Aththai Magalum Illai
From Kallukkul Therai · 1981
- Lyricist
- Aadhikottai Ramu
- Singer
- Yesudas
- Music director
- Shyam
- Details
- Kallukkul Therai1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo….. | Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo….. |
| Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo….. | Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo….. |
| Male | |
| Aththai magalum illai | You are not my paternal aunt's daughter, |
| Ammaan magalum illai | Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter. |
| Male | |
| Aththai magalum illai | You are not my paternal aunt's daughter, |
| Ammaan magalum illai | Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter. |
| Aanaalum un meedhu | Even so, towards you, |
| Aasai kondu yaengugiraen | I yearn with deep desire. |
| Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa… | Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa… |
| Aanaalum un meedhu | Even so, towards you, |
| Aasai kondu yaengugiraen | I yearn with deep desire. |
| Male | |
| Aththai magalum illai | You are not my paternal aunt's daughter, |
| Ammaan magalum illai | Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter. |
| Male | |
| Sonthamillai nee enakku | You hold no family relation to me, |
| Panthamillai naan unakku | I hold no formal bond with you. |
| Sonthamillai nee enakku | You hold no family relation to me, |
| Panthamillai naan unakku | I hold no formal bond with you. |
| Irunthaalum ennuyirae…ae… | Even then, my precious life... |
| Un varavai thaedugiraen | I search and long for your arrival. |
| Male | |
| Madai podum naal varumo | Will the day of our grand union ever come, |
| Kadavul thantha vaazhvinilae | In this life bestowed by God? |
| Madai podum naal varumo | Will the day of our grand union ever come, |
| Kadavul thantha vaazhvinilae | In this life bestowed by God? |
| Male | |
| Kunguma udhattazhagum | The beauty of your vermilion-colored lips, |
| Kodi pondra udalasaivum | The vine-like sway of your slender body, |
| Sangu kazhuththazhagum | The conch-like grace of your neck, |
| Kandu manam vaadugiraen | Seeing all these, my heart droops in yearning. |
| Male | |
| Aththai magalum illai | You are not my paternal aunt's daughter, |
| Ammaan magalum illai | Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter. |
| Male | |
| Maaninamum meeninamum | The graceful deer species and the fish species, |
| Mai podum penninamum…mm…. | Along with the kohl-adorned womanly species... |
| Maaninamum meeninamum | The graceful deer species and the fish species, |
| Mai podum penninamum…mm…. | Along with the kohl-adorned womanly species... |
| Vaazhai thoppukkullae | Inside the banana grove, |
| Vanthirukka kaanukiraen | I see that you have arrived. |
| Male | |
| Karaiyaeri meen varumo | Will a fish ever come ashore on its own? |
| Kai thaedi paal varumo | Will milk ever seek out one's hand on its own? |
| Intha jenmam illai endraal….aa…. | If not in this birth... |
| Intha jenmam illai endraal…. | If not in this birth... |
| Maru jenmam unnarugae | To be by your side in the next birth, |
| Irunthida aanadavanai | To the Almighty Lord, |
| Eppothum vendugiraen | I constantly pray. |
| Male | |
| Aththai magalum illai | You are not my paternal aunt's daughter, |
| Ammaan magalum illai | Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter. |
| Aanaalum un meedhu | Even so, towards you, |
| Aasai kondu yaengugiraen | I yearn with deep desire. |
| Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa… | Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa… |
| Aanaalum un meedhu | Even so, towards you, |
| Aasai kondu yaengugiraen | I yearn with deep desire. |
| Male | |
| {Aththai magalum illai | {You are not my paternal aunt's daughter, |
| Ammaan magalum illai} (3) | Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter} (repeated 3 times) |
ஓ.....ஒ......ஓஓ.....ஓ ஓஓ......ஓஒ......
ஓ.....ஒ......ஓஓ.....ஓ ஓஓ......ஓஒ......ஓ.......
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo…..
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo…..
அத்தை மகளும் இல்லை
அம்மான் மகளும் இல்லை
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
அத்தை மகளும் இல்லை
அம்மான் மகளும் இல்லை
ஆனாலும் உன் மீது
ஆசைக்கொண்டு ஏங்குகிறேன்
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆஆ.......ஆஅ........
