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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Engathe Chinna Mama

From Thiruttu Raman · 1955

Lyricist
Kanakasurabhi
Singer
Jikki
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Details
Thiruttu Raman1955

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yengathae chinna maamaDon't yearn, my dear young uncle,
Nee yengathae chinna maamaYou shouldn't long like this, my young uncle.
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle,
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle.
Female
Yengathae chinna maamaDon't yearn, my dear young uncle,
Nee yengathae chinna maamaYou shouldn't long like this, my young uncle.
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle,
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle.
Female
Pongiduthu thendral maamaThe gentle breeze surges with joy, uncle,
Thaenai polindhidudhu en nenjil maamaShowering sweet honey directly into my heart, uncle.
Haa..aaa..aa..Haa..aaa..aa..
Pongiduthu thendral maamaThe gentle breeze surges with joy, uncle,
Thaenai polindhidudhu en nenjil maamaShowering sweet honey directly into my heart, uncle.
Konjidudhu vennila maamaThe bright white moon caresses us lovingly, uncle,
Angae konjam neeyum manam udaiyalaagumaCan your heart also soften and open up a little over there?
Female
Yengathae chinna maamaDon't yearn, my dear young uncle,
Nee yengathae chinna maamaYou shouldn't long like this, my young uncle.
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle,
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle.
Female
Kannodu kalai ponadhu yenoWhy has the luster faded from your eyes?
Un madhiyum mangi ponadhu yenoWhy has your mind grown dim with sorrow?
Kannodu kalai ponadhuyenoWhy has the luster faded from your eyes?
Un madhiyum mangi ponadhu yenoWhy has your mind grown dim with sorrow?
Vidhi ennum thunbathil thenbutheStruggling in the distress brought by fate,
Inba vaazhvellam kanaavaaga pogudheAll of life's happiness is turning into a fleeting dream.
Female
Yengathae chinna maamaDon't yearn, my dear young uncle,
Nee yengathae chinna maamaYou shouldn't long like this, my young uncle.
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle,
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle.
Female
Naetru palagi mudinju pochuWhat happened yesterday is past and over,
Naalai kidakku yedhu pechuTomorrow is uncertain, so why talk about it?
Naetru palagi mudinju pochuWhat happened yesterday is past and over,
Naalai kidakku yedhu pechuTomorrow is uncertain, so why talk about it?
Naalai kidakku yedhu pechuTomorrow is uncertain, so why talk about it?
Indru inbam thedippomLet us seek pleasure and joy today,
Indha kaavalai ellam yettrupomLet us cast away all these worries.
Female
Yengathae chinna maamaDon't yearn, my dear young uncle,
Nee yengathae chinna maamaYou shouldn't long like this, my young uncle.
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle,
Neeyae ennoda ponnu maamaYou alone are my precious uncle.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Yengathae Chinna Maama is a comforting romantic song from the 1955 movie Thiruttu Raman, composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao and rendered by Jikki. The song centers on a woman offering consolation to her beloved ('chinna maama') who is downcast and distressed by fate. She reminds him of her affection and urges him to look around at nature's beauty—the refreshing breeze and the gentle moonlight—to heal his spirit. The lyrics urge the listener to abandon regrets about yesterday and worries about tomorrow. Emphasizing the present moment, the singer invites her partner to embrace joy today and discard anxieties, transforming a mood of melancholic reflection into one of hope and togetherness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Thaenai polindhidudhu en nenjil maama

Compares the sweet feeling brought by the breeze directly to honey showering into her heart.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kannodu kalai ponadhu yeno / Un madhiyum mangi ponadhu yeno

The second consonant 'n' ('nn' in Kannodu and 'n' in Un) rhymes across consecutive lines.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Naetru palagi mudinju pochu / Naalai kidakku yedhu pechu

The lines end with matching rhyming sounds 'pochu' and 'pechu'.

Personification

Konjidudhu vennila maama

Attributes the human act of cooing or caressing ('konjidudhu') to the moon ('vennila').

Did you know?

Trivia

Thiruttu Raman (1955) featured music by veteran composer Pendyala Nageswara Rao, who was renowned for his rich work in both Telugu and Tamil cinema. The iconic singer Jikki lent her versatile voice to this song, encapsulating the characteristic mid-1950s melody style that blends light classical aesthetics with popular film music rhythms.

Keep listening

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