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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammamma Ethanai

From Valli Mayil · 1980

Lyricist
M. A. Kaja
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Valli Mayil1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ammammaa eththanai eththanai maattramAh, my! So many, many changes
Intha pennin thottaramIn this girl's appearance!
Female :Appappaa eththanai eththanai maattramOh my! So many, many changes
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...
Male
Ammammaa eththanai eththanai maattramAh, my! So many, many changes
Intha pennin thottaramIn this girl's appearance!
Female :Appappaa eththanai eththanai maattramOh my! So many, many changes
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...
Male
Paavaadai thaavaniyumWhere have the skirt and half-saree
Paranthu engae sendranavoFlown away to?
Poovaadai maeni indruToday, her flower-fragrant body
Melaadai kondathuvoHas adorned an upper drape!
Male
Paavaadai thaavaniyumWhere have the skirt and half-saree
Paranthu engae sendranavoFlown away to?
Poovaadai maeni indruToday, her flower-fragrant body
Melaadai kondathuvoHas adorned an upper drape!
Male
Paalaadai paranthodaAs childhood's innocent cream flies away,
Paruvam vanthu pugunthathuvoHas youth stepped in and entered?
Paalaadai paranthodaAs childhood's innocent cream flies away,
Paruvam vanthu pugunthathuvoHas youth stepped in and entered?
Pattaadai thottaadaTo touch and sway with silk garments,
Bakkiyam pettru vanthathuvoHas it arrived blessed with good fortune?
Female
Appappaa eththanai eththanai maattramOh my! So many, many changes
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...
Male :Ammammaa eththanai eththanai maattramAh, my! So many, many changes
Intha pennin thottaramIn this girl's appearance!
Intha pennin thottaramIn this girl's appearance!
Female
Malaiyaadum silaiyaadumAs the mountains dance and statues sway,
Mannan ingae vanthaadaWhen the king comes here to dance,
Kalaiyaadum kavi paadumArt dances and poetry sings,
Kangal naangum muraiyaadaAs four eyes converse in turn,
Female
Manamaadum gunamaadumThe heart dances and character sways,
Medai ondru thanthaadaProviding a stage for them,
Manamaadum gunamaadumThe heart dances and character sways,
Medai ondru thanthaadaProviding a stage for them,
Manam aadum magizhvodumWith a dancing heart and full of joy,
Maalai rendu nindraadaTwo garlands stand swaying,
Male
Ammammaa eththanai eththanai maattramAh, my! So many, many changes
Intha pennin thottaramIn this girl's appearance!
Female :Appappaa eththanai eththanai maattramOh my! So many, many changes
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...
Male
Naavaada sollaadaWithout tongue speaking or words being said,
Naanam unnil vanthaadumShyness comes and dances within you,
Female :Tholodu tholaadaShoulder to shoulder dancing,
Thunaikku enthan kaiyaadumMy hand moves to accompany you,
Male
Naavaada sollaadaWithout tongue speaking or words being said,
Naanam unnil vanthaadumShyness comes and dances within you,
Female :Tholodu tholaadaShoulder to shoulder dancing,
Thunaikku enthan kaiyaadumMy hand moves to accompany you,
Male
Sathiraadum un maeniYour body dancing with grace,
Sattrae saainthu sivanthaadumLeans slightly and blushes red,
Sathiraadum un maeniYour body dancing with grace,
Sattrae saainthu sivanthaadumLeans slightly and blushes red,
Female :Thottaadum en maeniMy body that touches and sways,
Thodarnthu vanthu nindraadumFollows closely and stands dancing,
Male
Ammammaa eththanai eththanai maattramAh, my! So many, many changes
Intha pennin thottaramIn this girl's appearance!
Female :Appappaa eththanai eththanai maattramOh my! So many, many changes
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...
Intha kannan thottram….In this Kannan's appearance...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful romantic duet from the movie Valli Mayil (1980) features lovers teasingly observing the physical and behavioral transformations in each other as they mature into adulthood and romantic intimacy. The hero admires how the heroine has transformed from wearing simple young skirts to mature silk drapes, blossoming into full womanhood. In turn, the heroine lovingly points out the hero's charming growth and presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Paavaadai thaavaniyum / Poovaadai maeni indru

Rhyming of the second consonant across lines created by words like Paavaadai, Poovaadai, Paalaadai, and Pattaadai.

Anaphora / Repetition (Edukku)

Ammammaa eththanai eththanai maattram

Repetition of words like 'eththanai eththanai' to emphasize the degree of change.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Poovaadai maeni indru

'Poovaadai maeni' compares the heroine's body to a soft, flower-fragrant breeze/garment, while 'Paalaadai' metaphorically represents innocent childhood.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Rhythm)

Malaiyaadum silaiyaadum / Mannan ingae vanthaada

Repeated suffix 'aadu' or 'aadum' (dance/sway) at line endings to create a rhythmic dancing tempo throughout the verse.

Did you know?

Trivia

Valli Mayil (1980) featured musical score by the popular composer duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics by M.A. Kaja. The duet brought together Malaysia Vasudevan and S. P. Shailaja, capturing the upbeat rhythm and playful romantic tone typical of late 1970s and early 1980s Tamil cinema.

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