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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Endraal Anbu

From Adimai Penn · 1969

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Jayalalithaa
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Adimai Penn1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{ Amma endral anbuMother means love
Appa endral arivuFather means wisdom
Aasaan endral kalviTeacher means education
Avarae ulagil deivam } (2)They are the gods in this world
Female
{ Annaiyai pillaiThe child calls the mother
Pillaiyai annai ammaAnd the mother affectionately calls the child 'Amma'
Endrae azhaipadhundu } (2)This is how they call each other
Female
{ Anbin vilakamThe explanation of love
Panbin muzhakamAnd the resonance of virtue
Amma endroru sollil undu } (2)Are contained in the single word 'Amma'
Female
{ Pathu thingalFor ten months
Madi sumapaal pillaiShe carries the child in her womb
Petradhum thunbathai marapaal } (2)And forgets all her suffering once born
Female
Pathiyam irundhuBy observing strict dietary discipline
Kaapaal than rathathaiShe protects her own blood
Paalaaki kodupaalAnd nurtures the child with milk
Female
Amma endral anbuMother means love
Appa endral arivuFather means wisdom
Aasaan endral kalviTeacher means education
Avarae ulagil deivamThey are the gods in this world
Female
{ Iyarkai kodukumAll the natural treasures
Selvathai ellam podhuvaaiThat nature bestows upon us
Vaithida vendum } (2)Must be held in common for all
Female
{ IllaathavarkumTo those who lack resources
Irupavar thamakumAnd to those who possess them
Pagirndhae koduthida vendum} (2)It must be shared equally
Female
{ Oruvarukaaga mazhaiyillaiRain does not fall for a single person alone
Oruvarukaaga nilavillai } (2)The moon does not shine for a single person alone
Varuvadhellam anaivarukumIf everything that comes is distributed fairly
Vagudhae vaithaal vazhakillaiThere will be no dispute or conflict
Female
Amma endral anbuMother means love
Appa endral arivuFather means wisdom
Aasaan endral kalviTeacher means education
Avarae ulagil deivamThey are the gods in this world
Female
{ Mozhiyum naadumLanguage and motherland
Mugathuku irandu vizhigalAre like the two eyes
Aagum yendru } (2)Upon a human face
Female
{ Unarum podhuWhen one realizes this truth
Unakum yenakumBoth for you and for me
Nanmai yendrum undu } (2)There will always be good fortune
Female
{ Vaazhum uyirilAmong living beings
Uyarvum thaazhvumCreating divisions of superior and inferior
Vaguthu vaipadhu paavam } (2)Is a severe sin
Female
Karunai kondaAll human beings
Manidharellam kadavulWho possess compassion
Vadivam aagumAre true manifestations of God
Female
Amma endral anbuMother means love
Appa endral arivuFather means wisdom
Aasaan endral kalviTeacher means education
Avarae ulagil deivamThey are the gods in this world

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from the movie Adimai Penn celebrates core moral values, social equality, and filial devotion. The lyrics open by defining mother as love, father as wisdom, and teacher as education, placing them higher than any abstract deity. It glorifies maternal sacrifice, depicting how a mother converts her blood into milk and forgets the pain of childbirth upon seeing her offspring.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaaphoral Alliteration (Mohnai)

Amma endral anbu / Appa endral arivu / Aasaan endral kalvi

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'A' across consecutive lines (Amma, Appa, Aasaan, Avarae) creating a harmonious rhythm.

Second-Letter Rhyming (Edhugai)

Anbin vilakam / Panbin muzhakam

The second consonant sound 'nb' rhymes across lines 'Anbin' and 'Panbin'.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Mozhiyum naadum / Mugathuku irandu vizhigal

Comparing language and motherland to the two eyes of a face, emphasizing their equal and vital importance.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song was performed by child singer Master Maharajan in the 1969 blockbuster 'Adimai Penn', which starred M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan.

Keep listening

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