Amma Kannu
From Sumai · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Sumai1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Amma kannu poovu ponnu | My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl, |
| Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai | What language can express an elder brother's love? |
| Amma kannu poovu ponnu | My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl, |
| Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai | What language can express an elder brother's love? |
| Male | |
| Thangai un kai devan kolla | When God holds your hand, my younger sister, |
| Vaayara vaazhththum oorum uravum | The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you. |
| Male | |
| Amma kannu poovu ponnu | My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl, |
| Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai | What language can express an elder brother's love? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………….. | |
| Male | |
| Pudhu saelai thanthu kaiyil manamaalai thanthu | Giving a new saree and placing a wedding garland in hand, |
| Manam kolvaano oru maappillai | Will a groom come to steal your heart? |
| Avan pennai paarkka | As he looks at the bride, |
| Pennin vizhi mannai paarkka | And the bride's eyes gaze down at the floor, |
| Antha neramthaan varum naanamthaan | That is the exact moment when shyness arrives. |
| Male | |
| Iru kadhal nenjam | Two loving hearts, |
| Kalyaanam kondaadum | Will celebrate their marriage, |
| Adhai kaanum nenjam | And the heart that witnesses it, |
| Anantha panpaadum | Will sing a song of joy. |
| Male | |
| Amma kannu poovu ponnu | My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl, |
| Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai | What language can express an elder brother's love? |
| Male | |
| Thangai un kai devan kolla | When God holds your hand, my younger sister, |
| Vaayara vaazhththum oorum uravum | The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you. |
| Male | |
| Amma kannu poovu ponnu | My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl, |
| Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai | What language can express an elder brother's love? |
| Male | |
| Madi pillai ondru | A child on your lap, |
| Chinnanjiru killai endru | Like a sweet little parrot, |
| Varum thaalaatta neeyum paalootta | Will arrive for you to lull to sleep and breastfeed. |
| Enai maman endru | Calling me 'maternal uncle', |
| Konjam adhan mazhalai kandu | Seeing its sweet baby babble, |
| Nenjam paaraatta naanum seeraatta | My heart will praise it and I will pamper it. |
| Chorus | |
| Aariraro aariraro aariraro | Lullaby sounds: Aariraro aariraro aariraro, |
| Aariraro aariraro aariraro | Aariraro aariraro aariraro. |
| Male | |
| Uyir paasam pantham naalthorum koodaatho | Won't this soul bond and affection grow every day? |
| Oru oonjal endru endru ennullam aadaatho…. | Won't my heart swing like a cradle forever? |
| Male | |
| Amma kannu poovu ponnu | My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl, |
| Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai | What language can express an elder brother's love? |
| Male | |
| Thangai un kai devan kolla | When God holds your hand, my younger sister, |
| Vaayara vaazhththum oorum uravum | The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you. |
| Male | |
| Amma kannu poovu ponnu | My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl, |
| Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai | What language can express an elder brother's love? |
அம்மா கண்ணு பூவு பொண்ணு
அண்ணனின் ஆசை அதற்கேது பாஷை
அம்மா கண்ணு பூவு பொண்ணு
அண்ணனின் ஆசை அதற்கேது பாஷை
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
What language can express an elder brother's love?
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
What language can express an elder brother's love?
தங்கை உன் கை தேவன் கொள்ள
வாயார வாழ்த்தும் ஊரும் உறவும்...
When God holds your hand, my younger sister,
The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you.
அம்மா கண்ணு பூவு பொண்ணு
அண்ணனின் ஆசை அதற்கேது பாஷை
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
What language can express an elder brother's love?
...............................
புது சேலை தந்து கையில் மணமாலை தந்து
மணம் கொள்வானே ஒரு மாப்பிள்ளை
அவன் பெண்ணை பார்க்க
பெண்ணின் விழி மண்ணை பார்க்க
அந்த நேரம்தான் வரும் நாணம் தான்
Giving a new saree and placing a wedding garland in hand,
Will a groom come to steal your heart?
As he looks at the bride,
And the bride's eyes gaze down at the floor,
That is the exact moment when shyness arrives.
இரு காதல் நெஞ்சம்
கல்யாணம் கொண்டாடும்
அதை காணும் நெஞ்சம்
ஆனந்த பண் பாடும்.....
Two loving hearts,
Will celebrate their marriage,
And the heart that witnesses it,
Will sing a song of joy.
அம்மா கண்ணு பூவு பொண்ணு
அண்ணனின் ஆசை அதற்கேது பாஷை
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
What language can express an elder brother's love?
தங்கை உன் கை தேவன் கொள்ள
வாயார வாழ்த்தும் ஊரும் உறவும்...
When God holds your hand, my younger sister,
The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you.
அம்மா கண்ணு பூவு பொண்ணு
அண்ணனின் ஆசை அதற்கேது பாஷை
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
What language can express an elder brother's love?
மடி பிள்ளை ஒன்று
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிள்ளை என்று
வரும் தாலாட்ட நீயும் பாலூட்ட
எனை மாமன் என்று
கொஞ்சம் அதன் மழலை கண்டு
நெஞ்சம் பாராட்ட நானும் சீராட்ட
A child on your lap,
Like a sweet little parrot,
Will arrive for you to lull to sleep and breastfeed.