ஆனாலும் உன் மீது
ஆசைக்கொண்டு ஏங்குகிறேன்
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
Even so, towards you,
I yearn with deep desire.
Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa…
Even so, towards you,
I yearn with deep desire.
அத்தை மகளும் இல்லை
அம்மான் மகளும் இல்லை
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
சொந்தமில்லை நீ எனக்கு
பந்தமில்லை நான் உனக்கு....
சொந்தமில்லை நீ எனக்கு
பந்தமில்லை நான் உனக்கு....
இருந்தாலும் என்னுயிரே.....ஏ.....
உன் வரவை தேடுகிறேன்
You hold no family relation to me,
I hold no formal bond with you.
You hold no family relation to me,
I hold no formal bond with you.
Even then, my precious life...
I search and long for your arrival.
மேடை போடும் நாள் வருமோ
கடவுள் தந்த வாழ்வினிலே
மேடை போடும் நாள் வருமோ
கடவுள் தந்த வாழ்வினிலே
Will the day of our grand union ever come,
In this life bestowed by God?
Will the day of our grand union ever come,
In this life bestowed by God?
குங்கும உதட்டழகும்
கொடி போன்ற உடலசைவும்
சங்கு கழுத்தழகும்
கண்டு மனம் வாடுகிறேன்
The beauty of your vermilion-colored lips,
The vine-like sway of your slender body,
The conch-like grace of your neck,
Seeing all these, my heart droops in yearning.
அத்தை மகளும் இல்லை
அம்மான் மகளும் இல்லை
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
மானினமும் மீனினமும்
மை போடும் பெண்ணினமும்....ம்ம்
மானினமும் மீனினமும்
மை போடும் பெண்ணினமும்
வாழைத் தோப்புக்குள்ளே
வந்திருக்க காணுகிறேன்
The graceful deer species and the fish species,
Along with the kohl-adorned womanly species...
The graceful deer species and the fish species,
Along with the kohl-adorned womanly species...
Inside the banana grove,
I see that you have arrived.
கரையேறி மீன் வருமோ
கை தேடி பால் வருமோ
இந்த ஜென்மம் இல்லையென்றால்....ஆ.....
இந்த ஜென்மம் இல்லையென்றால்
மறு ஜென்மம் உன்னருகே
இருந்திட ஆண்டவனை
எப்போதும் வேண்டுகிறேன்...
Will a fish ever come ashore on its own?
Will milk ever seek out one's hand on its own?
If not in this birth...
If not in this birth...
To be by your side in the next birth,
To the Almighty Lord,
I constantly pray.
அத்தை மகளும் இல்லை
அம்மான் மகளும் இல்லை
ஆனாலும் உன் மீது
ஆசைக்கொண்டு ஏங்குகிறேன்
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆஆ.......ஆஅ........
ஆனாலும் உன் மீது
ஆசைக்கொண்டு ஏங்குகிறேன்
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
Even so, towards you,
I yearn with deep desire.
Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa…
Even so, towards you,
I yearn with deep desire.
{அத்தை மகளும் இல்லை
அம்மான் மகளும் இல்லை} (3)
{You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter} (repeated 3 times)
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo…..
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo…..
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo…..
Oo…oo….ooo….ooo…..oooo…..
Aththai magalum illai
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Ammaan magalum illai
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
Aththai magalum illai
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Ammaan magalum illai
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
Aanaalum un meedhu
Even so, towards you,
Aasai kondu yaengugiraen
I yearn with deep desire.
Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa…
Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa…
Aanaalum un meedhu
Even so, towards you,
Aasai kondu yaengugiraen
I yearn with deep desire.
Aththai magalum illai
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Ammaan magalum illai
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
Sonthamillai nee enakku
You hold no family relation to me,
Panthamillai naan unakku
I hold no formal bond with you.
Sonthamillai nee enakku
You hold no family relation to me,
Panthamillai naan unakku
I hold no formal bond with you.
Irunthaalum ennuyirae…ae…
Even then, my precious life...
