Yamma Yamma Naan
From Neram Nalla Irukku · 1987
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Shailaja
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Neram Nalla Irukku1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yamma yamma naan muthu kulikattuma | Oh my, oh my, shall I dive for pearls? |
| Unnai othiyeduthu pothi eduthu | Taking you closely and cherishing you, |
| Mutham kodukattuma | Shall I give you a kiss? |
| Nalla muthu eduthu ippa unakku | Picking out good pearls, now for you, |
| Katti kodukkattuma | Shall I tie them up for you? |
| Female | |
| Unnalathaan ippa soodachu manasu | Only because of you, my heart has become warm now. |
| Un utchi thodangi paadham varaikkum | From the crown of your head down to your feet, |
| Ellamae pudhusuu | Everything is brand new. |
| Dhinam unna nenachu kannu mulichu odaachu vayasu | Thinking of you every day and staying awake, age has slipped by. |
| Male :Yamma yamma …. | Male: Oh my, oh my.... |
| Female :Ada yamma yamma…. | Female: Oh my, oh my.... |
| Male | |
| Velli mani kolusu | The silver bell anklet, |
| Adhu sonna kadha pudhusu | The story it told is new. |
| Pudhu malliga mottukkum | For the new jasmine bud, |
| Kunguma pottukkum velai vandhaachu | And for the vermilion dot, the time has arrived. |
| Female | |
| Vethala paakku vechu | Placing betel leaves and nuts, |
| Nalla malliga poovum vechu | Placing good jasmine flowers, |
| Oru thaaliya katti | Tying a sacred thread, |
| Melatha thatti nee koodavaa | Beating the drums, come join me. |
| Male | |
| Velli mani kolusu | The silver bell anklet, |
| Adhu sonna kadha pudhusu | The story it told is new. |
| Pudhu malliga mottukkum | For the new jasmine bud, |
| Kunguma pottukkum velai vandhaachu | And for the vermilion dot, the time has arrived. |
| Female | |
| Vethala paakku vechu | Placing betel leaves and nuts, |
| Nalla malliga poovum vechu | Placing good jasmine flowers, |
| Oru thaaliya katti | Tying a sacred thread, |
| Melatha thatti nee koodavaa | Beating the drums, come join me. |
| Male | |
| Thekku pakka kaathu | The southern wind, |
| Suthuthenna paathu | Is blowing while looking at me. |
| Muthiraiya nee poda naal paarthu vaa | To seal your love, pick a good day and come. |
| Female :Othigaiya nee paakka en kooda vaa | Female: Come with me to do a rehearsal. |
| Male | |
| Yamma yamma naan muthu kulikattuma | Oh my, oh my, shall I dive for pearls? |
| Unnai othiyeduthu pothi eduthu | Taking you closely and cherishing you, |
| Mutham kodukattuma | Shall I give you a kiss? |
| Nalla muthu eduthu ippa unakku | Picking out good pearls, now for you, |
| Katti kodukkattuma | Shall I tie them up for you? |
| Female | |
| Yamma yamma …. | Oh my, oh my.... |
| Male :Adi yamma yamma…. | Male: Hey, oh my, oh my.... |
| Female | |
| Vaigaiyil vandha vellam | The flood that came in the Vaigai river, |
| En ullathil vandhadhenna | Why did it enter my heart? |
| Varum thaiyila naanum | In the upcoming month of Thai, I too, |
| Kaiyila vaaren poopola thaanae | Will come into your hands like a soft flower. |
| Male | |
| Kannula mai ezhuthi | Applying kohl in your eyes, |
| Ennai katti eluthathenna | Why did you bind and pull me? |
