Ambigaiye Muthumari
From Pathi Bakthi · 1958
- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Pathi Bakthi1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ongaara roopini aangaara mogini | O embodiment of the sacred sound Om, O fierce enchantress, |
| Ukkrama kaali neeyae | You are the ferocious Goddess Kali herself! |
| Chorus :Aamaa | Chorus: Yes! |
| Male :Reengara naadham nee sringaara maadhu nee en | Male: You are the humming musical sound, you are the graceful maiden, |
| Nenjooril vaazhum thaayae | O Mother who resides in the town of my heart! |
| Chorus :Aamaa | Chorus: Yes! |
| Female | |
| Inbam endru solla kettadhundu | I have heard people speak of happiness, |
| Adhu enga veetu pakkam vandhadhunda..aaaa..aaa | But has it ever come anywhere near my home? |
| Chorus | |
| Inbam endru solla kettadhundu | I have heard people speak of happiness, |
| Adhu enga veetu pakkam vandhadhunda | But has it ever come anywhere near my home? |
| Female :Panbum anbum nirainjirukkudhu | Female: Good character and love are abundant in our lives, |
| Panam adhai kandu odhungi nikkudhu | Seeing that, wealth steps aside and stays far away! |
| Chorus :Panbum anbum nirainjirukkudhu | Chorus: Good character and love are abundant in our lives, |
| Panam adhai kandu odhungi nikkudhu | Seeing that, wealth steps aside and stays far away! |
| Male | |
| Thunbam vandhengalai sondham kondaadudhu | Sorrows come and claim us as their own kin, |
| Soozhnilaiyum adhukku rombha thunaiyaaguthu..haa..aaa.aa | And our harsh circumstances greatly aid that sorrow! |
| Chorus :Soozhnilaiyum adhukku rombha thunaiyaaguthu | Chorus: And our harsh circumstances greatly aid that sorrow! |
| Female :Soodhukaarar thottililae kaadhum kannum kettu | Female: In the cradle of deceitful oppressors, losing its sight and hearing, |
| Nalla needhiyadhu kuzhandhai pola urangudhamma | Noble justice slumbers helplessly like a child, O Mother! |
| All :Adhai ninaikaiyile makkal manadhu kalangudhamma | All: Thinking about this makes the hearts of the people break and tremble, O Mother! |
| Kaasi visalaatchi kanya kuruchi vadivalaghi | O Kasi Visalakshi, Kanyakumari, beautiful goddess, |
| Pechi sadachi periyaatchi | O Pechi, Sadachi, Periyachi, |
| Kaatchi kodukkum meenatchi | O Meenakshi who grants divine vision! |
| Female | |
| Kuraigal theera kodumaigal maara | To resolve our grievances and eliminate cruelties, |
| Karunai kannaal paaramma | Look upon us with your merciful eyes, O Mother! |
| All :Kumbidu podum ezhai engal | All: We, the poor who bow before you with folded hands, |
| Kudumbam vazha venumamma | Need our families to survive and thrive, O Mother! |
| Female | |
| Therinju nadakkum soozhchigalai kandu unmai | Seeing the deliberate conspiracies being hatched, Truth |
| Olinju marainju vaazhudhamma | Lives hiding away out of fear, O Mother! |
| Indru paninju nadakkum eliyavaridam | Today, among the humble poor who bow down to endure life, |
| Pasiyum piniyum pandhayampodudhu | Hunger and disease race against each other in a cruel contest! |
| Male | |
| Konjam yemaandhaal vannnjam theerkka pakkudhu | If one is slightly careless, vengeance seeks to destroy them; |
| Thajamamma ulaga nilai idhu thanamma | Pity us, O Mother! This is the tragic state of the world! |
| Chorus :Amma thajamamma ulaga nilai idhu thanamma | Chorus: O Mother, pity us! This indeed is the tragic state of the world! |
ஓங்கார ரூபிணி ஆங்கார மோகினி
உக்ரமா காளி நீயே
குழு :
ஆமா
ரீங்கார நாதம் நீ ஸ்ருங்கார மாது நீ என்
நெஞ்சூரில் வாழும் தாயே!
