Annamae
From Inji Idupazhagi · 2015
- Lyricist
- Madhan Karky
- Singer
- Srikrishna Vishnubhotla
- Music director
- M. M. Keeravani
- Details
- Inji Idupazhagi2015
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Annamae… | Oh swan... |
| Yen azhagai thaedugiraai….aaiii… | Why do you search for beauty? |
| Siragin venmaikkullae | Within the whiteness of your wings, |
| Pirarin paarvaikkullae…ae.. | Within the gazes of others... |
| Alagai kondu yeno | Why do you use your beak, |
| Azhagai thaedugindraai… | To search for beauty? |
| Male | |
| Paedhaiyae…ae | Oh naive girl... |
| Un manadhin kuzhiyil | In the depth of your heart, |
| Ooridum azhagai nee | The beauty that wells up, |
| Paarthida marandhaai | You forgot to look at. |
| Male | |
| Annamae…ae….ae….ae… | Oh swan... |
| Male | |
| Aatrilae kaatrilae | In the river, in the air, |
| Neendhiya neeyoo.. | You who swam and flew free, |
| Koondinil adaibada vandhaayaa… | Did you come to get trapped in a cage? |
| Male | |
| Veroru paravai | To transform yourself, |
| Pol unai maatra | Like another bird, |
| Kanneerai vilai thandhaayaa..aa… | Did you pay the price with your tears? |
| Male | |
| Engae undhan inbam… | Where is your happiness? |
| Edharko0 indha kolam.. | Why this pitiful state? |
| Azhagai thaedi kondae | While constantly searching for beauty, |
| Karaiyum indha kaalam… | This time is dissolving away... |
| Male | |
| Annamae…ae…..ae…… | Oh swan... |
| Un kannangal thaandi | Past your cheeks, |
| Veezhndhidum neeril | In the tears that fall down, |
| Neendhugiraayoo……. | Are you swimming? |
| Male | |
| Annamae…ae….ae….ae… | Oh swan... |
அன்னமே......ஏ......
ஏன் அழகைத் தேடுகிறாய்....ஆய்...
சிறகின் வெண்மைக்குள்ளே
பிறரின் பார்வைக்குள்ளே...ஏ....
அழகை கொண்டு ஏனோ
அழகைத் தேடுகின்றாய்...
Oh swan...
Why do you search for beauty?
Within the whiteness of your wings,
Within the gazes of others...
Why do you use your beak,
To search for beauty?
பேதையே...ஏ......
உன் மனதின் குழியில்
ஊறிடும் அழகை நீ
பார்த்திட மறந்தாய்
Oh naive girl...
In the depth of your heart,
The beauty that wells up,
You forgot to look at.
அன்னமே...ஏ....ஏ....ஏ....
Oh swan...
ஆற்றிலே காற்றிலே
நீந்திய நீயோ..
கூண்டினில் அடைபட வந்தாயா....ஆ.....
In the river, in the air,
You who swam and flew free,
Did you come to get trapped in a cage?
வேறொரு பறவை
போல் உனை மாற்ற
கண்ணீரை விலை தந்தாயா...ஆ....
To transform yourself,
Like another bird,
Did you pay the price with your tears?
எங்கே உந்தன் இன்பம்
எதற்கோ இந்த கோலம்
அழகைத் தேடிக் கொண்டே
கரையும் இந்தக் காலம்....
Where is your happiness?
Why this pitiful state?
While constantly searching for beauty,
This time is dissolving away...
அன்னமே...ஏ....ஏ....
உன் கன்னங்கள் தாண்டி
வீழ்ந்திடும் நீரில்
நீந்துகிறாயோ.....
Oh swan...
Past your cheeks,
In the tears that fall down,
Are you swimming?
அன்னமே...ஏ....ஏ....ஏ....
Oh swan...
Annamae…
Oh swan...
Yen azhagai thaedugiraai….aaiii…
Why do you search for beauty?
Siragin venmaikkullae
Within the whiteness of your wings,
Pirarin paarvaikkullae…ae..
Within the gazes of others...
Alagai kondu yeno
Why do you use your beak,
Azhagai thaedugindraai…
To search for beauty?
Paedhaiyae…ae
Oh naive girl...
Un manadhin kuzhiyil
In the depth of your heart,
Ooridum azhagai nee
The beauty that wells up,
Paarthida marandhaai
You forgot to look at.
Annamae…ae….ae….ae…
Oh swan...
Aatrilae kaatrilae
In the river, in the air,
Neendhiya neeyoo..
You who swam and flew free,
Koondinil adaibada vandhaayaa…
Did you come to get trapped in a cage?
Veroru paravai
To transform yourself,
Pol unai maatra
Like another bird,
Kanneerai vilai thandhaayaa..aa…
Did you pay the price with your tears?
Engae undhan inbam…
Where is your happiness?
Edharko0 indha kolam..
Why this pitiful state?
Azhagai thaedi kondae
While constantly searching for beauty,
Karaiyum indha kaalam…
This time is dissolving away...
Annamae…ae…..ae……
Oh swan...
Un kannangal thaandi
Past your cheeks,
Veezhndhidum neeril
In the tears that fall down,
Neendhugiraayoo…….
Are you swimming?
Annamae…ae….ae….ae…
Oh swan...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song addresses the protagonist's emotional struggle with body image and societal standards of beauty. Using the extended metaphor of a majestic swan ('Annamae'), the lyricist questions why she seeks external validation and physical perfection in the eyes of others while neglecting the intrinsic beauty that naturally resides in her own heart. The song expresses grief over how a free-spirited woman has trapped herself in a cage of insecurity, paying for an artificial transformation with her own tears and happiness. It serves as a gentle yet powerful reflection on the futility of chasing superficial ideals while time and joy slip away.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Annamae… Yen azhagai thaedugiraai…”
The protagonist is metaphorically addressed as 'Annamae' (Swan), representing grace, purity, and natural elegance that is currently lost in self-doubt.
Paronomasia / Wordplay (Sledai)
“Alagai kondu yeno / Azhagai thaedugindraai…”
Madhan Karky plays with the homophones 'Alagu' (beak of a bird) and 'Azhagu' (beauty), suggesting the bird uses its own beak to search for beauty elsewhere.
Rhyme & Rhythm (Edhukai & Monai)
“Aatrilae kaatrilae / Neendhiya neeyoo..”
The juxtaposition of 'Aatrilae' (in the river) and 'Kaatrilae' (in the wind/air) uses internal rhyming and rhythmic assonance to depict past freedom.
Rhetorical Questioning
“Veroru paravai / Pol unai maatra / Kanneerai vilai thandhaayaa..”
The lyricist uses poignant rhetorical questions to evoke self-reflection about the price paid for altering oneself for others.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Inji Idupazhagi' (released simultaneously in Telugu as 'Size Zero') highlights the themes of body positivity and the dangers of extreme weight-loss methods. In this song, lyricist Madhan Karky utilizes subtle linguistic nuances like contrasting 'Alagu' (beak) with 'Azhagu' (beauty) to show how people search outside for what they already possess inside.
Keep listening
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