| Indha mannula vaazhura kaalam varaiyil | As long as I live on this earth, |
| Un koodathaanae | I will remain only with you. |
| Female | |
| Vaigaiyil vandha vellam | The flood that came in the Vaigai river, |
| En ullathil vandhadhenna | Why did it enter my heart? |
| Varum thaiyila naanum | In the upcoming month of Thai, I too, |
| Kaiyila vaaren poopola thaanae | Will come into your hands like a soft flower. |
| Male | |
| Kannula mai ezhuthi | Applying kohl in your eyes, |
| Ennai katti eluthathenna | Why did you bind and pull me? |
| Indha mannula vaazhura kaalam varaiyil | As long as I live on this earth, |
| Un koodathaanae | I will remain only with you. |
| Female | |
| Ponnumani thaeru pooti vechadhaaru | Who locked up the golden jeweled chariot? |
| Enni enni paaradha naalum illa | There is no day that I haven't counted and waited for. |
| Male :Enna solli paratta naavum varala | Male: Words fail my tongue to praise you. |
| Female | |
| Unnala thaan | Only because of you. |
| Male :Adi unnala thaan | Male: Hey, only because of you. |
| Female :Ippa soodachu manasu | Female: Now my heart has become warm. |
| Male :Ippa soodachu manasu | Male: Now my heart has become warm. |
| Female :Un itchi thodangi paadham varaikkum | Female: From your head down to your feet, |
| Ellamae pudhusu | Everything is brand new. |
| Male :Hahaha | Male: Hahaha |
| Female :Dhinam unna nenachu kannu mulichi | Female: Daily thinking of you and staying awake, |
| Odaachu vayasu | Age has passed. |
| Male :Yamma yamma …. | Male: Oh my, oh my.... |
| Female :Ada yamma yamma…. | Female: Oh my, oh my.... |
| Male | |
| Naan muthu kulikattuma | Shall I dive for pearls? |
| Female :Vandhu muthu kulichukonga | Female: Come and dive for pearls! |
| Male :Unnai othiyeduthu pothi eduthu | Male: Taking you closely and cherishing you, |
| Mutham kodukattuma | Shall I give you a kiss? |
| Nalla muthu eduthu ippa unakku | Picking out good pearls, now for you, |
| Katti kodukkattuma | Shall I tie them up for you? |
| Female :Yamma yamma …. | Female: Oh my, oh my.... |
| Male :Adi yamma yamma…. | Male: Hey, oh my, oh my.... |
ஆண்
: யம்மா யம்மா நான் முத்து குளிக்கட்டுமா
உன்னை ஒத்தியெடுத்து பொத்தி எடுத்து
முத்தம் கொடுக்கட்டுமா
நல்ல முத்து எடுத்து இப்ப உனக்கு
கட்டிக் கொடுக்கட்டுமா
Oh my, oh my, shall I dive for pearls?
Taking you closely and cherishing you,
Shall I give you a kiss?
Picking out good pearls, now for you,
Shall I tie them up for you?
பெண்
: உன்னாலத்தான் இப்ப சூடாச்சு மனசு
உன் உச்சி தொடங்கி பாதம் வரைக்கும் எல்லாமே புதுசு
தினம் உன்ன நெனச்சு கண்ணு முழிச்சு ஓடாச்சு வயசு....
ஆண்
: யம்மா யம்மா..
Only because of you, my heart has become warm now.
From the crown of your head down to your feet,
Everything is brand new.
Thinking of you every day and staying awake, age has slipped by.
Male: Oh my, oh my....
Female: Oh my, oh my....
அடி யம்மா யம்மா...
The silver bell anklet,
The story it told is new.
For the new jasmine bud,
And for the vermilion dot, the time has arrived.
ஆண்
: வெள்ளிமணி கொலுசு
அது சொன்னக் கத புதுசு
புது மல்லிக மொட்டுக்கும்
குங்குமப் பொட்டுக்கும் வேளை வந்தாச்சு
Placing betel leaves and nuts,
Placing good jasmine flowers,
Tying a sacred thread,
Beating the drums, come join me.
