa kannu unnai polaeCome, my darling, is there anyone like you,
Raajaathi undoA queen like you?
Female
Aaha maamaa unnai polae nallaAaha, uncle/maternal cousin, like you,
Maappillai undoIs there a fine bridegroom?
Aaha maamaa unnai polae nallaAaha, uncle/maternal cousin, like you,
Maappillai undoIs there a fine bridegroom?
Female
Maamaa kannu summaa solluMy dear man, tell me truthfully,
Aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire?
En mel aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire for me?
Male
Unnai alli katti kollum podhuWhen I gather you in my arms and embrace you,
Inbam vallaiyoDoesn't bliss overflow?
Andha inbam vallaiyoDoesn't that divine bliss overflow?
Male
Poovum pottum saelai kattumWearing flowers, a bindi, and a saree,
Bodhai sindhudhadiIt spills an intoxicating charm!
Nee potti pottu paesum podhuWhen you speak playfully competing with me,
Mogam pongudhadi mogam pongudhadiPassion overflows, passion overflows!
Female
Ponnum kannum indrum endrumThis girl and these eyes, today and forever,
Maamaa sondhamadiBelong to you, my dear man!
Ponnum kannum indrum endrumThis girl and these eyes, today and forever,
Maamaa sondhamadiBelong to you, my dear man!
Naan pollaa ponnu illai endruTo prove that I am not a bad girl,
Vandhen nalla vazhiI have taken the right path,
Vandhen nalla vazhiI have taken the right path.
Male
Ammaa kannu summaa solluMy dear girl, tell me truthfully,
Aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire?
En mel aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire for me?
Unnai alli katti kollum podhuWhen I gather you in my arms and embrace you,
Inbam vallaiyoDoesn't bliss overflow?
Andha inbam vallaiyoDoesn't that divine bliss overflow?
Female
Naanaa vandhu thaanaa thandhaaThinking it wouldn't be nice if I came on my own
Nallaa illaiyinnuAnd offered myself freely,
Naan odi paathu olinju paathuI ran around, played hide-and-seek,
Vandhen sondhaminnuAnd finally came, declaring my kinship,
Vandhen sondhaminnuDeclaring my kinship.
Male
Thaenaa sindhum rojaa pandhaiThis rose bouquet dripping with sweet nectar,
Naanaa allattumaaShall I scoop it up in my hands?
Thaenaa sindhum rojaa pandhaiThis rose bouquet dripping with sweet nectar,
Naanaa allattumaa unShall I scoop it up in my hands, and on your
Sevvaai thottu onno rendoRed lips touch once or twice,
Mutham sindhattumaaTo shower kisses?
Mutham sindhattumaaTo shower kisses?
Male
Ammaa kannu summaa solluMy dear girl, tell me truthfully,
Aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire?
En mel aasai illaiyoDon't you have desire for me?
Unnai alli katti kollum podhuWhen I gather you in my arms and embrace you,
Inbam vallaiyoDoesn't bliss overflow?
Andha inbam vallaiyoDoesn't that divine bliss overflow?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful romantic song features a charming banter between two lovers expressing their affection and teasing desire. The male lead playfully questions the female lead's hesitation, asking if she doesn't feel the blissful romantic magic whenever they embrace. The female lead responds playfully, acknowledging her past fake anger, praising him as the ideal groom, and declaring her ultimate devotion to him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Ammaa kannu summaa sollu

The second consonant sound 'm' matches across 'Ammaa' and 'Summaa'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Thaenaa sindhum rojaa pandhai

Comparing the heroine's red lips and beauty to a nectar-dripping rose bouquet ('rojaa pandhu').

Alliteration (Monaai)

Poovum pottum saelai kattum

Repetition of the 'po' initial sound in 'Poovum', 'pottum', 'Bodhai' (p/b labial sound alliteration).

Did you know?

Trivia

The iconic movie 'Gnana Oli' (1972) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Vijayasree, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan. This particular track is rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, serving as a classic romantic duet from the golden era of Tamil cinema.

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