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Lyrics & meaning

Bannari Bannari

From Annakili Sonna Kathai · 1989

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Annakili Sonna Kathai1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Bannari bathrakaaliBannari Bhadrakali
Bannari bathrakaaliBannari Bhadrakali
Bannari bathrakaaliBannari Bhadrakali
Bannari bathrakaaliBannari Bhadrakali
Chorus
Bannari bannariBannari, Bannari
Bannari bannariBannari, Bannari
Bannari bannariBannari, Bannari
Bannari bannariBannari, Bannari
Male
Thaga thaga thaga thaga enaGlowing brightly like 'Thaga thaga'
Jolikkum neththiyaeOh forehead that shines!
Thada thada thada thada enaArriving with a thundering 'Thada thada' force
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyaeOh divine power that comes to protect!
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyaeOh Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrinRiding upon a lion, like a peacock
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadiCome to protect and relieve this distress!
Male
Thaga thaga thaga thaga enaGlowing brightly like 'Thaga thaga'
Jolikkum neththiyaeOh forehead that shines!
Thada thada thada thada enaArriving with a thundering 'Thada thada' force
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyaeOh divine power that comes to protect!
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyaeOh Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrinRiding upon a lion, like a peacock
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadiCome to protect and relieve this distress!
Male
Ponnaana malligai poovidhuThis is a golden jasmine flower
Punnavadhennadi needhiyoooIs it justice for it to be wounded?
Undhevan kazhuthilae naagamaeA serpent rests around your God's neck
Pen jeevan meedhilae thaakumaeWill it strike at a woman's life?
Nenjae un koyilai thedinenOh heart, I searched for your temple
Pen paavai vazhavae paadinenI sang so this maiden could live
Male
Oru kurai ninathathumillaiI never harbored any complaints or faults
Uyir idhu thudippathu sariyooIs it right for this life to throb in pain?
Oru badhil kidathidum varaiUntil an answer is received
Iravidhu mudivathum muraiyooIs it proper for this night to end?
Male
Thaga thaga thaga thaga enaGlowing brightly like 'Thaga thaga'
Jolikkum neththiyaeOh forehead that shines!
Thada thada thada thada enaArriving with a thundering 'Thada thada' force
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyaeOh divine power that comes to protect!
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyaeOh Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrinRiding upon a lion, like a peacock
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadiCome to protect and relieve this distress!
Male
Poovaga mannilae poothathuIt bloomed like a flower on this earth
Puthaadai soodiyae vandhathuIt arrived wearing new attire
Amma un dharisanam kandathuOh Mother, it witnessed your holy vision
Aanandham aayiram kondathuIt felt a thousand joys
Senthaazham poovinai paarthathuIt saw the red screw-pine flower
Singaara maeni yen verthathuWhy did her beautiful body break into sweat?
Male
Iru vizhigalil imai sorugidaAs the eyelids close over both eyes
Ival uyir parpathu sariyoIs it right to watch her life slip away?
Idhayangal thozha iravugal azhaAs hearts grieve and nights weep
Vilakkinil thudippathu thiriyooIs it the wick that trembles in the lamp?
Male
Thaga thaga thaga thaga enaGlowing brightly like 'Thaga thaga'
Jolikkum neththiyaeOh forehead that shines!
Thada thada thada thada enaArriving with a thundering 'Thada thada' force
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyaeOh divine power that comes to protect!
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyaeOh Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrinRiding upon a lion, like a peacock
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadiCome to protect and relieve this distress!
Male
Thaga thaga thaga thaga enaGlowing brightly like 'Thaga thaga'
Jolikkum neththiyaeOh forehead that shines!
Thada thada thada thada enaArriving with a thundering 'Thada thada' force
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyaeOh divine power that comes to protect!
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyaeOh Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrinRiding upon a lion, like a peacock
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadiCome to protect and relieve this distress!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Bannari Bathrakaali is an emotional devotional song pleading to Goddess Bannari Mariamman for divine intervention and protection over a dying or suffering young woman. The devotee invokes the fierce yet merciful form of the deity, describing her glowing aura and power, and questions why an innocent life—delicate as a jasmine flower—must endure such anguish.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)

Thaga thaga thaga thaga ena

Use of Tamil rhythmic sounds 'Thaga thaga' to evoke brilliant shining and 'Thada thada' to represent a powerful, thundering arrival.

Metaphor

Ponnaana malligai poovidhu

Compares the innocent maiden to a delicate 'golden jasmine flower' suffering pain.

Rhetorical Question

Punnavadhennadi needhiyooo

The lyrics frequently question divine justice and the unfairness of an innocent life suffering.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is dedicated to Goddess Bannari Mariamman, whose famous temple is located in Bannari, Erode district, Tamil Nadu. The lyrics were penned by poet Mu. Metha.

Keep listening

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