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Isaimozhi
Annai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Annai Enbaval

From Annai · 1962

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Bhanumathi
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Movie name
Annai
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
16 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaai paravai thavikka vittu…
Thandhai uyir thavikka vittu…
Saei paravai thanai eduthu
Chelgindraayae…ae…ae…
Perum seramamindri
Pillai petra periya thaayae…
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa
Avanum unakku magan thaanaa
Mattroru pillai peruvaayaa
Adhai uttravar kaiyil tharuvaayaa
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa
Avanum unakku magan thaanaa
Mattroru pillai peruvaayaa
Adhai uttravar kaiyil tharuvaayaa
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa
Kooda pirandha kuyil endru
Nee kodutha selvam pala undu
Maari vittaayae nee indru
Mayangugiraayae nee magan endru…
Mayangugiraayae nee magan endru…
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa
Thookki valarthaval thaai endraal
Adhai aakki koduthaval per enna
Vaangiya thaaikkae magan endraal
Adhai thaangiya thaayin uravenna..aa…
Thaangiya thaayin uravenna
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa
Kaalam kadandhu sendraalum…
Kadalai kadandhu parandhaalum…
Idhayam unnudan thodarndhu varum
Adhil innoru uyirum nadandhu varum…
Adhil innoru uyirum nadandhu varum…
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa…
Avanum unakku magan thaanaa…
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa… nee thaanaa…
Leaving the mother bird in agony,
leaving the father's heart aching with pain,
taking the baby bird away,
you walk away...
Without enduring the pain of childbirth,
oh great woman who simply claimed a child!
Are you truly a mother?
Is he really your son?
Will you ever give birth to a child of your own?
And would you hand that child over to your kin?
Are you truly a mother?
Is he really your son?
Will you ever give birth to a child of your own?
And would you hand that child over to your kin?
Are you truly a mother?
Treating me like a sweet sister born with you,
you gave me so much wealth.
Yet today, you have completely changed,
lost in the illusion that he is your son...
lost in the illusion that he is your son...
Are you truly a mother?
If the one who raised him is called his mother,
then what do you call the one who gave him life?
If he belongs to the mother who adopted him,
what is the bond of the mother who carried him in her womb?
What is the bond of the mother who carried him?
Are you truly a mother?
Even as time passes by,
even if you fly across the ocean,
my heart will follow wherever you go,
and another life will walk within it...
and another life will walk within it...
Are you truly a mother?
Is he really your son?
Are you truly a mother? Are you really?
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song explores the central conflict of the movie 'Annai', weighing the bond of foster motherhood against the primal claim of biological motherhood. The speaker questions a woman who has claimed a child as her own, reminding her of the unbearable anguish inflicted upon the biological parents who were separated from their baby.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thaai paravai thavikka vittu…

Comparing the mother, father, and child to 'Thaai paravai' (mother bird), 'Thandhai' (father bird), and 'Saei paravai' (baby bird) to evoke vulnerability and helplessness.

Rhetorical Question (Sembulam)

Annai enbaval nee thaanaa

Repeated use of challenging rhetorical questions to provoke introspection about the true definition of motherhood.

Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Moonaai)

Kaalam kadandhu sendraalum / Kadalai kadandhu parandhaalum

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in adjacent lines to create a melodic rhythm.

Antithesis / Contrast

Thookki valarthaval thaai endraal / Adhai aakki koduthaval per enna

Contrasting the role of 'Thookki valarthaval' (the mother who raised) with 'Aakki koduthaval' (the mother who birthed).

Keep listening

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