Amma Endrazhaikatha
From Mannan · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Mannan1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha | {There is no living soul |
| Uyirillaiyae | that does not call out 'Mother', |
| Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae}(2) | and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother}(2) |
| Neril nindru pesum deivam | A living god who speaks directly before us, |
| Pettra thaayandri verondru yethu…. | what else is there besides the mother who gave birth?... |
| Male | |
| Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha | There is no living soul |
| Uyirillaiyae | that does not call out 'Mother', |
| Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae | and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother. |
| Male | |
| Abiraami sivagaami | Abiraami, Sivagaami, |
| Karumaari magamaayi | Karumaari, Magamaayi, |
| Thirukkoyil deivangal neethaanamaa | are you not the deity of sacred temples? |
| Annaikku anraadam | For mother, every day, |
| Abhishaegam alangaaram | performing sacred ablutions and adornments, |
| Purigindra siru thondan | the humble servant who serves her, |
| Naanthaanammaa | is none other than me, Oh Mother. |
| Male | |
| Porulodu pugazh vendum | I am not a son who desires wealth and fame, |
| Maganalla thaayae | Oh Mother, |
| Un arul vendum enakkendrum | I always desire only your grace, |
| Athu pothumae | that alone is enough for me. |
| Male | |
| Aduththingu pirappondru | Even if another birth in this world |
| Amainthaalum naan unthan | were to happen to me, I, |
| Maganaaga pirakkindra | to be born as your son, |
| Varam vendumae | desire that boon. |
| Athai neeyae tharuvaayae… | You yourself must grant me that... |
| Male | |
| Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha | There is no living soul |
| Uyirillaiyae | that does not call out 'Mother', |
| Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae | and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother. |
| Male | |
| Pasum thangam puthu velli | Pure gold, fresh silver, |
| Maanikkam manivairam | rubies and fine diamonds, |
| Ivai yaavum oru thaaikku | can all these ever be equal |
| Eedaagumaa | to a mother? |
| Male | |
| Vilai meethu vilai vaiththu | Even if one offers price upon price, |
| Kettaalum koduththaalum | asking for it or paying for it, |
| Kadai thannil thaaianbu | in any shop, a mother's love |
| Kidaikkaathammaa | cannot be bought, Oh Mother. |
| Male | |
| Eerainthu maathangal | For ten long months, |
| Karuvodu enaiththaangi | bearing me in your womb, |
| Nee patta perum paadu | the immense hardship you endured, |
| Ariven ammaa | I know it, Oh Mother. |
| Male | |
| Eerezhu jenmangal | Even if I take fourteen births |
| Eduththaalum uzhaiththaalum | and toil endlessly, |
| Unakkingu naan patta | the debt I owe you here, |
| Kadan theerumaa | can it ever be repaid? |
| Unnaale piranthenae…ae… | I was born only because of you... |
| Male | |
| Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha | There is no living soul |
| Uyirillaiyae | that does not call out 'Mother', |
| Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae | and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother. |
| Neril nindru pesum deivam | A living god who speaks directly before us, |
| Pettra thaayandri verondru yethu…. | what else is there besides the mother who gave birth?... |
| Male | |
| {Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha | {There is no living soul |
| Uyirillaiyae | that does not call out 'Mother', |
| Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae} (2) | and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother} (2) |
{அம்மா என்றழைக்காத
உயிரில்லையே
அம்மாவை வணங்காது உயர்வில்லையே} (2)
நேரில் நின்று பேசும் தெய்வம்
பெற்ற தாயன்றி வேறொன்று ஏது
{There is no living soul
that does not call out 'Mother',
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother}(2)
A living god who speaks directly before us,
what else is there besides the mother who gave birth?...
அம்மா என்றழைக்காத
உயிரில்லையே
அம்மாவை வணங்காது உயர்வில்லையே
There is no living soul
that does not call out 'Mother',
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother.
