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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mama Naan Unakku

From Viswanath · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Viswanath1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mama naan unakku machini illaUncle, I am not your sister-in-law
Anne naan unakku thangachi illaBrother, I am not your younger sister
Thambi naan unakku akka illaYounger brother, I am not your elder sister
Thatha naan unakku pethiyum illaGrandfather, I am not your granddaughter
Female
Selathula naan chinnakiliIn Salem, I am a little bird
Chennaiyila naan annakiliIn Chennai, I am a swan bird
Kovaiyila naan pachakiliIn Coimbatore, I am a green parrot
Ootyla un ichakkiliIn Ooty, I am your kiss-bird
Female
Pani vaada kaathu oruThe cold northern wind is a
Pollaatha pokkiriWicked rogue
Angange kuthuthayyaaIt pokes here and there
Gundoosi maathiriLike a pin
Female
Unai vittaa naan pothaOther than you, for me to wrap around
Verethu kambaliIs there any other blanket?
Vayasu pen sonnaakkaaWhen a young woman asks
Ok nu sammathiGive your consent saying OK
Female
Boomi poosai senjuputtuPerform the land worship ritual
Paalum pazhamum vachukittuKeep milk and fruit ready
Enna thottu veedu kattuTouch me and build a home
Kottum paaru nottu kattuWatch stacks of cash pour in
Vittaachu vetkam vanthaachu pakkamShyness is shed, I have come close
Thottaachu naanum veluthu vaanguNow that you touched me, I will rock it
Female
Mama naan unakku machini illaUncle, I am not your sister-in-law
Anne naan unakku thangachi illaBrother, I am not your younger sister
Thambi naan unakku akka illaYounger brother, I am not your elder sister
Thatha naan unakku pethiyum illaGrandfather, I am not your granddaughter
Female
Manappaara maadirukkuThere is a Manapparai bull
Vandiyila poottanumIt needs to be hitched to a cart
Thanjavur thavilirukkuThere is a Thanjavur thavil drum
Vaasichi kaattanumIt needs to be played and shown
Female
Hey dhindukkal vethalaikkuHey, for the Dindigul betel leaf
Sunnaambu poosanumEdible lime must be smeared
Thaambulam pottukittuHaving chewed the betel leaf
Thaniyaaga pesanumWe must speak in private
Female
Poga poga soodu yerumAs time goes on, heat rises
Soodu yera moodu maarumAs heat rises, the mood changes
Moodu maara sodi serumAs the mood changes, the couple unites
Sodi sera sorgalogamAs the couple unites, it becomes heaven
Achaaramellaam vachaachu ipoThe advance booking token is placed now
Kacheri neeyum nadathu mamaNow conduct the concert, my uncle!
Female
Mama naan unakku machini illaUncle, I am not your sister-in-law
Anne naan unakku thangachi illaBrother, I am not your younger sister
Thambi naan unakku akka illaYounger brother, I am not your elder sister
Thatha naan unakku pethiyum illaGrandfather, I am not your granddaughter
Female
Selathula naan chinnakiliIn Salem, I am a little bird
Chennaiyila naan annakiliIn Chennai, I am a swan bird
Kovaiyila naan pachakiliIn Coimbatore, I am a green parrot
Ootyla un ichakkiliIn Ooty, I am your kiss-bird

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Mama Naan Unakku Machini Illa' is a playful and romantic folk-style track from the 1996 movie Viswanath, composed by Deva and written by Vaali. In the song, the female protagonist playfully rejects traditional non-romantic family relations (such as sister or granddaughter) to assert her position purely as the hero's lover. Through lively regional metaphors across Tamil Nadu—referencing Salem, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ooty, Manapparai, Thanjavur, and Dindigul—she invites her partner to embrace intimacy and marriage without hesitation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Selathula naan chinnakili / Chennaiyila naan annakili

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines like Selathula, Chennaiyila, Kovaiyila.

Upamai (Simile)

Angange kuthuthayyaa / Gundoosi maathiri

Comparing the sharp prick of the biting winter wind to a pin poke ('Gundoosi maathiri').

Eydhugai (Second-letter Rhyme / Antadhi flow)

Poga poga soodu yerum / Soodu yera moodu maarum / Moodu maara sodi serum

Sequential chain-linking of ending phrases to start the next line ('soodu yerum -> Soodu yera -> moodu maarum -> Moodu maara').

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Vaali cleverly incorporated famous geographic specialties of Tamil Nadu towns into courtship metaphors: Manapparai for sturdy bulls, Thanjavur for musical thavil drums, and Dindigul for betel leaves.

Keep listening

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