Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennaporuthamadi Mama

From Kanavan · 1968

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
L. R. Eswari, Chorus
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kanavan1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
O… achu achu…Oh... achu achu...
Female
Enna poruthamadi maamaaWhat a match this is, uncle!
Chorus
Yae maamaaHey uncle!
Female
Enakkivar maalaiyidalaamaaCan he place a garland around my neck?
Chorus
IdalaamaaCan he place it?
Female
Ulladhai sollungadiTell me the truth, my friends,
Baama praemaa haemaaBaama, Prema, Hema!
Chorus
Yaemmaa… o… achu achu…Hey lady... oh... achu achu...
Female
Enna poruthamadi maamaaWhat a match this is, uncle!
Enakkivar maalaiyidalaamaaCan he place a garland around my neck?
Ulladhai sollungadi baamaTell me the truth, Baama!
Ammammaa ammaamaa ammammaa…Oh my, oh my, oh my...
Chorus
Ammammaa ammaamaa ammammaa…Oh my, oh my, oh my...
Female
Pattamum sattamumDegrees and laws,
Kandadhu london padippoIs his education studied in London?
Chorus
YaiyaiyaaYaiyaiyaa
Female
Pennaiyum kannaiyum kandadhumThe moment he sees a woman and her eyes,
Ratha kodhippoDoes his blood boil?
Chorus
YaiyaiyaaYaiyaiyaa
Female
Mannavan sinthidum punnagaiThe smile shed by this king,
Kalla chirippo haeIs it a sly, deceitful grin? Hey!
Indhiran chandhiran manmadhanIndra, Chandra, Manmadha...
Ennum ninaippoIs that who he thinks he is?
Chorus
O… achu achu…Oh... achu achu...
Female
Enna poruthamadi maamaaWhat a match this is, uncle!
Chorus
Yae maamaaHey uncle!
Female
Enakkivar maalaiyidalaamaaCan he place a garland around my neck?
Chorus
IdalaamaaCan he place it?
Female
Ulladhai sollungadi baamaTell me the truth, Baama!
Ammammaa ammaamaa ammammaa…Oh my, oh my, oh my...
Female
Haha hahaha hahahaHaha hahaha hahaha
Hahaha hahaha haaHahaha hahaha haa
O hohoho hohoho hohoho hohoho hoO hohoho hohoho hohoho hohoho ho
Chorus
HahahahahahahahaaHahahahahahahahaa
HohohohohohoHohohohohoho
HahahahahahahahaaHahahahahahahahaa
HohohohohohoHohohohohoho
Female
Gopuram meedhinilAtop the temple tower,
Thaavidum vaanaramThe monkey jumping around,
Thaanivano… o…Is that him... oh...
Chorus
Hooo…Hooo...
Female
Poovaiyin poovizhi paarthadhumUpon seeing the flower-like eyes of a maiden,
Paithiyam aanavanoDid he turn crazy?
Chorus
Hooo…Hooo...
Female
Paalum pazhamum veruthaanoDid he grow detested of milk and fruit?
Palli kollaamal thavithaano aa…Did he squirm without sleep? Ah...
Thalaiyanai thunaiyaai kondaanoDid he embrace a pillow as his companion?
Chorus
Aa…Ah...
Female
Karpanai sugathai kandaanoDid he experience imaginary bliss?
Uthami pathini pethadhu buthisaali thaanBorn to a virtuous, chaste woman, he is a genius indeed!
Chorus
YaiyaiyaaYaiyaiyaa
Female
Sithirai veyilil muthiyai pithu pidithaanIn the scorching heat of April, did he lose his mind severely?
Chorus
YaiyaiyaaYaiyaiyaa
Female
Eppavum ippadi muppadhuAlways grinning like this with thirty-two
Pallai ilithaanTeeth exposed,
Ithanai vithaigal kattravanThe one who learned all these tricks
Athai magan thaanIs my aunt's son!
Chorus
Hooo…..Hooo…..
Chorus
Pappaayap paaya pappaayap paayaPappaayap paaya pappaayap paaya
Pappaayap paaya pappaaya…Pappaayap paaya pappaaya…
Female
Aandhaiyin paarvaiyumLook at his owl-like stare
Poonaiyin meesaiyum paarungadiAnd his cat-like mustache, girls!
Chorus
Hooo…Hooo…
Female
Aadaiyai yaaridamFrom whom did he rent
Vaadagai vaanginaar kaelungadiThese clothes? Ask him, girls!
Chorus
Hooo…Hooo…
Female
Paarkka paarkka paridhaabamTo see him, it brings pity upon pity;
Pengalukkellaam anudhaabamAll women feel compassion for him!
Chorus
Ich… ich… ich… ich… ich…Tch… tch… tch… tch… tch…
Female
Pattadhu podhum parigaasamEnough of the mockery suffered!
Chorus
Hoooi…Hoooi…
Female
Poga solladi vana vaasamTell him to go live in exile in the forest!
Chorus
O… achu achu…Oh… achu achu…
Female
Enna poruthamadi maamaaWhat a match this is, uncle!
Chorus
Yae maamaaHey uncle!
Female
Enakkivar maalaiyidalaamaaCan he place a garland around my neck?
Chorus
IdalaamaaCan he place it?
Female
Ulladhai sollungadi baamaTell me the truth, Baama!
Ammammaa ammaamaa ammammaa…Oh my, oh my, oh my…
Chorus
Ammammaa ammaamaa ammammaa…Oh my, oh my, oh my…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Enna Poruthamadi Maamaa from the 1968 Tamil film Kanavan is a playful, satirical teasing song where the female protagonist and her companions mock a prospective groom (her maternal cousin) presented as a match for marriage. She lightheartedly ridicules his appearance, demeanor, rented clothes, and inflated ego, comically comparing his gaze to an owl and his mustache to a cat.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Humor (Uvamai)

Aandhaiyin paarvaiyum poonaiyin meesaiyum paarungadi

Compares the suitor's stare to an owl and his mustache to a cat's in a humorous, mocking tone.

Hyperbole / Satire (Uraiyani)

Indhiran chandhiran manmadhan ennum ninaippo

Exaggerates the groom's self-perception by comparing him to divine beings like Indra, Chandra, and Manmadha.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Paalum pazhamum veruthaano / Palli kollaamal thavithaano

Rhyming of the second consonant 'l' across corresponding lines (Paalum / Palli).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is featured in the 1968 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) starrer Kanavan, opposite Jayalalithaa. Written by Vaali, the track showcases playful ribbing between cousins, a common trope in Tamil comedy songs of the 1960s.

Keep listening

More from Kanavan