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Isaimozhi
Malaikkallan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

O Amma O Ayya

From Malaikkallan · 1954

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singer
Periyanayagi
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Malaikkallan
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
18 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oo….ooo….oo….ho….oo….
Oo….ammae…oo….aiyae….oo….saami
Masiyaa vaelaikellam
Marunthirukku paarunga
Masiyaa masiyaa
Masiyaa vaelaikellam
Marunthirukku paarunga
Manam polae vaangi paaththa puriyunga
Manam polae vaangi paaththa puriyunga
Vaaichchaalum vaachchathunga
Vasiya marunthunga
Vaaichchaalum vaachchathunga
Vasiya marunthunga
Valiyoda ponaalum vanthu serunga
Valiyoda ponaalum vanthu serunga
Vanangaatha aampullaiyum
Thathuginaththom poduvaanga
Vanangaatha aampullaiyum
Thathuginaththom poduvaanga
Masiyaa vaelaikellam
Marunthirukku paarunga
Manam polae vaangi paaththa puriyunga
Sondha naatilae soru kidaikkaamal
Sondha naatilae soru kidaikkaamal
Sonthu kidappathu edhanaalae
Paazhum panakaasum paakka mudiyumaa
Padhungi vittathu athanaalae….
Paazhum panakaasum paakka mudiyumaa
Padhungi vittathu athanaalae….
Naatinilae pala katchigal vanthu
Aattam poduvathu edhanaalae
Naatinilae pala katchigal vanthu
Aattam poduvathu edhanaalae
Koottathilae thannai vilambaram seithida
Kurukku vazhiyaagum adhanaale
Koottathilae thannai vilambaram seithida
Kurukku vazhiyaagum adhanaale
Kadavul illaiyena kandapadi pesi
Kaththugindraarae edhanaale
Kadavul illaiyena kandapadi pesi
Kaththugindraarae edhanaale
Kaalam kaalamaai kaaththirunthum
Avar kaatchi kodukkavillae athanaalae
Kaalam kaalamaai kaaththirunthum
Avar kaatchi kodukkavillae athanaalae
Ulagam eppadi ponaalenna thillaalae
Ulagam eppadi ponaalenna thillaalae
Yaelae maama thilaalae
Yaelo maama thilaalae
Yaelaelangadi thilaalae
Yaelolangadi thilaalae
Uzhaichchi nallaa paadupaaduvom thillaalae
Uzhaichchi nallaa paadupaaduvom thillaalae
Rendu perum paadupattaa thillaalae
Rendu perum paadupattaa thillaalae
Yaelae maama thilaalae
Yaelo maama thilaalae
Yaelaelangadi thilaalae
Yaelolangadi thilaalae
Eppadiyum vaayiru rompum thillaalae….
Eppadiyum vaayiru rompum thillaalae….
Ulagam eppadi ponaalenna thillaalae
Uzhaichchi nallaa paadupaaduvom thillaalae
Oh... oho... oh... ho... oh!
Oh lady... oh sir... oh master!
For every stubborn, impossible trouble,
Look, here is the cure!
Stubborn, so stubborn!
For every stubborn, impossible trouble,
Look, here is the cure!
Buy it and try it for yourself, you will understand!
Buy it and try it for yourself, you will understand!
What great fortune you've found!
It's a potion of irresistible charm!
What great fortune you've found!
It's a potion of irresistible charm!
Even someone passing by on the street will come to you!
Even someone passing by on the street will come to you!
And even stubborn men who bow to no one
Will dance to your lively beat!
And even stubborn men who bow to no one
Will dance to your lively beat!
For every stubborn, impossible trouble,
Look, here is the cure!
Buy it and try it for yourself, you will understand!
In their own homeland, without getting food,
In their own homeland, without getting food,
Why do people lie around exhausted?
Because that wretched money cannot be seen,
It has gone into hiding, that is why!
Because that wretched money cannot be seen,
It has gone into hiding, that is why!
In our country, why do so many parties arise
And make such a noisy fuss?
In our country, why do so many parties arise
And make such a noisy fuss?
To advertise themselves in the crowd,
It's a clever shortcut, that is why!
To advertise themselves in the crowd,
It's a clever shortcut, that is why!
Talking recklessly that there is no God,
Why are they shouting aloud?
Talking recklessly that there is no God,
Why are they shouting aloud?
Even after waiting through the ages,
He never showed Himself, that is why!
Even after waiting through the ages,
He never showed Himself, that is why!
No matter which way the world goes, thillale!
No matter which way the world goes, thillale!
Hey uncle, thillale!
Hey uncle, thillale!
Hey my girl, thillale!
Hey my girl, thillale!
Let us work hard and labor well, thillale!
Let us work hard and labor well, thillale!
If the two of us toil together, thillale,
If the two of us toil together, thillale,
Hey uncle, thillale!
Hey uncle, thillale!
Hey my girl, thillale!
Hey my girl, thillale!
Our bellies will surely be filled, thillale!
Our bellies will surely be filled, thillale!
No matter which way the world goes, thillale!
Let us work hard and labor well, thillale!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song opens as a street vendor's pitch promoting a magical potion (vasiya marunthu) that promises to tame even the most stubborn individuals. As the narrative progresses, it shifts from playful street banter to sharp socio-political satire, posing rhetorical questions about poverty, hidden wealth, self-serving politicians seeking quick fame, and public debates surrounding faith and atheism. Ultimately, the song arrives at a grounded, pragmatic resolution: regardless of political chaos or philosophical arguments in society, honest hard work and self-reliance remain the only reliable means to feed oneself and sustain life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Masiyaa / Vasiya

The second consonant sound 'si' creates a rhythmic harmony between Masiyaa and Vasiya.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

Sondha naatilae soru kidaikkaamal

Repetition of the initial 'S' sound ('Sondha' and 'soru') enhances the poetic cadence.

Rhetorical Question

Naatinilae pala katchigal vanthu / Aattam poduvathu edhanaalae

Posing 'why is it so?' to critique opportunistic political parties rather than seeking an actual answer.

Refrain / Folk Chorus

Yaelae maama thilaalae / Yaelo maama thilaalae

Folk rhythmic vocables used to maintain tempo, typical of Tamil street singer or working-class songs.

Did you know?

Trivia

Malaikkallan (1954), starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi, was a massive commercial success that was remade in five other Indian languages, including the Hindi hit 'Azad' starring Dilip Kumar. The music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu.

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