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Amma Irukka album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Irukka Amma Irukka

From Amma Irukka · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vivek Sarathy
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Amma Irukka
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
21 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaaikkellaam thaayaagi thayai puriyum thayave
Thaayattra saeikkellaam thunai nirkkum
Sezhungarunai porulae
Pasiththazhutha vaaikkellaam amuthootti
Vaazhvikkum aramae
Anbe…..arulae….ammaavae….thaal pottri
Nekku amma irukkaa amma irukkaa
Kurukkal mama sollittaalae
Nekku amma irukkaa amma irukkaa
Kurukkal mama sollittaalae
En amma ippo ambaalaavae
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa
Amma irukkaa amma irukkaa
Kurukkal mama sollittaalae
En amma ippo ambaalaavae
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa
Ava nekku maaththiram amma illa
Nokkum koodaththaan ammaavaa
Ava nekku maaththiram amma illa
Nokkum koodaththaan ammaavaa
Enna peththa amma seththu poyittathaa
Soldraalaae adhu summaavaa
Amma irukkaa amma irukkaa
Kurukkal mama sollittaalae
En amma ippo ambaalaavae
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa
Pattaamaniyum kittaa mama
Engitta sollungo
Kadaikku poganumaa
Pattanam podiyaa pottalam paakkaa
Panneer puaiyila varuval seevalaa
Enna venum solluno
Pattaamaniyum kittaa mama
Engitta sollungo
Kadaikku poganumaa
Pattaamaniyum kittaa mama
Engitta sollungo
Kadaikku poganumaa
Enna sonnaalum ketpaen paarungo
Pasikkarachchae mattum saatham podungo
Nekku pasikkarachchae mattum saatham podungo
Paravaayillaiyae thaayillaa pullainaalum
Nee vaayilla pullai illaidaa pozhaichchuppo
Yaaru mama sonnathu nekku amma irukkaa
Amma irukkaa amma irukkaa
Kurukkal mama sollittaalae
En amma ippo ambaalaavae
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa
Illaiyendru sonnathingae yaaradaa
Amma illaiyendru sonnathingae yaaradaa
En thaayai antha koyilukkul paaradaa
Illaiyendru sonnathingae yaaradaa
Amma illaiyendru sonnathingae yaaradaa
Anbu seiyyum ammai
Aval angiruppathu unmai
Pillaiyendru ennai
Aval konjugindra annai
Ada moodaa puththi kedaa
Angu podaa kandu vaadaa
Moodaa kedaa podaa vaadaa
Padavaa rascal ennai kindalaa pannura
Mannichchunga mama
Naadagaththula nee paadara mathiriyae
Naanum paadi kaamichaen
Male :Adhaanae paaththaen
Amma irukkaa amma irukkaa
Kurukkal mama sollittaalae
En amma ippo ambaalaavae
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa….
Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa….
O embodiment of grace, the mother to all mothers who bestows mercy!
The one who stands by every motherless child,
O treasure of boundless compassion!
Feeding divine nectar to every hungry, crying mouth,
O virtue that brings life...
O Love! O Grace! O Mother! Praise be to your holy feet!
I have a mother! I have a mother!
The temple priest uncle told me so!
I have a mother! I have a mother!
The temple priest uncle told me so!
My mother has now become the Goddess herself,
and she is standing inside the sanctum!
Standing inside the sanctum!
I have a mother! I have a mother!
The temple priest uncle told me so!
My mother has now become the Goddess herself,
and she is standing inside the sanctum!
Standing inside the sanctum!
She is not a mother just to me,
she is a mother to you as well!
She is not a mother just to me,
she is a mother to you as well!
They say the mother who gave birth to me is dead,
but isn't that just empty talk?
I have a mother! I have a mother!
The temple priest uncle told me so!
My mother has now become the Goddess herself,
and she is standing inside the sanctum!
Standing inside the sanctum!
Village officer Kitta Mama,
just tell me what you need!
Do you want me to go to the shop?
Madras snuff or a packet of betel nuts?
Rose-scented tobacco or roasted betel nut shavings?
Tell me what you want!
Village officer Kitta Mama,
just tell me what you need!
Do you want me to go to the shop?
Village officer Kitta Mama,
just tell me what you need!
Do you want me to go to the shop?
I will do whatever you ask, you'll see!
Just give me some rice whenever I am hungry!
Just give me some rice whenever I am hungry!
Not bad! Even if you are a motherless child,
you are certainly not a tongue-tied child, you will do just fine!
Who said that, Uncle? I do have a mother!
I have a mother! I have a mother!
The temple priest uncle told me so!
My mother has now become the Goddess herself,
and she is standing inside the sanctum!
Standing inside the sanctum!
Who here said that she does not exist?
Who here said that I have no mother?
Look at my mother inside that temple!
Who here said that she does not exist?
Who here said that I have no mother?
She is the loving mother,
and the truth is that she is right there!
Taking me as her own child,
she is the mother who cuddles me!
Hey fool! You senseless fellow!
Go there and see for yourself!
Fool! Dunce! Go there and see!
You little rascal! Are you teasing me?
Forgive me, Uncle! Just like how you sing in the stage plays,
I was only singing like you...
Male:
Ah, that's what I thought!
I have a mother! I have a mother!
The temple priest uncle told me so!
My mother has now become the Goddess herself,
and she is standing inside the sanctum!
Standing inside the sanctum!
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional and dramatic song depicts an innocent, motherless boy who finds solace in the belief that his deceased mother has ascended to become the divine Goddess Ambal residing within the temple's sanctum sanctorum. The priest ('Kurukkal Mama') has given him this comforting thought, which the boy clings to with deep conviction and childlike innocence. Throughout the song, he offers to run errands for the village elders in exchange for basic food when hungry, while fiercely defending the belief that his mother lives on as the universal Goddess.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Thaaikkellaam thaayaagi thayai puriyum thayave

The repetition of the initial consonant/vowel sounds ('Tha') across consecutive words in the opening invocation creates a classical rhythmic structure.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Amma irukkaa amma irukkaa

The phrase 'Amma irukkaa' (Mother is there) is repeated continually to reinforce the boy's unwavering belief and emotional security.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kurukkal mama sollittaalae ... Sannathikkullae nikkiraalaa

The matching end sounds in 'sollittaalae' and 'nikkiraalaa' build a melodious and conversational flow throughout the verses.

Dialectal Register (Brahmin Tamil Slang)

Ava nekku maaththiram amma illa / Nokkum koodaththaan ammaavaa

Lyricist Vaali uses authentic regional/community dialect words like 'Nekku' (to me), 'Nokkum' (to you), 'Pattaamani', and 'Kurukkal' to ground the character authentically.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Vaali was renowned for seamlessly weaving authentic Tamil Brahmin dialect into song lyrics when required by the story context. This song showcases a conversational dialogue-style structure blending child-like innocence, devotional fervor, and dramatic play-acting.

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