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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammano Samiyo

From Naan – 1967 Film · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
T. K. Ramamoorthy
Details
Naan – 1967 Film1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ammano saamiyoo athaiyo maamiyooAre you a mother goddess, a deity, an aunt, or a mother-in-law?
Kambanur neeliyo kalyaana deviyooAre you the blue goddess Neeliyamma of Kambanur, or the bride goddess?
Ammano saamiyoo athaiyo maamiyooAre you a mother goddess, a deity, an aunt, or a mother-in-law?
Kambanur neeliyo kalyaana deviyooAre you the blue goddess Neeliyamma of Kambanur, or the bride goddess?
Female
Pattalan solaiyilae pada vaettammaGoddess Padavaettamma of the soldier grove,
Pakkathu perumbooril angalammaGoddess Angalamma of nearby Perambur,
Kathi onnai kai konda punnathammaGoddess Punnathamma wielding a sword in hand,
Karumaari ammaningu vandhaalammaGoddess Karumaari Amman has arrived here!
Kaaliyamman parambaraikku kalyanamaIs it a wedding for the lineage of Goddess Kaali?
Ohoo oho oho ho oo hooOhoo oho oho ho oo hoo
Female
Ammano saamiyoo athaiyo maamiyooAre you a mother goddess, a deity, an aunt, or a mother-in-law?
Kambanur neeliyo kalyaana deviyoo..solluAre you the blue goddess Neeliyamma of Kambanur, or the bride goddess... tell me!
Chorus :Ammano saamiyoo athaiyo maamiyooChorus: Are you a mother goddess, a deity, an aunt, or a mother-in-law?
Kambanur neeliyo kalyaana deviyooChorus: Are you the blue goddess Neeliyamma of Kambanur, or the bride goddess?
Female
Maapillai nee enna madhurai veeranoWho do you think you are, groom? Are you Madurai Veeran?
Malaiyaandi muniyaandi kaaliyannanooAre you Malaiyandi, Muniyandi, or Kaliyannan?
Haei vadappu yaarukkuda paakku vethalaHey, for whom is this Northern-style betel leaf and nut offering set?
Maariyamma magalukka nee naalu veikkiraAre you fixing a wedding date for Mariyamma's daughter?
Malaiyerum deviyai yen kakka veikkiraWhy are you making the deity ascending the mountain wait?
Ohoo oho oho ho oo hooOhoo oho oho ho oo hoo
Female
Ammano saamiyoo athaiyo maamiyooAre you a mother goddess, a deity, an aunt, or a mother-in-law?
Kambanur neeliyo kalyaana deviyoo..solluAre you the blue goddess Neeliyamma of Kambanur, or the bride goddess... tell me!
Chorus :Ammano saamiyoo athaiyo maamiyooChorus: Are you a mother goddess, a deity, an aunt, or a mother-in-law?
Kambanur neeliyo kalyaana deviyooChorus: Are you the blue goddess Neeliyamma of Kambanur, or the bride goddess?
Male
Hai niruthu …ahaaHey, stop it... aha!
Mathala melangal kotti mulangidaAs the mathalam drums resound beat by beat,
Uthira thaandavam aadadi kaaliDance the furious dance of blood, oh Kaali!
Sandhanam kungumam pongi vazhinthidaAs sandalwood and vermilion overflow and spill,
Sangaran nattiyam aadadi kaaliDance Lord Shiva's sacred dance, oh Kaali!
Male
AahaaAahaa
Mathala melangal kotti mulangidaAs the mathalam drums resound beat by beat,
Chorus :Kotti mulangidaChorus: Resound beat by beat,
Male :Uthira thaandavam aadadi kaaliMale: Dance the furious dance of blood, oh Kaali!
Chorus :Aadadi kaaliChorus: Dance, oh Kaali!
Male :Sandhanam kungumam pongi vazhinthidaMale: As sandalwood and vermilion overflow and spill,
Chorus :Pongi vazhinthidaChorus: Overflow and spill,
Male :Sangaran nattiyam aadadi kaaliMale: Dance Lord Shiva's sacred dance, oh Kaali!
Chorus :Aadadi kaaliChorus: Dance, oh Kaali!
Male
Thumbai poomaalai soottattumaaShall I adorn you with a garland of Thumbai flowers?
Chorus :SoottattumaaChorus: Shall I adorn you?
Male :Sooru kariyaakki podattumaMale: Shall I cook and serve charred rice as an offering?
Chorus :PodattumaChorus: Shall I serve?
Male :Devi aavesam theerkkattumaMale: Shall I appease the divine rage of the Goddess?
Chorus :TheerkkattumaChorus: Shall I appease?
Male :Kobam malaiyera seiyattumaaMale: Shall I make your anger climb away into the mountains?
