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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammamma Keladi

From Karuppu Panam · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Karuppu Panam1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ammammaa keladi thozhiOh my, listen to me, my dear friend!
Sonnaanae aayiram sedhiHe told me a thousand things.
Kannaalae thandhadhu paadhiHalf of it was conveyed through his eyes.
Sollaamal vandhadhu meedhi…. oh….The rest arrived without being spoken... oh...
AmmammaaOh my...
Female
Idhudhaan sugamo….Is this what pleasure is?...
Innum perumo….Will it grow even more?...
Ilamai tharumo….Will it grant youthful passion?...
Mayakkam varumo…. haaa…. (Dialogue)Will it induce a spell of dizziness?... (Dialogue)
Female
Ammammaa keladi thozhiOh my, listen to me, my dear friend!
Sonnaanae aayiram sedhiHe told me a thousand things.
Kannaalae thandhadhu paadhiHalf of it was conveyed through his eyes.
Sollaamal vandhadhu meedhi…. oh….The rest arrived without being spoken... oh...
Ammammaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…Oh my...
Female
Pinjaaga naan irundhenaeI was just a tender young bud,
Pennaaga valarthu vittaanaeHe blossomed me into a complete woman.
Anjaamal anaithu vaithaanaeFearlessly, he held me close,
Achchaaram koduthu vittaanaeHe gave me the token advance of his love.
Female
Pinjaaga naan irundhenaeI was just a tender young bud,
Pennaaga valarthu vittaanaeHe blossomed me into a complete woman.
Anjaamal anaithu vaithaanaeFearlessly, he held me close,
Achchaaram koduthu vittaanae hooHe gave me the token advance of his love... hoo.
Female
Ammammaa keladi thozhiOh my, listen to me, my dear friend!
Sonnaanae aayiram sedhiHe told me a thousand things.
Kannaalae thandhadhu paadhiHalf of it was conveyed through his eyes.
Sollaamal vandhadhu meedhi…. oh….The rest arrived without being spoken... oh...
AmmammaaOh my...
Female
Avano ilainjan….He is a young man...
Ivalo sirumi….She is a young girl...
Oru naal kanavil….In a single day's dream...
Ulagae marandhaar….. aaaa…. (Dialogue)They forgot the whole world... (Dialogue)
Female
Muthaaram sariya vaithaanaeHe caused my pearl necklace to slip,
Mul melae thoonga vaithaanaeHe made me sleep on a bed of thorns,
Noolaaga ilaikka vaithaanaeHe made me grow thin like a thread,
Paalaaga velukka vaithaanae…. hoo….He made me turn as pale as milk... hoo...
Female
Ammammaa keladi thozhiOh my, listen to me, my dear friend!
Sonnaanae aayiram sedhiHe told me a thousand things.
Kannaalae thandhadhu paadhiHalf of it was conveyed through his eyes.
Sollaamal vandhadhu meedhi…. oh….The rest arrived without being spoken... oh...
AmmammaaOh my...
Female
Aiyaiyo paavamae….Oh, what a pity...
Anaiyaadha mogamae….Unquenchable desire...
Anubavam konjamae….With so little experience...
Alaiyudhae nenjamae…. (Dialogue)The heart wanders restlessly... (Dialogue)
Female
Thannaalae pesa vaithaanaeHe made me speak to myself,
Thanneerai kothikka vaithaanaeHe made the water boil within me,
Thalladi nadakka vaithaanaeHe made me stagger as I walk,
Ellorum sirikka vaithaanae…. hoo…..He made everyone laugh at me... hoo...
Female
Ammammaa keladi thozhiOh my, listen to me, my dear friend!
Sonnaanae aayiram sedhiHe told me a thousand things.
Kannaalae thandhadhu paadhiHalf of it was conveyed through his eyes.
Sollaamal vandhadhu meedhi…. oh….The rest arrived without being spoken... oh...
AmmammaaOh my...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song 'Ammammaa Keladi Thozhi' depicts a young woman enthusiastically sharing the intimate sensations and emotions of her blossoming love with her close female friend (thozhi). She describes how her lover communicated his feelings both explicitly and through unspoken glances, transforming her from an innocent girl into a woman consumed by passionate romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (Rhyme / End Rhyme)

Pinjaaga naan irundhenae / Pennaaga valarthu vittaanae / Anjaamal anaithu vaithaanae / Achchaaram koduthu vittaanae

Consistent end-rhyme repetition ('vaithaanae' / 'vittaanae') across stanzas creating a melodic rhythm.

Edhugai (Second Letter Assonance)

Pinjaaga / Pennaaga / Anjaamal / Achchaaram

Matching second consonant 'n' (i-n-jaaga, e-n-naaga, n-j-aamal, c-h-chaaram) in the line openings.

Hyperbole & Metaphor

Mul melae thoonga vaithaanae / Noolaaga ilaikka vaithaanae

Using vivid imagery such as 'sleeping on thorns' (restlessness) and 'thin as a thread' (love-sickness) to convey intense longing.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Kannadasan for the 1964 film Karuppu Panam, the track features dynamic vocal expressions by L. R. Eswari intermingled with rhythmic dialogue delivery.

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