Skip to content

IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Aatha Thottilile

From Devarattam · 2019

Lyricist: Ra. Thanikodi
Singer: Nivas K. Prasanna
Music director: Nivas K. Prasanna
Movie name: Devarattam
Movie release year: 2019
Lyrics added on: 21 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Aaththa thottililae arai naali aadaliyae

Appan thozhmela ambaari yeralaiyae…aaa

Aaththa thottililae arai naali aadaliyae

Appan thozhmela ambaari yeralaiyae

Thaai ootti thingakalaiyae

Thagapan idam thangalaiyae

Neeyootti valarthapullai

Thee mootta nikkiranae

Thaai ootti thingakalaiyae

Thagapan idam thangalaiyae

Neeyootti valarthapullai

Thee mootta nikkiranae

Ammaannu palliyilae

Arichuvadi padikkaiyilae

Akkaa thaan ellaamnu

Enni enni valandhenae

Kunjukku panjaaram

Kodangaiyilae irunthathadi

Panjaaram kalanthathadi

Paathi uyir arunthathadi

Kudicha thaai paalu

Kumattil irukkaiyilae

Idi vanthu vizhunthathunnu

Ellaarum sonnaaga

Paasatha parikoduthu

Paadhivali nikkirenae

Vamsamtha palikoduthu

Valiyaththu ponenae

Ellaamaa thaan irunthu

Iththu ponavalae

Sollaama ponadhenga

Thudikkuthadi en usuru

Ee erumbu andum-nnu

Imaikkaama irunthavalae

Oorumakka vanthiruchu

Urunguriyae mulippatheppo

Maadu alaralaiyae

Valipoonai marikkalaiyae

Kaada saakkuruvi

Kaththi thaan kolaikaliyae

Kudi kavura poguthunnu

Kevuliyum sollaliyae

Maada velakkananju

Maranaththa kuraliyae

Kattililae kuththa vachu

Kaal amukka nenachirunthen

Aal illaa kattilila

Kannurakkam kondathu yen

Oor maala naan vaangi

Un aasi vaangumunnae

Neer maalai oor edukka

Nedunthookkam kondathu yen

Eeraaru saarathil

Yetri vara naanirukka

Ooraaru adikkullae

Ulluranga ponathu yen

En aaththa…aaaa….aa

En aaththa…

En aaththa…

I never swung in my mother's cradle, not even for half a day

I never rode high on my father's shoulders...

I never swung in my mother's cradle, not even for half a day

I never rode high on my father's shoulders

I never ate food fed by a mother's hand

I never grew up sheltered by a father's side

Yet the child you fed and raised

Now stands here to light your funeral fire

I never ate food fed by a mother's hand

I never grew up sheltered by a father's side

Yet the child you fed and raised

Now stands here to light your funeral fire

While writing the word 'Mother' at school,

While learning my very first letters,

Believing my sister was everything to me,

I grew up thinking only of you

Like a sheltering coop for a little chick,

Your bent arm was always my shield

Now that sheltering coop is shattered,

And half my life has been torn away

When the mother's milk I drank

Was still fresh in my throat,

That a bolt of lightning had struck down,

Everyone came and told me

Having lost the only love I had,

I stand helpless in the middle of the road

Having lost my entire family,

I am left completely broken

You who were everything to me,

You have faded away into nothing

Where did you go without saying a word?

My very soul is writhing in pain

Fearful that even a fly or ant might touch me,

You watched over me without blinking

The whole village has gathered here now,

Yet you lie sleeping; when will you wake up?

The cattle gave no cry of warning,

No stray cat crossed my path,

The wild bird of ill omen

Did not screech to warn of death,

That our home was about to be ruined,

Even the lizard did not chirp a warning,

The lamp on the wall niche went out

Without crying out that death had come

I had hoped to seat you up on a cot,

And gently press your tired feet

On this lifeless cot,

Why have your eyes closed in sleep?

Before I could buy a garland of honor

And receive your loving blessings,

While the village carries the funeral water,

Why have you fallen into this endless sleep?

On a grand twelve-pole palanquin,

While I was here to carry you in pride,

Into six feet of earth,

Why did you go to sleep deep within?

Oh my mother...

Oh my mother...

Oh my mother...

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song from the film Devarattam is a traditional Tamil funeral lamentation (Oppari) sung by a younger brother mourning the sudden demise of his elder sister. Having lost his mother and father in early infancy, he never experienced maternal care or paternal warmth. His elder sister stepped into the role of mother, raising him with selfless devotion, constant vigilance, and maternal affection. She served as his entire world from his school days through adulthood. The sudden death of his sister shatters his life completely, leaving him in unimaginable sorrow as he reflects on how the person who protected him from every harm is now lying motionless, forcing him to perform her final rites.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Aaththa thottililae arai naali aadaliyae / Appan thozhmela ambaari yeralaiyae”

The lines end with the rhyming suffix '-laiyae' (aadaliyae, yeralaiyae, thingakalaiyae, thangalaiyae), creating a rhythmic, somber musical cadence characteristic of traditional folk lamentations.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Kunjukku panjaaram / Kodangaiyilae irunthathadi”

The sister's protective, caring hands are compared to a safe cage ('panjaaram') that shelters a vulnerable chick ('kunjukku'), emphasizing her maternal protection.

Folklore Imagery / Omens

“Kudi kavura poguthunnu / Kevuliyum sollaliyae”

References to natural elements like screeching birds, crossing cats, and chirping lizards invoke rural Tamil cultural beliefs regarding bad omens that usually warn of impending death.

Moonaam Ezhuthu Onriyavaruthal / Alliteration

“Thaai ootti thingakalaiyae / Thagapan idam thangalaiyae”

Repetition of consonant sounds across line openings creates acoustic harmony typical of Tamil folk poetry.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Annai Madiyil Kann Thirandhom1988

Kodi ParakuthuMotherhoodLoss

Petretuthu Peyarumittu1961

ManapanthalGriefLoss

En Aatha Pon Aatha1993

UzhavanGriefMotherhood

Thala Saanjuruche2023

Raavana KottamGriefLoss

Alangaara Pandhal2018

Vada ChennaiGriefLoss

From the same album

More songs from Devarattam

Ulagam Unna Vittu2019

DevarattamComforting

Lesa Lesa Lesa2019

DevarattamTender

DevarattamDefiant

Pasappukkalli2019

DevarattamPlayful

Madura Palapalakkuthu2019

DevarattamCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.