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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Annai Enbaval

From Annai · 1962

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Bhanumathi
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Details
Annai1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thaai paravai thavikka vittu…Leaving the mother bird in deep agony…
Thandhai uyir thavikka vittu…Leaving the father's life suffering…
Saei paravai thanai eduthuTaking the baby bird away,
Chelgindraayae…ae…ae…Are you walking away?
Perum seramamindriWithout enduring much labor or pain,
Pillai petra periya thaayae…O great mother who gained a child!
Female
Annai enbaval nee thaanaaAre you truly the one called a mother?
Avanum unakku magan thaanaaIs he truly a son to you?
Mattroru pillai peruvaayaaWill you give birth to another child,
Adhai uttravar kaiyil tharuvaayaaAnd hand it over to relatives' hands?
Female
Annai enbaval nee thaanaaAre you truly the one called a mother?
Avanum unakku magan thaanaaIs he truly a son to you?
Mattroru pillai peruvaayaaWill you give birth to another child,
Adhai uttravar kaiyil tharuvaayaaAnd hand it over to relatives' hands?
Female
Annai enbaval nee thaanaaAre you truly the one called a mother?
Female
Kooda pirandha kuyil endruConsidering her as a cuckoo born alongside you,
Nee kodutha selvam pala unduThere are many treasures you have given.
Maari vittaayae nee indruYet you have changed today,
Mayangugiraayae nee magan endru…Deluding yourself into claiming him as your son…
Mayangugiraayae nee magan endru…Deluding yourself into claiming him as your son…
Female
Annai enbaval nee thaanaaAre you truly the one called a mother?
Female
Thookki valarthaval thaai endraalIf the woman who raised him up is called a mother,
Adhai aakki koduthaval per ennaThen what is the title given to the one who bore him?
Vaangiya thaaikkae magan endraalIf he belongs only to the mother who received him,
Adhai thaangiya thaayin uravenna..aa…What is the bond of the mother who carried him?
Thaangiya thaayin uravennaWhat is the bond of the mother who carried him?
Female
Annai enbaval nee thaanaaAre you truly the one called a mother?
Female
Kaalam kadandhu sendraalum…Even if time passes by endlessly…
Kadalai kadandhu parandhaalum…Even if one flies across the wide ocean…
Idhayam unnudan thodarndhu varumThe heart will continuously follow you,
Adhil innoru uyirum nadandhu varum…And within it, another soul will walk along…
Adhil innoru uyirum nadandhu varum…And within it, another soul will walk along…
Female
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa…Are you truly the one called a mother?
Avanum unakku magan thaanaa…Is he truly a son to you?
Annai enbaval nee thaanaa… nee thaanaa…Are you truly the one called a mother? Is it really you?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt context lists music as unknown, 'Annai' (1962) featured a acclaimed soundtrack composed by R. Sudarsanam. This iconic emotional track was sung by P. Susheela and penned by Vaali, earning widespread acclaim for its emotional depth.

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