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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Bannari Bannari

From Annakili Sonna Kathai · 1989

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Annakili Sonna Kathai
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
11 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Bannari bathrakaali
Bannari bathrakaali
Bannari bathrakaali
Bannari bathrakaali
Bannari bannari
Bannari bannari
Bannari bannari
Bannari bannari
Thaga thaga thaga thaga ena
Jolikkum neththiyae
Thada thada thada thada ena
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyae
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyae
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrin
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadi
Thaga thaga thaga thaga ena
Jolikkum neththiyae
Thada thada thada thada ena
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyae
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyae
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrin
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadi
Ponnaana malligai poovidhu
Punnavadhennadi needhiyooo
Undhevan kazhuthilae naagamae
Pen jeevan meedhilae thaakumae
Nenjae un koyilai thedinen
Pen paavai vazhavae paadinen
Oru kurai ninathathumillai
Uyir idhu thudippathu sariyoo
Oru badhil kidathidum varai
Iravidhu mudivathum muraiyoo
Thaga thaga thaga thaga ena
Jolikkum neththiyae
Thada thada thada thada ena
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyae
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyae
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrin
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadi
Poovaga mannilae poothathu
Puthaadai soodiyae vandhathu
Amma un dharisanam kandathu
Aanandham aayiram kondathu
Senthaazham poovinai paarthathu
Singaara maeni yen verthathu
Iru vizhigalil imai sorugida
Ival uyir parpathu sariyo
Idhayangal thozha iravugal azha
Vilakkinil thudippathu thiriyoo
Thaga thaga thaga thaga ena
Jolikkum neththiyae
Thada thada thada thada ena
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyae
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyae
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrin
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadi
Thaga thaga thaga thaga ena
Jolikkum neththiyae
Thada thada thada thada ena
Vandhu kaakkum sakthiyae
Bannari maariyae un kangal seeriyae
Singathil yeriya mayil ondrin
Thuyar kakka varuvaayadi
Bannari Bhadrakali!
Bannari Bhadrakali!
Bannari Bhadrakali!
Bannari Bhadrakali!
Bannari! Bannari!
Bannari! Bannari!
Bannari! Bannari!
Bannari! Bannari!
With a blazing, glowing radiance,
your forehead shines!
Rushing forward with immense power,
O Goddess who comes to protect!
Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes,
you who ride a lion, for this peacock-like girl,
come to save her from her sorrow!
With a blazing, glowing radiance,
your forehead shines!
Rushing forward with immense power,
O Goddess who comes to protect!
Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes,
you who ride a lion, for this peacock-like girl,
come to save her from her sorrow!
This golden jasmine flower,
is it fair that she is wounded and hurt?
The serpent rests on your Lord's neck,
must it strike this innocent woman?
From my heart, I sought your temple,
I sang so this young girl may live!
She never wished harm on anyone,
is it right for her life to struggle in pain?
Until we find an answer,
is it right for this night to end?
With a blazing, glowing radiance,
your forehead shines!
Rushing forward with immense power,
O Goddess who comes to protect!
Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes,
you who ride a lion, for this peacock-like girl,
come to save her from her sorrow!
She blossomed upon this earth like a flower,
and arrived dressed in new clothes.
Mother, she received your sacred sight,
and felt a thousand joys within.
She looked at the red screw-pine flower,
why did her beautiful body break into a sweat?
With her eyelids drooping closed,
is it right to just watch her life fade?
As hearts grieve and the nights weep,
is it just the lamp's wick that trembles in pain?
With a blazing, glowing radiance,
your forehead shines!
Rushing forward with immense power,
O Goddess who comes to protect!
Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes,
you who ride a lion, for this peacock-like girl,
come to save her from her sorrow!
With a blazing, glowing radiance,
your forehead shines!
Rushing forward with immense power,
O Goddess who comes to protect!
Bannari Mari, with your fierce eyes,
you who ride a lion, for this peacock-like girl,
come to save her from her sorrow!
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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