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Maman Machan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Athanadi Unakkaga

From Maman Machan · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Maman Machan
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
18 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………..
Aththaanadi unakkaaga seththaanadi
Aththaanadi unakkaaga seththaanadi
Unnaalathaan peyaanavan
Unna suththum naayaanavan
Evandaa thaduppaan vidamaattaen
Aththa mavan vilaiyaada seththa mavan
Aththa mavan vilaiyaada seththa mavan
Ummelathaan aasa vachen
Ullaththula poosa vachen
Iravaa pagalaa edhirpaarthaen
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
Sollaama raththiri vanthaaduven
Pollaatha mamana panthaaduven
Sollaama raththiri vanthaaduven
Pollaatha mamana panthaaduven
Appaavum venaam ammaavum venaam
Aththaana theduthu manasu
Ammaadi naanthaanae aavi
Aanaalum needhaan en devi
Ammaadi naanthaanae aavi
Aanaalum needhaan en devi
Aththa mavan vilaiyaada seththa mavan
Male :Unnaalathaan peyaanavan
Unna suththum naayaanavan
Evandaa thaduppaan vidamaattaen
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
…………….
Konnaalum kadhalgal saagaathathu
Suttaalum theeyila vegaathathu
Konnaalum kadhalgal saagaathathu
Suttaalum theeyila vegaathathu
Kalyaana maala kondaadum vela
Vanthaachchu yaenadi varuththam
Villaathi villan en appaa
Kannaa nee ennaathae thappaa…yae hae
Villaathi villan en appaa
Kannaa nee ennaathae thappaa
Aththaanadi unakkaaga seththaanadi
Female :Ummelathaan aasa vachen
Ullaththula poosa vachen
Iravaa pagalaa edhirpaarthaen
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
...
Oh my cousin, he died for your sake!
Oh my cousin, he died for your sake!
Because of you, he turned into a ghost.
He turned into a loyal hound wandering around you.
Who can stop me? I will not let go!
Your aunt's son who died to play with you!
Your aunt's son who died to play with you!
I set my heart's desire upon you.
I enshrined you inside my heart.
I waited expectantly night and day.
Let love live, arrange the wedding!
Let love live, arrange the wedding!
Without telling anyone, I will come dance at night!
I will toss around that wicked uncle!
Without telling anyone, I will come dance at night!
I will toss around that wicked uncle!
I don't need father, nor do I need mother.
My heart searches only for my beloved cousin.
Oh dear, I am but a ghost now!
Even so, you alone are my goddess!
Oh dear, I am but a ghost now!
Even so, you alone are my goddess!
Your aunt's son who died to play with you!
Male: Because of you, I turned into a ghost.
I turned into a loyal hound wandering around you.
Who can stop me? I will not let go!
Let love live, arrange the wedding!
Let love live, arrange the wedding!
...
Even if slain, love never dies.
Even if burned in fire, it does not scorch.
Even if slain, love never dies.
Even if burned in fire, it does not scorch.
The moment to celebrate with the wedding garland,
Has arrived, so why this sorrow, my girl?
My father is a villain among villains.
My darling, do not take it wrongly... yeah hey!
My father is a villain among villains.
My darling, do not take it wrongly!
Oh my cousin, he died for your sake!
Female: I set my heart's desire upon you.
I enshrined you inside my heart.
I waited expectantly night and day.
Let love live, arrange the wedding!
Let love live, arrange the wedding!
Let love live, arrange the wedding!
Let love live, arrange the wedding!
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the film Maman Machan (1984) is a energetic folk-duet expressive of passionate love against all odds. The lovers express how their affection transcends ordinary worldly bonds and even the threat of death. The male protagonist metaphorically (or theatrically) describes himself as a ghost/spirit obsessed with his lover, swearing that no villainous elders or obstacles can tear them apart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyming)

Unnaalathaan peyaanavan / Unna suththum naayaanavan

Matching second consonant 'n' across successive lines 'Unnaalathaan' and 'Unna suththum'.

Metaphor & Hyperbole

Unnaalathaan peyaanavan / Unna suththum naayaanavan

Exaggerating love by equating one's devotion to becoming a ghost ('peyaanavan') or staying persistent like a loyal dog ('naayaanavan').

Anaphora / Repetition

Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu

Emphatic repetition of the plea for love and marriage to drive home the romantic urgency.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, 'Maman Machan' features expressive vocals by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. P. Sailaja with colloquial lyricism written by Vaali, typical of 1980s Tamil commercial folk-style duets.

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