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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Annai Mugam

From Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam · 1962

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Movie name
Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
2 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Annai mugam endrenni
Ennai mugam paarkkindraai
En pillai mugam endrenni
Unnai mugam paarkkindren
Annai mugam endrenni
Ennai mugam paarkkindraai
Pillai mugam endrenni
Unnai mugam paarkkindren
Kannathil muthamittu
Kadhaigal pala sollivittu
Kannathil muthamittu
Kadhaigal pala sollivittu
Kannayara thaalatta
Kai irundhum maganillai
Innoruvar sondham endru
Irukkindra mannavanae
Unnaithaan eendravalai
Enna thavam seidhaaloo
Annai mugam endrenni
Ennai mugam paarkkindraai
Pillai mugam endrenni
Unnai mugam paarkkindren
Munbu naan thavam irundhu
Munnooru naal sumandhu
Pinbu en madiyil vandhu
Pirandhavan pirindhu vittaan
Thaai manam kulira vaikka
Tharaniyil vandhavanin
Vaai mozhi ketkavillai
Vanna mugam parkkavillai
Thaai manam kulira vaikka
Tharaniyil vandhavanin
Vaai mozhi ketkavillai
Vanna mugam parkkavillai
Kaaithum kaaikatha
Kilai pola naan irunthen
Neeyaaga paarthennai
Thaayaaga maattri vittaai
Neeyaaga paarthennai
Thaayaaga maattri vittaai
Annai mugam endrenni
Ennai mugam paarkkindraai
Pillai mugam endrenni
Unnai mugam paarkkindren
Thinking it is your mother's face,
you look into my face.
Thinking it is my child's face,
I look into your face...
Thinking it is your mother's face,
you look into my face.
Thinking it is my child's face,
I look into your face...
To kiss your sweet cheek,
and tell you many stories,
To kiss your sweet cheek,
and tell you many stories,
To sing a lullaby and rock you to sleep,
I have open arms, yet no son to hold.
Though you belong to someone else,
my dear little prince,
the mother who gave birth to you,
what great penance must she have done?
Thinking it is your mother's face,
you look into my face.
Thinking it is my child's face,
I look into your face...
Long ago, I prayed with all my heart,
and carried a life for three hundred days,
yet the child born into my lap
was parted from me forever.
Born to bring joy to a mother's heart,
of that child who came into this world,
I never heard his little voice,
I never saw his lovely face.
Born to bring joy to a mother's heart,
of that child who came into this world,
I never heard his little voice,
I never saw his lovely face.
Like a branch that bore fruit yet remained barren,
I was left all alone.
Just by looking at me as your own,
you turned me into a mother.
Just by looking at me as your own,
you turned me into a mother.
Thinking it is your mother's face,
you look into my face.
Thinking it is my child's face,
I look into your face...
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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