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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Annai Illama

From Thaali Bhagyam · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thaali Bhagyam1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Annai illaamal pirandhavar yaarWho is born without a mother?
Aval anbaiyum arulaiyum marandhavar yaarWho has forgotten her love and grace?
Naalum therindhaval pen thaanaeIs it not a woman who understands wisdom endlessly?
Aval naattukkum veettukkum kan thaanae…Is she not the guiding eye for both the nation and the home?
Female
Annai illaamal pirandhavar yaarWho is born without a mother?
Aval anbaiyum arulaiyum marandhavar yaarWho has forgotten her love and grace?
Naalum therindhaval pen thaanaeIs it not a woman who understands wisdom endlessly?
Aval naattukkum veettukkum kan thaanae…Is she not the guiding eye for both the nation and the home?
Female
Oviyamo illai kaaviyamoIs it a painting or an epic poem?
Kanniyar perumai sollumIt speaks of the glory of maidens.
Oviyamo illai kaaviyamoIs it a painting or an epic poem?
Adhu kanniyar perumai sollumThat speaks of the glory of maidens.
Ilamai enna mudhumai ennaBe it youth or old age,
Ilamai enna andha mudhumai ennaBe it youth or that old age,
Oru paarvaiyil penmai vellumWomanhood conquers with a single glance.
Oru paarvaiyil penmai vellumWomanhood conquers with a single glance.
Female
Annai illaamal pirandhavar yaarWho is born without a mother?
Aval anbaiyum arulaiyum marandhavar yaarWho has forgotten her love and grace?
Naalum therindhaval pen thaanaeIs it not a woman who understands wisdom endlessly?
Aval naattukkum veettukkum kan thaanae…Is she not the guiding eye for both the nation and the home?
Female
Kaalaiyilae malar cholaiyilaeIn the morning, in the flower garden,
Vanna paravaigal paadivarumColorful birds come singing.
Kaalaiyilae malar cholaiyilaeIn the morning, in the flower garden,
Vanna paravaigal paadivarumColorful birds come singing.
Paadalilae thoodhu vittenI sent a message through song.
Paadalilae oru thoodhu vittenI sent a message through a song.
Adhu kaadhalai thaedi varumIt will come searching for love.
Adhu kaadhalai thaedi varumIt will come searching for love.
Female
Annai illaamal pirandhavar yaarWho is born without a mother?
Aval anbaiyum arulaiyum marandhavar yaarWho has forgotten her love and grace?
Naalum therindhaval pen thaanaeIs it not a woman who understands wisdom endlessly?
Aval naattukkum veettukkum kan thaanae…Is she not the guiding eye for both the nation and the home?
Female
Naan poongaattru avan thaenaruviI am the gentle breeze, he is the honey stream,
Idhai aandavan ezhudhi vaithaanGod has written this destiny.
Naan poongaattru avan thaenaruviI am the gentle breeze, he is the honey stream,
Idhai aandavan ezhudhi vaithaanGod has written this destiny.
Naal varalaam andru oorariyumA day may come when the world will know,
Oru naal varalaam andru oorariyumA day may come when the world will know,
Endru aasaiyai adakki vaithaenThinking so, I restrained my desires.
En aasaiyai adakki vaithaenI restrained my desires.
Female
Annai illaamal pirandhavar yaarWho is born without a mother?
Aval anbaiyum arulaiyum marandhavar yaarWho has forgotten her love and grace?
Naalum therindhaval pen thaanaeIs it not a woman who understands wisdom endlessly?
Aval naattukkum veettukkum kan thaanae…Is she not the guiding eye for both the nation and the home?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Annai Illaamal Pirandhavar Yaar' is a celebrated ode honoring womanhood, motherly affection, and feminine dignity. It opens with rhetorical questions highlighting the universal truth that every human owes their existence and primary nurturing to a mother, positioning women as the foundational guiding light ('kan') for both domestic life and society at large across all stages of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinai Vinaadhal)

Annai illaamal pirandhavar yaar

The opening line uses a question format to emphasize a undeniable truth—that no human exists without a mother.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aval naattukkum veettukkum kan thaanae…

Compares a woman to the guiding eye ('kan') of both the household and the nation, as well as comparing lovers to a gentle breeze and honey stream.

Rhyme & Assonance (Edhugai / Monai)

Oviyamo illai kaaviyamo

The lyric uses matching sound structures across paired lines like 'Oviyamo illai kaaviyamo' and 'Ilamai enna mudhumai enna' to create a natural musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features in the 1966 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi starrer 'Thaali Bhagyam'. Music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by Vaali, and sung soulfully by P. Susheela.

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