Chorus :SeiyattumaaChorus: Shall I make it climb?
Female
Mudiyathu…haaaaImpossible... haaaa!
Male
Manjalukku vaeliyadi mangaiyarkku kavaldiYou are the protective fence for turmeric, the guardian of women!
Nenjil enna vanjamadi enga muthu maariyammaWhat deceit lies in your heart, our Muthu Maariyamma?
HaaaaHaaaa
Thuni velukka mannumunduThere is Fuller's earth to bleach and wash clothes,
Female :MannumunduFemale: There is earth,
Male :Thol velukka sambalunduMale: There is ash to cleanse and polish skin,
Female :SambalunduFemale: There is ash,
Thuni velukka mannumunduThere is earth to wash clothes,
Female :MannumunduFemale: There is earth,
Male
Thuni velukka mannumunduThere is earth to wash clothes,
Thol velukka sambalunduThere is ash to polish skin,
Gunam velukka vazhi sollvaaiShow us the way to purify character and human nature,
Kothaiyae muthu maariyamma ahaaOh youthful garlanded goddess Muthu Maariyamma, aha!
Female :SolrendaFemale: I will tell you, man!
Male :Adiyae ammaMale: Oh dear mother!
Male
Mazhaiyin kobam vellamadiThe anger of rain becomes a flood,
Kadhirin kobam veyiladiThe anger of the sun becomes scorching heat,
Kaali neeyum kobam kondaalIf you too, Kaali, become angry,
Kakka yaarum illaiyadiThere is no one to protect us!
Male
Kottadi kotti mulakku undhanBeat the drums and declare your sovereignty,
Kottaikku sondham endru potta kanakkuThe calculations made claiming ownership over your fort,
Female :Haaaaa…Female: Haaaaa...
Male
Thattadi thatti vilakku undhanPush it aside and clear it out,
Sammadham illaiyendral yedhu vazhakkuWithout your consent, what legal dispute or claim can exist?
Male
Kottadi kotti kottadi kottiBeat the drums, beat and strike!
Kottadi kottadi kottadi kottadiBeat beat beat beat!
Kottu kottu kottu kottuBeat beat beat beat!
Male
Malai eriyaAscend the mountain and calm down!
Female
Yera maattenI will not ascend!
Male :PoriyaFemale :Poren..(2)Male: Will you go? Female: I am going..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ammano Saamiyo' from the 1967 film Naan is a spirited, ritualistic duel song formatted like a traditional Tamil temple trance dance (Saami Aattam). The song features a lively musical and lyrical debate between a male singer/devotee (Seerkazhi Govindarajan) and a woman who speaks in the voice of an enraged manifestation of Goddess Kaali/Muthu Maariyamma (L. R. Eswari). Lyrically rich with local deity folklore—referencing Madurai Veeran, Angalamma, Karumaari, and Punnathamma—Kannadasan contrasts ritual offerings with philosophical reflections on inner character versus outer cleanliness. The track captures both theatrical comedy and traditional rural religious fervour as the singers negotiate appeasing the deity's anger so she will return peacefully to her mountain abode.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kambanur neeliyo kalyaana deviyoo

Repetition of the initial sound 'K' across words in the line ('Kambanur', 'kalyaana').

Edhukai (Second Syllable Rhyme)

Mathala melangal kotti mulangida / Uthira thaandavam aadadi kaali

Rhyming of the second syllable 'th' in 'Mathala' and 'Uthira'.

Metaphor / Analogy

Mazhaiyin kobam vellamadi / Kadhirin kobam veyiladi

Comparing natural disasters (floods, extreme heat) to divine anger to illustrate human vulnerability.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Kottadi kotti kottadi kotti / Kottadi kottadi kottadi kottadi

Rhythmic repetition of the imperative verb 'Kottadi' / 'Kottu' to evoke ritualistic drum beating.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by T. K. Ramamoorthy during his independent career following the split of the legendary Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy duo, 'Ammano Saamiyo' is famous for its energetic blend of traditional Tamil folk temple rhythms and theatrical playback singing by Seerkazhi Govindarajan and L. R. Eswari.

Keep listening

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