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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammadi Thookamma

From Kanni Thaai · 1965

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kanni Thaai1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ammaadi thookkamaa…Oh dear, are you sleepy?
Male
Aamaamaa kekkanumaa…Yes indeed, do you even need to ask?
Female
Ammaadi thookkamaa…Oh dear, are you sleepy?
Male
Aamaamaa kekkanumaa…Yes indeed, do you even need to ask?
Female
Oru thunaiyirukkura nerathilaeAt a time when a companion is beside you
Thookkamum varumaaDoes sleep ever come?
Male
Indha yekkathilae paduthirundhaaIf lying down in this state of yearning
Thookkamum varumaaDoes sleep ever come?
Female
Oru thunaiyirukkura nerathilaeAt a time when a companion is beside you
Thookkamum varumaaDoes sleep ever come?
Male
Indha yekkathilae paduthirundhaaIf lying down in this state of yearning
Thookkamum varumaaDoes sleep ever come?
Female
Mm…Ammaadi thookkamaa…Mm... Oh dear, are you sleepy?
Male
Mn…Aamaamaa kekkanumaa…Mn... Yes indeed, do you even need to ask?
Female
Naethu vandhadhu nenappuThe memory that arrived yesterday
Adhai nenaikka nenaikka inippuThe more I think of it, the sweeter it gets
Naethu vandhadhu nenappuThe memory that arrived yesterday
Adhai nenaikka nenaikka inippuThe more I think of it, the sweeter it gets
Adhu kaathadikkira velaiyilaeWhen the gentle breeze blows
Kanindhadhu yaar poruppuWhose fault is it that it ripened?
Male
Paarthu ninnadhu vayasuYouth stood and watched
Konjam pazhagha chonnadhu manasuThe heart asked to get acquainted a little
Paarthu ninnadhu vayasuYouth stood and watched
Konjam pazhagha chonnadhu manasuThe heart asked to get acquainted a little
Aanaa bayamirukkudhu kaaranamBut there is fear, and the reason is
Indha paadam enakku pudhusuThis lesson is completely new to me
Kaadhal enakku pudhusuLove is completely new to me
Female
Ammaadi thookkamaa…Oh dear, are you sleepy?
Male
Aamaamaa kekkanumaa…Yes indeed, do you even need to ask?
Female
Vidiya vidiya pesu unTalk to me all through the night until dawn
Vizhiyai eduthu veesuCast your romantic glance towards me
Vidiya vidiya pesu unTalk to me all through the night until dawn
Vizhiyai eduthu veesuCast your romantic glance towards me
Un kaigalil naan kudiyirundhaalIf I reside safely within your arms
Ulagam enakku thoosuThe rest of the world is mere dust to me
Male
Naalu perai azhaippenI will invite a gathering of elders
Mana maalai ondrai thoduppenI will weave a wedding garland
Naalu perai azhaippenI will invite a gathering of elders
Mana maalai ondrai thoduppenI will weave a wedding garland
Indha naattu pennai arugil vaithuKeeping this local girl right by my side
Naadagathai nadippenI will enact this drama
Kaadhal naadagathai nadippenI will enact this drama of love
Female
Ammaadi thookkamaa…Oh dear, are you sleepy?
Male
Aamaamaa kekkanumaa…Yes indeed, do you even need to ask?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ammaadi Thookkamaa is a playful romantic duet from the 1965 Tamil movie Kanni Thaai. The song captures a sweet night-time dialogue between two lovers who find themselves unable to sleep due to their sweet yearning and mutual affection. The heroine bashfully admits her fear and hesitation toward these newly awakened feelings of love, describing it as an unfamiliar lesson she is experiencing for the first time. The hero reassures her affectionately, inviting her to talk until dawn and expressing how holding her in his arms makes the entire world feel as insignificant as dust. He promises to bring elders together, weave a wedding garland, and turn their romance into a lifelong union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Vidiya vidiya pesu un / Un kaigalil naan kudiyirundhaal

The second letter in adjacent lines shares a common consonant sound ('da' sound in Vidiya / Kudiyirundhaal).

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Vidiya vidiya pesu un / Vizhiyai eduthu veesu

Matching starting consonant sounds in words across the line ('V' in Vidiya / Vizhiyai).

Hyperbole (Uruvagaimai / Exaggeration)

Un kaigalil naan kudiyirundhaal / Ulagam enakku thoosu

Exaggerating the insignificance of the world compared to the warmth of the lover's embrace ('The world is mere dust to me').

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Ammaadi thookkamaa… / Aamaamaa kekkanumaa…

Repetition of the conversational refrain creates a catchy rhythmic cadence standard in 1960s Tamil romantic duets.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kanni Thaai (1965) is an M. G. Ramachandran starrer produced by M. A. Venu and directed by M. A. Thirumugam. The film features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. This track stands out for its lighthearted conversational tone, capturing late-night banter between the lead characters using simple yet evocative colloquial Tamil phrasing.

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