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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Uttalangkiri Kiri

From Chinnavar · 1992

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinnavar1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Uttaalangirgiri maamaaUttaalangirgiri uncle!
Nee ettaadha ettu vekkalaamaaShould you take a step beyond your reach?
Female
Uttaalangirgiri maamaaUttaalangirgiri uncle!
Nee ettaadha ettu vekkalaamaaShould you take a step beyond your reach?
Kuthaalam poi varalaamaaShall we go to Courtallam and return?
Anga kondaattam pottu varalaamaaShall we go celebrate there and return?
Female
Kanni ponnu naan thaanaeAm I not a young maiden?
Onna enni aalaanaenThinking of you, I have grown up.
Kanni ponnu naan thaanaeAm I not a young maiden?
Onna enni aalaanaenThinking of you, I have grown up.
Ada vaa maamaa vaa maamaaHey come uncle, come uncle!
Male
Uttaalangirgiri baamaaUttaalangirgiri woman!
Nee ettaadha ettu vekkalaamaaShould you take a step beyond your reach?
Kittaadha pazhathukku veenaeFor a fruit that cannot be reached, in vain,
Oru kottaavi ennathukku maanaeWhy do you yawn, my deer-like one?
Female
Aalaana ponnukkuFor a girl who has come of age,
Naalaana ponnukkumAnd a girl who has matured over time,
Maaraadhu ulla mavusuThe charm inside never changes.
Thaanaaga vandhadhoDid it come on its own?
Venaannu sollvadhuSaying no to it,
Koodaadhu indha pavusuSuch arrogance is unacceptable!
Male
Ettaadha kombulaOn a branch out of reach,
Thaen koodu kattudhuA honeycomb is being built.
Kittaadhu etti edukkaIt cannot be reached and taken!
Ippodhu nimmadhiRight now, peace
Ennoda ulladhuResides within me.
Koodaadhu thatti parikkaYou shouldn't snatch it away!
Female
Appaavi ponnu idhu maamaaThis is an innocent girl, uncle.
Thappaaga enna ennalaamaaCan you think ill of me?
Male
Ippodhu kitta vandhu veenaaComing close now in vain,
Vithaaram panna ennalaamaaCan you show off cleverness?
Female
Ada vaa maamaa vaa maamaaHey come uncle, come uncle!
Male
Uttaalangirgiri baamaaUttaalangirgiri woman!
Nee ettaadha ettu vekkalaamaaShould you take a step beyond your reach?
Female
Kuthaalam poi varalaamaaShall we go to Courtallam and return?
Anga kondaattam pottu varalaamaaShall we go celebrate there and return?
Male
Thedaadha sondhamumA relation not searched for,
Koodaadha bandhamumA bond that couldn't join,
Thaanaaga vandhadhu ennaWhy did it come on its own?
Kaadaana nenjilaIn a heart that was like a forest,
Poonthottam poothadhuA flower garden has bloomed.
Poo vaasam ponadhum ennaWhy did the floral fragrance spread?
Female
Thaanaa vedhachadhuSown naturally on its own,
Poovaa molachadhuSprouted as a flower,
Naan enna seiya adhukkuWhat can I do for that?
Saami padachadhuCreated by God,
Thedi mudichadhuSearched and finalized,
Naam enna solla irukkuWhat is there for us to say?
Male
Aagaadhu ezhaikkoru aasaA desire is unsuitable for a poor man.
Naan verum kalluI am just a stone,
Ennathukku poosaWhy offer worship?
Female
Maaraadhu ennudaiya aasaMy desire will never change.
Nee marukkaamaWithout refusing,
Vandhidanum pesaYou must come and talk!
Male
Adhu veen thaanae venamaeThat is useless, I don't want it!
Female
Uttaalangirgiri maamaaUttaalangirgiri uncle!
Nee ettaadha ettu vekkalaamaaShould you take a step beyond your reach?
Male
Ai kittaadhaOh, for an unreachable
Pazhathukku veenaeFruit, in vain,
Oru kottaavi ennathukku maanaeWhy yawn, my deer-like one?
Female
Kanni ponnu naan thaanaeAm I not a young maiden?
Onna enni aalaanaenThinking of you, I have grown up.
Male : Ezhaikkidhu aagaadhuMale: This is not good for a poor man,
Yemaatthunaa thaangaadhuIf deceived, I cannot bear it.
Female
Ada vaa maamaa vaa maamaaHey come uncle, come uncle!
Male
Uttaalangirgiri baamaaUttaalangirgiri woman!
Nee ettaadha ettu vekkalaamaaShould you take a step beyond your reach?
Female
Kuthaalam poi varalaamaaShall we go to Courtallam and return?
Anga kondaattam pottu varalaamaaShall we go celebrate there and return?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Uttaalangirgiri Maamaa is a playful folk duet between a young woman and her beloved cousin/uncle. The maiden expresses her affection and eagerness to take their relationship forward, encouraging him to leave behind his hesitations. In contrast, the young man expresses reluctance due to his poor status, fearing heartbreak and comparing their love to reaching for an unattainable high fruit or offering worship to a mere stone. The song presents a playful banter where love eventually overcomes social and psychological barriers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kaadaana nenjila Poonthottam poothadhu

Comparing the heart to a dense forest where a garden of flowers has bloomed.

Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi)

Kittaadha pazhathukku veenae Oru kottaavi ennathukku maanae

Using the metaphor of an unreachable fruit or honeycomb to denote unattainable desires due to economic status.

Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thedaadha sondhamum / Koodaadhu bandhamum

The second consonant sound 'dha' repeats across adjacent lines (Thedaadha / Koodaadhu).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song comes from the 1992 Tamil film 'Chinnavar' starring Prabhu and Sukanya. Set to music by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Gangai Amaran, the song features the nonsense rhythmic catchphrase 'Uttaalangirgiri', which adds a distinct rural and playful folk flavor typical of 1990s Tamil cinema duets.

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