அபிராமி சிவகாமி
கருமாரி மகமாயி
திருக்கோயில் தெய்வங்கள் நீதானம்மா
அன்னைக்கு அன்றாடம்
அபிஷேகம் அலங்காரம்
புரிகின்ற சிறுத்தொண்டன்
நான்தானம்மா
Abiraami, Sivagaami,
Karumaari, Magamaayi,
are you not the deity of sacred temples?
For mother, every day,
performing sacred ablutions and adornments,
the humble servant who serves her,
is none other than me, Oh Mother.
பொருளோடு புகழ் வேண்டும்
மகனல்ல தாயே
உன் அருள் வேண்டும் எனக்கென்றும்
அது போதுமே
I am not a son who desires wealth and fame,
Oh Mother,
I always desire only your grace,
that alone is enough for me.
அடுத்திங்கு பிறப்பொன்று
அமைந்தாலும் நான் உந்தன்
மகனாகப் பிறக்கின்ற
வரம் வேண்டுமே
அதை நீயே தருவாயே...
Even if another birth in this world
were to happen to me, I,
to be born as your son,
desire that boon.
You yourself must grant me that...
அம்மா என்றழைக்காத
உயிரில்லையே
அம்மாவை வணங்காது உயர்வில்லையே
There is no living soul
that does not call out 'Mother',
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother.
பசும் தங்கம் புது வெள்ளி
மாணிக்கம் மணிவைரம்
அவை யாவும் ஒரு தாய்க்கு
ஈடாகுமா
Pure gold, fresh silver,
rubies and fine diamonds,
can all these ever be equal
to a mother?
விலை மீது விலை வைத்துக்
கேட்டாலும் கொடுத்தாலும்
கடை தன்னில் தாயன்பு
கிடைக்காதம்மா
Even if one offers price upon price,
asking for it or paying for it,
in any shop, a mother's love
cannot be bought, Oh Mother.
ஈரயைந்து மாதங்கள்
கருவோடு எனைத்தாங்கி
நீ பட்ட பெரும் பாடு
அறிவேனம்மா
For ten long months,
bearing me in your womb,
the immense hardship you endured,
I know it, Oh Mother.
ஈரேழு ஜென்மங்கள்
எடுத்தாலும் உழைத்தாலும்
உனக்கிங்கு நான் பட்ட
கடன் தீருமா
உன்னாலே பிறந்தேனே...ஏ...
Even if I take fourteen births
and toil endlessly,
the debt I owe you here,
can it ever be repaid?
I was born only because of you...
அம்மா என்றழைக்காத
உயிரில்லையே
அம்மாவை வணங்காது உயர்வில்லையே
நேரில் நின்று பேசும் தெய்வம்
பெற்ற தாயன்றி வேறொன்று ஏது....
There is no living soul
that does not call out 'Mother',
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother.
A living god who speaks directly before us,
what else is there besides the mother who gave birth?...
{அம்மா என்றழைக்காத
உயிரில்லையே
அம்மாவை வணங்காது உயர்வில்லையே} (2)
{There is no living soul
that does not call out 'Mother',
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother} (2)
{Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha
{There is no living soul
Uyirillaiyae
that does not call out 'Mother',
Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae}(2)
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother}(2)
Neril nindru pesum deivam
A living god who speaks directly before us,
Pettra thaayandri verondru yethu….
what else is there besides the mother who gave birth?...
Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha
There is no living soul
Uyirillaiyae
that does not call out 'Mother',
Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother.
Abiraami sivagaami
Abiraami, Sivagaami,
Karumaari magamaayi
Karumaari, Magamaayi,
Thirukkoyil deivangal neethaanamaa
are you not the deity of sacred temples?
Annaikku anraadam
For mother, every day,
Abhishaegam alangaaram
performing sacred ablutions and adornments,
Purigindra siru thondan
the humble servant who serves her,
Naanthaanammaa
is none other than me, Oh Mother.
