Amma Illae Appa
From Aayiram Roobai · 1964
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Aayiram Roobai1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Amma illae appa illae | I have no mother, I have no father |
| Summa vallae sothukku illae | I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat |
| Amma illae appa illae | I have no mother, I have no father |
| Summa vallae sothukku illae | I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat |
| Female | |
| Andavanin pillaigalil | Among the children of God |
| Naanum oru pillae | I too am a child |
| Andavanin pillaigalil | Among the children of God |
| Naanum oru pillae | I too am a child |
| Female | |
| Piriyamulla punniyavaanga | O affectionate and virtuous people |
| Periya manasu pannunga | Please show your generosity |
| Piriyamulla punniyavaanga | O affectionate and virtuous people |
| Periya manasu pannunga | Please show your generosity |
| Sinnansirusu ennaiyum | Even me, a little child |
| Onga mavalai pola ennunga | Consider me like your own daughter |
| Sinnansirusu ennaiyum | Even me, a little child |
| Onga mavalai pola ennunga | Consider me like your own daughter |
| Female | |
| Amma illae appa illae | I have no mother, I have no father |
| Summa vallae sothukku illae | I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat |
| Andavanin pillaigalil | Among the children of God |
| Naanum oru pillae | I too am a child |
| Female | |
| Aada porandha enakku munnae | Born to dance, in front of me |
| Akka oruthi varuvaaa | An elder sister comes along |
| Aada porandha enakku munnae | Born to dance, in front of me |
| Akka oruthi varuvaaa | An elder sister comes along |
| En kooda porandha paasathinalae | Out of the deep sibling affection for being born together |
| Usira kooda tharuva | She would even sacrifice her life |
| En kooda porandha paasathinalae | Out of the deep sibling affection for being born together |
| Usira kooda tharuva | She would even sacrifice her life |
| Female | |
| Amma illae appa illae | I have no mother, I have no father |
| Summa vallae sothukku illae | I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat |
| Amma illae appa illae | I have no mother, I have no father |
| Summa vallae sothukku illae | I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat |
| Female | |
| Andavanin pillaigalil | Among the children of God |
| Naanum oru pillae | I too am a child |
| Andavanin pillaigalil | Among the children of God |
| Naanum oru pillae | I too am a child |
| Female | |
| Karunai ulla manusarellaaam | All human beings who possess compassion |
| Kadavulukkum melae | Are elevated above God Himself |
| Avunga kaiyalakkum dharmamellaam | The charity granted by their hands |
| Paruva mazha polae | Is like the timely seasonal rain |
| Paruva mazha polae | Is like the timely seasonal rain |
| Paruva mazha polae | Is like the timely seasonal rain |
அம்மா இல்லே அப்பா இல்லே
சும்மா வல்லே சோத்துக்கு இல்லே
அம்மா இல்லே அப்பா இல்லே
சும்மா வல்லே சோத்துக்கு இல்லே
I have no mother, I have no father
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
I have no mother, I have no father
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
ஆண்டவனின் பிள்ளைகளில்
நானும் ஒரு பிள்ளே......
ஆண்டவனின் பிள்ளைகளில்
நானும் ஒரு பிள்ளே......
Among the children of God
I too am a child
Among the children of God
I too am a child
பிரியமுள்ள புண்ணியவாங்க
பெரிய மனசு பண்ணுங்க
பிரியமுள்ள புண்ணியவாங்க
பெரிய மனசு பண்ணுங்க
சின்னஞ்சிறுசு என்னையும் ஒங்க
மவளைப் போல எண்ணுங்க....
சின்னஞ்சிறுசு என்னையும் ஒங்க
மவளைப் போல எண்ணுங்க....
O affectionate and virtuous people
Please show your generosity
O affectionate and virtuous people
Please show your generosity
Even me, a little child
Consider me like your own daughter
Even me, a little child
Consider me like your own daughter
அம்மா இல்லே அப்பா இல்லே
சும்மா வல்லே சோத்துக்கு இல்லே
ஆண்டவனின் பிள்ளைகளில்
நானும் ஒரு பிள்ளே...
I have no mother, I have no father
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
Among the children of God
I too am a child
ஆடப் பொறந்த எனக்கு முன்னே
அக்கா ஒருத்தி வருவா
ஆடப் பொறந்த எனக்கு முன்னே
அக்கா ஒருத்தி வருவா
எங் கூடப் பொறந்த பாசத்தினாலே
உசுரைக் கூடத் தருவா....
எங் கூடப் பொறந்த பாசத்தினாலே
உசுரைக் கூடத் தருவா....
