Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaarunga Ammaa Maarey

From Athisaya Thirudan · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Jikki
Music director
S. Dakshinamurthi
Details
Athisaya Thirudan1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poo vangalaiyoo poovu…Won't you buy flowers, oh flowers?
Female
Vaarunga ammamaaraeCome, dear mothers!
En poovai vaangi paarunga ammaamaaraeBuy and see my flowers, dear mothers!
Female
Oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…ammaamaaraeOo...oo...oo...oo...oo... dear mothers!
Maappillai pennukku maalai kattalaamYou can weave a garland for the groom and bride,
Maappillai pennukku maalai kattalaamYou can weave a garland for the groom and bride,
Panjanai melae thooviyum vidalaamYou can also sprinkle them upon the soft mattress,
Navaraathri bommai koluvaiyumAnd for the Navaratri doll display,
Pramadhamaaga jodikalaangaYou can decorate wonderfully!
Vegu pramadhamaaga jodikalaangaYou can decorate very wonderfully!
Female
Vaarunga ammamaaraeCome, dear mothers!
En poovai vaangi paarunga ammaamaaraeBuy and see my flowers, dear mothers!
Female
Oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…ammaamaaraeOo...oo...oo...oo...oo... dear mothers!
Velvizhi veesum minnal kodiyilaeOn the lightning-creeper-like women with spear-like eyes,
Velvizhi veesum minnal kodiyilaeOn the lightning-creeper-like women with spear-like eyes,
Vedikkaiyaaga pinnal jadaiyilaeIn their playfully braided hair,
Muthaaram pola pinungaEntwine them like a string of pearls,
Vithaaramaaga shokku pannungaStyle them stylishly and show off,
Miga vithaaramaaga shokku pannungaStyle them very stylishly and show off!
Female
Vaarunga ammamaaraeCome, dear mothers!
En poovai vaangi paarunga ammaamaaraeBuy and see my flowers, dear mothers!
Female
Oo…oo…oo…oo…oo…ayyaamaaraeOo...oo...oo...oo...oo... respected sirs!
Aasai ponjaathi thalaiyil soottungaAdorn the head of your beloved wife,
Aasai ponjaathi thalaiyil soottungaAdorn the head of your beloved wife,
Appoluthae adhu pallai kaattungaAnd she will immediately flash a bright smile!
Aaru panathaanga kaasai neetungaHand over six panam worth of coins,
Aaru panathaanga kaasai neetungaHand over six panam worth of coins,
Aamaanga enakku naazhiyaachungaYes sir, it is getting late for me!
Saami aamaanga enakku naazhiyaachungaOh God, yes sir, it is getting late for me!
Female
Vaarunga ammamaaraeCome, dear mothers!
En poovai vaangi paarunga ammaamaaraeBuy and see my flowers, dear mothers!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a cheerful street-vendor melody sung by a flower seller pitching her blooms to prospective buyers. She enticingly lists all the wonderful occasions and uses for her flowers—garland making for weddings, scattering on bridal beds, decorating Navaratri Golu displays, and weaving into women's hair like pearl necklaces to make them look stylish.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Muthaaram pola pinunga

Compares the arrangement of flowers in a woman's hair braid to a string of pearls ('Muthaaram pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Velvizhi veesum minnal kodiyilae

Compares sharp eyes to spears ('Velvizhi') and slender women to lightning vines ('minnal kodiyilae').

Initial Alliteration (Anaapora / Monai)

Aasai ponjaathi thalaiyil soottunga

Repeated use of the initial 'Aa' sound across multiple lines to build rhythm ('Aasai', 'Appoluthae', 'Aaru', 'Aamaanga').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Athisaya Thirudan' (1958) was directed by P. Pullaiah and starred T. R. Mahalingam alongside Savitri. The lyrics were penned by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, who was famed for creating popular, rhythmic street-vendor folk songs in mid-20th-century Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Athisaya Thirudan