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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yamma Yamma

From Thodarum · 1999

Lyricist
Kamakodi
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thodarum1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaha haahaAaha haaha
Aahaa ahahhaaAahaa ahahhaa
Aahaahaahaa….Aahaahaahaa….
Female
Yammaa yammaa thalli chelluOh girl, move away and go
Engae ellai angae nilluStand where the boundary is
Sollaamal nee theendinaalIf you touch me without a word
Ellai kottai thaandinaalIf you cross the boundary line
Un thaabam thaan theerumaaWill your longing be quenched?
Un mogam thaan pogumaaWill your infatuation fade away?
Kaadhal valaiyilae yen maattinaaiWhy did you trap me in love's net?
Indha kanni manadhai nee yen vaattinaaiWhy did you torment this maiden's heart?
Female
Yammaa yammaa thalli chelluOh girl, move away and go
Engae ellai angae nilluStand where the boundary is
Male
Haan …hmmmHaan… hmmm
Male
Otti kolla vandhen etti chelgindraaiI came to get close, but you step away
Katti kolla vandhen vittu selgindraaiI came to embrace you, but you leave me
Female
Kitta vandhu nindraal kettu pogudhuStanding close ruins everything
Kattavizhndhu nenjum vittu pogudhuMy heart breaks loose and drifts away
Male
Pudhir podum kiliyae kiliyae…Oh parrot posing riddles, parrot…
Pudhir podum kiliyae kiliyaeOh parrot posing riddles, parrot
Veenaana pazhiyae pazhiyaeOh wasted blame, blame
Thunaikku vandha inaiyae inaiyaeOh companion who came to support, companion
Thoduppadhena kanaiyae kanaiyaeWhy shoot an arrow, arrow?
Female
Vaeru idam unakkirukkuYou have another place
Indha vetru idam unakkedhukkuWhy do you need this vacant space?
Naan unmai endru kandadhumRealizing what I believed was true
Unnai nambi vandhadhum veen kadhiayaachuAnd trusting you ended up in vain
Female
Yammaa yammaa thalli chelluOh girl, move away and go
Engae ellai angae nilluStand where the boundary is
Female
Vennilavukkingae alli ethanaiHow many water lilies are there here for the moon?
Kannanukku angae raadhai ethanaiHow many Radhas are there for Krishna there?
Gopiyargal ullam gokulathilaeThe hearts of the Gopis are in Gokulam
Kannan avan nenjam yaaridathilaeWith whom is Krishna's own heart?
Male
Oru podhum raaman ingae…Rama here will never…
Oru podhum raaman ingaeRama here will never
Uru maari povadhum illaiChange his true form or character
Kannan yena ennai neeyumFor you to look at me as Krishna
Kaanbadhilum nyaayam illaiIs not fair or right
Female
Enna enna kadhai irukkuWhat all stories are out there!
Adhil indha kadhai ingu edharkkuWhy bring up this story here among them?
Male
Andha kattu kadhai nijamaaIs that fabricated rumor true?
Kanda kadhai nijamaa yaar vilakkuvadhuIs every story seen true? Who will clarify?
Female
Yammaa yammaa thalli chelluOh girl, move away and go
Engae ellai angae nilluStand where the boundary is
Male
Sollaamal naan theendinaalIf I touch you without a word
Ellai kottai thaandinaalIf I cross the boundary line
En thaabam thaan theerumaaWill my longing be quenched?
Un kobam thaan aarumaaWill your anger subside?
Kaannil kandathai yen nambinaaiWhy did you believe what you saw with your eyes?
Un kanni ullam yeno vembinaaiWhy did you let your maiden heart wither in pain?
Female
Yammaa yammaa thalli chelluOh girl, move away and go
Engae ellai angae nilluStand where the boundary is

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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