Calling me 'maternal uncle',
Seeing its sweet baby babble,
My heart will praise it and I will pamper it.
ஆரிரரோ ஆரிரரோ ஆரிரரோ
ஆரிரரோ ஆரிரரோ ஆரிரரோ
Lullaby sounds: Aariraro aariraro aariraro,
Aariraro aariraro aariraro.
உயிர் பாசம் பந்தம் நாள்தோறும் கூடாதோ
ஒரு ஊஞ்சல் என்று என்னுள்ளம் ஆடாதோ....
Won't this soul bond and affection grow every day?
Won't my heart swing like a cradle forever?
அம்மா கண்ணு பூவு பொண்ணு
அண்ணனின் ஆசை அதற்கேது பாஷை
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
What language can express an elder brother's love?
தங்கை உன் கை தேவன் கொள்ள
வாயார வாழ்த்தும் ஊரும் உறவும்...
When God holds your hand, my younger sister,
The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you.
அம்மா கண்ணு பூவு பொண்ணு
அண்ணனின் ஆசை அதற்கேது பாஷை
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
What language can express an elder brother's love?
Amma kannu poovu ponnu
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai
What language can express an elder brother's love?
Amma kannu poovu ponnu
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai
What language can express an elder brother's love?
Thangai un kai devan kolla
When God holds your hand, my younger sister,
Vaayara vaazhththum oorum uravum
The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you.
Amma kannu poovu ponnu
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai
What language can express an elder brother's love?
………………..
Pudhu saelai thanthu kaiyil manamaalai thanthu
Giving a new saree and placing a wedding garland in hand,
Manam kolvaano oru maappillai
Will a groom come to steal your heart?
Avan pennai paarkka
As he looks at the bride,
Pennin vizhi mannai paarkka
And the bride's eyes gaze down at the floor,
Antha neramthaan varum naanamthaan
That is the exact moment when shyness arrives.
Iru kadhal nenjam
Two loving hearts,
Kalyaanam kondaadum
Will celebrate their marriage,
Adhai kaanum nenjam
And the heart that witnesses it,
Anantha panpaadum
Will sing a song of joy.
Amma kannu poovu ponnu
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai
What language can express an elder brother's love?
Thangai un kai devan kolla
When God holds your hand, my younger sister,
Vaayara vaazhththum oorum uravum
The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you.
Amma kannu poovu ponnu
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai
What language can express an elder brother's love?
Madi pillai ondru
A child on your lap,
Chinnanjiru killai endru
Like a sweet little parrot,
Varum thaalaatta neeyum paalootta
Will arrive for you to lull to sleep and breastfeed.
Enai maman endru
Calling me 'maternal uncle',
Konjam adhan mazhalai kandu
Seeing its sweet baby babble,
Nenjam paaraatta naanum seeraatta
My heart will praise it and I will pamper it.
Aariraro aariraro aariraro
Lullaby sounds: Aariraro aariraro aariraro,
Aariraro aariraro aariraro
Aariraro aariraro aariraro.
Uyir paasam pantham naalthorum koodaatho
Won't this soul bond and affection grow every day?
Oru oonjal endru endru ennullam aadaatho….
Won't my heart swing like a cradle forever?
Amma kannu poovu ponnu
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai
What language can express an elder brother's love?
Thangai un kai devan kolla
When God holds your hand, my younger sister,
Vaayara vaazhththum oorum uravum
The whole town and relatives will wholeheartedly bless you.
Amma kannu poovu ponnu
My dear child, eyes like flowers, precious girl,
Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai
What language can express an elder brother's love?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Amma kannu poovu ponnu is a touching brother-sister affection song from the 1981 Tamil movie Sumai, composed by Gangai Amaran, written by lyricist Vaali, and sung tenderly by P. Jayachandran. The song portrays an elder brother expressing unconditional devotion to his younger sister. He prays for her prosperous future, imagining the joy of her grand wedding day where townspeople and relatives gather to shower blessings upon her. Looking further into the future, he fondly imagines her becoming a mother to a tiny parrot-like child. He anticipates the sheer joy of hearing the infant address him as 'maman' (maternal uncle) and singing lullabies for the baby. The track stands as a timeless ode to sibling bonding, emphasizing that true love within a family remains eternally joyful like a swinging cradle.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Annanin aasai adharkedhu baashai”
Repetition of the initial vocalic sound 'A' across words creates a smooth rhythmic flow (Annanin / aasai / adharkedhu).
Metaphor & Endearment (Uvamai)
“Amma kannu poovu ponnu”
The sister is likened to delicate flowers ('poovu') and precious gold ('ponnu') to convey gentle beauty and immense value.
Imagery & Onomatopoeia
“Chinnanjiru killai endru”
Compares the future baby to a sweet parrot ('killai') combined with traditional lullaby chants ('aariraro') to evoke warm domestic imagery.
Rhetorical Question
“Uyir paasam pantham naalthorum koodaatho”
Asks whether soul affection won't expand every day, emphasizing the permanence of sibling emotion.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Gangai Amaran for the film Sumai (1981), this track features the rich, soulful voice of P. Jayachandran. It is widely considered one of the iconic 1980s Tamil cinema songs centered on the sacred Annan-Thangai (elder brother - younger sister) emotional dynamic.
Keep listening
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