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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kolli Malai Saralamma

From Jakkamma · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
M. S. Sheela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Jakkamma
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
15 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kollimalai saaral amma
Kuliradikkum boomiyamma
Kollimalai saaral amma
Kuliradikkum boomiyamma
Mangalamaai angu oru maanirundhathu
Andha maanodu aan maanum vaazhnthirunthadhu
Chinna chinna kutty rendu
Sirikkum thanga petti rendu
Chinna chinna kutty rendu
Sirikkum thanga petti rendu
Sernthiruntha maangalukku pirandhu vandhadhu
Andha jeevanodu paasam ennum virundhu vandhadhu
Kollimalai saaral amma
Kuliradikkum boomiyamma
Ooril oru vedan amma
Uyir parikkum paaviyamma
Ooril oru vedan amma
Uyir parikkum paaviyamma
Ooralavum illaiyamma karunai enbadhu
Avan ullathilae pirandhadhu kodumai enbadhu
Ooralavum illaiyamma karunai enbadhu
Avan ullathilae pirandhadhu kodumai enbadhu
Kaattu vedan thudithu vandhaan
Vaettaiyadi mudikka vandhaan
Kandu konda aan maanoo kobam kondathu
Andha kalathinilae aan maanin uyir pirinthathu
Manammuditha kanavanaukku
Maalaiyidu katti veithu
Dhinam adhai pen maanae
Thozhudhu vandhadhu
Thann chinna chinna kuttigalai
Thozhavum sonnadhu
Purinthavarai puriyum endru
Mudinthavarai solli vitten
Irundha kadhai ivvalavae ennidathilae
Ini edhirkaalam yaavaiyumae unnidathilae
Ini edhirkaalam yaavaiyumae unnidathilae
On the slopes of Kolli Hills, my dear,
it is a cold, chilly land.
On the slopes of Kolli Hills, my dear,
it is a cold, chilly land.
A gentle doe lived there in happiness,
and alongside her lived a stag.
Two tiny little fawns,
like two laughing treasure chests of gold,
two tiny little fawns,
like two laughing treasure chests of gold,
were born to that loving pair of deer,
and with those little lives came a feast of love.
On the slopes of Kolli Hills, my dear,
it is a cold, chilly land.
There was a hunter in that land, my dear,
a cruel sinner who snatched away lives.
There was a hunter in that land, my dear,
a cruel sinner who snatched away lives.
There was not even a trace of mercy in him,
only cruelty was born in his heart.
There was not even a trace of mercy in him,
only cruelty was born in his heart.
The forest hunter came charging in,
he came determined to finish his hunt.
Spotting him, the stag grew angry,
and on that very ground, the stag lost its life.
For the wedded mate she had loved,
she hung a garland in remembrance,
and every day, the female deer
bowed and worshipped his memory,
and told her tiny little fawns
to bow and pray as well.
Hoping you will understand as much as you can,
I have told the story as best I could.
This was all the story I had with me;
from now on, the entire future is in your hands.
From now on, the entire future is in your hands.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song presents an allegorical fable set against the backdrop of the misty Kolli Hills. It tells the story of a happy deer family—a loving pair of deer and their two adorable fawns—whose peaceful world is shattered when a heartless hunter enters the forest. The brave male deer confronts the hunter to protect his family but tragically loses his life in the struggle. Devastated yet dutiful, the female deer sets up a shrine for her fallen partner, worshipping his memory daily and teaching her fawns to honor their father's ultimate sacrifice. Through this fable, the narrator conveys a deeper moral lesson about tragedy, grief, duty, and passing on the truth to the next generation, placing the responsibility of what comes next into the listener's hands.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Sirikkum thanga petti rendu”

The young fawns are poetically referred to as 'sirikkum thanga petti' (smiling boxes of gold), symbolizing their preciousness and pure joy.

Metaphor (Rupakam)

“Andha jeevanodu paasam ennum virundhu vandhadhu”

Bonding and deep emotional warmth are described as 'paasam ennum virundhu' (a feast called affection), framing family love as nourishing spiritual food.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Kollimalai saaral amma”

The refrain 'amma' at the end of alternating lines creates a rhythmic storytelling cadence characteristic of folk ballads.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kollimalai saaral amma / Kuliradikkum boomiyamma”

Matching initial consonant sounds in Tamil verse structure (e.g., 'Kollimalai' and 'Kuliradikkum').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from the 1972 Tamil film 'Jakkamma' features evocative lyrics by Kannadasan, who frequently used animal fables and nature motifs to allegorize human emotions, moral choices, and tragic destinies. Music director S. M. Subbaiah Naidu composed the folk-inspired score.

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