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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yemara Sonnathu

From Naanum Oru Penn · 1963

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Naanum Oru Penn1963

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Yemaara sonnathu naanoDid I ask you to get deceived?
En meedhu kobam thaanoAre you angry at me?
Manam maari povathum yenoWhy is your heart changing?
Engae nee sendraalum viduvenoWherever you go, will I let you leave?
Male
Left right left rightLeft right left right
Left right left rightLeft right left right
About turnAbout turn
Male
{Kangalo mounamaaiEven in silence, your eyes
Kaadhalai pesuthaeSpeak of love
Aiyaiyo un mugamOh dear, your face
Kobathanal veesuthae…} (2)Blows with the fire of anger...
Male
Indha bhaavanai kobamum yenoWhy this feigned anger?
Idhu paavaiyar saagasam thaanoIs this just a lady's playful trick?
Manam maari povathum yenoWhy is your heart changing?
Engae nee sendraalum viduvenoWherever you go, will I let you leave?
Male
Yemaara sonnathu naanoDid I ask you to get deceived?
En meedhu kobam thaanoAre you angry at me?
Manam maari povathum yenoWhy is your heart changing?
Engae nee sendraalum viduvenoWherever you go, will I let you leave?
Male
Left right left rightLeft right left right
Left right left rightLeft right left right
About turnAbout turn
Male
{Punnagai kaatiyaeShowing a smile,
Bothaiyai yetrinaai…You intoxicated me...
Kanniyae paadhiyilOh maiden, midway,
Kathaiyai yen maatrinaai..} (2)Why did you change the story?
Male
Thunai thedi thavikuthae paruvamYouth yearns searching for a companion
Anbai moodi maraikkuthu un garuvamYour pride conceals and hides love
Manam maari povathum yenoWhy is your heart changing?
Engae nee sendraalum viduvenoWherever you go, will I let you leave?
Male
Yemaara sonnathu naanoDid I ask you to get deceived?
En meedhu kobam thaanoAre you angry at me?
Manam maari povathum yenoWhy is your heart changing?
Engae nee sendraalum viduvenoWherever you go, will I let you leave?
Male
Left right left rightLeft right left right
Left right left rightLeft right left right
About turnAbout turn

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Yemaara Sonnathu Naano from the 1963 Tamil film Naanum Oru Penn is a lighthearted, playful track where the lover teases his beloved as she pretends to march away in anger. Using military parade commands like Left right left right and About turn, the song humorously frames her attempt to walk away as a formal march while he refuses to let her go. He notes that despite her fierce expression, her silent eyes reveal her deep affection for him. He questions why her heart seems to have shifted and whether her annoyance is real or just a classic romantic ploy. He reminds her of how she initially enchanted him with her smile and urges her not to let pride hide her love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Yemaara sonnathu naano / En meedhu kobam thaano / Manam maari povathum yeno”

The lines end with rhyming suffixes ('naano', 'thaano', 'yeno'), giving a rhythmic cadence.

Metaphor

“Kobathanal veesuthae…”

Describing her anger as hot blowing embers ('kobathanal'), emphasizing her intense heat of annoyance.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kangalo mounamaai / Kaadhalai pesuthae”

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kangalo' and 'Kaadhalai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Naanum Oru Penn (1963), directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar, starred S. S. Rajendran and C. R. Vijayakumari. The music for the film was composed by R. Sudarsanam, with lyrics penned by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at the 11th National Film Awards.

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