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Anandha Kanneer album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Nee

From Anandha Kanneer · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Ramesh Srivastava, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Anandha Kanneer
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
10 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ammaa nee vaazhga aayiram kaalam
Unnaal naan vaazhgiren
Meendum thaalaattavo aaro aaraariro
Ammaa nee vaazhga aayiram kaalam
Unnaal naan vaazhgiren
Meendum thaalaattavo aaro aaraariro
Kaalai pozhudhaanadhum endrendrum
Kaadhil naan ketkum boopaalam neeyae
Veettil vilakkaetriyae dheivathai
Vendum en nenjin aadhaaram neeyae
Innum siru pillai nee
Engal kodi mullai nee
Naangal kondaada thaan
Ambaal avadhaaram nee
Ammaa nee vaazhga aayiram kaalam
Unnaal naan vaazhgiren
Female :Meendum thaalaattavo aaro aaraariro
Ammaa nee vaazhga aayiram kaalam
Unnaal naan vaazhgiren
Male :Meendum thaalaattavo aaro aaraariro
Ezhai naanallavo anbai thaan
Kodi ponnaaga koduthaenae kannae
Vaazhai kandrallavo yaen ammaa
Vaeru selvangal nee vandha pinnae
Seethai neeyallavo
Janagan naanallavo
Raaman yaar thaanammaa
Kaalam kai kaattumaa
Ammaa nee vaazhga aayiram kaalam
Unnaal naan vaazhgiren
Female :Meendum thaalaattavo aaro aaraariro
Ammaa nee vaazhga aayiram kaalam
Unnaal naan vaazhgiren
Male :Meendum thaalaattavo aaro aaraariro
May you live for a thousand years, my dear child,
it is because of you that I live.
Shall I sing you a lullaby once again? Aaro Aarariro...
May you live for a thousand years, my dear child,
it is because of you that I live.
Shall I sing you a lullaby once again? Aaro Aarariro...
Whenever morning dawns, each and every day,
you are the sweet morning melody that fills my ears.
As I light the lamp at home and pray to God,
you are the anchor of my praying heart.
You are still our little child,
you are our tender jasmine vine.
For us to cherish and celebrate,
you are the Goddess born among us.
May you live for a thousand years, my dear child,
it is because of you that I live.
Female: Shall I sing you a lullaby once again? Aaro Aarariro...
May you live for a thousand years, my dear child,
it is because of you that I live.
Male: Shall I sing you a lullaby once again? Aaro Aarariro...
I may be a poor man, but my love
is the wealth of gold I gave you, my darling.
You are like a tender young plant; why, my dear,
would I need any other riches after you arrived?
Aren't you my Sita,
and am I not your Janaka?
Who is meant to be your Rama, my child?
Will time reveal him to us?
May you live for a thousand years, my dear child,
it is because of you that I live.
Female: Shall I sing you a lullaby once again? Aaro Aarariro...
May you live for a thousand years, my dear child,
it is because of you that I live.
Male: Shall I sing you a lullaby once again? Aaro Aarariro...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional track from Anandha Kanneer (1986) expresses profound affection and deep familial bonding. The singer praises a beloved family member, wishing her a long life of a thousand years and attributing the purpose of their own life to her existence. The lyrics combine tender maternal lullabies with fatherly affection, equating the daughter/loved one to a gentle morning raga, a sweet jasmine creeper, and an incarnation of the divine mother Ambaal.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Rupakam)

Kaadhil naan ketkum boopaalam neeyae

Comparing the person directly to 'Boopaalam' (a morning raga that brings light and joy) and 'Kodi Mullai' (a delicate jasmine creeper).

Mythological Allusion (Puraana Kurippu)

Seethai neeyallavo Janagan naanallavo

References to Janaka and Sita from the epic Ramayana to signify a noble father-daughter bond, and referencing Goddess Ambaal for sacred purity.

End Rhyme / Iyaibu

Innum siru pillai nee / Engal kodi mullai nee

Repetition of the line-ending word 'nee' across consecutive lines to create a melodic and rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Anandha Kanneer (1986) is a celebrated Tamil family drama film directed by K. Vijayan, starring Sivaji Ganesan, Lakshmi, and Visu. The film's musical score was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics penned by the veteran poet Pulamaipithan. The song highlights the emotional core of family dynamics that defined mid-1980s Tamil cinema.

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