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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kangal Malarattume En Kanmani

From Doctor Amma · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Doctor Amma1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Puyalilae oru vilakkuA lamp in the storm
Poradi kondirukkuIs struggling to stay alight
Pon vilakkai kaapadharkkuTo protect this golden lamp
Namakkul yen vazhakkuWhy should there be a dispute between us?
Male
Kangal malarattumaeLet the eyes bloom
En kanmai sirikkattumaeLet my kohl-adorned eyes smile
Naan paartha pillai enai paarkka vendumThe child I looked upon must see me
Naan paartha pillai enai paarkka vendumThe child I looked upon must see me
Enai paartha kangal unai paarkka vendumThe eyes that saw me must see you
Male
Kangal malarattumaeLet the eyes bloom
En kanmai sirikkattumaeLet my kohl-adorned eyes smile
Female
Naadum nadhiyum penn enbaarThey say the land and rivers are feminine
Nilavum malarum penn enbaarThey say the moon and flowers are feminine
Penmaiyin thanmai iyarkkaiyum sollumNature itself describes the nature of womanhood
Pengalin ullam karunaiyin vellamA woman's heart is a flood of mercy
Naanum penn thaanaeI too am a woman, after all
Oru thaayin inam thaanaeBelonging to the lineage of a mother
Male
Oorum ulagam iruttu araiyilIn the dark room of the town and world
Ullathendrennum magan kannilIn the eyes of the son who thinks so
Oli thara vendum enakkaagaLight must be given, for my sake
Naan uyiraiyum tharuven adharkkaagaI will give even my life for that
Male
Kangal malarattumaeLet the eyes bloom
En kanmai sirikkattumaeLet my kohl-adorned eyes smile
Female
Naanum penn thaaneI too am a woman, after all
Oru thaaiyin inam thaanaeBelonging to the lineage of a mother
Male
Androru naal oliyaetramThat day, like a lighting of a lamp
Agal vilakkaaga nee irunthaaiYou were like an earthen lamp
Female
Yaetriya vilakkai edutherinthuThrowing away the lit lamp
Iruttinil ennai thavikka vittaaiYou left me to suffer in the dark
Male
Kovalan veruthaan kannagiyaiKovalan abandoned Kannagi
Female :Andha kannagi mannithaal kovalanaiFemale: That Kannagi forgave Kovalan
Male
Pirinthavar kalanthaar uravinil thaanThose who separated reunited in relationship
Female :Naan pirinthathu endrum pirinthathu thaanFemale: My separation is permanent separation
Male :Thalaiviyin kobam magan meedhaaMale: Is the heroine's anger directed at her son?
Female :Thandanai thandhaal thaai manadhaaFemale: Would a mother's heart hand out punishment?
Female
Naanum penn thaaneI too am a woman, after all
Oru thaaiyin inam thaanaeBelonging to the lineage of a mother

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song revolves around maternal devotion, forgiveness, and the eternal grace of womanhood. The protagonist compares a vulnerable life to a fragile lamp struggling against a tempestuous storm, appealing for unity and sight for her child. Referencing natural elements like rivers and the moon as reflections of femininity, the lyricist emphasizes that a woman's heart is inherently filled with compassion and sacrifice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Puyalilae oru vilakku

Comparing a delicate life or situation to a lamp in a storm ('Puyalilae oru vilakku').

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

Kovalan veruthaan kannagiyai

References the famous epic characters Kovalan and Kannagi from Silappatikaram to highlight themes of betrayal, separation, and forgiveness.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Naadum nadhiyum penn enbaar

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds across words like 'Naadum' and 'Nadhiyum'.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Naadum nadhiyum penn enbaar

Rhyming second letter sound between 'Pengalin' and 'Naanum' or 'Naadum' and 'Nilavum'.

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Trivia

Doctor Amma (1974) features lyrics by legendary poet Vaali, who frequently incorporated allegorical references from ancient Tamil literature like Silappatikaram into contemporary movie song contexts.

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