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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Amma Nee Summandha Pillai

From Annai Or Aalayam · 1979

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Annai Or Aalayam1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ammaa..Mother..
Male
Amma ..aa…nee sumantha pillaiMother, the child you carried in your womb,
Siragodintha killaiIs now a parrot with broken wings.
En kangalum en nenjamumMy eyes and my heart,
Kondaadum theivam thaaiyaeCelebrate you as a deity, oh mother!
Annai orr aalayamA mother is a holy temple.
Annai orr aalayamA mother is a holy temple.
Male
Amma ..aa…nee sumantha pillaiMother, the child you carried in your womb,
Siragodintha killaiIs now a parrot with broken wings.
Male
Mannil enna thondra koodumWhat can sprout on this earth,
Mazhai ilaatha podhuWhen there is no rain?
Manidhano mirugamoWhether human or beast,
Thaai ilaamal yethuWho can exist without a mother?
Male
Mannil enna thondra koodumWhat can sprout on this earth,
Mazhai ilaatha podhuWhen there is no rain?
Manidhano mirugamoWhether human or beast,
Thaai ilaamal yethuWho can exist without a mother?
Male
Annai sonna vaarthai indruThe words spoken by my mother today,
Ninaivil vanthathuHave come back to my memory.
Anbu endra sollae thaayinThe very word called love,
Vadivil vanthathuHas arrived in the form of a mother.
Engae engae…..Where are you, where are you...?
Male
Amma ..aa…nee sumantha pillaiMother, the child you carried in your womb,
Siragodintha killaiIs now a parrot with broken wings.
Male
Vaazhavaitha theivam indruWhy did the deity who gave me life,
Vaanam sendrathenoDepart to the heavens today?
Ulagilae un maganIn this world, is your son,
Neer ilaatha meenoLike a fish left without water?
Male
Vaazhavaitha theivam indruWhy did the deity who gave me life,
Vaanam sendrathenoDepart to the heavens today?
Ulagilae un maganIn this world, is your son,
Neer ilaatha meenoLike a fish left without water?
Male
Meendum intha mannil vanthuYou must return to this earth again,
Thondra vendumaeAnd be born once more.
Vaazhga vaazhga maganae endruTo say 'Long live, long live, my son',
Vaazhtha venume Engae engae…..And bless me... Where are you, where are you...?
Male
Amma ..aa…nee sumantha pillaiMother, the child you carried in your womb,
Siragodintha killaiIs now a parrot with broken wings.
En kangalum en nenjamumMy eyes and my heart,
Kondaadum theivam thaaiyaeCelebrate you as a deity, oh mother!
Annai orr aalayamA mother is a holy temple.
Annai orr aalayamA mother is a holy temple.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from 'Annai Or Aalayam' expresses the deep grief, reverence, and helplessness of a son upon losing his mother. He compares his mother to a temple and a living deity, stating that just as plants cannot sprout without rain, no living being—human or animal—can thrive without maternal love. Deprived of her presence, he feels like a helpless bird with broken wings and a fish out of water, yearning for her rebirth so she can bless him once again.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Annai orr aalayam

Compares the mother directly to a sacred temple ('aalayam') and a deity ('theivam').

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Siragodintha killai

Compares the grieving son to a helpless parrot with broken wings.

Simile / Analogy (Uvamai)

Neer ilaatha meeno

Compares the son's plight without his mother to a fish struggling without water, and to dry earth without rain.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethirai)

Mannil enna thondra koodum / Mazhai ilaatha podhu

Use of matching initial consonants across lines such as 'Mannil' / 'Mazhai' / 'Manidhano' for rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Annai Or Aalayam' (1979) was a box-office success produced by Devar Films and directed by R. Thyagarajan, starring Rajinikanth and a trained baby elephant. The iconic soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vaali and the primary male version rendered emotionally by T. M. Soundararajan.

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