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Lyrics & meaning

Akka Akka Nee

From Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Akka akka nee akka illaiElder sister, elder sister, you are not just an elder sister
Male :Mama mama nee mama illaiMale: Uncle, uncle, you are not just an uncle
Male
Thanthai yaaru thaai yaaru naanga paarththathillaiWho is a father, who is a mother, we have never seen them
Antha yaekkam endrum illaiyaeBut we never had that longing
Male
Akka akka nee akka illaiElder sister, elder sister, you are not just an elder sister
Male :Mama mama nee mama illaiMale: Uncle, uncle, you are not just an uncle
Both :Naanga unga pillaigal polae…..ae…Both: We are like your own children
Male
Akka akka nee akka illaiElder sister, elder sister, you are not just an elder sister
Male :Mama mama nee mama illaiMale: Uncle, uncle, you are not just an uncle
Male
Thanthai yaaru thaai yaaru naanga paarththathillaiWho is a father, who is a mother, we have never seen them
Antha yaekkam endrum illaiyaeBut we never had that longing
Male
Akka akka nee amma polaeElder sister, elder sister, you are like a mother
Male :Mama mama nee appa polaeMale: Uncle, uncle, you are like a father
Both :Naanga unga pillaigal polae…..ae…Both: We are like your own children
Male
Panbu enbathai paasam enbathaiWhat character is, what affection is
Anbu enbathai akkaa sonnaalWhat love is, elder sister taught us
Male
Ulagam enpathai uravu enbathaiWhat the world is, what relationships are
Unmai enbathai mama sonnaarWhat truth is, uncle taught us
Male
Akkaavin theerppukkoru appeal illaThere is no appeal against sister's verdict
Mamavum vaarththai maariyathillaUncle has never gone back on his word
Male
Engalukku vaalaatta sudhanthiram illaWe do not have the freedom to misbehave
Ungalukkum kobam vanthaal nirantharam illaAnd even if you get angry, it is never permanent
Male
Akka akka nee akka illaiElder sister, elder sister, you are not just an elder sister
Male :Mama mama nee mama illaiMale: Uncle, uncle, you are not just an uncle
Male
Thanthai yaaru thaai yaaru naanga paarththathillaiWho is a father, who is a mother, we have never seen them
Antha yaekkam endrum illaiyaeBut we never had that longing
Male
Akka akka nee akka illaiElder sister, elder sister, you are not just an elder sister
Male :Mama mama nee mama illaiMale: Uncle, uncle, you are not just an uncle
Both :Naanga unga pillaigal polae…..ae…Both: We are like your own children
Male
Akka akka nee akka illaiElder sister, elder sister, you are not just an elder sister
Male :Mama mama nee mama illaiMale: Uncle, uncle, you are not just an uncle
Male
Iniyoru piravi engalukirunthaaIf we have another birth ahead
Unga pillaiyaai naanga porakkanumWe should be born as your children
Male
Thanga ullaame anbu vellamaeOh golden heart, oh flood of love
Unga paaraththa naaga sumakkanumWe want to carry your burdens
Male
Naanga oru nandri solla vaai mozhi illaWe have no spoken words to express our gratitude
Kanneera pola oru vaarththaiyum illaThere is no word as pure as tears
Male
Akkaalukku idhuvaraikkum pillainga illaiElder sister does not have children till now
Engala nenachchuththaano peththukkavillaDid she choose not to give birth thinking of us?
Male
Akka akka nee akka illaiElder sister, elder sister, you are not just an elder sister
Male :Mama mama nee mama illaiMale: Uncle, uncle, you are not just an uncle
Male
Thanthai yaaru thaai yaaru naanga paarththathillaiWho is a father, who is a mother, we have never seen them
Both :Antha yaekkam endrum illaiyaeBoth: But we never had that longing
Male
Akka akka nee amma polaeElder sister, elder sister, you are like a mother
Male :Mama mama nee appa polaeMale: Uncle, uncle, you are like a father
Both :Naanga unga pillaigal polae…..ae…Both: We are like your own children

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi expresses emotional gratitude and deep devotion from younger siblings towards their elder sister and her husband. Having lost or never known their parents, the siblings declare that they never missed parental love because the sister and uncle stepped into those roles completely, providing discipline, moral guidance, and unconditional warmth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Akka akka nee amma polae / Male :Mama mama nee appa polae

Compares the elder sister and brother-in-law to parents using the comparison suffix 'polae' (like).

Repetition (Edukku Thodar)

Akka akka nee akka illai / Male :Mama mama nee mama illai

Repeating 'Akka' and 'Mama' consecutively to emphasize affection and closeness.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thanga ullaame anbu vellamae

Directly metaphorizes the guardian's heart as gold and love as a rising flood.

Anaphora / Sound Rhyming (Ethirai / Monai)

Panbu enbathai paasam enbathai / Anbu enbathai akkaa sonnaal

Rhythmic repetition of '-enbathai' across parallel lines to structure moral lessons.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi' (1987) was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. Directed by Visu, the film is known for its classic central theme of family bonding and selfless sacrifice.

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