Oi Mama
From Pen Jenmam · 1977
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pen Jenmam1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| …………………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Hoi mama oru vaarama | Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week, |
| Naan irunthenae un mogama | I have been enthralled in yearning for you. |
| Medhuva sirichennae ethukku | Why did I smile softly at you? |
| Theriyum unakku | You know why! |
| Female | |
| Hoi mama oru vaarama hoi | Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week, hey! |
| Naan irunthenae un mogama | I have been enthralled in yearning for you. |
| Medhuva sirichennae ethukku | Why did I smile softly at you? |
| Theriyum unakku | You know why! |
| Female | |
| Kazhani mettil naaththaaduthu | On the elevated field ridge, young crops sway, |
| Naathu mela kaaththaduthu | The breeze blows gently over the saplings. |
| Kazhani mettil naaththaaduthu | On the elevated field ridge, young crops sway, |
| Naathu mela kaaththaduthu | The breeze blows gently over the saplings. |
| Female | |
| Aaththaadi en nenjilae | Oh my goodness! Deep inside my heart, |
| Aasaigal koththaadudhu | Desires are dancing in clusters. |
| Vaa maama onnu thaa maama | Come my cousin, give me one (kiss), my cousin, |
| Ennai thaniyae vidalaama | Is it fair to leave me all alone? |
| Male | |
| Hei baama oiyaarama | Hey Bhama, stylish and graceful, |
| Unnai paarthenae aaththorama | I saw you near the riverbank. |
| Sirichaa puriyadhaa ethukku | If I smile, don't you understand why? |
| Theriyum enakku | I know why! |
| Female | |
| …………………………. | ... |
| Male | |
| Ottu potta maambalamae | Oh sweet grafted mango, |
| Oththakallu mookuthiyae | Oh beauty wearing a single-gem nose stud, |
| Ottu potta maambalamae | Oh sweet grafted mango, |
| Oththakallu mookuthiyae | Oh beauty wearing a single-gem nose stud, |
| Male | |
| Aasai manavaasalilae | At the threshold of my heart's desires, |
| Aadura maavilaiyae | Like the decorative mango leaf swaying, |
| Nenachaalum unnai anaichaalum | No matter how much I think of you or hold you close, |
| Andha nenappu adangalaiyae | That deep yearning never subsides! |
| Female | |
| Hoi mama oru vaarama hoi | Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week, hey! |
| Naan irunthenae un mogama | I have been enthralled in yearning for you. |
| Male :Sirichaa puriyadhaa ethukku | Male: If I smile, don't you understand why? |
| Female :TheriyumMale :Enakku | Female: You know... Male: I know! |
...................
...
ஓய் மாமா
ஒரு வாரமா ஹாய்
இருந்தேனே உன் மோகமா
மெதுவா சிரிச்சேனே
எதுக்கு தெரியும் உனக்கு
Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week,
I have been enthralled in yearning for you.
Why did I smile softly at you?
You know why!
ஓய் மாமா
ஒரு வாரமா ஹாய்
இருந்தேனே உன் மோகமா
மெதுவா சிரிச்சேனே
எதுக்கு தெரியும் உனக்கு
Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week, hey!
I have been enthralled in yearning for you.
Why did I smile softly at you?
You know why!
கழனி மேட்டில் நாத்தாடுது
நாத்து மேலே காத்தாடுது
கழனி மேட்டில் நாத்தாடுது
நாத்து மேலே காத்தாடுது
On the elevated field ridge, young crops sway,
The breeze blows gently over the saplings.
On the elevated field ridge, young crops sway,
The breeze blows gently over the saplings.
ஆத்தாடி என் நெஞ்சிலே
ஆசைகள் கூத்தாடுது
வா...மாமா ஒண்ணு தா மாமா
என்னை தனியே விடலாமா
Oh my goodness! Deep inside my heart,
Desires are dancing in clusters.
Come my cousin, give me one (kiss), my cousin,
Is it fair to leave me all alone?
ஹேய் பாமா ஒய்யாரமா
உன்னை பார்த்தேனே ஆத்தோரமா
சிரிச்சா புரியாதா
எதுக்கு தெரியும் எனக்கு
Hey Bhama, stylish and graceful,
I saw you near the riverbank.
If I smile, don't you understand why?
I know why!
........................
...
