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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yamma Yamma Nee

From Nalla Naal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nalla Naal1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Lululululululululululu….Lululululululululululu… (Auspicious ululation sound)
Lululululululululululu….Lululululululululululu… (Auspicious ululation sound)
Male
Yammaa yammaaOh dear girl, oh dear girl,
Nee vaazhanumYou must live,
Aanandhamaa adiyaeIn utter joy, my dear!
Yammaa yammaaOh dear girl, oh dear girl,
Nee vaazhanumYou must live,
Aanandhamaa adiyaeIn utter joy, my dear!
Onnaa rendu kannaaLike two eyes acting as one,
Indha sodi vaazhanumThis couple must live!
Oosi konda noola polaLike the thread bound with the needle,
Serndhu vaazhanumThey should live joined together!
Male
Thenpazhani sandhanamaaIs she sandalwood from Southern Palani?
Thedi vandha seedhanamaaIs she dowry brought after searching for you?
Ponnirukku chiththiramaaA gorgeous portrait carved in gold,
Kondu sellu bathiramaaTake her with you safely!
Male
Ettuk kal mookkuthiThe girl wearing an eight-stone nose ring,
Pottava pottavaThe one who wore it, who wore it,
Un nenja jaadaiyil kettava thaanShe asked for your heart through subtle gestures.
Machaanin kaigalaThe hands of her beloved suitor,
Pudichava pudichavaThe one who held them, who held them,
Mandhiram aayiram padichava thaanShe is one who knows a thousand magical spells of love.
Chinna pulla paavam yengudhu yen…Why is the innocent young girl yearning so much...
Maaman tholil maalaiyil saanjida thaan…Just to lean on her lover's shoulder in the evening?
Male
Yammaa yammaaOh dear girl, oh dear girl,
Nee vaazhanumYou must live,
Aanandhamaa adiyaeIn utter joy, my dear!
Chorus :Yammaa yammaaChorus: Oh dear girl, oh dear girl,
Nee vaazhanumYou must live,
Aanandhamaa adiyaeIn utter joy, my dear!
Male
Onnaa rendu kannaaLike two eyes acting as one,
Indha sodi vaazhanumThis couple must live!
Chorus :Oosi konda noola polaChorus: Like the thread bound with the needle,
Serndhu vaazhanumThey should live joined together!
Male
Sengazhani mettula thaanOn the elevated ridge of the red crop field,
Chinnamala koottula thaanIn the nest atop the small hill,
Vaada rendu konjurappoWhen a pair of cool breeze birds cozy up,
Katti mutham sindhurappoAnd shower tight affectionate kisses,
Male
Machaanae nee adhaOh beloved suitor, have you,
Paathuttu paathuttuWatched them closely,
Manmadhan paattaiyum kettadhundoAnd listened to Cupid's enchanting melody?
Ponjaadhi nyaabagamDid the deep memories of your wife,
Vandhuttu vandhuttuKeep coming back again and again,
Pollaadha mogathil vendhadhundoMaking you burn in intense passion?
Ponna thottaa mogam theerndhidum vaa…Come, touch this golden girl and your desire will be fulfilled...
Vaayaa ingu vaadudhu poonguyil thaan aaaaCome here, the beautiful cuckoo bird is wilting in longings...
Male
Yammaa yammaaOh dear girl, oh dear girl,
Nee vaazhanumYou must live,
Aanandhamaa adiyaeIn utter joy, my dear!
Chorus :Yammaa yammaaChorus: Oh dear girl, oh dear girl,
Nee vaazhanumYou must live,
Aanandhamaa adiyaeIn utter joy, my dear!
Male
Onnaa rendu kannaaLike two eyes acting as one,
Indha sodi vaazhanumThis couple must live!
Oosi konda noola polaLike the thread bound with the needle,
Serndhu vaazhanumThey should live joined together!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Yammaa Yammaa Nee Vaazhanum' is a traditional, joyful celebratory track offering blessings for a long, happy, and unified life to a young woman and her beloved partner. Using evocative rural imagery and folk similes, such as two eyes seeing as one or a thread seamlessly following a needle, the song highlights the beauty of marital togetherness and indivisible love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

Oosi konda noola pola / Serndhu vaazhanum

Compares the lifelong togetherness of the couple to a thread attached to a needle, symbolizing inseparable union.

Simile (Uwamai)

Onnaa rendu kannaa / Indha sodi vaazhanum

Compares the couple to two eyes functioning in harmony as one entity.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vaayaa ingu vaadudhu poonguyil thaan

Directly refers to the yearning bride as a blooming cuckoo bird ('poonguyil') wilting in love.

Alliteration (Monai)

Thenpazhani sandhanamaa / Thedi vandha seedhanamaa

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound ('Thenpazhani' and 'Thedi') creates a rhythmic, melodic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is featured in the 1984 Tamil action-drama film 'Nalla Naal', starring Vijayakanth and Thiagarajan. The music for the film was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring vibrant lyrics written by veteran poet Vaali. The track showcases traditional Tamil marriage blessing tropes combined with rural folk rhythms.

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