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Lyrics & meaning

Annanukku Annanmaarae

From Thalattu Ketkuthamma · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thalattu Ketkuthamma1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Annanukku annanmaaraeO elders who are elder brothers to elders,
Thanni mannanukku mannanmaaraeO kings among drunkards!
Manap pandhalilae maelam kottiPlaying drums in the wedding hall,
Poo mudichchi thaali kattiAdorning flowers and tying the sacred thread,
Chinna thambi patta paaduThe plight that Chinna Thambi suffered,
Adhai sonnaalae vekka kaeduIf told, it is a matter of pure shame!
Male
Malligai poo kaiyil vaangi suththaadheengaDo not buy jasmine flowers and hold them around,
Mulla pola kuththudhunnu kaththaadheengaDo not scream saying it pricks like a thorn!
Ada daei Malligai poo kaiyil vaangi suththaadheengaHey brother, do not buy jasmine flowers and hold them around,
Mulla pola kuththudhunnu kaththaadheengaDo not scream saying it pricks like a thorn!
Male
Indha chinna thambi patta paaduThe plight that this Chinna Thambi suffered,
Adha sonnaalae vekka kaeduIf told, it is a matter of pure shame!
Male
Annanukku annanmaaraeO elders who are elder brothers to elders,
Thanni mannanukku mannanmaaraeO kings among drunkards!
Chorus :Annanukku annanmaaraeChorus: O elders who are elder brothers to elders,
Thanni mannanukku mannanmaaraeO kings among drunkards!
Male
Kannaalam kattikkittu annae annaeAfter getting married, my dear brothers,
Oru punnaakkum laabam illae sonnaen sonnaenI gained not even a bit of profit, I am telling you.
Annaadam aasa vechu annae annaeDesiring everyday, my dear brothers,
Onnum aagaama poththikkittu ninnaen ninnaenNothing happened, so I stood covering myself up.
Chorus
Pongi vecha sorirundhum thingaliyaaThough cooked rice was ready, was I not able to eat?
Poththi vacha aasa pasi theeraliyaaWas the hunger of suppressed desire satisfied?
Male
Solli solli soga kadhai maalaliyaeRecounting the sad tale continuously, it does not end,
Mutru pulli vechidath thaan aal illaiyaeThere is no one around to put a full stop to it.
Male
Enna seiya maala soodiWhat to do after wearing a garland?
Ada innamum naan brammachaariHey, I am still a bachelor!
Dhukkam thondai adaikkaAs grief chokes the throat,
Adhil mandai kodhikkaAnd the head boils with stress,
Chorus
Indha chinna thambi patta paaduThe plight that this Chinna Thambi suffered,
Adha sonnaalae vekka kaeduIf told, it is a matter of pure shame!
Male
Annanukku annanmaaraeO elders who are elder brothers to elders,
Thanni mannanukku mannanmaaraeO kings among drunkards!
Chorus :Annanukku annanmaaraeChorus: O elders who are elder brothers to elders,
Thanni mannanukku mannanmaaraeO kings among drunkards!
Male
Samsaaram vaachchu puttaa joru joruIf one gets a wife, it is total grandeur!
Adhai Sonnadha kaetkkaavittaa boru boruIf she does not listen to what is said, it is total boredom!
Pakkatthil kaekkum kaekkum kattil saththamNearby, one hears the sound of the cot,
Enga veettukkul naanga mattum romba suththamBut inside our house, we remain completely pure!
Male
Pillai onnu petthu kolla aasa pattaenI wished to father a child,
Kondavala konjik konji thola thottaenI caressed my wife and touched her shoulder,
Chorus
Thaana nanna thaana nannaThaana nanna thaana nanna
Thannaa nannaaThannaa nannaa
Thaana nanna thaana nannaThaana nanna thaana nanna
Thaanaa nannaaThaanaa nannaa
Male
Koodizhandha kunju polaeLike a chick that has lost its nest,
Sogam koodudhaiyaa nenju maelaeSorrow mounts over my heart!
Idhil solluradhenna vaaya melluradhennaWhat is there to say or mumble in this?
Chorus
Namma chinna thambi patta paaduThe plight that our Chinna Thambi suffered,
Adha sonnaalae vekka kaeduIf told, it is a matter of pure shame!
Male
Annanukku annanmaaraeO elders who are elder brothers to elders,
Thanni mannanukku mannanmaaraeO kings among drunkards!
Manap pandhalilae maelam kottiPlaying drums in the wedding hall,
Poo mudichchi thaali kattiAdorning flowers and tying the sacred thread,
Chinna thambi patta paaduThe plight that Chinna Thambi suffered,
Adhai sonnaalae vekka kaeduIf told, it is a matter of pure shame!
Male
Malligai poo kaiyil vaangi suththaadheengaDo not buy jasmine flowers and hold them around,
Mulla pola kuththudhunnu kaththaadheengaDo not scream saying it pricks like a thorn!
Ada daei Malligai poo kaiyil vaangi suththaadheengaHey brother, do not buy jasmine flowers and hold them around,
Mulla pola kuththudhunnu kaththaadheengaDo not scream saying it pricks like a thorn!
Male
Indha chinna thambi patta paaduThe plight that this Chinna Thambi suffered,
Adha sonnaalae vekka kaeduIf told, it is a matter of pure shame!
Chorus
Annanukku annanmaaraeO elders who are elder brothers to elders,
Thanni mannanukku mannanmaaraeO kings among drunkards!
Annanukku annanmaaraeO elders who are elder brothers to elders,
Thanni mannanukku mannanmaaraeO kings among drunkards!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a humorous, folk-infused lament in which the protagonist bitterly yet playfully complains to his fellow village elders about his post-marital frustrations. Despite having had a traditional wedding complete with drums, rituals, and a sacred thread, he remains an unconsummated husband due to naive misunderstandings, leaving him feeling like an perpetual bachelor. Through lively imagery and colloquial Tamil humor, the lyrics contrast the romantic expectations of marriage with the protagonist's absurd reality. He shares his predicament with lighthearted despair, warning other men about the unintended complications of marital bliss while evoking sympathy and laughter from his audience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Koodizhandha kunju polae

Compares the protagonist's helpless emotional state to a vulnerable, homeless chick.

Second-letter Rhyme (Ethukai)

Pongi vecha sorirundhum... / Poththi vacha aasa pasi...

Matching second consonants across lines ('ng' in Pongi and Poththi) creates a harmonious rhythmic flow.

Repetition / Echo Words (Adukku Thodar)

Samsaaram vaachchu puttaa joru joru / Adhai Sonnadha kaetkkaavittaa boru boru

Doubling words produces conversational cadence, humorous emphasis, and catchy rhyming.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, this song belongs to the record-breaking blockbuster 'Chinna Thambi' (1991). Sung energetic ally by Mano, it highlights actor Prabhu's endearing portrayal of a simple-minded villager navigating married life.

Keep listening

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