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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sengamma Angamma JIl JIl

From Aaravalli · 1957

Lyricist
Villiputhan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, T. V. Rathinam
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Aaravalli1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sengammaa angammaa jil jil mangammaaSengamma, Angamma, cool and charming Mangamma!
Idhu sengammaa idhu angammaaThis is Sengamma, this is Angamma!
Idhu jil jil mangammaaThis is cool and charming Mangamma!
Idhaiyum athaiyum paaththu paaththuLooking at this and looking at that,
Ilikkaathae summaaDon't grin unnecessarily!
Idhaiyum athaiyum paaththu paaththuLooking at this and looking at that,
Ilikkaathae summaaDon't grin unnecessarily!
Female
Sengammaa angammaa jil jil mangammaaSengamma, Angamma, cool and charming Mangamma!
Male
Sarthaammaa sarthaammaa sarthammaa….Okay ma, okay ma, okay ma...
Female
Pazhaththai kanda vowvvaa polaeLike a bat that spotted a fruit,
Parakkaathae en rasaaDon't flutter around, my king!
Pazhaththai kanda vowvvaa polaeLike a bat that spotted a fruit,
Parakkaathae en rasaaDon't flutter around, my king!
Female
Panthayaminnaa pazhaiyathuyinnuJust because it is a contest, don't think lightly,
Ennividaathae lesaaThinking it is just an old matter.
Panthayaminnaa pazhaiyathuyinnuJust because it is a contest, don't think lightly,
Ennividaathae lesaaThinking it is just an old matter.
Female
Idhulae siranthava yaaru edhanaal osanthava kooruTell me who among these is the best and why she is superior!
Idhulae siranthava yaaru edhanaal osanthava kooruTell me who among these is the best and why she is superior!
Rendula onnu therinjaayingaeOnce one of the two options is known right here,
Rendula onnu therinjaayingaeOnce one of the two options is known right here,
Theerum thagaraaru idhu sengammaaThe dispute will come to an end; this is Sengamma!
Male :Ada sarthammaaMale: Oh, okay ma!
Female :Idhu angammaaFemale: This is Angamma!
Male :Ada sarthammaaMale: Oh, okay ma!
Female :Idhu jil jil mangammaaFemale: This is cool and charming Mangamma!
Male :Ada sarthammaaMale: Oh, okay ma!
Female :Idhu sengammaa angammaaFemale: This is Sengamma and Angamma!
Female
Sootcham purinju sonnaa kazhuththaiIf you understand the secret nuance and tell me,
Neettuven munnaalaeI will extend my neck in submission upfront!
Sootcham purinju sonnaa kazhuththaiIf you understand the secret nuance and tell me,
Neettuven munnaalaeI will extend my neck in submission upfront!
Female
Sorkkam ulagil irukkuthuHeaven exists right here in this world,
Adhai naan kaattuven pinnaaleAnd I will show it to you afterwards!
Sorkkam ulagil irukkuthuHeaven exists right here in this world,
Adhai naan kaattuven pinnaaleAnd I will show it to you afterwards!
Female
Adhirshtam unakku irukkaaIs good fortune on your side,
Avarukkuththaan adhu irukkaaOr is it on his side?
Adhirshtam unakku irukkaaIs good fortune on your side,
Avarukkuththaan adhu irukkaaOr is it on his side?
Female
Aaraainji oru mudivu pannaamaeWithout investigating and coming to a clear decision,
Aadaathae en kirukkaaDon't jump around excitedly, my foolish fellow!
Aaraainji oru mudivu pannaamaeWithout investigating and coming to a clear decision,
Aadaathae en kirukkaa…Don't jump around excitedly, my foolish fellow...
Male
Sarthaamma sarthaamma sarthaammaaOkay ma, okay ma, okay ma!
Sarthaamma sarthaamma sarthaammaaOkay ma, okay ma, okay ma!
Female
Idhu sengammaaThis is Sengamma!
Male :Ada sarthaammaaMale: Oh, okay ma!
Female :Idhu angammaaFemale: This is Angamma!
Male :Ada sarthaammaaMale: Oh, okay ma!
Female :Idhu jiljil mangammaaFemale: This is cool and charming Mangamma!
Female
Idhu sengammaa…idhu angammaaaThis is Sengamma... this is Angamma...
Idhu jil jil mangammaaThis is cool and charming Mangamma!
Idhaiyum adhaiyum paaththu paththuLooking at this and looking at that,
Ilikkaathae chummaaDon't grin unnecessarily!
Idhaiyum adhaiyum paaththu paththuLooking at this and looking at that,
Ilikkaathae chummaaDon't grin unnecessarily!
Female
Idhu sengammaa idhu angammaaThis is Sengamma, this is Angamma,
Idhu jiljil mangammaaThis is cool and charming Mangamma!
Male
Sarthaamma sarthaamma sarthaammaa…Okay ma, okay ma, okay ma...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sengammaa Angammaa Jil Jil Mangammaa is a playful, folk-infused duet from the 1957 movie Aaravalli. The female character teases and challenges the male character through a series of playful riddles and comparisons involving three characters—Sengamma, Angamma, and Mangamma. She cautions him against acting foolishly or making hasty assumptions, urging him to discern the truth carefully before claiming victory. Throughout the track, the male protagonist humorously accedes to her banter with the repeated phrase 'Sarthamma' (Okay ma). The song blends theatrical folk storytelling with sharp musical rhythm, characteristic of G. Ramanathan's iconic score for 1950s Tamil cinema.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Pazhaththai kanda vowvvaa polae

Compares the eager restlessness of the protagonist to a bat spotting a fruit.

Rhyme & Assonance (Iyaibu & Ethukai)

Sengammaa angammaa jil jil mangammaa

Rhyming scheme and phonetic resonance across name endings (Sengammaa, Angammaa, Mangammaa).

Repetition for Effect (Adukku Thodar)

Idhaiyum athaiyum paaththu paaththu

Rhythmic duplication of 'paaththu' and 'sarthaamma' to emphasize comedic agreement and dramatic beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from Aaravalli (1957) showcases Seerkazhi Govindarajan's versatility in comedic folk renditions alongside T. V. Rathinam. The repeated catchphrase 'Sarthaamma' became popular slang among audiences at the time of the movie's release.

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