குழு :
ஆமா
O embodiment of the sacred sound Om, O fierce enchantress,
You are the ferocious Goddess Kali herself!
Chorus: Yes!
Male: You are the humming musical sound, you are the graceful maiden,
O Mother who resides in the town of my heart!
Chorus: Yes!
அம்பிகையே முத்து மாரியம்மா
உன்னை நம்பி வந்தோம் ஒரு காரியமா
அம்பிகையே முத்து மாரியம்மா
உன்னை நம்பி வந்தோம் ஒரு காரியமா
I have heard people speak of happiness,
But has it ever come anywhere near my home?
ஆளை விழுங்கி ஏப்பமிடும்
காலமம்மா காளியம்மா
ஏழை எங்கள் நிலைமையைத்தான்
எடுத்துச் சொல்றோம் கேளுமம்மா
I have heard people speak of happiness,
But has it ever come anywhere near my home?
Female: Good character and love are abundant in our lives,
Seeing that, wealth steps aside and stays far away!
Chorus: Good character and love are abundant in our lives,
Seeing that, wealth steps aside and stays far away!
சமயபுரத்து மகமாயி சகல உலக மாகாளி
கன்னபுரத்து மகமாயி காஞ்சிபுரத்து காமாட்சி
Sorrows come and claim us as their own kin,
And our harsh circumstances greatly aid that sorrow!
Chorus: And our harsh circumstances greatly aid that sorrow!
Female: In the cradle of deceitful oppressors, losing its sight and hearing,
Noble justice slumbers helplessly like a child, O Mother!
All: Thinking about this makes the hearts of the people break and tremble, O Mother!
O Kasi Visalakshi, Kanyakumari, beautiful goddess,
O Pechi, Sadachi, Periyachi,
O Meenakshi who grants divine vision!
குறைகள் தீரக் கொடுமைகள் மாற
கருணைக் கண்ணால் பாருமம்மா!
கும்பிடு போடும் ஏழை எங்கள்
குடும்பம் வாழ வேணுமம்மா
To resolve our grievances and eliminate cruelties,
Look upon us with your merciful eyes, O Mother!
All: We, the poor who bow before you with folded hands,
Need our families to survive and thrive, O Mother!
அம்பிகையே முத்து மாரியம்மா-உன்னை
நம்பி வந்தோம் ஒரு காரியமா
Seeing the deliberate conspiracies being hatched, Truth
Lives hiding away out of fear, O Mother!
Today, among the humble poor who bow down to endure life,
Hunger and disease race against each other in a cruel contest!
இன்பம் என்று சொல்லக் கேட்டதுண்டு
அது எங்க வீட்டுப் பக்கம் வந்ததுண்டா
குழு :
இன்பம் என்று சொல்லக் கேட்டதுண்டு
அது எங்க வீட்டுப் பக்கம் வந்ததுண்டா
பண்பும் அன்பும் நிறைஞ்சிருக்குது
பணம் அதைக் கண்டு ஒதுங்கி நிக்குது
குழு :
பண்பும் அன்பும் நிறைஞ்சிருக்குது
பணம் அதைக் கண்டு ஒதுங்கி நிக்குது
If one is slightly careless, vengeance seeks to destroy them;
Pity us, O Mother! This is the tragic state of the world!
Chorus: O Mother, pity us! This indeed is the tragic state of the world!
