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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chellamey

From Poikkal Kuthirai · 2022

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singer
Shreya Ghoshal
Music director
D. Imman
Movie name
Poikkal Kuthirai
Movie release year
2022
Lyrics added on
12 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chellamey chellamey
Magizhvathellamae unnaalae
Chellamey chellamey
Anaikka yaarundu un polae
Sirippathu un kannil
En inbam naan kaanathaan
Azhuvathu un thozhil
Kan moodi naan saayathan
Kadavul endren athai maruthaai
Maruthidinum nee en maru thaai
Chellamey chellamey
Magizhvathellamae unnaale
Chellamey chellamey
Anaikka yaarundu un polae
Kattukadanga sinathil
Naaneriyum pothum
Kattiyanaithae anaithidum
Kanivu pothum
Naan thoonga
Kanavu kadhaigal solvaai
Naan vaazha
Unadhu kanavai kolvaai
Nan enna seidhaalum poru
Epodhum ennodu iru
Mazhalaiyin nagaramaai
Sirumiyin nagaramaai
Pathinmam naan adaikaiyil
Enakku nee sigaramaai chellamey
Chellamey chellamey
Magizhvathellamae unnaalae
Chellamey chellamey
Anaikka yaarundu un polae
Sirippathu un kannil
En inbam naan kaanathaan
Azhuvathu un thozhil
Kan moodi naan saayathan
Kadavul endren athai maruthaai
Maruthidinum nee en maru thaai
My darling, my darling,
All my happiness is because of you.
My darling, my darling,
Who is there to embrace me like you do?
I smile only
To see my joy reflected in your eyes.
I cry only
To close my eyes and rest on your shoulder.
I called you God, but you denied it;
Even if you deny it, you are my second mother.
My darling, my darling,
All my happiness is because of you.
My darling, my darling,
Who is there to embrace me like you do?
Even in uncontrollable anger,
When I am burning inside,
Embracing me to put out the fire,
That tenderness of yours is enough.
For me to sleep,
You tell stories of dreams;
For me to live,
You sacrifice your own dreams.
Bear with me whatever I do,
And always stay by my side.
As a shelter in my toddler years,
As a shelter in my childhood,
And as I grow into my teens,
You stand as a protective peak for me, my darling.
My darling, my darling,
All my happiness is because of you.
My darling, my darling,
Who is there to embrace me like you do?
I smile only
To see my joy reflected in your eyes.
I cry only
To close my eyes and rest on your shoulder.
I called you God, but you denied it;
Even if you deny it, you are my second mother.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Chellamey Chellamey is a tender, emotional song expressing unconditional love and gratitude towards a guardian or motherly figure. The speaker conveys how all life's joy stems from this beloved person, who acts as a sanctuary during emotional turmoil, sacrifices personal aspirations for the child's future, and serves as an unwavering beacon through childhood into youth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Yamakam / Wordplay

“Maruthidinum nee en maru thaai”

Madhan Karky uses clever phonetic wordplay between 'maruthaai' (you rejected/denied) and 'maru thaai' (second mother).

Metaphor

“Enakku nee sigaramaai chellamey”

The guardian figure is metaphorically compared to a mountain peak ('sigaram'), representing stature, guidance, and refuge.

Anaphora / Parallelism

“Naan thoonga / Kanavu kadhaigal solvaai / Naan vaazha / Unadhu kanavai kolvaai”

Repetition of sentence structures 'Naan thoonga...' and 'Naan vaazha...' to emphasize contrast between the child's needs and the caregiver's actions.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by D. Imman for the 2022 Tamil film Poikkal Kuthirai, starring Prabhu Deva. Sung by Shreya Ghoshal with lyrics by Madhan Karky, it highlights a deep emotional bond within the film's core narrative.

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