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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
Movie name
Doctor Amma
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
8 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Puyalilae oru vilakku
Poradi kondirukku
Pon vilakkai kaapadharkku
Namakkul yen vazhakku
Kangal malarattumae
En kanmai sirikkattumae
Naan paartha pillai enai paarkka vendum
Naan paartha pillai enai paarkka vendum
Enai paartha kangal unai paarkka vendum
Kangal malarattumae
En kanmai sirikkattumae
Naadum nadhiyum penn enbaar
Nilavum malarum penn enbaar
Penmaiyin thanmai iyarkkaiyum sollum
Pengalin ullam karunaiyin vellam
Naanum penn thaanae
Oru thaayin inam thaanae
Oorum ulagam iruttu araiyil
Ullathendrennum magan kannil
Oli thara vendum enakkaaga
Naan uyiraiyum tharuven adharkkaaga
Kangal malarattumae
En kanmai sirikkattumae
Naanum penn thaane
Oru thaaiyin inam thaanae
Androru naal oliyaetram
Agal vilakkaaga nee irunthaai
Yaetriya vilakkai edutherinthu
Iruttinil ennai thavikka vittaai
Kovalan veruthaan kannagiyai
Female :Andha kannagi mannithaal kovalanai
Pirinthavar kalanthaar uravinil thaan
Female :Naan pirinthathu endrum pirinthathu thaan
Male :Thalaiviyin kobam magan meedhaa
Female :Thandanai thandhaal thaai manadhaa
Naanum penn thaane
Oru thaaiyin inam thaanae
A lamp in the storm
is fighting to stay alive.
To protect this precious golden lamp,
why should there be a quarrel between us?
Let his eyes bloom with sight,
let the kohl in my eyes smile with joy!
The child I looked upon must look at me,
the child I looked upon must look at me,
and the eyes that look at me must look at you.
Let his eyes bloom with sight,
let the kohl in my eyes smile with joy!
They say the land and rivers are women,
they say the moon and flowers are women too.
Nature itself speaks of womanly tenderness,
and a woman's heart is a flood of compassion.
Am I not a woman too,
belonging to the kind that is a mother?
Believing the whole world is in a dark room,
into the eyes of my son,
you must bring light, for my sake;
I will give my very life for that.
Let his eyes bloom with sight,
let the kohl in my eyes smile with joy!
Am I not a woman too,
belonging to the kind that is a mother?
Back then, bringing light,
you were the earthen lamp.
But throwing away that lit lamp,
you left me struggling in the dark.
Kovalan rejected Kannagi;
Female: Yet that Kannagi forgave Kovalan.
Those who parted reunited in their bond.
Female: But when I parted, it was forever.
Male: Is the lady's anger against her own son?
Female: If I punish him, would this be a mother's heart?
Am I not a woman too,
belonging to the kind that is a mother?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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'.

Did you know?

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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