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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mamara Anile

From Dharma Chakkaram · 1997

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singer
Sujatha
Music director
Deva
Details
Dharma Chakkaram1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maamara anilae maamara anilaeMango tree squirrel, mango tree squirrel,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
En maman vedhaichchaSown by my uncle,
Avarai sediyae avagala paaththiyaaBroad bean plant, have you seen him?
Female
Maamara anilae maamara anilaeMango tree squirrel, mango tree squirrel,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
En maman vedhaichchaSown by my uncle,
Avarai sediyae avagala paaththiyaaBroad bean plant, have you seen him?
Female
Panchaayaththu aala maramaeBanyan tree of the village council,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Panjaa vedikkum paruththi poovaeCotton flower bursting into fluff,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Antha panjula neinchaWoven from that cotton,
Bharatha kodiyaeFlag of India,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Maamara anilae maamara anilaeMango tree squirrel, mango tree squirrel,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
En maman vedhaichchaSown by my uncle,
Avarai sediyae avagala paaththiyaaBroad bean plant, have you seen him?
Female
Maruthaani naan araichchuI ground the henna leaves,
Maman perai poosi vachchenAnd applied my uncle's name,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Maasaani ammanukkuTo Goddess Masani Amman,
Nesaththula poosai vachchenI offered a prayer with devotion,
Female
Pattu vetti madippukkullaeInside the folds of his silk veshti,
En manasai madichchu kattiHe bound my heart in folds,
Kolla kaattu pakkam ponaThe one who went towards the backyard field,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Sokka thanga thaali seiyyaTo craft a pure gold wedding thali,
Koorai pattu selai neiyaTo weave a silk bridal saree,
Down-nu pakkam poga venumHe needs to travel to the town,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Thenam ettupatti saathisanamEvery day, relatives from eight villages,
Kattupattu kooda varumWill dutifully accompany him,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Maamara anilae maamara anilaeMango tree squirrel, mango tree squirrel,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
En maman vedhaichchaSown by my uncle,
Avarai sediyae avagala paaththiyaaBroad bean plant, have you seen him?
Female
Aaththula neenthum ayira meenaeAyira fish swimming in the river,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Antha ayira menae aagaatha ayiraeOh Ayira fish, incomparable Ayira fish,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Dhinam mannula manakkumFragrant every day in the soil,
Manjal kezhangaeTurmeric root,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Maamara anilae maamara anilaeMango tree squirrel, mango tree squirrel,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
En maman vedhaichchaSown by my uncle,
Avarai sediyae avagala paaththiyaaBroad bean plant, have you seen him?
Female
Machchaanum naaththu kattaAs my cousin bundles the saplings,
Naan orasi saeththu kattaI brush against him to tie them in the mud,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Rajaththi kooda varaTo walk beside his princess,
Raja nadai pottuvarumHe who strides like a king,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Pachchai vella paaga polaLike green sugarcane syrup,
Pachcharasi maavai polaLike raw rice flour,
Otti uravaada poraHe who comes to bond intimately,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Vetkkappattu naanum thullaAs I leap with shyness,
Kitta vanthu saerththu allaHe approaches to embrace me close,
Kattil onnu seiyya poraHe who goes to craft a wooden bed,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Avar neththippatta vervaiyilumEven in the sweat on his forehead,
Aththa maga per irukkumMy name as his cousin is etched,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Maamara anilae maamara anilaeMango tree squirrel, mango tree squirrel,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
En maman vedhaichchaSown by my uncle,
Avarai sediyae avagala paaththiyaaBroad bean plant, have you seen him?
Female
Kaattula meyum thaai pasu maadaeMother cow grazing in the field,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Nee kodukkira paal polPure like the milk you yield,
Manasu veluththa avagala paaththiyaaThe one with a pure heart, have you seen him?
Magaraasaa nadakkira vaaikkaa varappaeCanal ridge where the king walks,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
Female
Maamara anilae maamara anilaeMango tree squirrel, mango tree squirrel,
Avagala paaththiyaaHave you seen him?
En maman vedhaichchaSown by my uncle,
Avarai sediyae avagala paaththiyaaBroad bean plant, have you seen him?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Maamara Anilae is a vibrant, traditional Tamil folk song from the 1997 movie Dharma Chakkaram, composed by Deva and sung by Sujatha Rangarajan. The song portrays the romantic yearning and deep devotion of a village maiden searching for her beloved maternal uncle/cousin (maman). Addressing elements of rural nature—squirrels, banyan trees, cotton blooms, river fish, cows, and field ridges—she continuously asks if they have seen her groom-to-be. The lyrics beautifully weave together traditional Tamil customs, wedding preparations (henna, silk sarees, gold thali), agricultural routines, and regional deities like Masani Amman. It captures the charm of rural romance, highlighting the pure bond and teasing intimacy shared between cross-cousins in village culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe / Personification

Maamara anilae maamara anilae

Addressing non-human elements of nature directly (squirrels, cotton flowers, banyan trees, fish, cows) as if they are conscious listeners capable of replying.

Refrain / Anaphora

Avagala paaththiyaa

The repeated question 'Avagala paaththiyaa' (Have you seen him?) serves as a melodic refrain throughout the entire song.

Simile (Upama)

Nee kodukkira paal pol

Comparing the man's pure heart to fresh white milk ('Nee kodukkira paal pol / Manasu veluththa').

Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)

Pachchai vella paaga pola / Pachcharasi maavai pola

Repetition of initial consonants or vowels in Tamil poetry, such as 'Pachchai' and 'Pachcharasi'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Dharma Chakkaram (1997), starring Vijayakanth and Deepti Bhatnagar, featured a soundtrack composed by Deva with lyrics by director R. V. Udhayakumar. The track 'Maamara Anilae', beautifully rendered by Sujatha Rangarajan, became a popular folk-style hit in rural Tamil Nadu due to its authentic rustic imagery and lively beat.

Keep listening

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