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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yemara Sonnathu

From Naanum Oru Penn · 1963

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Naanum Oru Penn
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
9 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Left right left right
About turn
Hoi….hoi ..hoi..hoi…
Yemaara sonnathu naano
En meedhu kobam thaano
Manam maari povathum yeno
Engae nee sendraalum viduveno
Yemaara sonnathu naano
En meedhu kobam thaano
Manam maari povathum yeno
Engae nee sendraalum viduveno
Left right left right
Left right left right
About turn
{Kaigalae poyinum
Kaadhal thundaagumaa
Anbaiyae naadidum
Penmanam maarumaa…} (2)
Indha naadagam ennidam yeno
Idhu aadvar saagasam thaano
Manam maari povathum yeno
Engae nee sendraalum viduveno
Yemaara sonnathu naano
En meedhu kobam thaano
Manam maari povathum yeno
Engae nee sendraalum viduveno
Left right left right
Left right left right
About turn
{Kanni en nenjilae
Kaatchi neeillaiyaa..aa
Kangalae kalandha pin
Saatchiyum thevaiyaa…} (2)
Innum purindhu kollaathathu pudhumai
Ini pirinthida ninaipathu kodumai
Manam maari povathum yeno
Engae nee sendraalum viduveno
Yemaara sonnathu naano
En meedhu kobam thaano
Manam maari povathum yeno
Engae nee sendraalum viduveno
Left right left right
Left right left right
About turn
Left, right, left, right!
About turn!
Hoy... hoy... hoy... hoy...
Did I ask you to be fooled?
Or are you just angry with me?
Why has your heart changed like this?
Wherever you go, will I ever let you leave?
Did I ask you to be fooled?
Or are you just angry with me?
Why has your heart changed like this?
Wherever you go, will I ever let you leave?
Left, right, left, right!
Left, right, left, right!
About turn!
Even if our hands are parted,
can our love ever be broken?
Seeking only true love,
will a woman's heart ever change?
Why act out this drama with me?
Is this just a man showing off his pride?
Why has your heart changed like this?
Wherever you go, will I ever let you leave?
Did I ask you to be fooled?
Or are you just angry with me?
Why has your heart changed like this?
Wherever you go, will I ever let you leave?
Left, right, left, right!
Left, right, left, right!
About turn!
In this young heart of mine,
aren't you the only vision?
Once our eyes have met and united,
do we still need a witness?
It is strange that you still do not understand,
and thinking of parting now is cruel!
Why has your heart changed like this?
Wherever you go, will I ever let you leave?
Did I ask you to be fooled?
Or are you just angry with me?
Why has your heart changed like this?
Wherever you go, will I ever let you leave?
Left, right, left, right!
Left, right, left, right!
About turn!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful yet emotionally sincere song captures a heroine addressing her lover, who is feigning anger or trying to turn away from her. Using military drill commands like 'Left right left right' and 'About turn' metaphorically, she playfully orders him back and questions his apparent change of heart and dramatized anger.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (Rhyming)

Innum purindhu kollaathathu pudhumai / Ini pirinthida ninaipathu kodumai

The ending words 'pudhumai' and 'kodumai' rhyme, giving a rhythmic and musical flow to the couplet.

Rhetorical Question

Kangalae kalandha pin / Saatchiyum thevaiyaa…

The singer asks whether witnesses are needed after eyes have met, emphasizing that true love needs no external proof.

Ethugai (Second-letter Agreement)

Kanni en nenjilae / Kaatchi neeillaiyaa

The second consonant sound 'n' ('nn' / 'tc') creates auditory harmony across the lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Naanum Oru Penn (1963) starred S. V. Subbiah, Vijayakumari, and S. S. Rajendran. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. The music was composed by R. Sudarsanam, and the lyrics for the movie were written by Kannadasan and Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.

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