Amma Appa Sandai
From Kattila Thottila · 1973
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Saibaba, M. R. Vijaya, Jayaraman
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Kattila Thottila1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Amma appa sandaiyilae | In the fight between mother and father |
| Anaathai aanom pillaigalae | We children became like orphans |
| Amma appa sandaiyilae | In the fight between mother and father |
| Anaathai aanom pillaigalae | We children became like orphans |
| Male | |
| Summaayirukka mudiyallae | We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing |
| Male :Saerththu vaikkavum vazhiyillae | Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either |
| Male :Summaayirukka mudiyallae | Male: We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing |
| Male :Saerththu vaikkavum vazhiyillae | Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either |
| Female :Amma | Female: Mother |
| Male :Appa | Male: Father |
| Female | |
| Amma appa sandaiyilae | In the fight between mother and father |
| Anaathai aanom pillaigalae | We children became like orphans |
| Male :Summaayirukka mudiyallae | Male: We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing |
| Male :Saerththu vaikkavum vazhiyillae | Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either |
| Female :Vazhiyillae | Female: No way |
| Male :Vazhiyillae | Male: No way |
| Female :Vazhiyillae | Female: No way |
| Chorus | |
| Amma…pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi…. | Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger... |
| Female | |
| Pozhuthu vidinjaa coffee kodukka | To make and give coffee when the day dawns |
| Amma vendaama | Don't we need a mother? |
| Naama azhuthu vadinjaa kaasu kodukka | When we cry and crumble, to give us money |
| Appa vendaama | Don't we need a father? |
| Male | |
| Appa sutta idlythanilae | In the idli cooked by father |
| Uppae irukaathu | There won't even be any salt |
| Appa sutta idlythanilae | In the idli cooked by father |
| Uppae irukaathu | There won't even be any salt |
| Male | |
| Ada amma namakku marunthu tharaatti | Oh, if mother doesn't give us medicine |
| Udambae irukkaathu | Our very health won't survive |
| Chorus :Udambae irukkaathu | Chorus: Our health won't survive |
| Amma pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi…. | Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger... |
| Female | |
| Oorukkullae sandai | If a fight breaks out in the town |
| Nadanthaa appa vakkeelu | Father is the lawyer who handles it |
| Male :Udambukkullae sandai | Male: If a fight breaks out inside the body |
| Nadanthaa amma vakkeelu | Mother is the lawyer who cures it |
| Male | |
| Amma appa sandai pidiththaa | If mother and father fight with each other |
| Yaarthaan vakkeelu | Who then is the lawyer? |
| Female :Adhai theerththu vaikkavum | Female: To solve that dispute |
| Saerththu vaikkavum naamthaan vakkeelu | And bring them together, we are the lawyers |
| Chorus :Naamthaan vakkeelu | Chorus: We are the lawyers |
| Amma pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi…. | Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger... |
| Female | |
| Mookku nuniyilae kobam | Anger at the tip of the nose |
| Mulaichchu mookkae rendaachchu | Sprouted and split the nose into two |
| Naakku nuniyil vaarththai | Words at the tip of the tongue |
| Thadichchu pechae ninnaachchu | Thickened and brought conversation to a halt |
| Male | |
| Bat-kkum panthu-kkum virotham | If enmity arises between the bat and the ball |
| Vanthaa panthayam ennaagum | What will become of the match? |
| Vettikkum podavaikkum | If there is a contest between the dhoti and the saree |
| Potti irunthaa veedae kaadaagum | The home itself will turn into a forest |
| Female | |
| Perukku munnae intial poda | To put an initial before our name |
| Appaa vendaamo | Don't we need a father? |
| Perukku munnae intial poda | To put an initial before our name |
| Appaa vendaamo | Don't we need a father? |
| Female | |
| Namma peththava yaarunnu | When others ask who gave birth to us |
| Maththava kettaa amma vendaamo | Don't we need a mother? |
| Chorus :Solla amma vendaamo | Chorus: To tell them, don't we need a mother? |
| Amma pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi…. | Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger... |
அம்மா அப்பா சண்டையிலே
அனாதை ஆனோம் பிள்ளைகளே
அம்மா அப்பா சண்டையிலே
அனாதை ஆனோம் பிள்ளைகளே
In the fight between mother and father
We children became like orphans
In the fight between mother and father
We children became like orphans
சும்மாயிருக்க முடியல்லே
சேர்த்து வைக்கவும் வழியில்லே
சும்மாயிருக்கவும் முடியல்லே
சேர்த்து வைக்கவும் வழியில்லே
அம்மா....