Un varavai thaedugiraen
I search and long for your arrival.
Madai podum naal varumo
Will the day of our grand union ever come,
Kadavul thantha vaazhvinilae
In this life bestowed by God?
Madai podum naal varumo
Will the day of our grand union ever come,
Kadavul thantha vaazhvinilae
In this life bestowed by God?
Kunguma udhattazhagum
The beauty of your vermilion-colored lips,
Kodi pondra udalasaivum
The vine-like sway of your slender body,
Sangu kazhuththazhagum
The conch-like grace of your neck,
Kandu manam vaadugiraen
Seeing all these, my heart droops in yearning.
Aththai magalum illai
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Ammaan magalum illai
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
Maaninamum meeninamum
The graceful deer species and the fish species,
Mai podum penninamum…mm….
Along with the kohl-adorned womanly species...
Maaninamum meeninamum
The graceful deer species and the fish species,
Mai podum penninamum…mm….
Along with the kohl-adorned womanly species...
Vaazhai thoppukkullae
Inside the banana grove,
Vanthirukka kaanukiraen
I see that you have arrived.
Karaiyaeri meen varumo
Will a fish ever come ashore on its own?
Kai thaedi paal varumo
Will milk ever seek out one's hand on its own?
Intha jenmam illai endraal….aa….
If not in this birth...
Intha jenmam illai endraal….
If not in this birth...
Maru jenmam unnarugae
To be by your side in the next birth,
Irunthida aanadavanai
To the Almighty Lord,
Eppothum vendugiraen
I constantly pray.
Aththai magalum illai
You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Ammaan magalum illai
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter.
Aanaalum un meedhu
Even so, towards you,
Aasai kondu yaengugiraen
I yearn with deep desire.
Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa…
Aa….aa….aaa…..aaa…
Aanaalum un meedhu
Even so, towards you,
Aasai kondu yaengugiraen
I yearn with deep desire.
{Aththai magalum illai
{You are not my paternal aunt's daughter,
Ammaan magalum illai} (3)
Nor are you my maternal uncle's daughter} (repeated 3 times)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a tender romantic expression by a protagonist who has fallen deeply in love with a woman outside of traditional Tamil kinship structures. In Tamil culture, cross-cousins ('Aththai magal' or 'Ammaan magal') are traditionally considered natural prospective spouses. Here, the singer acknowledges that though they share no formal family connection or custom-mandated bond, his heart yearns intensely for her presence and union. He expresses deep admiration for her beauty, comparing her neck to a conch, her waist to a delicate vine, and her eyes to deer and fish. The lyrics question whether such a fortunate match could happen effortlessly in this life given by God. Acknowledging the difficulty of his desire coming true, he pledges his devotion by praying to the Almighty that if they cannot be united in this lifetime, they may at least be brought together in the next birth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai / Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)
“Kunguma udhattazhagum / Kodi pondra udalasaivum / Sangu kazhuththazhagum”
Compares the woman's neck to a beautiful conch shell ('Sangu kazhuthu') and her body movement to a creeping vine ('Kodi pondra udalasaivu').
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Sonthamillai nee enakku / Panthamillai naan unakku”
The second consonant sound 'n' aligns in 'Sonthamillai' and 'Panthamillai', adding rhythmic symmetry to the verse.
Rhetorical Question (Vinawurimai)
“Karaiyaeri meen varumo / Kai thaedi paal varumo”
Uses impossible natural occurrences (a fish stepping onto dry land, milk seeking out a hand) as rhetorical devices to question whether his love will easily come to fruition.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Aanaalum un meedhu / Aasai kondu yaengugiraen”
Alliteration on the letter 'A' across consecutive lines ('Aanaalum' and 'Aasai').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist Aadhikottai Ramu, 'Aththai magalum illai' highlights traditional Tamil marriage culture concepts ('Aththai magal' / 'Ammaan magal') while contrasting it with modern romantic love based purely on personal devotion rather than familial arrangement.
Keep listening
More from Kallukkul Therai
Kallukkul Therai
Kallukkul Therai
Kallukkul Therai