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Lyrics & meaning

Athanadi Unakkaga

From Maman Machan · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Maman Machan1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………..
Male
Aththaanadi unakkaaga seththaanadiOh cousin, he died for you!
Male
Aththaanadi unakkaaga seththaanadiOh cousin, he died for you!
Unnaalathaan peyaanavanBecause of you, I have turned into a mad ghost.
Unna suththum naayaanavanI have become like a dog following you around.
Evandaa thaduppaan vidamaattaenWho dare stop me? I will not give up!
Female
Aththa mavan vilaiyaada seththa mavanThe aunt's son who played around is now dead.
Aththa mavan vilaiyaada seththa mavanThe aunt's son who played around is now dead.
Ummelathaan aasa vachenI placed my desire only upon you.
Ullaththula poosa vachenI kept you inside my heart like a deity.
Iravaa pagalaa edhirpaarthaenI waited eagerly day and night.
Chorus
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkoduLet love live, get us married!
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkoduLet love live, get us married!
Male
Sollaama raththiri vanthaaduvenI will come and dance at night without telling anyone.
Pollaatha mamana panthaaduvenI will toss around that wicked uncle.
Sollaama raththiri vanthaaduvenI will come and dance at night without telling anyone.
Pollaatha mamana panthaaduvenI don't need father, nor do I need mother.
Female
Appaavum venaam ammaavum venaamMy heart searches only for my beloved cousin.
Aththaana theduthu manasuOh dear girl, I am a spirit myself!
Male
Ammaadi naanthaanae aaviEven so, you are my goddess!
Aanaalum needhaan en deviOh dear girl, I am a spirit myself!
Ammaadi naanthaanae aaviEven so, you are my goddess!
Aanaalum needhaan en deviThe aunt's son who played around is now dead.
Female
Aththa mavan vilaiyaada seththa mavanMale: Because of you, I have turned into a mad ghost.
Male :Unnaalathaan peyaanavanI have become like a dog following you around.
Unna suththum naayaanavanWho dare stop me? I will not give up!
Evandaa thaduppaan vidamaattaenLet love live, get us married!
Chorus
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkoduLet love live, get us married!
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu
Chorus
…………….Even if killed, true love never dies.
Female
Konnaalum kadhalgal saagaathathuEven if burned, it does not perish in fire.
Suttaalum theeyila vegaathathuEven if killed, true love never dies.
Konnaalum kadhalgal saagaathathuEven if burned, it does not perish in fire.
Suttaalum theeyila vegaathathuThe time to celebrate with wedding garlands...
Male
Kalyaana maala kondaadum vela...has arrived, why are you sad, my girl?
Vanthaachchu yaenadi varuththamMy father is the villain of all villains.
Female
Villaathi villan en appaaMy darling, do not think of me as wrong... yae hae!
Kannaa nee ennaathae thappaa…yae haeMy father is the villain of all villains.
Villaathi villan en appaaMy darling, do not think of me as wrong.
Kannaa nee ennaathae thappaaOh cousin, he died for you!
Male
Aththaanadi unakkaaga seththaanadiFemale: I placed my desire only upon you.
Female :Ummelathaan aasa vachenI kept you inside my heart like a deity.
Ullaththula poosa vachenI waited eagerly day and night.
Iravaa pagalaa edhirpaarthaenLet love live, get us married!
Chorus
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkoduLet love live, get us married!
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkoduLet love live, get us married!
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkoduLet love live, get us married!
Kadhalai vaazha vidu kalyaanam katikkodu

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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