அப்பா
We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing
Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either
Male: We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing
Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either
Female: Mother
Male: Father
அம்மா அப்பா சண்டையிலே
அனாதை ஆனோம் பிள்ளைகளே
சும்மாயிருக்க முடியல்லே
சேர்த்து வைக்கவும் வழியில்லே
வழியில்லே
வழியில்லே
வழியில்லே.....
In the fight between mother and father
We children became like orphans
Male: We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing
Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either
Female: No way
Male: No way
Female: No way
அம்மா....பசி அப்பா....பசி பசியோ பசி....
Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger...
பொழுது விடிஞ்சா காபி கொடுக்க
அம்மா வேண்டாமா
நாம அழுது வடிஞ்சா காசு கொடுக்க
அப்பா வேண்டாமா
To make and give coffee when the day dawns
Don't we need a mother?
When we cry and crumble, to give us money
Don't we need a father?
அப்பா சுட்ட இட்லிதனிலே
உப்பே இருக்காது
அப்பா சுட்ட இட்லிதனிலே
உப்பே இருக்காது
In the idli cooked by father
There won't even be any salt
In the idli cooked by father
There won't even be any salt
அட அம்மா நமக்கு மருந்து தராட்டி
உடம்பே இருக்காது
குழு :
உடம்பே இருக்காது
அம்மா....பசி அப்பா....பசி பசியோ பசி..
Oh, if mother doesn't give us medicine
Our very health won't survive
Chorus: Our health won't survive
Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger...
ஊருக்குள்ளே சண்டை
நடந்தா அப்பா வக்கீலு
உடம்புக்குள்ளே சண்டை
நடந்தா அம்மா வக்கீலு
If a fight breaks out in the town
Father is the lawyer who handles it
Male: If a fight breaks out inside the body
Mother is the lawyer who cures it
அம்மா அப்பா சண்டை பிடித்தா
யார் தான் வக்கீலு
அதை தீர்த்து வைக்கவும்
சேர்த்து வைக்கவும் நாம்தான் வக்கீலு
குழு :
நாம்தான் வக்கீலு
அம்மா....பசி அப்பா....பசி பசியோ பசி.....
If mother and father fight with each other
Who then is the lawyer?
Female: To solve that dispute
And bring them together, we are the lawyers
Chorus: We are the lawyers
Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger...
மூக்கு நுனியிலே கோபம்
முளைச்சு மூக்கே ரெண்டாச்சு
நாக்கு நுனியில் வார்த்தை
தடிச்சு பேச்சே நின்னாச்சு
Anger at the tip of the nose
Sprouted and split the nose into two
Words at the tip of the tongue
Thickened and brought conversation to a halt
பேட்டுக்கும் பந்துக்கும் விரோதம்
வந்தா பந்தயம் என்னாகும்
வேட்டிக்கும் பொடவைக்கும்
போட்டி இருந்தா வீடே காடாகும்
If enmity arises between the bat and the ball
What will become of the match?
If there is a contest between the dhoti and the saree
The home itself will turn into a forest
பேருக்கு முன்னே இனிஷியல் போட
அப்பா வேண்டாமோ
பேருக்கு முன்னே இனிஷியல் போட
அப்பா வேண்டாமோ
To put an initial before our name
Don't we need a father?
To put an initial before our name
Don't we need a father?
நம்ம பெத்தவ யாருன்னு
மத்தவ கேட்டா அம்மா வேண்டாமோ
குழு :
சொல்ல அம்மா வேண்டாமோ
அம்மா....பசி அப்பா....பசி பசியோ பசி......
When others ask who gave birth to us
Don't we need a mother?
Chorus: To tell them, don't we need a mother?
Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger...
Amma appa sandaiyilae
In the fight between mother and father
Anaathai aanom pillaigalae
We children became like orphans
Amma appa sandaiyilae
In the fight between mother and father
Anaathai aanom pillaigalae
We children became like orphans
Summaayirukka mudiyallae
We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing
Male :Saerththu vaikkavum vazhiyillae
Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either
Male :Summaayirukka mudiyallae
Male: We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing
Male :Saerththu vaikkavum vazhiyillae
Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either
Female :Amma
Female: Mother
Male :Appa
Male: Father
Amma appa sandaiyilae
In the fight between mother and father
Anaathai aanom pillaigalae
We children became like orphans
Male :Summaayirukka mudiyallae
Male: We cannot just remain quiet and do nothing
Male :Saerththu vaikkavum vazhiyillae
Male: Yet there is no way to unite them either
Female :Vazhiyillae
Female: No way
Male :Vazhiyillae
Male: No way
Female :Vazhiyillae
Female: No way
Amma…pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi….
Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger...
Pozhuthu vidinjaa coffee kodukka
To make and give coffee when the day dawns
Amma vendaama
Don't we need a mother?
Naama azhuthu vadinjaa kaasu kodukka
When we cry and crumble, to give us money
Appa vendaama
Don't we need a father?
Appa sutta idlythanilae
In the idli cooked by father
Uppae irukaathu
There won't even be any salt
Appa sutta idlythanilae
In the idli cooked by father
Uppae irukaathu
There won't even be any salt
Ada amma namakku marunthu tharaatti
Oh, if mother doesn't give us medicine
Udambae irukkaathu
Our very health won't survive
Chorus :Udambae irukkaathu
Chorus: Our health won't survive
Amma pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi….
Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger...
Oorukkullae sandai
If a fight breaks out in the town
Nadanthaa appa vakkeelu
Father is the lawyer who handles it
Male :Udambukkullae sandai
Male: If a fight breaks out inside the body
Nadanthaa amma vakkeelu
Mother is the lawyer who cures it
Amma appa sandai pidiththaa
If mother and father fight with each other
Yaarthaan vakkeelu
Who then is the lawyer?
Female :Adhai theerththu vaikkavum
Female: To solve that dispute
Saerththu vaikkavum naamthaan vakkeelu
And bring them together, we are the lawyers
Chorus :Naamthaan vakkeelu
Chorus: We are the lawyers
Amma pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi….
Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger...
Mookku nuniyilae kobam
Anger at the tip of the nose
Mulaichchu mookkae rendaachchu
Sprouted and split the nose into two
Naakku nuniyil vaarththai
Words at the tip of the tongue
Thadichchu pechae ninnaachchu
Thickened and brought conversation to a halt
Bat-kkum panthu-kkum virotham
If enmity arises between the bat and the ball
Vanthaa panthayam ennaagum
What will become of the match?
Vettikkum podavaikkum
If there is a contest between the dhoti and the saree
Potti irunthaa veedae kaadaagum
The home itself will turn into a forest
Perukku munnae intial poda
To put an initial before our name
Appaa vendaamo
Don't we need a father?
Perukku munnae intial poda
To put an initial before our name
Appaa vendaamo
Don't we need a father?
Namma peththava yaarunnu
When others ask who gave birth to us
Maththava kettaa amma vendaamo
Don't we need a mother?
Chorus :Solla amma vendaamo
Chorus: To tell them, don't we need a mother?
Amma pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi….
Hunger for mother, hunger for father, oh such a hunger...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Amma Appa Sandaiyilae from the 1973 film Kattila Thottila captures the innocent yet profound plight of children caught in the middle of marital conflict. The lyrics vividly describe how parental disputes leave children feeling orphaned and helpless. The children express their need for both parents by highlighting their daily roles: the mother provides loving care, food, and medicine, while the father provides financial security, guidance, and identity. Through clever and humorous metaphors—such as comparing the mother and father to a saree and dhoti or a cricket match between a bat and ball—the song lightens a heavy subject. Realizing that their father resolves external conflicts and their mother heals internal ailments, the children decide that they themselves must act as lawyers to reconcile their parents and restore peace to their home.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Synecdoche / Metaphor
“Vettikkum podavaikkum / Potti irunthaa veedae kaadaagum”
Using 'vetti' (dhoti) and 'podavai' (saree) to symbolically represent father and mother, emphasizing how a clash between their roles ruins the household.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Amma…pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi….”
The repeated line 'Amma pasi appa pasi pasiyo pasi' serves as an emotional refrain linking the literal hunger for food to the emotional craving for parental togetherness.
Hyperbole & Imagery
“Mookku nuniyilae kobam / Mulaichchu mookkae rendaachchu”
Exaggerating anger on the tip of the nose splitting the nose into two, vividly expressing quick-tempered pride between spouses.
Analogy
“Bat-kkum panthu-kkum virotham / Vanthaa panthayam ennaagum”
Comparing parental discord to a game disrupted by conflict between the bat and the ball.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kattila Thottila (1973) was directed by Malliyam Rajagopal and featured Gemini Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi in lead roles. The film's music was scored by V. Kumar with lyrics by Vaali, who was renowned for translating complex family dynamics into playful, child-centric song lyrics.
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