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Isaimozhi
Thodarum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yamma Yamma

From Thodarum · 1999

Lyricist
Kamakodi
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thodarum
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
11 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaha haaha
Aahaa ahahhaa
Aahaahaahaa….
Yammaa yammaa thalli chellu
Engae ellai angae nillu
Sollaamal nee theendinaal
Ellai kottai thaandinaal
Un thaabam thaan theerumaa
Un mogam thaan pogumaa
Kaadhal valaiyilae yen maattinaai
Indha kanni manadhai nee yen vaattinaai
Yammaa yammaa thalli chellu
Engae ellai angae nillu
Haan …hmmm
Otti kolla vandhen etti chelgindraai
Katti kolla vandhen vittu selgindraai
Kitta vandhu nindraal kettu pogudhu
Kattavizhndhu nenjum vittu pogudhu
Pudhir podum kiliyae kiliyae…
Pudhir podum kiliyae kiliyae
Veenaana pazhiyae pazhiyae
Thunaikku vandha inaiyae inaiyae
Thoduppadhena kanaiyae kanaiyae
Vaeru idam unakkirukku
Indha vetru idam unakkedhukku
Naan unmai endru kandadhum
Unnai nambi vandhadhum veen kadhiayaachu
Yammaa yammaa thalli chellu
Engae ellai angae nillu
Vennilavukkingae alli ethanai
Kannanukku angae raadhai ethanai
Gopiyargal ullam gokulathilae
Kannan avan nenjam yaaridathilae
Oru podhum raaman ingae…
Oru podhum raaman ingae
Uru maari povadhum illai
Kannan yena ennai neeyum
Kaanbadhilum nyaayam illai
Enna enna kadhai irukku
Adhil indha kadhai ingu edharkku
Andha kattu kadhai nijamaa
Kanda kadhai nijamaa yaar vilakkuvadhu
Yammaa yammaa thalli chellu
Engae ellai angae nillu
Sollaamal naan theendinaal
Ellai kottai thaandinaal
En thaabam thaan theerumaa
Un kobam thaan aarumaa
Kaannil kandathai yen nambinaai
Un kanni ullam yeno vembinaai
Yammaa yammaa thalli chellu
Engae ellai angae nillu
Aha haha
Aha ahaha
Ahahaha...
Oh girl, oh girl, step back!
Stay right where the boundary is!
If you touch me without asking,
If you cross the boundary line,
Will your longing be satisfied?
Will your craving fade away?
Why did you trap me in the net of love?
Why did you torment this innocent heart?
Oh girl, oh girl, step back!
Stay right where the boundary is!
Haan... hmm...
I came close to hold you, but you pull away.
I came to embrace you, but you leave me.
If you come and stand close, I lose control.
My heart breaks free and slips away.
Oh my parrot who speaks in riddles...
Oh my parrot who speaks in riddles,
Why blame me for no reason?
Oh companion who came to be my partner,
Why shoot sharp arrows at me?
You have another place to go,
Why do you need this empty space?
Everything I took to be the truth,
And trusting you to come here, has all become a pointless story!
Oh girl, oh girl, step back!
Stay right where the boundary is!
How many water lilies bloom for the pale moon here?
How many Radhas are there for Krishna there?
The milkmaids' hearts remain in Gokulam,
But where does Krishna's heart really lie?
The Rama here will never...
The Rama here will never
Change his true nature and stray!
And seeing me as a playful Krishna
Is simply not fair of you.
So many tales are told out there,
Why bring that story into this?
Is that made-up story true,
Or what you saw with your own eyes? Who can explain?
Oh girl, oh girl, step back!
Stay right where the boundary is!
If I touch you without asking,
If I cross the boundary line,
Will my longing be satisfied?
Will your anger finally cool down?
Why did you believe only what you saw?
Why did you distress your innocent heart?
Oh girl, oh girl, step back!
Stay right where the boundary is!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Yammaa Yammaa Thalli Chellu' from the movie 'Thodarum' (1999) portrays a romantic banter and emotional confrontation between lovers dealing with trust, personal boundaries, and misunderstandings. The heroine demands emotional distance, feeling hurt by rumors and questioning the hero's intentions. She fears crossing boundaries and getting trapped in love's pain.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Otti kolla vandhen / Katti kolla vandhen”

The second letter 'tt' (ட்) matches in 'Otti' and 'Katti', creating a rhythmic flow across consecutive lines.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Un thaabam thaan theerumaa / Un mogam thaan pogumaa”

Both lines end with the rhyming suffix '-umaa' ('theerumaa' / 'pogumaa').

Mythological Allusion & Contrast

“Oru podhum raaman ingae... / Kannan yena ennai neeyum kaanbadhilum nyaayam illai”

The lyrist contrasts Lord Krishna (associated with multiple Gopis and playfulness) with Lord Rama (symbolizing absolute fidelity to one partner) to prove the male lead's devotion.

Monai (First Letter Alliteration)

“Yammaa yammaa thalli chellu”

Repetition of the initial letter/sound 'Ya' ('Yammaa yammaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Yammaa Yammaa Thalli Chellu' is from the 1999 Tamil drama film 'Thodarum', starring Ajith Kumar, Devayani, and Heera Rajgopal. The film's soundtrack was composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by Kamakodi. The track uses classical mythological metaphors like Rama and Krishna to depict fidelity versus playfulness in modern romance.

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