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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Annai Mugam

From Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam · 1962

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Annai mugam endrenniThinking of it as your mother's face,
Ennai mugam paarkkindraaiYou look into my face.
En pillai mugam endrenniThinking of it as my child's face,
Unnai mugam paarkkindrenI look into your face.
Female
Annai mugam endrenniThinking of it as your mother's face,
Ennai mugam paarkkindraaiYou look into my face.
Pillai mugam endrenniThinking of it as my child's face,
Unnai mugam paarkkindrenI look into your face.
Female
Kannathil muthamittuKissing on the cheek,
Kadhaigal pala sollivittuTelling many stories,
Kannathil muthamittuKissing on the cheek,
Kadhaigal pala sollivittuTelling many stories,
Kannayara thaalattaThough I have hands to rock you to sleep,
Kai irundhum maganillaiI have no son of my own.
Female
Innoruvar sondham endruOh king, who belongs to someone else,
Irukkindra mannavanaeWho exists as their bond,
Unnaithaan eendravalaiThe mother who gave birth to you,
Enna thavam seidhaalooWhat great penance must she have performed!
Female
Annai mugam endrenniThinking of it as your mother's face,
Ennai mugam paarkkindraaiYou look into my face.
Pillai mugam endrenniThinking of it as my child's face,
Unnai mugam paarkkindrenI look into your face.
Female
Munbu naan thavam irundhuEarlier, I performed penance,
Munnooru naal sumandhuCarrying a child for three hundred days,
Pinbu en madiyil vandhuLater, born into my lap,
Pirandhavan pirindhu vittaanThe child who was born separated from me.
Female
Thaai manam kulira vaikkaTo bring joy and comfort to a mother's heart,
Tharaniyil vandhavaninOf the one who came into this world,
Vaai mozhi ketkavillaiI did not hear his spoken words,
Vanna mugam parkkavillaiI did not see his beautiful face.
Female
Thaai manam kulira vaikkaTo bring joy and comfort to a mother's heart,
Tharaniyil vandhavaninOf the one who came into this world,
Vaai mozhi ketkavillaiI did not hear his spoken words,
Vanna mugam parkkavillaiI did not see his beautiful face.
Female
Kaaithum kaaikathaLike a branch that bore fruit yet remained barren,
Kilai pola naan irunthenSuch was my state.
Neeyaaga paarthennaiOn your own initiative, you looked at me,
Thaayaaga maattri vittaaiAnd transformed me into a mother.
Neeyaaga paarthennaiOn your own initiative, you looked at me,
Thaayaaga maattri vittaaiAnd transformed me into a mother.
Female
Annai mugam endrenniThinking of it as your mother's face,
Ennai mugam paarkkindraaiYou look into my face.
Pillai mugam endrenniThinking of it as my child's face,
Unnai mugam paarkkindrenI look into your face.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses a deep emotional bond between a grieving mother who lost her child and a man who sees his mother's image in her. The protagonist reflects on the agonizing loss of her child whom she carried for three hundred days but never got to raise or hear speak. Feeling like a fruit-bearing branch rendered barren, her maternal heart finds solace and purpose again when he treats her with the reverence of a mother, allowing her to bestow maternal affection upon him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Annai mugam endrenni / Ennai mugam paarkkindraai

The second consonant sound 'nn' matches across the first words of the opening lines ('Annai' and 'Ennai').

Upamai (Simile)

Kaaithum kaaikatha / Kilai pola naan irunthen

The speaker compares herself to a branch that yielded fruit yet remained fruitless ('Kaaithum kaaikatha kilai pola'), capturing the heartbreak of losing a child.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Vaai mozhi ketkavillai / Vanna mugam parkkavillai

The lines end with identical rhyming suffixes ('ketkavillai' and 'parkkavillai') to reinforce the sense of despair and unfulfilled longing.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Munbu naan thavam irundhu / Munnooru naal sumandhu

Repetition of the 'M' sound at the beginning of words in adjacent lines ('Munbu', 'Munnooru').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1962 Tamil film 'Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam', starring S. S. Rajendran and C. R. Vijayakumari. The evocative lyrics were penned by Vaali during the early phase of his legendary career, featuring soulful music composed by T. R. Pappa and rendering by P. Susheela.

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