துன்பம் வந்தெங்களைச் சொந்தம் கொண்டாடுது
சூழ்நிலையும் அதுக்கு ரொம்பத் துணையாகுது
குழு :
சூழ்நிலையும் அதுக்கு ரொம்பத் துணையாகுது
சூதுக்காரர் தொட்டிலிலே காதும் கண்ணும் கெட்டு
நல்ல நீதியது குழந்தை போல உறங்குதம்மா
அனைவரும் :
அதை நினைக்கையிலே மக்கள் மனது கலங்குதம்மா
காசி விசலாட்சி கன்யா குறிச்சி வடிவழகி
பேச்சி சடச்சி பெரியாட்சி
காட்சி கொடுக்கும் மீனாட்சி
குறைகள் தீரக் கொடுமைகள் மாற
கருணைக் கண்ணால் பாருமம்மா!
அனைவரும் :
கும்பிடு போடும் ஏழை எங்கள்
குடும்பம் வாழ வேணுமம்மா
அம்பிகையே முத்து மாரியம்மா-உன்னை
நம்பி வந்தோம் ஒரு காரியமா
தெரிஞ்சு நடக்கும் சூழ்ச்சிகளைக் கண்டு உண்மை
ஒளிஞ்சு மறைஞ்சு வாழுதம்மா
இன்று பணிஞ்சு நடக்கும் எளியவரிடம்
பசியும் பிணியும் பந்தயம் போடுது!
கொஞ்சம் ஏமாந்தால் வஞ்சம் தீர்க்கப் பாக்குது
தஞ்சமம்மா உலக நிலை இதுதானம்மா
குழு :
அம்மா தஞ்சமம்மா உலக நிலை இதுதானம்மா
தேவைக்கேற்ற வகையில் உன்னை
போற்றுகிறோம் தூற்றுகிறோம்!
தீர்ப்பளித்துக் காப்பதுந்தன் திறமையம்மா
உன் திருவடியைப் பணிவதெங்கள் கடமையம்மா!
அக்கினிக் காளி பத்திரக்காளி அந்தரக்காளி
உதிரக்காளி நடனக்காளி சுடலைக்காளீ!
குறைகள் தீரக் கொடுமைகள் மாற
கருணைக் கண்ணால் பாருமம்மா
கும்பிடுபோடும் ஏழை எங்கள்
குடும்பம் வாழ வேணுமம்மா
அம்பிகையே முத்து மாரியம்மா
உன்னை நம்பி வந்தோம் ஒரு காரியமா
அம்பிகையே முத்து மாரியம்மா
உன்னை நம்பி வந்தோம் ஒரு காரியமா
Ongaara roopini aangaara mogini
O embodiment of the sacred sound Om, O fierce enchantress,
Ukkrama kaali neeyae
You are the ferocious Goddess Kali herself!
Chorus :Aamaa
Chorus: Yes!
Male :Reengara naadham nee sringaara maadhu nee en
Male: You are the humming musical sound, you are the graceful maiden,
Nenjooril vaazhum thaayae
O Mother who resides in the town of my heart!
Chorus :Aamaa
Chorus: Yes!
Inbam endru solla kettadhundu
I have heard people speak of happiness,
Adhu enga veetu pakkam vandhadhunda..aaaa..aaa
But has it ever come anywhere near my home?
Inbam endru solla kettadhundu
I have heard people speak of happiness,
Adhu enga veetu pakkam vandhadhunda
But has it ever come anywhere near my home?
Female :Panbum anbum nirainjirukkudhu
Female: Good character and love are abundant in our lives,
Panam adhai kandu odhungi nikkudhu
Seeing that, wealth steps aside and stays far away!
Chorus :Panbum anbum nirainjirukkudhu
Chorus: Good character and love are abundant in our lives,
Panam adhai kandu odhungi nikkudhu
Seeing that, wealth steps aside and stays far away!
Thunbam vandhengalai sondham kondaadudhu
Sorrows come and claim us as their own kin,
Soozhnilaiyum adhukku rombha thunaiyaaguthu..haa..aaa.aa
And our harsh circumstances greatly aid that sorrow!
Chorus :Soozhnilaiyum adhukku rombha thunaiyaaguthu
Chorus: And our harsh circumstances greatly aid that sorrow!
