Meene Meene Meenamma
From En Kadamai · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- En Kadamai1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Meenae meenae meenammaa | Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma |
| Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa | Who is it that touched your eyes? |
| Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu | Who came on his own, embraced you, |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Female | |
| Meenae meenae meenammaa | Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma |
| Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa | Who is it that touched your eyes? |
| Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu | Who came on his own, embraced you, |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Female | |
| Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa… | Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa… |
| Oho…oo…oo…oho… | Oho…oo…oo…oho… |
| Female | |
| En paattukku oruvan isaiyaanaan | One man became the music to my song |
| Paarvaikku oruvan silaiyaanaan | One man became a statue to my gaze |
| En paattukku oruvan isaiyaanaan | One man became the music to my song |
| Paarvaikku oruvan silaiyaanaan | One man became a statue to my gaze |
| Paechukku oruvan mozhiyaanaan | One man became the language for my speech |
| Penmaikku avanae thunaiyaanaan | He alone became the companion to my womanhood |
| En thottathil kaaval avanammaa | He is the guard of my garden, dear girl |
| Solladi solladi yaarammaa | Tell me, tell me, who is he? |
| Female | |
| Meenae meenae meenammaa | Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma |
| Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa | Who is it that touched your eyes? |
| Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu | Who came on his own, embraced you, |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Female | |
| Meenae meenae meenammaa | Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma |
| Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa | Who is it that touched your eyes? |
| Female | |
| Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa… | Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa… |
| Oho…oo…oo…oho… | Oho…oo…oo…oho… |
| Female | |
| Avan aadavaithaan ennai thaeraaga | He made me sway like a temple chariot |
| Odavaithaan ennai neeraaga | He made me run like flowing water |
| Avan aadavaithaan ennai thaeraaga | He made me sway like a temple chariot |
| Odavaithaan ennai neeraaga | He made me run like flowing water |
| Soodi vittaanae malraaga | He wore me like a delicate flower |
| Thulla vaithaanae maanaaga | He made me leap like a joyful deer |
| Thookkam varaamal thaduthavan avanammaa | He is the one who kept sleep away from me, dear girl |
| Solladi solladi yaarammaa | Tell me, tell me, who is he? |
| Female | |
| Meenae meenae meenammaa | Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma |
| Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa | Who is it that touched your eyes? |
| Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu | Who came on his own, embraced you, |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Female | |
| Meenae meenae meenammaa | Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma |
| Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa | Who is it that touched your eyes? |
| Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu | Who came on his own, embraced you, |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
| Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa | And whispered the news to you? |
மீனே மீனே மீனம்மா
விழியைத் தொட்டது யாரம்மா
தானே வந்து தழுவிக் கொண்டு
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா....
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா.....
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Who came on his own, embraced you,
And whispered the news to you?
And whispered the news to you?
மீனே மீனே மீனம்மா
விழியைத் தொட்டது யாரம்மா
தானே வந்து தழுவிக் கொண்டு
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா....
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா.....
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Who came on his own, embraced you,
And whispered the news to you?
And whispered the news to you?
ஆஹா.....ஆஹா.....ஆ.....ஆ....
ஓஹோ.....ஓ....ஓ...ஓஹோ.....
Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa…
Oho…oo…oo…oho…
என் பாட்டுக்கு ஒருவன் இசையானான்
பார்வைக்கு ஒருவன் சிலையானான்
என் பாட்டுக்கு ஒருவன் இசையானான்
பார்வைக்கு ஒருவன் சிலையானான்
பேச்சுக்கு ஒருவன் மொழியானான்
பெண்மைக்கு அவனே துணையானான்
என் தோட்டத்தில் காவல் அவனம்மா
சொல்லடி சொல்லடி யாரம்மா
One man became the music to my song
One man became a statue to my gaze
One man became the music to my song
One man became a statue to my gaze
One man became the language for my speech
He alone became the companion to my womanhood
He is the guard of my garden, dear girl
Tell me, tell me, who is he?
மீனே மீனே மீனம்மா
விழியைத் தொட்டது யாரம்மா
தானே வந்து தழுவிக் கொண்டு
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா....
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா.....
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Who came on his own, embraced you,
And whispered the news to you?
And whispered the news to you?
மீனே மீனே மீனம்மா
விழியைத் தொட்டது யாரம்மா
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Who is it that touched your eyes?
ஆஹா.....ஆஹா.....ஆ.....ஆ....
ஓஹோ.....ஓ....ஓ...ஓஹோ.....
Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa…
Oho…oo…oo…oho…
அவன் ஆடவைத்தான் என்னை தேராக
ஓட வைத்தான் என்னை நீராக
அவன் ஆடவைத்தான் என்னை தேராக
ஓட வைத்தான் என்னை நீராக
சூடி விட்டானே மலராக
துள்ள வைத்தானே மானாக
தூக்கம் வராமல் தடுத்தவன் அவனம்மா
சொல்லடி சொல்லடி யாரம்மா
He made me sway like a temple chariot
He made me run like flowing water
He made me sway like a temple chariot
He made me run like flowing water
He wore me like a delicate flower
He made me leap like a joyful deer
He is the one who kept sleep away from me, dear girl
Tell me, tell me, who is he?
மீனே மீனே மீனம்மா
விழியைத் தொட்டது யாரம்மா
தானே வந்து தழுவிக் கொண்டு
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா....
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா.....
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Who came on his own, embraced you,
And whispered the news to you?
And whispered the news to you?
மீனே மீனே மீனம்மா
விழியைத் தொட்டது யாரம்மா
தானே வந்து தழுவிக் கொண்டு
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா....
சங்கதி சொன்னது யாரம்மா.....
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Who came on his own, embraced you,
And whispered the news to you?
And whispered the news to you?
Meenae meenae meenammaa
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu
Who came on his own, embraced you,
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Meenae meenae meenammaa
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu
Who came on his own, embraced you,
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa…
Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa…
Oho…oo…oo…oho…
Oho…oo…oo…oho…
En paattukku oruvan isaiyaanaan
One man became the music to my song
Paarvaikku oruvan silaiyaanaan
One man became a statue to my gaze
En paattukku oruvan isaiyaanaan
One man became the music to my song
Paarvaikku oruvan silaiyaanaan
One man became a statue to my gaze
Paechukku oruvan mozhiyaanaan
One man became the language for my speech
Penmaikku avanae thunaiyaanaan
He alone became the companion to my womanhood
En thottathil kaaval avanammaa
He is the guard of my garden, dear girl
Solladi solladi yaarammaa
Tell me, tell me, who is he?
Meenae meenae meenammaa
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu
Who came on his own, embraced you,
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Meenae meenae meenammaa
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa…
Aahaa…aahaa…aa…aa…
Oho…oo…oo…oho…
Oho…oo…oo…oho…
Avan aadavaithaan ennai thaeraaga
He made me sway like a temple chariot
Odavaithaan ennai neeraaga
He made me run like flowing water
Avan aadavaithaan ennai thaeraaga
He made me sway like a temple chariot
Odavaithaan ennai neeraaga
He made me run like flowing water
Soodi vittaanae malraaga
He wore me like a delicate flower
Thulla vaithaanae maanaaga
He made me leap like a joyful deer
Thookkam varaamal thaduthavan avanammaa
He is the one who kept sleep away from me, dear girl
Solladi solladi yaarammaa
Tell me, tell me, who is he?
Meenae meenae meenammaa
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu
Who came on his own, embraced you,
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Meenae meenae meenammaa
Oh fish-like beauty, dear Meenamma
Vizhiyai thottadhu yaarammaa
Who is it that touched your eyes?
Thaanae vandhu thazhuvi kondu
Who came on his own, embraced you,
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Sangadhi sonnadhu yaarammaa
And whispered the news to you?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic romantic Tamil song expresses the euphoric feelings of a young woman who has fallen deeply in love. Addressing a confidante or her fish-eyed friend named Meenamma, the lyrics poetically describe how her lover entered her life, transformed her world, and captivated her senses completely. He becomes the harmony to her song, the language to her words, and her sole protector and companion. In the second stanza, the heroine uses vibrant nature imagery to depict the physical and emotional sensation of her love—how he makes her sway like a chariot, flow like water, bounce like a deer, and stay awake with romantic longing. Through lyrical metaphors, Kannadasan captures the innocent wonder, passion, and joyful surrender of a woman celebrating her beloved.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை/உருவகம்)
“En paattukku oruvan isaiyaanaan”
The lover is metaphorically described as the music to her song (paattukku isai), language to her speech (paechukku mozhi), and guard of her garden (thottathil kaaval).
Upamai / Simile (உவமை)
“Avan aadavaithaan ennai thaeraaga”
Similes comparing her movements and joy to a chariot (thaeraaga), water (neeraaga), flower (malraaga), and deer (maanaaga).
Monai / Alliteration (மோனை)
“Soodi vittaanae malraaga / Thulla vaithaanae maanaaga”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Soodi' and 'Thulla' across poetic lines creating rhythm.
Esubhu / Rhyme (இயைபு)
“Paechukku oruvan mozhiyaanaan / Penmaikku avanae thunaiyaanaan”
End rhymes using suffix '-aanaan' ('isaiyaanaan', 'silaiyaanaan', 'mozhiyaanaan', 'thunaiyaanaan') creating a melodic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
En Kadamai (1964) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi in lead roles. The film's music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with playback singing provided by P. Susheela and lyricist Kannadasan weaving subtle poetic metaphors characteristic of 1960s Tamil cinema.
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