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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammamma Enakku

From Nathaiyil Muthu · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Nathaiyil Muthu
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
25 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ammammaa enakku
Adhisaya nenappu thonuthu
Ammammaa enakku
Adhisaya nenappu thonuthu
Neerilae therintha mugam
Alai alaiyaai kalainthathammaa
Nenjilae padhintha mugam
Silaiyaai nilaithathammaa
Nenjilae padhintha mugam
Silaiyaai nilaithathammaa
Ammammaa enakku
Adhisaya nenappu thonuthu
Appappaa neruppaa
Aaththu jalam suduvathenappaa
Appappaa neruppaa
Aaththu jalam suduvathenappaa
Maeniyil kodhippirunthaal
Neeraalae adangumappaa
Maeniyil kodhippirunthaal
Neeraalae adangumappaa
Nenjilae kodhipeduththaal
Yaaraalae adangumappaa
Nenjilae kodhipeduththaal
Yaaraalae adangumappaa
Appappaa neruppaa
Aaththu jalam suduvathenappaa
Vellaththilae thullura meen
Kaalai mattum kadikkuthammaa
Vellaththilae thullura meen
Kaalai mattum kadikkuthammaa
Ullaththilae thullura meen
Ullaththilae thullura meen
Ullukkullae kadikkuthammaa
Kaayaththirkku marunthirukku
Kattu poda kayirukku
Kaayaththirkku marunthirukku
Kattu poda kayirukku
Kattupada aalirukku
Metti poda kaalirukku
Kattupada aalirukku
Metti poda kaalirukku
Ammammaa enakku
Adhisaya nenappu thonuthu
Iru karai thazhuvikittu
Odugindra vellam idhu
Iru karai thazhuvikittu
Odugindra vellam idhu
Maru karai kaanaamal
Marugidum ullam idhu
Akkaraiyaai thaedi vanthaal
Ikkaraiyum puriyaatho
Akkaraiyaai thaedi vanthaal
Ikkaraiyum puriyaatho
Virainthidum kaavirikku
Thiraikkadal theriyaatho….
Appappaa neruppaa
Aaththu jalam suduvathenappaa
Thannaiththaan marakkumpadi
Ennennavo mayakkamammaa
Katti vachchi kaaththa manam
Kattavizhnthu parakkuthammaa
Ingenna vaazhnthathammaa
Yaekkam vanthu soozhnthathammaa
Ingenna vaazhnthathammaa
Yaekam vanthu soozhnthathammaa
Thanguthadai thaandi manam
Pongi pongi vazhiyuthammaa
Ammammaa enakku
Adhisaya nenappu thonuthu
Male :Appappaa neruppaa
Aaththu jalam suduvathenappaa
………………….
Oh my, inside me,
A wondrous thought comes to mind.
Oh my, inside me,
A wondrous thought comes to mind.
The face reflected in the water
Rippled away with the waves.
But the face etched in my heart
Stayed firm like a statue.
The face etched in my heart
Stayed firm like a statue.
Oh my, inside me,
A wondrous thought comes to mind.
Goodness, is it fire?
Why is the river water burning hot?
Goodness, is it fire?
Why is the river water burning hot?
If the heat is only on the body,
Water can cool it down.
If the heat is only on the body,
Water can cool it down.
If the heart burns with longing,
Who can soothe it?
If the heart burns with longing,
Who can soothe it?
Goodness, is it fire?
Why is the river water burning hot?
The fish splashing in the stream
Only nibbles at the feet.
The fish splashing in the stream
Only nibbles at the feet.
The fish leaping inside the heart,
The fish leaping inside the heart,
Bites deep within, my dear.
There is medicine for a wound,
And a string to tie a bandage.
There is medicine for a wound,
And a string to tie a bandage.
There is someone ready to yield to love,
And feet ready to wear the wedding toe-rings.
There is someone ready to yield to love,
And feet ready to wear the wedding toe-rings.
Oh my, inside me,
A wondrous thought comes to mind.
Embracing both its banks,
This rushing flood flows on.
Embracing both its banks,
This rushing flood flows on.
Unable to see the other shore,
This heart frets and yearns.
If you come seeking with loving care,
Won't this shore understand?
If you come seeking with loving care,
Won't this shore understand?
For the swift river Kaveri,
Doesn't she know the wavy ocean?
Goodness, is it fire?
Why is the river water burning hot?
Making me forget myself,
What a dizzying trance this is!
The heart I held tight and guarded
Has broken free and flies away!
What kind of life was this before?
Now a deep longing has surrounded me.
What kind of life was this before?
Now a deep longing has surrounded me.
Breaking past every obstacle,
My heart wells up and overflows!
Oh my, inside me,
A wondrous thought comes to mind.
(Male): Goodness, is it fire?
Why is the river water burning hot?
...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nathaiyil Muthu's song 'Ammammaa Enakku' is a passionate duet between lovers playing in the river, expressing their burgeoning desire, emotional longing, and romantic bond through vivid metaphors of water, fire, and nature. The female lead expresses how her lover's reflection remains etched like a permanent statue in her heart even when water waves dissolve physical reflections, while the male lead speaks of how the cool river water feels hot due to the burning romantic passion inside him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Nenjilae padhintha mugam / Silaiyaai nilaithathammaa

Comparing the face imprinted in the heart to an unshakeable stone statue ('Silaiyaai nilaithathammaa') and internal desires to a fish biting inside the soul ('Ullaththilae thullura meen').

Oxymoron / Paradox

Appappaa neruppaa / Aaththu jalam suduvathenappaa

Describing cool river water as burning fire ('Aaththu jalam suduvathenappaa') to highlight the intense internal warmth of love.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edugai & Monai)

Kattupada aalirukku / Metti poda kaalirukku

Use of matching internal rhyming and initial consonant matching across lines such as 'Kaayaththirkku' and 'Kattu poda' / 'Kattupada' and 'Metti poda'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Ammammaa Enakku' from the 1973 film Nathaiyil Muthu features music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh and lyrics by Vaali. It stands out as one of the classic river-romance duets sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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