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Aandi Petra Selvan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Amma

From Aandi Petra Selvan · 1957

Lyricist
Puratchi Dasan
Singer
R. Balasaraswathy
Music director
T. Chalapathi Rao
Movie name
Aandi Petra Selvan
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
15 Feb 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Amma amma amma ena
Indru kettu naan magizhnthaenae
Sinthaikaaruthal magizhnthaalae
Adhai indru kettu naan magizhnthaenae
Sinthaikaaruthal magizhnthaalae
Visaaramindri valiyumindri
Ennai ammaavena vaayaara mozhinthaai
Indru kettu naan magizhnthaenae
Sinthaikaaruthal magizhnthaalae
Sinthai magizhnthidum enthan paalagan
Sinthai magizhnthidum enthan paalagan
Punnagai mugamae aaruthal kodukkum
Sinthai magizhnthidum enthan paalagan
Punnagai mugamae aaruthal kodukkum
Kallam kabadamae illaap pillaiyai
Kallam kabadamae illaap pillaiyai
Kaappaai enthan devathayaalaa
Kannae keladaa magizhnthaenae
Sinthaikaaruthal magizhnthaalae
Ninthaigal thondriya vaazhkkai yaedho
Ninthaigal thondriya vaazhkkai yaedho
Viduthalai piranthathu seeronga
Viduthalai piranthathu seeronga
En magan neeyae kann kalangaatahe
En magan neeyae kann kalangaatahe
En kannae nee un thaai naanae
Entha naalilum piriyaenae
Sinthaikaaruthal magizhnthaalae
Amma amma amma ena
Indru kettu naan magizhnthaenae
As you called me "Mother, mother, mother,"
Hearing it today filled me with joy,
It brought comfort and delight to my heart.
Hearing that today, I was filled with joy,
It brought comfort and delight to my heart.
Without any worry, without any pain,
You called me "Mother" with all your heart.
Hearing it today, I was filled with joy,
It brought comfort and delight to my heart.
My little boy who gladdens my heart,
My little boy who gladdens my heart,
His smiling face gives me comfort.
My little boy who gladdens my heart,
His smiling face gives me comfort.
This innocent child who knows no deceit,
This innocent child who knows no deceit,
Protect him, my merciful God!
Listen, my precious child, I rejoiced,
It brought comfort and delight to my heart.
In this life once filled with insults and pain,
In this life once filled with insults and pain,
Freedom was born for our life to flourish,
Freedom was born for our life to flourish.
You are my son, do not weep,
You are my son, do not weep.
You are my precious darling, and I am your mother;
I will never part from you, ever.
It brought comfort and delight to my heart.
As you called me "Mother, mother, mother,"
Hearing it today, I was filled with joy!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This heartfelt lullaby from 'Aandi Petra Selvan' captures the pure, overwhelming bliss of a mother hearing her child call her 'Amma' for the first time. The innocent voice of her child acts as a healing balm, washing away all her past sorrow, worries, and societal pain. She marvels at her son's pure, guileless smile, which brings immense comfort to her soul, and prays to the divine for his everlasting protection. Reflecting on a life previously shadowed by hardships and insults, she sees her child as a source of rebirth and true liberation. She tenderly comforts her crying child, assuring him that she is his loving mother who will never abandon him, ending with a passionate reaffirmation of her endless joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

“Amma amma amma ena”

The repetition of 'Amma' in the opening line emphasizes the profound emotional thrill and reverence attached to the word 'Mother'.

Monorhyme / Antaadhi-style chorus structure

“Sinthaikaaruthal magizhnthaalae”

The line 'Sinthaikaaruthal magizhnthaalae' is repeated rhythmically as a refrain throughout the song to anchor the emotional core of peace and gladness.

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Ninthaigal thondriya vaazhkkai yaedho”

The repetition of the second letter 'n' sound across 'Ninthaigal' and 'Viduthalai' adds melodic unity to the lines addressing past hardship and present freedom.

Assonance and Idiomatic Pairings

“Kallam kabadamae illaap pillaiyai”

The phrase 'Kallam kabadamae' uses alliterative Tamil pairing to poetically denote absolute innocence and freedom from trickery.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Aandi Petra Selvan' (1957) featured music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao with lyrics by Puratchi Dasan. Rendered with profound warmth by veteran singer R. Balasaraswathy, this song remains an enduring example of mid-20th century Tamil cinema's devotional treatement of motherly love.

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