பெண்
: வெத்தல பாக்கு வச்சு
நல்ல மல்லிக பூவும் வச்சு
ஒரு தாலியக் கட்டி மேளத்த தட்டி நீ கூடவா
The silver bell anklet,
The story it told is new.
For the new jasmine bud,
And for the vermilion dot, the time has arrived.
ஆண்
: வெள்ளிமணி கொலுசு
அது சொன்னக் கத புதுசு
புது மல்லிக மொட்டுக்கும்
குங்குமப் பொட்டுக்கும் வேளை வந்தாச்சு
Placing betel leaves and nuts,
Placing good jasmine flowers,
Tying a sacred thread,
Beating the drums, come join me.
பெண்
: வெத்தல பாக்கு வச்சு
நல்ல மல்லிக பூவும் வச்சு
ஒரு தாலியக் கட்டி மேளத்த தட்டி நீ கூடவா
The southern wind,
Is blowing while looking at me.
To seal your love, pick a good day and come.
Female: Come with me to do a rehearsal.
ஆண்
: தெக்கு பக்க காத்து சுத்துதென்ன பாத்து
முத்திரைய நீ போட நாள் பாத்து வா
பெண்
: ஒத்திகைய நீ பாக்க என் கூட வா
Oh my, oh my, shall I dive for pearls?
Taking you closely and cherishing you,
Shall I give you a kiss?
Picking out good pearls, now for you,
Shall I tie them up for you?
ஆண்
: யம்மா யம்மா நான் முத்து குளிக்கட்டுமா
உன்னை ஒத்தியெடுத்து பொத்தி எடுத்து
முத்தம் கொடுக்கட்டுமா
நல்ல முத்து எடுத்து இப்ப உனக்கு
கட்டிக் கொடுக்கட்டுமா
பெண்
: யம்மா யம்மா..
Oh my, oh my....
Male: Hey, oh my, oh my....
ஆண்
: அடி யம்மா யம்மா...
The flood that came in the Vaigai river,
Why did it enter my heart?
In the upcoming month of Thai, I too,
Will come into your hands like a soft flower.
பெண்
: வைகையில் வந்த வெள்ளம்
என் உள்ளத்தில் வந்ததென்ன
வரும் தையில நானும்
கையில வாரேன் பூப்போல தானே
Applying kohl in your eyes,
Why did you bind and pull me?
As long as I live on this earth,
I will remain only with you.
ஆண்
: கண்ணுல மை எழுதி
என்னை கட்டி இழுத்ததென்ன
இந்த மண்ணுல வாழும் காலம் வரையில்
உன் கூடத்தானே
The flood that came in the Vaigai river,
Why did it enter my heart?
In the upcoming month of Thai, I too,
Will come into your hands like a soft flower.
பெண்
: வைகையில் வந்த வெள்ளம்
என் உள்ளத்தில் வந்ததென்ன
வரும் தையில நானும்
கையில வாரேன் பூப்போல தானே
Applying kohl in your eyes,
Why did you bind and pull me?
As long as I live on this earth,
I will remain only with you.
ஆண்
: கண்ணுல மை எழுதி
என்னை கட்டி இழுத்ததென்ன
இந்த மண்ணுல வாழும் காலம் வரையில்
உன் கூடத்தானே
Who locked up the golden jeweled chariot?
There is no day that I haven't counted and waited for.
Male: Words fail my tongue to praise you.
பெண்
: பொன்னுமணி தேரு பூட்டி வச்சதாரு
எண்ணி எண்ணி பாராத நாளுமில்ல
ஆண்
: என்ன சொல்லி பாராட்ட நாவும் வரல்ல
Only because of you.
Male: Hey, only because of you.
Female: Now my heart has become warm.
Male: Now my heart has become warm.
Female: From your head down to your feet,
Everything is brand new.
Male: Hahaha
Female: Daily thinking of you and staying awake,
Age has passed.
Male: Oh my, oh my....
Female: Oh my, oh my....