Born to dance, in front of me
An elder sister comes along
Born to dance, in front of me
An elder sister comes along
Out of the deep sibling affection for being born together
She would even sacrifice her life
Out of the deep sibling affection for being born together
She would even sacrifice her life
அம்மா இல்லே அப்பா இல்லே
சும்மா வல்லே சோத்துக்கு இல்லே
அம்மா இல்லே அப்பா இல்லே
சும்மா வல்லே சோத்துக்கு இல்லே
I have no mother, I have no father
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
I have no mother, I have no father
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
ஆண்டவனின் பிள்ளைகளில்
நானும் ஒரு பிள்ளே...
ஆண்டவனின் பிள்ளைகளில்
நானும் ஒரு பிள்ளே...
Among the children of God
I too am a child
Among the children of God
I too am a child
கருணையுள்ள மனுசரெல்லாம்
கடவுளுக்கும் மேலே
அவுங்க கையளக்கும் தருமமெல்லாம்
பருவ மழை போலே......
பருவ மழை போலே.....
பருவ மழை போலே....
All human beings who possess compassion
Are elevated above God Himself
The charity granted by their hands
Is like the timely seasonal rain
Is like the timely seasonal rain
Is like the timely seasonal rain
Amma illae appa illae
I have no mother, I have no father
Summa vallae sothukku illae
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
Amma illae appa illae
I have no mother, I have no father
Summa vallae sothukku illae
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
Andavanin pillaigalil
Among the children of God
Naanum oru pillae
I too am a child
Andavanin pillaigalil
Among the children of God
Naanum oru pillae
I too am a child
Piriyamulla punniyavaanga
O affectionate and virtuous people
Periya manasu pannunga
Please show your generosity
Piriyamulla punniyavaanga
O affectionate and virtuous people
Periya manasu pannunga
Please show your generosity
Sinnansirusu ennaiyum
Even me, a little child
Onga mavalai pola ennunga
Consider me like your own daughter
Sinnansirusu ennaiyum
Even me, a little child
Onga mavalai pola ennunga
Consider me like your own daughter
Amma illae appa illae
I have no mother, I have no father
Summa vallae sothukku illae
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
Andavanin pillaigalil
Among the children of God
Naanum oru pillae
I too am a child
Aada porandha enakku munnae
Born to dance, in front of me
Akka oruthi varuvaaa
An elder sister comes along
Aada porandha enakku munnae
Born to dance, in front of me
Akka oruthi varuvaaa
An elder sister comes along
En kooda porandha paasathinalae
Out of the deep sibling affection for being born together
Usira kooda tharuva
She would even sacrifice her life
En kooda porandha paasathinalae
Out of the deep sibling affection for being born together
Usira kooda tharuva
She would even sacrifice her life
Amma illae appa illae
I have no mother, I have no father
Summa vallae sothukku illae
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
Amma illae appa illae
I have no mother, I have no father
Summa vallae sothukku illae
I did not come for fun, I have no food to eat
Andavanin pillaigalil
Among the children of God
Naanum oru pillae
I too am a child
Andavanin pillaigalil
Among the children of God
Naanum oru pillae
I too am a child
Karunai ulla manusarellaaam
All human beings who possess compassion
Kadavulukkum melae
Are elevated above God Himself
Avunga kaiyalakkum dharmamellaam
The charity granted by their hands
Paruva mazha polae
Is like the timely seasonal rain
Paruva mazha polae
Is like the timely seasonal rain
Paruva mazha polae
Is like the timely seasonal rain
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Amma illae appa illae is a deeply emotional song from the 1964 Tamil film Aayiram Roobai, composed by K. V. Mahadevan and written by Vaali. Sung with innocent pathos by S. Janaki, the track depicts an orphaned child appealing to the kindness of passersby. Rather than merely begging, the child highlights the shared human connection, stating that everyone is ultimately a child of the Almighty and asking to be accepted and cared for with compassion. The lyrics beautifully portray sisterly affection and praise generous souls whose acts of charity bring life and comfort, much like timely seasonal rains. Vaali's evocative words combined with Janaki's expressive vocal rendering make this song a timeless reflection on empathy, innocence, and human goodness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Amma illae appa illae”
Repetition of the initial vocalic sound 'A' in 'Amma' and 'appa' creates an immediate rhythmic harmony in the opening line.
Simile (Uwamai)
“Paruva mazha polae”
The act of charity from compassionate people is directly compared to timely seasonal rains using the comparative marker 'polae'.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Karunai ulla manusarellaaam Kadavulukkum melae”
Elevating merciful human beings to a stature higher than God Himself to stress the supreme divinity of compassion.
Did you know?
Trivia
Aayiram Roobai (1964) starred Gemini Ganesan and Savitri. S. Janaki's soul-stirring rendition of this song stands out as one of her early career highlights in expressing childlike innocence and emotional vulnerability.
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