ஒட்டு போட்ட மாம்பழமே
ஒத்தக்கல்லு மூக்குத்தியே
ஒட்டு போட்ட மாம்பழமே
ஒத்தக்கல்லு மூக்குத்தியே
Oh sweet grafted mango,
Oh beauty wearing a single-gem nose stud,
Oh sweet grafted mango,
Oh beauty wearing a single-gem nose stud,
ஆசை மன வாசலிலே
ஆடுற மாவிலையே
நெனச்சாலும் உன்னை அணைச்சாலும்
அந்த நெனப்பு அடங்கலையே ஹே
At the threshold of my heart's desires,
Like the decorative mango leaf swaying,
No matter how much I think of you or hold you close,
That deep yearning never subsides!
ஓய் மாமா
ஒரு வாரமா ஹாய்
இருந்தேனே உன் மோகமா
சிரிச்சா புரியாதா
எதுக்கு
தெரியும்
எனக்கு
Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week, hey!
I have been enthralled in yearning for you.
Male: If I smile, don't you understand why?
Female: You know... Male: I know!
ஆண் மற்றும் பெண் :
................
……………………..
...
Hoi mama oru vaarama
Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week,
Naan irunthenae un mogama
I have been enthralled in yearning for you.
Medhuva sirichennae ethukku
Why did I smile softly at you?
Theriyum unakku
You know why!
Hoi mama oru vaarama hoi
Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week, hey!
Naan irunthenae un mogama
I have been enthralled in yearning for you.
Medhuva sirichennae ethukku
Why did I smile softly at you?
Theriyum unakku
You know why!
Kazhani mettil naaththaaduthu
On the elevated field ridge, young crops sway,
Naathu mela kaaththaduthu
The breeze blows gently over the saplings.
Kazhani mettil naaththaaduthu
On the elevated field ridge, young crops sway,
Naathu mela kaaththaduthu
The breeze blows gently over the saplings.
Aaththaadi en nenjilae
Oh my goodness! Deep inside my heart,
Aasaigal koththaadudhu
Desires are dancing in clusters.
Vaa maama onnu thaa maama
Come my cousin, give me one (kiss), my cousin,
Ennai thaniyae vidalaama
Is it fair to leave me all alone?
Hei baama oiyaarama
Hey Bhama, stylish and graceful,
Unnai paarthenae aaththorama
I saw you near the riverbank.
Sirichaa puriyadhaa ethukku
If I smile, don't you understand why?
Theriyum enakku
I know why!
………………………….
...
Ottu potta maambalamae
Oh sweet grafted mango,
Oththakallu mookuthiyae
Oh beauty wearing a single-gem nose stud,
Ottu potta maambalamae
Oh sweet grafted mango,
Oththakallu mookuthiyae
Oh beauty wearing a single-gem nose stud,
Aasai manavaasalilae
At the threshold of my heart's desires,
Aadura maavilaiyae
Like the decorative mango leaf swaying,
Nenachaalum unnai anaichaalum
No matter how much I think of you or hold you close,
Andha nenappu adangalaiyae
That deep yearning never subsides!
Hoi mama oru vaarama hoi
Hey my dear cousin, for a whole week, hey!
Naan irunthenae un mogama
I have been enthralled in yearning for you.
Male :Sirichaa puriyadhaa ethukku
Male: If I smile, don't you understand why?
Female :TheriyumMale :Enakku
Female: You know... Male: I know!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a lively and romantic rural folk duet from the film 'Pen Jenmam' (1977), written by lyricist Vaali. The heroine expresses her sweet torment and week-long longing for her beloved cousin (mama). She uses vivid imagery of the lush countryside—swaying paddy saplings and gentle breezes—to describe how feelings and desires are blooming and dancing in her heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kazhani mettil naaththaaduthu / Naathu mela kaaththaduthu”
The line endings use repeating rhythmic suffixes 'naaththaaduthu', 'kaaththaduthu', and 'koththaadudhu' to create a catchy musical cadence.
Uvamai (Metaphor)
“Ottu potta maambalamae / Oththakallu mookuthiyae”
The male character affectionately compares his lover to a sweet 'grafted mango' (Ottu potta maambalamae) and a decorative mango leaf swaying at the door of his heart.
Ethukai (Second-letter Agreement)
“Ottu potta maambalamae / Oththakallu mookuthiyae”
The second consonant sound matches across lines, such as 'Ottu' and 'Oththa', adding melodic consistency characteristic of Tamil lyrics.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pen Jenmam (1977) features classic rural Tamil romantic poetry by Vaali, who frequently utilized authentic village metaphors like 'naathu' (crops) and 'maavilai' (mango leaf decorations) to express romantic intimate emotions in Tamil cinema.
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