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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammadiyo Athanukku Kobathai

From Thulasi Maadam · 1963

Lyricist
Ka. Mu. Sheriff
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thulasi Maadam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ammadiyoo athaanukku kobatha paaruOh my, look at my beloved's anger!
Avaru azhagu mugathilOn his handsome face,
Ellum kollum varupathu yaaruWho is roasting sesame and gram?
Ammadiyoo athaanukku kobatha paaruOh my, look at my beloved's anger!
Avaru azhagu mugathilOn his handsome face,
Ellum kollum varupathu yaaruWho is roasting sesame and gram?
Female
Edhukku indha kobamaamWhy this anger, I wonder?
Enna koduthaa theerumaamWhat should I give to appease it?
Adhu kidakku ezhundhu vaangaLet it be, get up and come!
Aadi paadi magizhalaamLet us dance, sing, and rejoice!
Female
Edhukku indha kobamaamWhy this anger, I wonder?
Enna koduthaa theerumaamWhat should I give to appease it?
Adhu kidakku ezhundhu vaangaLet it be, get up and come!
Aadi paadi magizhalaamLet us dance, sing, and rejoice!
Female
Kanni ennai paarungaLook at me, a young maiden!
Kalakalappa pesungaSpeak cheerfully and lively!
Enna thavaru kandu neengaWhat fault did you find in me,
Indha kobam kondeengaThat you harbor such anger?
Female
Kanni ennai paarungaLook at me, a young maiden!
Kalakalappa pesungaSpeak cheerfully and lively!
Enna thavaru kandu neengaWhat fault did you find in me,
Indha kobam kondeengaThat you harbor such anger?
Female
Ammadiyoo athaanukku kobatha paaruOh my, look at my beloved's anger!
Avaru azhagu mugathilOn his handsome face,
Ellum kollum varupathu yaaruWho is roasting sesame and gram?
Female
Kobam sirippaa maarudhuAnger is turning into a smile!
Kurumbhu paarvai pirakkudhuA mischievous glance is born!
Paavam athaan manasil ippoPoor thing, in my beloved's heart now,
Aasai kidanthu thavikkudhuDesire lies struggling with passion!
Female
Kobam sirippaa maarudhuAnger is turning into a smile!
Kurumbhu paarvai pirakkudhuA mischievous glance is born!
Paavam athaan manasil ippoPoor thing, in my beloved's heart now,
Aasai kidanthu thavikkudhuDesire lies struggling with passion!
Female
Apple thottam edhirilaeAn apple orchard is right in front,
Arundha pasi vayitrilaeWhile having intense hunger in the stomach,
Sapida thaan koopittaalumEven when invited to eat,
Jambam edhukku puriyalaeWhy show off pride? I don't understand!
Female
Apple thottam edhirilaeAn apple orchard is right in front,
Arundha pasi vayitrilaeWhile having intense hunger in the stomach,
Sapida thaan koopittaalumEven when invited to eat,
Jambam edhukku puriyalaeWhy show off pride? I don't understand!
Female
Ammadiyoo athaanukku kobatha paaruOh my, look at my beloved's anger!
Avaru azhagu mugathilOn his handsome face,
Ellum kollum varupathu yaaruWho is roasting sesame and gram?
Ohh oo ammadiyoo athaanukku kobatha paaruOh oh, my, look at my beloved's anger!
Avaru azhagu mugathilOn his handsome face,
Ellum kollum varupathu yaaruWho is roasting sesame and gram?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ammadiyoo athaanukku kobatha paaru is a playful, romantic song sung from the perspective of a young woman teasing her lover or husband (athaan) who is feigning anger. She humorously compares his flushed, furious expression to sesame and horse-gram crackling on a hot pan, coaxing him to drop his pride, stop sulking, and join her in celebration. As the song progresses, she notices his anger softening into a smile and a cheeky glance, revealing that his heart is actually overflowing with romantic desire. Using the vivid metaphor of a starving person standing in front of an apple orchard yet refusing to eat out of foolish pride, she affectionately calls out his stubbornness and urges him to embrace love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Idiomatic Metaphor (பழமொழி உவமை)

Ellum kollum varupathu yaaru

'Ellum kollum varupathu' is a popular Tamil idiom describing extreme anger where a person's face crackles like sesame seeds and horse-gram popping in a hot pan.

Extended Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Apple thottam edhirilae / Arundha pasi vayitrilae

The heroine compares herself and her affection to an 'apple orchard', and the hero's suppressed romantic longing to 'intense hunger'.

Monorhyme and Rhyme (எதுகை / மோனை)

Kobam sirippaa maarudhu / Kurumbhu paarvai pirakkudhu

Use of initial and secondary phonetic harmony ('Kobam' / 'Kurumbhu', 'Ammadiyoo' / 'Avaru') to create a light, rhythmic, bouncy feel suited for a teasing song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan for the 1963 film 'Thulasi Maadam', the song features lyrics by the renowned poet Ka. Mu. Sheriff. Singer S. Janaki's expressive vocal modulations and playful giggles perfectly captured the playful teasing (ஊடல்) element traditional to classical and folk Tamil romantic literature.

Keep listening

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