பெண்
: உன்னாலத்தான்..ஆண் : அடி உன்னாலத்தான்
பெண்
: இப்ப சூடாச்சு மனசு ஆண் : இப்ப சூடாச்சு மனசு
உன் உச்சி தொடங்கி பாதம் வரைக்கும்
எல்லாமே புதுசு..ஹாஹ்
தினம் உன்ன நெனச்சு கண்ணு முழிச்சு ஓடாச்சு வயசு....
ஆண்
: யம்மா யம்மா..
Shall I dive for pearls?
Female: Come and dive for pearls!
Male: Taking you closely and cherishing you,
Shall I give you a kiss?
Picking out good pearls, now for you,
Shall I tie them up for you?
Female: Oh my, oh my....
Male: Hey, oh my, oh my....
பெண்
: அடி யம்மா யம்மா
ஆண்
: நான் முத்து குளிக்கட்டுமா
பெண்
: வந்து முத்து குளிச்சுக்குங்க
ஆண்
: உன்னை ஒத்தியெடுத்து பொத்தி எடுத்து
முத்தம் கொடுக்கட்டுமா
நல்ல முத்து எடுத்து இப்ப உனக்கு
கட்டிக் கொடுக்கட்டுமா...
பெண்
: யம்மா யம்மா..
ஆண்
: அடி யம்மா யம்மா
Yamma yamma naan muthu kulikattuma
Oh my, oh my, shall I dive for pearls?
Unnai othiyeduthu pothi eduthu
Taking you closely and cherishing you,
Mutham kodukattuma
Shall I give you a kiss?
Nalla muthu eduthu ippa unakku
Picking out good pearls, now for you,
Katti kodukkattuma
Shall I tie them up for you?
Unnalathaan ippa soodachu manasu
Only because of you, my heart has become warm now.
Un utchi thodangi paadham varaikkum
From the crown of your head down to your feet,
Ellamae pudhusuu
Everything is brand new.
Dhinam unna nenachu kannu mulichu odaachu vayasu
Thinking of you every day and staying awake, age has slipped by.
Male :Yamma yamma ….
Male: Oh my, oh my....
Female :Ada yamma yamma….
Female: Oh my, oh my....
Velli mani kolusu
The silver bell anklet,
Adhu sonna kadha pudhusu
The story it told is new.
Pudhu malliga mottukkum
For the new jasmine bud,
Kunguma pottukkum velai vandhaachu
And for the vermilion dot, the time has arrived.
Vethala paakku vechu
Placing betel leaves and nuts,
Nalla malliga poovum vechu
Placing good jasmine flowers,
Oru thaaliya katti
Tying a sacred thread,
Melatha thatti nee koodavaa
Beating the drums, come join me.
Velli mani kolusu
The silver bell anklet,
Adhu sonna kadha pudhusu
The story it told is new.
Pudhu malliga mottukkum
For the new jasmine bud,
Kunguma pottukkum velai vandhaachu
And for the vermilion dot, the time has arrived.
Vethala paakku vechu
Placing betel leaves and nuts,
Nalla malliga poovum vechu
Placing good jasmine flowers,
Oru thaaliya katti
Tying a sacred thread,
Melatha thatti nee koodavaa
Beating the drums, come join me.
Thekku pakka kaathu
The southern wind,
Suthuthenna paathu
Is blowing while looking at me.
Muthiraiya nee poda naal paarthu vaa
To seal your love, pick a good day and come.
Female :Othigaiya nee paakka en kooda vaa
Female: Come with me to do a rehearsal.
Yamma yamma naan muthu kulikattuma
Oh my, oh my, shall I dive for pearls?
Unnai othiyeduthu pothi eduthu
Taking you closely and cherishing you,
Mutham kodukattuma
Shall I give you a kiss?
Nalla muthu eduthu ippa unakku
Picking out good pearls, now for you,
Katti kodukkattuma
Shall I tie them up for you?