Female :Soodhukaarar thottililae kaadhum kannum kettu
Female: In the cradle of deceitful oppressors, losing its sight and hearing,
Nalla needhiyadhu kuzhandhai pola urangudhamma
Noble justice slumbers helplessly like a child, O Mother!
All :Adhai ninaikaiyile makkal manadhu kalangudhamma
All: Thinking about this makes the hearts of the people break and tremble, O Mother!
Kaasi visalaatchi kanya kuruchi vadivalaghi
O Kasi Visalakshi, Kanyakumari, beautiful goddess,
Pechi sadachi periyaatchi
O Pechi, Sadachi, Periyachi,
Kaatchi kodukkum meenatchi
O Meenakshi who grants divine vision!
Kuraigal theera kodumaigal maara
To resolve our grievances and eliminate cruelties,
Karunai kannaal paaramma
Look upon us with your merciful eyes, O Mother!
All :Kumbidu podum ezhai engal
All: We, the poor who bow before you with folded hands,
Kudumbam vazha venumamma
Need our families to survive and thrive, O Mother!
Therinju nadakkum soozhchigalai kandu unmai
Seeing the deliberate conspiracies being hatched, Truth
Olinju marainju vaazhudhamma
Lives hiding away out of fear, O Mother!
Indru paninju nadakkum eliyavaridam
Today, among the humble poor who bow down to endure life,
Pasiyum piniyum pandhayampodudhu
Hunger and disease race against each other in a cruel contest!
Konjam yemaandhaal vannnjam theerkka pakkudhu
If one is slightly careless, vengeance seeks to destroy them;
Thajamamma ulaga nilai idhu thanamma
Pity us, O Mother! This is the tragic state of the world!
Chorus :Amma thajamamma ulaga nilai idhu thanamma
Chorus: O Mother, pity us! This indeed is the tragic state of the world!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Pathi Bakthi' (1958) is a poignant social commentary structured as a devotional prayer to the divine Mother Kali and various regional mother goddesses. Written by the legendary poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, the song presents the stark reality of the honest poor who possess virtues like love and integrity, yet remain completely deprived of wealth and basic happiness. The lyricist uses sharp metaphors: justice slumbers blindly in the cradle of corrupt and deceitful men, truth hides in fear of wicked conspiracies, and hunger and disease compete in a race against the helpless working class. The song builds into a powerful collective plea asking the divine mother to look upon the impoverished with mercy, destroy injustice, and enable poor families to survive.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (உருவகப்படுத்தல்)
“Nalla needhiyadhu kuzhandhai pola urangudhamma”
Justice is personified as a blind and deaf child sleeping in the cradle of deceivers ('Soodhukaarar thottililae... needhiyadhu kuzhandhai pola urangudhamma'). Hunger and disease are personified as athletes competing in a race ('Pasiyum piniyum pandhayampodudhu').
Edhugai (Monorhyme / Second-letter Rhyming)
“Panbum anbum nirainjirukkudhu / Panam adhai kandu odhungi nikkudhu”
The second consonant sound matches across lines, a classic Tamil poetic meter (e.g., 'Panbum' / 'Panam' / 'Thunbam' and 'Therinju' / 'Olinju').
Moonaai (Alliteration)
“Pasiyum piniyum pandhayampodudhu”
Repetition of initial phonetic sounds across words in a line (e.g., 'P' sound in 'Pasiyum piniyum pandhayampodudhu').
Irony and Satire (முரண் நகை)
“Panbum anbum nirainjirukkudhu / Panam adhai kandu odhungi nikkudhu”
The poet uses ironic juxtaposition to highlight class inequality—having good character drives money away, while sorrow claims the poor as its own relative.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for integrating strong communist and egalitarian philosophies into mainstream Tamil cinema lyrics. In this song, he takes the traditional Amman/Kali devotional song genre and transforms it into a socio-political critique of capitalist exploitation and corruption.
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