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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anbulla Athaan Vanakkam

From Kairasi · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Movie name
Kairasi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
22 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Ungal aayulaikondaal mayakkam
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Ungal aayulaikondaal mayakkam
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Thennavar kaiyirukkum
Thiruvaalai polirukkum
Thennavar kaiyirukkum
Thiruvaalai polirukkum
Kannirundhum illai urakkam
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Maalaipozhuthu vandhu
Padaipola kollum
Maalaipozhuthu vandhu
Padaipola kollum
Varuvaar varuvaar endra
Saeidhiyai sollum
Aalilai pondra udal aasaiyil thullum
Aalilai pondra udal aasaiyil thullum
Andhiyilae iyarkai ennaiyum vellum
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
{Paruvam niraindhirundhum
Enakkenna sugamae
Parugum idhazhirandum
Irundhenna payanae} (2)
Karangal irandhirundhum
Anaippadharkillai
Kannaa ini naan poruppadharkillai
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Ungal aayulaikondaal mayakkam
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Pon manimegalai
Bhoomiyil veezhum
Pulambum silambirandum
Ennai vittu odum
Kaivalai sorndhu vizhum
Kangalum moodum
Kaanbavar ungalaithaan
Pazhi solla naerum
Kaanbavar ungalaithaan
Pazhi solla naerum
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Thirumanam aagumun vendaam kuzhappam
Anbulla aththaan vanakkam
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Longing for a lifetime with you makes me swoon.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Longing for a lifetime with you makes me swoon.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Like the royal sword
held in the hands of the southern king,
like the royal sword
held in the hands of the southern king,
my eyes stay awake with no sleep at all.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
The evening arrives
and strikes me down like an army.
The evening arrives
and strikes me down like an army.
"He will come, he will come,"
it brings me that news.
Like a tender leaf, my body quivers with longing.
Like a tender leaf, my body quivers with longing.
In the twilight, nature's desire overpowers me.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Though I am in the bloom of youth,
what joy is there for me?
What is the use of having these lips
meant only to be kissed?
Though I have arms,
there is no one here to embrace.
My beloved, I can bear this waiting no longer.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Longing for a lifetime with you makes me swoon.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
My golden waist-chain
slips and falls to the ground.
My weeping anklets
slide off and run away from me.
My bangles slip from my weary wrists,
and my eyes begin to close.
Anyone who sees me like this
will surely put the blame on you.
Anyone who sees me like this
will surely put the blame on you.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Before we are married, let us not create confusion.
Dearest Aththan, my greetings to you.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Anbulla Aththaan Vanakkam' from the movie Kairasi (1960) is structured as an affectionate letter sung by a young woman longing for her beloved fiancé/cousin (aththaan). She describes the agony of separation, where dusk descends upon her like a hostile army, intensifying her romantic longing. Though she is in her prime, her youthful beauty feels unfulfilled without his love and embrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Maalaipozhuthu vandhu Padaipola kollum”

Compares evening loneliness ('Maalaipozhuthu') to a slaying army ('Padaipola kollum').

Simile (Uvamai)

“Aalilai pondra udal aasaiyil thullum”

Compares her tender, trembling body to a banyan leaf ('Aalilai pondra udal').

Personification

“Pulambum silambirandum Ennai vittu odum”

Attributes human grief/wailing ('Pulambum') to jingling anklets slipping off.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Paruvam niraindhirundhum / Parugum idhazhirandum”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Pa' across rhyming lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kairasi (1960) featured Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi in leading roles. The music was composed by R. Goverdhanam, with lyrics written by Kaviarasu Kannadasan and vocals rendered by P. Susheela.

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