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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Ammaanai

From Avan Oru Sarithiram · 1977

Lyricist: Kannadasan
Singers: T. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jairam
Music director: M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name: Avan Oru Sarithiram
Movie release year: 1977
Lyrics added on: 6 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Ammaanai azhagumigum kannmaanai

Ammaanai azhagumigum kannmaanai

Aadivarum pennmaanai thedivarum perumaanai

Thedivarum perumaanai

Nambiya penn oru thaaragai

Aval naadiya neeyoru vaanagam

Nambiya penn oru thaaragai

Aval naadiya neeyoru vaanagam

Vinnagam maariya podhilum

Indha pennagam maaruvadhillaiyae

Vinnagam maariya podhilum

Indha pennagam maaruvadhillaiyae

Ammaanai azhagumigum kannmaanai

Aadivarum pennmaanai thedivarum perumaanai

Thedivarum perumaanai

Paalinul marainthulla suvaiyena

Vizhi palinginil maraindhathu un mugam

Paalinul marainthulla suvaiyena

Vizhi palinginil maraindhathu un mugam

Aazhiyil maraindhulla maniyena unn

Aasaiyil marainthullathennmanam

Aazhiyil maraindhulla maniyena unn

Aasaiyil marainthullathennmanam

Kanniyin naalvagai saathiram

Than kaadhalan kangalil maathiram

Kanniyin naalvagai saathiram

Than kaadhalan kangalil maathiram

Unnidam thaan oru paathiram

Adhil ootriya thaen mazhai un mugam

Unnidam thaan oru paathiram

Adhil ootriya thaen mazhai un mugam

Ammaanai azhagumigum kannmaanai

Male :Aadivarum pennmaanai thedivarum perumaanai

Thedivarum perumaanai

Ponnira vandugal paadina

Avai poovenum methaiyil koodina

En iru kangaum thedina

Avai yaekkathil unnidam oodina

Mangala sangugal azhaithana

Iru mandhira mullaigal izhuthana

Unnudan udal uyir kalanthana

Ingu ondrumillai ini enakkena

Ammaanai azhagumigum kannmaanai

Female :Aadivarum pennmaanai thedivarum perumaanai

Thedivarum perumaanai

Ammanai, the doe with beautiful eyes,

Ammanai, the doe with beautiful eyes,

The playful doe, and the noble lord who comes seeking her,

The noble lord who comes seeking her...

The trusting girl is like a star,

And you, whom she sought, are the vast sky.

The trusting girl is like a star,

And you, whom she sought, are the vast sky.

Even if the sky above were to change,

This woman's heart will never change.

Even if the sky above were to change,

This woman's heart will never change.

Ammanai, the doe with beautiful eyes,

The playful doe, and the noble lord who comes seeking her,

The noble lord who comes seeking her...

Like the sweetness hidden inside milk,

Your face is hidden in the crystal of my eyes.

Like the sweetness hidden inside milk,

Your face is hidden in the crystal of my eyes.

Like a pearl hidden in the ocean deep,

My heart is hidden in my longing for you.

Like a pearl hidden in the ocean deep,

My heart is hidden in my longing for you.

All the four virtues of a woman

Are found only in her lover's eyes.

All the four virtues of a woman

Are found only in her lover's eyes.

Before you, she is like an empty cup,

And your face is the sweet honey poured into it.

Before you, she is like an empty cup,

And your face is the sweet honey poured into it.

Ammanai, the doe with beautiful eyes,

The playful doe, and the noble lord who comes seeking her,

The noble lord who comes seeking her...

Golden honeybees were singing,

They gathered on a bed of blossoms.

My two eyes were searching,

And in longing, they ran to you.

Auspicious conches sounded their call,

Two enchanting jasmine blossoms drew me close,

My body and soul have merged with yours,

There is nothing left here just for myself anymore.

Ammanai, the doe with beautiful eyes,

The playful doe, and the noble lord who comes seeking her,

The noble lord who comes seeking her...

Male

Female

Female

Male

Female

Female

Female

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ammaanai Azhagumigum Kannmaanai from the 1977 Tamil film Avan Oru Sarithiram is a classical romantic duet formatted around 'Ammaanai', an ancient Tamil literary and folk tradition where women sing verses while playing a game tossing wooden balls. Lyricist Kannadasan draws upon rich Tamil Sangam tropes, comparing the heroine to a delicate deer and a star inhabiting the expansive sky of her lover's heart. The song explores theme of absolute devotion, emphasizing that while the heavens may alter, true love remains steadfast and unyielding. The lyricism relies heavily on sensory metaphors—comparing love to hidden sweetness in milk, a jewel buried in the ocean floor, and honeyed rain filling a vessel. The song culminates in a grand imagery of physical and spiritual union, where two individuals merge until no separate identity remains, set to music by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Paalinul marainthulla suvaiyena”

Compares the face reflected in the eye to sweetness hidden inside milk using 'ena'.

Upamai (Simile)

“Aazhiyil maraindhulla maniyena unn”

Compares the heart immersed in desire to a precious gem hidden in the sea.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Vinnagam maariya podhilum / Indha pennagam maaruvadhillaiyae”

Matching second consonants across lines ('nn' in Vinnagam and Pennagam).

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Nambiya penn oru thaaragai / Aval naadiya neeyoru vaanagam”

Directly metaphorizes the heroine as a star ('thaaragai') and her lover as the sky ('vaanagam').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ammaanai' refers to an ancient Tamil genre of poetry and a folk game played predominantly by women tossing polished wooden balls. Kannadasan cleverly adapted this classical Sangam literary form into modern film lyrics for Avan Oru Sarithiram (1977), starring Sivaji Ganesan, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan.

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