Yamma yamma ….
Oh my, oh my....
Male :Adi yamma yamma….
Male: Hey, oh my, oh my....
Vaigaiyil vandha vellam
The flood that came in the Vaigai river,
En ullathil vandhadhenna
Why did it enter my heart?
Varum thaiyila naanum
In the upcoming month of Thai, I too,
Kaiyila vaaren poopola thaanae
Will come into your hands like a soft flower.
Kannula mai ezhuthi
Applying kohl in your eyes,
Ennai katti eluthathenna
Why did you bind and pull me?
Indha mannula vaazhura kaalam varaiyil
As long as I live on this earth,
Un koodathaanae
I will remain only with you.
Vaigaiyil vandha vellam
The flood that came in the Vaigai river,
En ullathil vandhadhenna
Why did it enter my heart?
Varum thaiyila naanum
In the upcoming month of Thai, I too,
Kaiyila vaaren poopola thaanae
Will come into your hands like a soft flower.
Kannula mai ezhuthi
Applying kohl in your eyes,
Ennai katti eluthathenna
Why did you bind and pull me?
Indha mannula vaazhura kaalam varaiyil
As long as I live on this earth,
Un koodathaanae
I will remain only with you.
Ponnumani thaeru pooti vechadhaaru
Who locked up the golden jeweled chariot?
Enni enni paaradha naalum illa
There is no day that I haven't counted and waited for.
Male :Enna solli paratta naavum varala
Male: Words fail my tongue to praise you.
Unnala thaan
Only because of you.
Male :Adi unnala thaan
Male: Hey, only because of you.
Female :Ippa soodachu manasu
Female: Now my heart has become warm.
Male :Ippa soodachu manasu
Male: Now my heart has become warm.
Female :Un itchi thodangi paadham varaikkum
Female: From your head down to your feet,
Ellamae pudhusu
Everything is brand new.
Male :Hahaha
Male: Hahaha
Female :Dhinam unna nenachu kannu mulichi
Female: Daily thinking of you and staying awake,
Odaachu vayasu
Age has passed.
Male :Yamma yamma ….
Male: Oh my, oh my....
Female :Ada yamma yamma….
Female: Oh my, oh my....
Naan muthu kulikattuma
Shall I dive for pearls?
Female :Vandhu muthu kulichukonga
Female: Come and dive for pearls!
Male :Unnai othiyeduthu pothi eduthu
Male: Taking you closely and cherishing you,
Mutham kodukattuma
Shall I give you a kiss?
Nalla muthu eduthu ippa unakku
Picking out good pearls, now for you,
Katti kodukkattuma
Shall I tie them up for you?
Female :Yamma yamma ….
Female: Oh my, oh my....
Male :Adi yamma yamma….
Male: Hey, oh my, oh my....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Yamma Yamma from Neram Nalla Irukku (1987) is a playful and affectionate duet between two lovers anticipating their forthcoming marriage and lifelong journey together. Through vibrant folk imagery like diving for precious pearls, traditional wedding preparations with betel leaves and jasmine flowers, and the flooding of the Vaigai river, the lovers express their deep romantic longing and joyful excitement.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Vaigaiyil vandha vellam En ullathil vandhadhenna”
The sudden rush of romantic feelings in the lover's heart is poetically compared to the rushing floods of the Vaigai river.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Vethala paakku vechu / Nalla malliga poovum vechu”
The repetition of the ending word 'vechu' across consecutive lines creates an agreeable rhythm.
Simile
“Kaiyila vaaren poopola thaanae”
The speaker compares herself coming into her partner's hands to a gentle flower (poopola).
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by the veteran music director M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. It features vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. P. Shailaja, who are real-life siblings.
Keep listening
More from Neram Nalla Irukku
Neram Nalla Irukku
Neram Nalla Irukku
Neram Nalla Irukku
Neram Nalla Irukku