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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yaarunnu

From Sirai Paravai · 1987

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. Janaki, Saibaba
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sirai Paravai1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yaarunnu kaekkuriyaa…Are you asking who she is...
Yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaAre you asking who she is?
Annae annae yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaBrother, brother, are you asking who she is?
Yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaAre you asking who she is?
Annae annae yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaBrother, brother, are you asking who she is?
Alukkalum kulukkalum thalukkaiyumSeeing her sways, shakes, and graceful airs,
Paathaalae sandhaegam thonudhannaeA doubt arises just looking at her, brother.
Yaen indha settuppu yenakkonnum puriyallaWhy this setup? I don't understand a thing.
Kaettu thaan sollungannaePlease ask and tell me, brother.
Male
Ada un veettu sangadhi yenakkedhukkammaaOh, why do I need your household matters, girl?
Female :HaanFemale: Ah
Male :Oru naalum un vaayi irukkaadhu summaaMale: Your mouth is never quiet for a single day.
Female :AiyoFemale: Oh dear!
Male
Ada un veettu sangadhi yenakkedhukkammaaOh, why do I need your household matters, girl?
Oru naalum un vaayi irukkaadhu summaaYour mouth is never quiet for a single day.
Ammammam mammammam maaAmmammam mammammam maa
Female
Yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaAre you asking who she is?
Annae annae yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaBrother, brother, are you asking who she is?
Yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaAre you asking who she is?
Annae annae yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaBrother, brother, are you asking who she is?
Female
Vayasu ponnu edhukku vandhaaloWhy did a young girl come here?
Vevaram solla evarum illaeThere is no one to explain the details.
Urimai enna puriyavillaeI don't understand what right she has.
Uravu onnum theriyavillaeNo relationship is known.
Kazhutha paathaen thaali illaeI looked at her neck, there is no sacred thread (thaali).
Kaala paathaen metti illaeI looked at her feet, there are no toe rings (metti).
Iduppula thaan pillaiyum illaeThere is no child on her hip either.
Innum yenna naanum sollaWhat else should I say?
Female
Rojaa poo maaraappa rudhuvaana poonthoppaLike a rose veil, a blooming flower garden,
Engae pudichaaroWhere did he find her?
Mathaa poo chirippukkum mai itta kannukkumFor her sparkler-like smile and kohl-lined eyes,
Sokki vizhundhaaroDid he fall head over heels?
Ippodhu appaa mael nambikkai illaNow I have no trust in father.
Sandhaegam vandhaalae eppodhum thollaOnce suspicion arises, it is always a trouble.
Yaarandha pombala pullaWho is that woman?
Female
Yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaAre you asking who I am?
Kannu kannu yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaMy dear, my dear, are you asking who I am?
Sothu sogam illaI have no wealth or comforts.
Solli kolla sondhangal yaedhum illaI have no relatives to call my own.
Nool yaedhum illaadha kaatthaadi polae thaanLike a kite without a string,
Veedhiyil naan alanjaenI wandered in the streets.
Anbaana poo ullam kooppittadhaalBecause a kind, flower-like heart called out,
Indha veettukkul naan nozhanjaenI entered this house.
Ada en kitta vaeronnum ragasiyam illaOh, there is no other secret with me.
Eppodhum yen nenjam paal pola vellaMy heart is always pure white like milk.
Ammammam mammammam maaAmmammam mammammam maa
Female
Mazhala pinju mayakkam kollaadhaeYoung innocent child, do not be confused.
Manasukkulla kalangam illaThere is no stain in my heart.
Odhungi nikka nezhalum illaI have no shadow or shelter to stand under.
Udhavi seiya yaarum illaThere is no one to help me.
Thavikkum indha kuyila kanduSeeing this struggling cuckoo,
Abayam thandha dheivam unduThere is a god who gave refuge.
Abayam thandha dheivatha nambiTrusting that god who gave refuge,
Vandhaenadi thanjam endruI came seeking shelter, my dear.
Female
Thappaaga nee ennai eppodhum ennaadhaeDo not ever think wrongly of me.
Unmai idhu thaanaeThis is the pure truth.
Adi appaavi pen ennaOh innocent girl, why?
Sandhaegam kollaadhae chithi illa naanaeDon't doubt me, I am not a stepmother.
Sondhangal bandhangal illaadha ezhaI am a poor woman with no relations or bonds.
Po yendru sonnaalae povaenae naalaIf you ask me to leave, I will go tomorrow.
Kobangal kollaadhae maanaeDo not be angry, my dear.
Female
Yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaAre you asking who I am?
Kannu kannu yaarunnu kaekkuriyaaMy dear, my dear, are you asking who I am?
Sothu sogam illaI have no wealth or comforts.
Solli kolla sondhangal yaedhum illaI have no relatives to call my own.
Nool yaedhum illaadha kaathaadi polae thaanLike a kite without a string,
Veedhiyil naan alanjaenI wandered in the streets.
Anbaana poo ullam koopittadhaalBecause a kind, flower-like heart called out,
Indha veettukkul naan nozhanjaenI entered this house.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a narrative dialogue centered on suspicion, identity, and refuge. A young girl questions the identity and intentions of a newly arrived woman in the household. Observing that the woman lacks marital markers (such as a 'thaali' or 'metti') and suspecting her father's motives, the girl expresses mistrust and fear of an unwanted stepmother entering her life. In response, the newly arrived woman gently and humbly addresses the girl's concerns. She explains her tragic predicament—she is destitute, homeless, and abandoned like a kite without a string. She reassures the young girl that her intentions are completely pure, comparing her heart to white milk. Emphasizing that she came only because a compassionate soul offered her shelter, she promises to leave peacefully if her presence brings anger or distress.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Nool yaedhum illaadha kaatthaadi polae thaan

Compares the woman's aimless and helpless plight to a kite flying without a guiding string.

Simile (Upamai)

Eppodhum yen nenjam paal pola vella

Compares the purity and innocence of her heart to pure white milk.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thavikkum indha kuyila kandu

Refers to herself metaphorically as a suffering 'kuyil' (cuckoo) in distress.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kazhutha paathaen thaali illae / Kaala paathaen metti illae

The initial letter sound 'Ka' is repeated at the beginning of consecutive lines (Kazhutha / Kaala).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1987 Tamil film 'Sirai Paravai', directed by Manobala and starring Vijayakanth and Radhika in lead roles. The film's music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Muthulingam. The lyrics effectively convey colloquial Tamil phrasing and cultural nuances, such as observing marital ornaments (thaali, metti) to deduce a woman's social status.

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