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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Mel Aanaiyitten

From Sathyam – 1976 Film · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Sathyam – 1976 Film1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Amma mael aanaiyitaenI swear upon the Mother Goddess
Ambalathil solliputtaenI declared it openly in the public square
Amma mael aanaiyitaenI swear upon the Mother Goddess
Ambalathil solliputtaenI declared it openly in the public square
En veettu pombalaikku neethaane sakkalathiYou are the co-wife to the woman of my house
Adi innum enna pakkathile vaadi machinichiHey sister-in-law, why wait? Come close to me!
Male
Amma mael aanaiyitaenI swear upon the Mother Goddess
Ambalathil solliputaenI declared it openly in the public square
Female
Ennanga nikireengaWhy are you standing like that?
Ennennamo pesa vittuLetting him speak whatever he wants
Sollunga unga annanukku ennaipathiTell your elder brother about me
Ennanga nikireengaWhy are you standing like that?
Ennennamo pesa vittuLetting him speak whatever he wants
Sollunga unga annanukku ennaipathiTell your elder brother about me
Summa sokkurraru nikkuraaru ennai suthhiHe is simply mesmerized and standing around me
Sokkurraru nikkuraaru ennai suthhiMesmerized and standing around me
Male
Aanaana muruganayeEven the great Lord Murugan
Andha valli kuratthiyidamTo that gypsy woman Valli
Koodap poranthavarthaan kootti vandhaaruWas brought together by his own brother
Male
Aanaana muruganayeEven the great Lord Murugan
Andha valli kuratthiyidamTo that gypsy woman Valli
Koodap poranthavarthaan kootti vandhaaruWas brought together by his own brother
Male
Ivar kozhinthiyaalai kaippdikka pottiyittaaruHe competed to marry his sister-in-law
Ivar kozhinthiyaalai kaippdikka pottiyittaaruHe competed to marry his sister-in-law
Female
Baratham padichitiyaaHave you read the Mahabharata?
Paandavar paarthitiyaa…Have you seen the Pandavas?
Baratham padichitiyaaHave you read the Mahabharata?
Paandavar paarthitiyaa…Have you seen the Pandavas?
Podhume ada podhumeEnough, oh enough!
Rendu pakkam naan padumpaaduThe plight I suffer caught between both sides!
Naan porakkayile unakkuthaan ezhuthi vacharuWhen I was born, destiny wrote me only for you!
Male
Amma mael aanaiyitaenI swear upon the Mother Goddess
Ambalathil solliputaenI declared it openly in the public square
En veettu pombalaikku neethaane sakkalathiYou are the co-wife to the woman of my house
Adi innum enna pakkathile vaadi machinichiHey sister-in-law, why wait? Come close to me!
Male
Amma mael aanaiyitaenI swear upon the Mother Goddess
Ambalathil solliputaenI declared it openly in the public square
Male
Oorengum nelamirukkuThere is land all over the village
Oozhura kaiyil balamirukkuThere is strength in the hands that till the soil
Ulloargal yaavrukkum uchha varambuThere is a land ceiling limit for all locals
Ini uzhugamal thinbavarikku micha varambuNow there is a limit even for those who eat without farming
Male
Oorengum nelamirukkuThere is land all over the village
Oozhura kaiyil balamirukkuThere is strength in the hands that till the soil
Ulloargal yaavrukkum uchha varambuThere is a land ceiling limit for all locals
Ini uzhugamal thinbavarikku micha varambuNow there is a limit even for those who eat without farming
Male
Boomikku varppu kattu porulukellaam varambu kattuBuild bunds for the land and place limits on all wealth
Aasaikku ellaikkattum sattam vandhachuA law has arrived placing boundaries on human desire
Boomikku varppu kattu porulukellaam varambu kattuBuild bunds for the land and place limits on all wealth
Aasaikku ellaikkattum sattam vandhachuA scheme has come stating that harboring greed here is bad
Male
Inge aasai vacha mosmunnu thittam vandhachuA scheme has come stating that harboring greed here is bad
Inge aasai vacha mosmunnu thittam vandhachuA scheme has come stating that harboring greed here is bad
Inge aasai vacha mosmunnu thittam vandhachuA scheme has come stating that harboring greed here is bad
Male
Aathi sakthi maariyamma aalukindra kaaliyaamaOh primordial Sakthi, Mariyamma, ruling Kaliamma!
Male
Amma mael aanaiyitaenI swear upon the Mother Goddess
Ambalathil solliputaenI declared it openly in the public square

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a lively folk-style duet from the 1976 movie Sathyam, featuring playful banter between characters alongside subtle socio-political commentary. The characters swear by the village deity (Mariyamma/Kaliamma) as they engage in lighthearted romantic teasing, drawing parallels from Tamil folklore and Hindu epics such as Lord Murugan marrying Valli with Ganesha's assistance, and references to the Mahabharata. In typical Kannadasan style, the lyricist seamlessly weaves contemporary social themes into the rural romantic dialog. The latter stanzas cleverly reference government reforms of the 1970s, such as land ceiling acts ('uchha varambu') and anti-hoarding policies, metaphorically applying these societal limits on greed and excess to human desires and relationships.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Amma mael aanaiyitaen / Ambalathil solliputtaen

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'A' across the opening lines.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Amma mael aanaiyitaen / Ambalathil solliputtaen

Matching of second consonants 'm' sound in 'Amma' and 'Ambalathil'.

Mythological Allusion

Aanaana muruganaye / Andha valli kuratthiyidam / Koodap poranthavarthaan kootti vandhaaru

Reference to Lord Murugan's marriage to Valli with the help of his brother Vinayagar.

Sociopolitical Metaphor

Boomikku varppu kattu porulukellaam varambu kattu / Aasaikku ellaikkattum sattam vandhachu

Using government agricultural land ceiling regulations ('uchha varambu') as a metaphor for placing boundaries on personal desire and greed.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1976 film 'Sathyam' starring Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Haasan, this song composed by K. V. Mahadevan is a classic example of lyricist Kannadasan integrating real-world political developments—specifically the Land Ceiling Acts enacted in Tamil Nadu during the 1970s—into popular film music disguised as a lighthearted village folk duet.

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