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Anjala album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nakkalu Maama

From Anjala · 2016

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Nanda, Santosh Hariharan, Pooja AV, Sai
Music director
Gopi Sundar
Movie name
Anjala
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
10 Dec 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nakkalu mama nakkalu mama
Nakkalu mama nakkalu mama
Kindalu mama kindalu mama
Kindalu mama keli mama
Emmaa pulla embuttu pulla
Inga vanthu naan paaththaen
Elizabeth raniyoda
Kadhal kathaiyi naan kettaen
Emmaa peru eththanai ooru
Ellorukkum dhosth-u yaaru
Yakka yakka edhira paaru
Appudiyaa appudiyaa
Appudiyaa appudiyaa
Jaathi matham eppothumae
Kettathum ila
Saththiyama unna pola
Yaarum illa
Ooru ellaam un per sollum
Ooru ellaam un per sollum
Unna paaththu udhadungallum
Anjala anjala anjala anjala
Anjala anjala anjala anjala anjala
Thoppaiya koraikka neeyum
Aasaithaan patta
Odaama appam vaangi
Thinnaethaan ketta
Adiyae kuthiraivaalu
Kombu mookki kona kanni
Kodiyae nenjukkulla
Nandri sonnaen unnai enni
Ayiththa ayiththa edhukku
Unakku intha velai
Nee achcham vittu machcham
Thottaa kedaikkum maalai
Sornthu varum neraththula
Annamadi idhu thaandaa paaru
Yaanai vedi vaana vedi
Naattu vedi vaangi vanthu podu
Anjala anjala anjala anjala
Anjala anjala anjala anjala anjala
Sarcastic uncle, teasing uncle!
Sarcastic uncle, teasing uncle!
Mocking uncle, teasing uncle!
Teasing uncle, playful uncle!
Oh girl, look at all the people
I came here and saw!
Even Queen Elizabeth's
love story, I have heard right here!
So many people, from so many towns!
Who is a friend to everyone?
Sister, sister, look right in front of you!
Is that so? Is that so?
Is that so? Is that so?
Caste or religion, never once
has it ever asked about!
I swear, there is no one
quite like you!
The whole town speaks your name,
the whole town speaks your name,
looking at you, every lip calls out:
Anjala, Anjala, Anjala, Anjala!
Anjala, Anjala, Anjala, Anjala, Anjala!
You wished so hard
to reduce your belly,
yet without jogging, you bought fried snacks
and ruined it by eating away!
Hey you, ponytail girl,
with the sharp nose and playful glance,
slender girl, deep inside my heart
I thanked you with all my thoughts!
Old granny, old granny, why on earth
do you take on this hassle?
Drop your hesitation and make your move,
and you will get the wedding garland!
Whenever you arrive tired and worn out,
look here, it serves food with pure love!
Elephant crackers, soaring sky-bursts,
buy country firecrackers and set them off!
Anjala, Anjala, Anjala, Anjala!
Anjala, Anjala, Anjala, Anjala, Anjala!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The title track 'Anjala' from the 2016 Tamil movie is a vibrant, energetic folk song that pays tribute to 'Anjala', a iconic century-old tea shop that serves as the heart and soul of a local community. Through playful banter, humorous teasing, and affectionate lines, the lyrics highlight how the tea shop brings people together regardless of caste, creed, or background, acting as a refuge where tired souls find warmth, food, and companionship. Written by the acclaimed lyricist Na. Muthukumar, the song captures the everyday conversations, local humor, and deep gratitude the villagers feel for this beloved landmark. The energetic beat composed by Gopi Sunder and the chorus singing add a festive atmosphere, celebrating unity, simple pleasures, and neighborhood nostalgia.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Jaathi matham eppothumae Kettathum ila

The tea shop 'Anjala' is personified as a compassionate, welcoming figure who listens to everyone and unites the village without discrimination.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Anjala anjala anjala anjala

The rhythmic repetition of the name 'Anjala' emphasizes deep affection and festive celebration of the central subject.

Rhyme Scheme / Repetitive Cadence

Yaanai vedi vaana vedi Naattu vedi vaangi vanthu podu

Use of rhyming phrase endings like 'yaanai vedi', 'vaana vedi', and 'naattu vedi' creates an energetic auditory rhythm characteristic of Tamil folk music.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Anjala' is uniquely centered around a tea shop as its primary character. The tea stall set was specially constructed in Madurai to reflect a vintage shop with over 100 years of history, symbolizing social harmony in rural Tamil Nadu.

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