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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Amma Sonthamillai

From Maaveeran · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Maaveeran1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Amma…..amma…..Mother... mother...
Sonthamillai banthamillaiThere are no relatives, no bonds
Thikkilaamal nirkkum pillaiA child standing directionless and helpless
Thukkam thannai theerkka vendum neyaeYou yourself must relieve this sorrow
Maha dhurgai ennum per padaiththa thaayaeO mother named Goddess Maha Durga
Male
Sonthamillai banthamillaiThere are no relatives, no bonds
Thikkilaamal nirkkum pillaiA child standing directionless and helpless
Thukkam thannai theerkka vendum neyaeYou yourself must relieve this sorrow
Maha dhurgai ennum per padaiththa thaayaeO mother named Goddess Maha Durga
Male
En amma…..neeyillaiyae thaayillaiyaeMy mother... if you are not there, there is no mother
Thaayillaiyael saeyillaiyaeWithout a mother, there is no child
Male
Sonthamillai banthamillaiThere are no relatives, no bonds
Thikkilaamal nirkkum pillaiA child standing directionless and helpless
Thukkam thannai theerkka vendum neyaeYou yourself must relieve this sorrow
Maha dhurgai ennum per padaiththa thaayaeO mother named Goddess Maha Durga
Male
Aayiram kann deviyae durgaiyaeGoddess Durga with a thousand eyes
Ambigaiyae neeliyae sooliyaeO Goddess Ambigai, Neeli, holder of the trident
Aayiram kann deviyae durgaiyaeGoddess Durga with a thousand eyes
Ambigaiyae neeliyae sooliyaeO Goddess Ambigai, Neeli, holder of the trident
Male
Ninaiththaal thuyar maattra valla sakthiyillaiyoDo you not have the power to change sorrow if you wish?
Vinaiyai podiyaakka valla soolamillaiyoDo you not have the powerful trident to turn karma into dust?
Ninaiththaal thuyar maattra valla sakthiyillaiyoDo you not have the power to change sorrow if you wish?
Vinaiyai podiyaakka valla soolamillaiyoDo you not have the powerful trident to turn karma into dust?
Male
Yaezhai meedhu kobamo enna unthan thaapamoIs it anger at this poor soul, or what is your distress?
Yaar koduththa saabamo naan purintha paavamoIs this a curse given by someone, or a sin committed by me?
Koyil konda neeyum ennaWhy are you, who resides in this temple,
Kallil seitha roobamo….A figure made of mere stone?
Male
Sonthamillai banthamillaiThere are no relatives, no bonds
Thikkilaamal nirkkum pillaiA child standing directionless and helpless
Thukkam thannai theerkka vendum neyaeYou yourself must relieve this sorrow
Maha dhurgai ennum per padaiththa thaayaeO mother named Goddess Maha Durga
Male
En amma…..neeyillaiyae thaayillaiyaeMy mother... if you are not there, there is no mother
Thaayillaiyael saeyillaiyaeWithout a mother, there is no child
Male
Azhuthu thozhuthu vanangum enathu kuraiyai keladiListen to my plight as I bow down weeping and worshipping
Pirinthu kidakkum uravu irandai inaiththu kaattadiUnite and show the two separated relationships
Dhisaigalthorum pirinthu alainthum niyaayam thoongumaaWhile scattered and wandering in all directions, will justice sleep?
Puliyil yaeri puvanam muzhuthum pavani sendru vaaRide on your tiger and process across the entire world
Male
Thavarinaal en maeniyil soolam kondu paaichchuvenIf you fail, I will pierce my own body with a trident
Naadi narambu anaiththaiyum soodam kondu kaaichchuvenI will burn all my nerves and veins with camphor light
Iraivan manathu thirakkumaa idhaya kadhavu thirakkumoWill God's mind open, will the doors of the heart open?
Ilaiya manathu thudikkumpothu vizhigal moodi kidakkumo….When a young heart throbs with pain, will your eyes remain closed?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Maaveeran' (1986) is an emotionally charged devotional appeal directed towards Goddess Durga. The speaker, feeling utterly abandoned and without family or guidance, surrenders at the feet of the Mother Goddess, questioning why she remains silent like a stone idol in the face of immense suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

En amma…..neeyillaiyae thaayillaiyae / Thaayillaiyael saeyillaiyae

The repetition of the suffix '-illaiyae' at the line ends creates a rhythmic and sorrowful echo of lack and void.

Edukai (Second Letter Assonance)

Ninaiththaal thuyar maattra valla sakthiyillaiyo / Vinaiyai podiyaakka valla soolamillaiyo

The second consonant sound 'na' repeats in 'Ninaiththaal' and 'Vinaiyai', establishing a melodic structure across lines.

Rhetorical Questioning (Vina) / Pathos

Koyil konda neeyum enna / Kallil seitha roobamo….

The lyrics feature intense questioning of the deity's presence and mercy to evoke pathos and desperation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Maaveeran (1986) was Rajinikanth's home production and the official Tamil remake of Amitabh Bachchan's hit Hindi film 'Mard' (1985). This song, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and powerfully rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan, mirrors the iconic Durga Puja sequence from the original Hindi movie.

Keep listening

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