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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannamma

From Jigarthanda · 2016

Lyricist
Muthamil
Singers
Rita, Anthony Daasan
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Jigarthanda2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Amaaa….Yes...
Peb bab bae pae pae peb bab peb bae(Vocal scatting)
Ohh….Oh...
Peb bab bae pae pae peb bab peb bae(Vocal scatting)
Female
Kannamma kannammaKannamma, Kannamma,
KadhalichaalaamThey say she fell in love.
Kaalaikku kanna kattunaaShe blindfolded a wild bull!
Chinnadhaa chinnadhaSlowly and gently,
Poothichi poovaaIt blossomed like a flower,
Poga poga jallikattuthaanBut as it goes on, it's like a fierce bull-taming sport!
Female
Othaikkiliyae…Oh lonely parrot...
Chorus :Sokki kichchuChorus: It got enchanted!
Female :Viththa puliyaeFemale: Oh clever tiger...
Sikki kichchuIt got trapped!
Female
Ullathila vedhaiya pottutaanHe planted a seed in her heart,
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
Female :Ivan uratha pottuFemale: He added fertilizer
Vera valarthuttaanAnd grew deep roots!
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
Female
Kaalam podumTime draws
Indha kaadhal kolamThis decorative pattern of love,
Idhu kaththadichaaBut if a gust of wind blows,
Saayum paalamIt is a bridge that sways and leans.
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
Female
Kannamma kannammaKannamma, Kannamma,
KadhalichaalaamThey say she fell in love.
Kaalaikku kanna kattunaaShe blindfolded a wild bull!
Chinnadhaa chinnadhaSlowly and gently,
Poothichi poovaaIt blossomed like a flower,
Poga poga jallikattuthaanBut as it goes on, it's like a fierce bull-taming sport!
Chorus :Aamaa….Chorus: Yes...
Chorus
Paa paa paah paa paah(Vocal scatting)
Pab bab pap baa(Vocal scatting)
Paa paa paah paa paah paah(Vocal scatting)
Pab bab pap baa(Vocal scatting)
Paa paa pab bab pab bab paa paa(Vocal scatting)
Pab bab paa paa paah paah paa paa(Vocal scatting)
Female
Oththikkaithaan paathukkuranHe keeps an eye out single-handedly,
Uthama raasaThe noble king.
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
Female
Oththa kaalil ninnukuraaShe stands on one leg,
Sevvandhi lesaGently like a chrysanthemum flower.
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
Female
Pakkuvathil naadagamA drama takes place
NadakkudhuQuietly and cleverly.
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
Female :Paduthukka kaathirukkuFemale: Waiting to lay down,
Female
Sikkittaan sikkittaanHe got caught, he got caught!
Selaikku noolaaLike thread for a saree,
Serthula poova nattutaanHe planted a flower in the mud.
Female
Kannamma kannammaKannamma, Kannamma,
KadhalichaalaamThey say she fell in love.
Kaalaikku kanna kattunaaShe blindfolded a wild bull!
Chinnadhaa chinnadhaSlowly and gently,
Poothichi poovaaIt blossomed like a flower,
Poga poga jallikattuthaanBut as it goes on, it's like a fierce bull-taming sport!
Female
Kannamma kannammaKannamma, Kannamma,
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
SikkittenI got trapped!
Female
{Nenjukulla parava{Inside the heart, a bird
ParakkudhuIs flying!
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
Female
Neruppu koodaEven fire
Vizhichi nadakkudhuIs walking wide awake!
Chorus :Aamaa} (2)Chorus: Yes!} (2)
Chorus
OthaikkiliyaeOh lonely parrot,
Aamaa …sokki kichchuYes... it got enchanted!
Viththa puliyaeOh clever tiger,
Aamaa… sikki kichchuYes... it got trapped!
Kannamma..Oh Kannamma..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kannamma from the film Jigarthanda (2014) is a whimsical, lively track that describes the chaotic, unpredictable nature of love. The song begins with sweet imagery of romance blossoming gently like a flower, but rapidly escalates into a metaphor for Jallikattu—a high-stakes bull-taming sport—showing how intense, wild, and consuming love can become.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Poga poga jallikattuthaan

Compares the wild and uncontrollable nature of falling in love to the dangerous rural traditional bull-taming sport (Jallikattu).

Alliteration (Monaai)

Kaalaikku kanna kattunaa

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across consecutive words creating rhythmic flow.

Juxtaposition / Antithesis

Poothichi poovaa / Poga poga jallikattuthaan

Contrasts the delicate blooming of a flower ('poothichi poovaa') with the aggression and chaos of bull taming ('jallikattuthaan').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Santhosh Narayanan and written by Muthamil, 'Kannamma' blends traditional Tamil folk imagery with modern jazz scatting and acoustic guitar. The song perfectly encapsulates the quirky, dark comedic mood of Karthik Subbaraj's critically acclaimed film Jigarthanda.

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