Porulodu pugazh vendum
I am not a son who desires wealth and fame,
Maganalla thaayae
Oh Mother,
Un arul vendum enakkendrum
I always desire only your grace,
Athu pothumae
that alone is enough for me.
Aduththingu pirappondru
Even if another birth in this world
Amainthaalum naan unthan
were to happen to me, I,
Maganaaga pirakkindra
to be born as your son,
Varam vendumae
desire that boon.
Athai neeyae tharuvaayae…
You yourself must grant me that...
Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha
There is no living soul
Uyirillaiyae
that does not call out 'Mother',
Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother.
Pasum thangam puthu velli
Pure gold, fresh silver,
Maanikkam manivairam
rubies and fine diamonds,
Ivai yaavum oru thaaikku
can all these ever be equal
Eedaagumaa
to a mother?
Vilai meethu vilai vaiththu
Even if one offers price upon price,
Kettaalum koduththaalum
asking for it or paying for it,
Kadai thannil thaaianbu
in any shop, a mother's love
Kidaikkaathammaa
cannot be bought, Oh Mother.
Eerainthu maathangal
For ten long months,
Karuvodu enaiththaangi
bearing me in your womb,
Nee patta perum paadu
the immense hardship you endured,
Ariven ammaa
I know it, Oh Mother.
Eerezhu jenmangal
Even if I take fourteen births
Eduththaalum uzhaiththaalum
and toil endlessly,
Unakkingu naan patta
the debt I owe you here,
Kadan theerumaa
can it ever be repaid?
Unnaale piranthenae…ae…
I was born only because of you...
Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha
There is no living soul
Uyirillaiyae
that does not call out 'Mother',
Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother.
Neril nindru pesum deivam
A living god who speaks directly before us,
Pettra thaayandri verondru yethu….
what else is there besides the mother who gave birth?...
{Ammaa endrazhaikkaatha
{There is no living soul
Uyirillaiyae
that does not call out 'Mother',
Ammaavai vanangaathu uyarvillaiyae} (2)
and there is no greatness achieved without bowing to Mother} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Ammaa Endrazhaikkaatha' is a celebrated classic from the 1992 Tamil movie 'Mannan', expressing unmatched reverence, gratitude, and devotion toward a mother. The song asserts that no living being exists without invoking a mother's name, and true prosperity is unattainable without worshipping her. It equates the mother to divine temple goddesses such as Abiraami, Sivagaami, and Karumaari, portraying daily filial service as the highest religious duty superior to chasing wealth or fame. The lyrics vividly detail how maternal love is beyond any material price, as no wealth or precious gems can substitute for it. Remembering the mother's immense pain during ten months of pregnancy, the son acknowledges that even serving her across fourteen lifetimes could never repay the debt owed for his existence, concluding with a plea to be re-born as her child in every future birth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Abiraami sivagaami / Karumaari magamaayi / Thirukkoyil deivangal neethaanamaa”
Directly equates the mother to sacred Hindu temple deities and a visible living deity.
Hyperbole (Aya-uyarvu navitci)
“Eerezhu jenmangal / Eduththaalum uzhaiththaalum / Unakkingu naan patta / Kadan theerumaa”
Uses dramatic exaggeration of taking fourteen lifetimes of hard labor to highlight the impossibility of repaying a mother's debt.
Contrast / Imagery
“Pasum thangam puthu velli / Maanikkam manivairam / Ivai yaavum oru thaaikku / Eedaagumaa”
Contrasts worldly material treasures like gold, silver, rubies, and diamonds against the priceless nature of a mother's selfless love.
Anaphora / Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Annaikku anraadam / Abhishaegam alangaaram”
Repetition of initial phonetic sounds across consecutive poetic lines to build rhythmic resonance.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali, this song was sung by K. J. Yesudas and remains one of Tamil cinema's definitive anthems on motherhood. Featured in 'Mannan' (1992), the onscreen performance by Rajinikanth and veteran actress Pandari Bai captured deep emotional resonance.
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