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Isaimozhi
Maaveeran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Amma Sonthamillai

From Maaveeran · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Maaveeran
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
25 Apr 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Amma…..amma…..
Sonthamillai banthamillai
Thikkilaamal nirkkum pillai
Thukkam thannai theerkka vendum neyae
Maha dhurgai ennum per padaiththa thaayae
Sonthamillai banthamillai
Thikkilaamal nirkkum pillai
Thukkam thannai theerkka vendum neyae
Maha dhurgai ennum per padaiththa thaayae
En amma…..neeyillaiyae thaayillaiyae
Thaayillaiyael saeyillaiyae
Sonthamillai banthamillai
Thikkilaamal nirkkum pillai
Thukkam thannai theerkka vendum neyae
Maha dhurgai ennum per padaiththa thaayae
Aayiram kann deviyae durgaiyae
Ambigaiyae neeliyae sooliyae
Aayiram kann deviyae durgaiyae
Ambigaiyae neeliyae sooliyae
Ninaiththaal thuyar maattra valla sakthiyillaiyo
Vinaiyai podiyaakka valla soolamillaiyo
Ninaiththaal thuyar maattra valla sakthiyillaiyo
Vinaiyai podiyaakka valla soolamillaiyo
Yaezhai meedhu kobamo enna unthan thaapamo
Yaar koduththa saabamo naan purintha paavamo
Koyil konda neeyum enna
Kallil seitha roobamo….
Sonthamillai banthamillai
Thikkilaamal nirkkum pillai
Thukkam thannai theerkka vendum neyae
Maha dhurgai ennum per padaiththa thaayae
En amma…..neeyillaiyae thaayillaiyae
Thaayillaiyael saeyillaiyae
Azhuthu thozhuthu vanangum enathu kuraiyai keladi
Pirinthu kidakkum uravu irandai inaiththu kaattadi
Dhisaigalthorum pirinthu alainthum niyaayam thoongumaa
Puliyil yaeri puvanam muzhuthum pavani sendru vaa
Thavarinaal en maeniyil soolam kondu paaichchuven
Naadi narambu anaiththaiyum soodam kondu kaaichchuven
Iraivan manathu thirakkumaa idhaya kadhavu thirakkumo
Ilaiya manathu thudikkumpothu vizhigal moodi kidakkumo….
Mother... Oh Mother...
I have no family, no bonds of kin,
I am a child standing helpless with nowhere to turn.
You alone must bring an end to my sorrow,
Oh Mother who bears the mighty name of Durga!
I have no family, no bonds of kin,
I am a child standing helpless with nowhere to turn.
You alone must bring an end to my sorrow,
Oh Mother who bears the mighty name of Durga!
Oh my Mother... without you, I have no mother,
and without a mother, there is no child...
I have no family, no bonds of kin,
I am a child standing helpless with nowhere to turn.
You alone must bring an end to my sorrow,
Oh Mother who bears the mighty name of Durga!
Oh Goddess Durga with a thousand eyes,
Oh Mother Ambika, dark goddess wielding the trident!
Oh Goddess Durga with a thousand eyes,
Oh Mother Ambika, dark goddess wielding the trident!
If you wish, don't you have the power to remove this pain?
Don't you have the trident that can crush all ill fate to dust?
If you wish, don't you have the power to remove this pain?
Don't you have the trident that can crush all ill fate to dust?
Are you angry with this poor soul? What is your grievance?
Is this someone's curse, or is it a sin I committed?
Are you, who reside in this temple,
merely an idol made of stone...?
I have no family, no bonds of kin,
I am a child standing helpless with nowhere to turn.
You alone must bring an end to my sorrow,
Oh Mother who bears the mighty name of Durga!
Oh my Mother... without you, I have no mother,
and without a mother, there is no child...
Hear the plea of this devotee who weeps and prays to you!
Reunite the two separated lives and show your grace!
Even as we wander lost in every direction, can justice remain asleep?
Mount your tiger and ride across the entire world!
If you fail me, I will pierce my own body with a trident,
I will scorch every pulse and vein with burning camphor!
Will the heart of God soften? Will the inner door open?
When a young heart trembles in agony, can your eyes remain shut...?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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