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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anbe Amudha

From Amudha · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Amudha1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anbae amuthaa….amuthaa amuthaaOh my beloved Amudha... Amudha, Amudha!
Anbae….anbae anbae amuthaa….amuthaa…..amuthaa…My love... my love, my love Amudha... Amudha... Amudha...
Nee paalamuthaa suvai thaenamuthaaAre you the sweet nectar of milk, or the delicious nectar of honey?
Illai paarkadal pirantha kaniyamuthaaOr are you the divine fruit nectar born from the ocean of milk?
Unthan sollamuthaa idhazh suvayamuthaaIs your speech sweet nectar, or is the taste of your lips nectar?
Konjam nil amuthaa adhai sol amuthaaWait a moment, Amudha, and tell me that, Amudha!
Male
Anbae amuthaa…anbae…Oh my beloved Amudha... my love...
Male
Valarum piraiyum theyum piraiyumThe waxing moon and the waning moon,
Vaazha solvathai ketkindraenI hear them telling us how to live.
Iravu muzhuthum thookkam indriWithout any sleep throughout the night,
Engum unnai kaangindrenEverywhere I look, I see only you.
Male
Kangal ezhuthum kanneer kolamThe pattern of tears drawn by my eyes
Unnai kaattum kaaviyamIs an epic poem that reveals you.
Kaalam sendrum manathil endrumEven as time passes, forever in my heart,
Vaazhum unthan oviyamYour portrait lives on.
Male
Anbae amuthaa…anbae…Oh my beloved Amudha... my love...
Male
Vaasa malarae paasa malaraeOh fragrant flower, oh affectionate flower,
Vanji malarae vaaraayoOh maiden flower, will you not come?
Vaasa malarae paasa malaraeOh fragrant flower, oh affectionate flower,
Vanji malarae vaaraayoOh maiden flower, will you not come?
Aasai malaril maalai thoduththuWeaving a garland out of flowers of desire,
Alli eduththu thaaraayoWill you not gather it and offer it to me?
Male
Kadhal dheivam mounam aanaalIf the deity of love goes silent,
Kanni thamizhum vaadumaeEven the virgin Tamil language will wither away.
Ooril ketkum mela thaalaamThe auspicious music playing in the town
Nammai inaikkum naathamaeIs the sacred sound that unites us.
Male
Anbae amuthaa…anbae…Oh my beloved Amudha... my love...
Nee paalamuthaa suvai thaenamuthaaAre you the sweet nectar of milk, or the delicious nectar of honey?
Illai paarkadal pirantha kaniyamuthaaOr are you the divine fruit nectar born from the ocean of milk?
Unthan sollamuthaa idhazh suvayamuthaaIs your speech sweet nectar, or is the taste of your lips nectar?
Konjam nil amuthaa adhai sol amuthaaWait a moment, Amudha, and tell me that, Amudha!
Male
Anbae amuthaa…anbae…Oh my beloved Amudha... my love...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song expresses a lover's deep adoration and romantic devotion towards his beloved, named Amudha. The lyricist ingeniously plays on her name, comparing her beauty, speech, and presence to 'Amutham' (the divine nectar of immortality), milk, honey, and the celestial fruits of the ocean. The protagonist reflects on sleepless nights filled with her memory, portraying his love as an eternal painting etched into his heart. In the second stanza, he beckons her with flower metaphors and describes how love gives life even to the sweet Tamil language itself. He looks forward to their union heralded by traditional wedding music, reaffirming that his love for her transcends time and remains his ultimate inspiration.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme) / Polyptoton

Nee paalamuthaa suvai thaenamuthaa

Repetition of the word ending '-amuthaa' across multiple lines ('paalamuthaa', 'thaenamuthaa', 'kaniyamuthaa', 'sollamuthaa', 'suvayamuthaa'), reinforcing both the heroine's name and the metaphor of nectar.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kangal ezhuthum kanneer kolam / Unnai kaattum kaaviyam

Comparing tears drawn by the eyes to an artistic pattern ('kolam') and a narrative epic poem ('kaaviyam') that showcases the beloved.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Vaasa malarae paasa malarae / Vanji malarae vaaraayo

Repetition of the initial 'Va' consonant sound across words ('Vaasa', 'Vanji', 'Vaaraayo') creating melodic resonance.

Hyperbole & Personification

Kadhal dheivam mounam aanaal / Kanni thamizhum vaadumae

Personification of Tamil as a virgin maiden ('Kanni Thamizh') and the poetic exaggeration that Tamil itself would wither if the goddess of love remains silent.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song brilliantly utilizes wordplay centered on the title character's name, 'Amudha', connecting it with 'Amutham' (nectar of the gods). Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kavignar Kannadasan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, this track remains an iconic example of Tamil film poetry where a protagonist's name is seamlessly woven into romantic imagery.

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