Amma Thunai
From Pillai Selvam · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Sakthi Kumar
- Details
- Pillai Selvam1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Amma thunai illai | Mother's support is not there |
| Ennakku yarum thunai illai | I have no one to support me |
| Ninaikkum bodhu nee illai | You are not here when I think of you |
| Uyir thudika aluthen mudivillai | I cried as my soul throbbed, with no end in sight |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
| Amma thunai illai | Mother's support is not there |
| Ennakku yarum thunai illai | I have no one to support me |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
| Female | |
| Thavicha vaaiku thanner illae maa | There is no water for my parched mouth, oh mother |
| Sadham ootta aale illaemaa | There is no one to feed me rice, oh mother |
| Thavicha vaaiku thanner illae maa | There is no water for my parched mouth, oh mother |
| Sadham ootta aale illaemaa | There is no one to feed me rice, oh mother |
| Adi vayir ellam thudikuthu thaaye | My lower abdomen quivers with hunger, oh mother |
| Thaaye pasikudhe | Oh mother, I am hungry |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
| Female | |
| Puyal aattril manidhan illai | There is no human in this storming wind |
| Anal kaatril nizhalae illai | There is no shade in this scorching wind |
| Puyal aattril manidhan illai | There is no human in this storming wind |
| Anal kaatril nizhalae illai | There is no shade in this scorching wind |
| Pasicha mugathai parpporillai | There is no one to look at my hungry face |
| Paadhai theriyavillai | The path is not visible |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
| Female | |
| Amma thunai illai | Mother's support is not there |
| Ennakku yarum thunai illai | I have no one to support me |
| Ninaikkum bodhu nee illai | You are not here when I think of you |
| Uyir thudika aluthen mudivillai | I cried as my soul throbbed, with no end in sight |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
| Amma amma | Mother, mother |
அம்மா துணை இல்லை
எனக்கு யாரும் துணை இல்லை
நினைக்கும்போது நீ இல்லை
உயிர் துடிக்க அழுதேன் முடிவில்லை
அம்மா........அம்மா......
அம்மா துணை இல்லை
எனக்கு யாரும் துணை இல்லை
அம்மா.....அம்மா
அம்மா.....அம்மா
Mother's support is not there
I have no one to support me
You are not here when I think of you
I cried as my soul throbbed, with no end in sight
Mother, mother
Mother's support is not there
I have no one to support me
Mother, mother
Mother, mother
தவிச்ச வாய்க்கு தண்ணீர் இல்லேம்மா
சாதம் ஊட்ட ஆளே இல்லேம்மா
தவிச்ச வாய்க்கு தண்ணீர் இல்லேம்மா
சாதம் ஊட்ட ஆளே இல்லேம்மா
அடி வயிரெல்லாம் துடிக்குது தாயே
தாயே பசிக்குதே
அம்மா.....அம்மா
அம்மா.....அம்மா
There is no water for my parched mouth, oh mother
There is no one to feed me rice, oh mother
There is no water for my parched mouth, oh mother
There is no one to feed me rice, oh mother
My lower abdomen quivers with hunger, oh mother
Oh mother, I am hungry
Mother, mother
Mother, mother
புயலாற்றில் மனிதன் இல்லை
அனல் காற்றில் நிழலே இல்லை
புயலாற்றில் மனிதன் இல்லை
அனல் காற்றில் நிழலே இல்லை
பசிச்ச முகத்தை பார்ப்போரில்லை
பாதை தெரியவுமில்லை.....
அம்மா.....அம்மா
அம்மா.....அம்மா
There is no human in this storming wind
There is no shade in this scorching wind
There is no human in this storming wind
There is no shade in this scorching wind
There is no one to look at my hungry face
The path is not visible
Mother, mother
Mother, mother
அம்மா துணை இல்லை
எனக்கு யாரும் துணை இல்லை
நினைக்கும்போது நீ இல்லை
உயிர் துடிக்க அழுதேன் முடிவில்லை
அம்மா.....அம்மா
அம்மா.....அம்மா
Mother's support is not there
I have no one to support me
You are not here when I think of you
I cried as my soul throbbed, with no end in sight
Mother, mother
Mother, mother
Amma thunai illai
Mother's support is not there
Ennakku yarum thunai illai
I have no one to support me
Ninaikkum bodhu nee illai
You are not here when I think of you
Uyir thudika aluthen mudivillai
I cried as my soul throbbed, with no end in sight
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Amma thunai illai
Mother's support is not there
Ennakku yarum thunai illai
I have no one to support me
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Thavicha vaaiku thanner illae maa
There is no water for my parched mouth, oh mother
Sadham ootta aale illaemaa
There is no one to feed me rice, oh mother
Thavicha vaaiku thanner illae maa
There is no water for my parched mouth, oh mother
Sadham ootta aale illaemaa
There is no one to feed me rice, oh mother
Adi vayir ellam thudikuthu thaaye
My lower abdomen quivers with hunger, oh mother
Thaaye pasikudhe
Oh mother, I am hungry
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Puyal aattril manidhan illai
There is no human in this storming wind
Anal kaatril nizhalae illai
There is no shade in this scorching wind
Puyal aattril manidhan illai
There is no human in this storming wind
Anal kaatril nizhalae illai
There is no shade in this scorching wind
Pasicha mugathai parpporillai
There is no one to look at my hungry face
Paadhai theriyavillai
The path is not visible
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Amma thunai illai
Mother's support is not there
Ennakku yarum thunai illai
I have no one to support me
Ninaikkum bodhu nee illai
You are not here when I think of you
Uyir thudika aluthen mudivillai
I cried as my soul throbbed, with no end in sight
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Amma amma
Mother, mother
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Amma thunai illai' is a heartbreaking lamentation expressing the pain of a child left alone without maternal protection and guidance. The lyrics capture the raw grief of suffering from hunger, thirst, and fear, with no companion or shelter in a severe and unfeeling world. Through metaphors of storming winds and scorching heat, Kannadasan evokes the profound loneliness of an orphan crying out for a mother's tender care.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Repetition (Adukku Thodai)
“Amma amma”
The frequent repetition of 'Amma amma' heightens the emotional distress and helpless cry for maternal comfort.
End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Thavicha vaaiku thanner illae maa / Sadham ootta aale illaemaa”
The identical line endings 'illaemaa' create a rhythmic and mournful cadence typical of Tamil sorrow songs.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Puyal aattril manidhan illai / Anal kaatril nizhalae illai”
Stormy winds and hot scorching air symbolize the harsh, unyielding realities and struggles of life without a guardian.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pillai Selvam' (1973) featured music by Sakthi Kumar and heart-rending lyrics by Kannadasan. P. Susheela's soul-stirring vocal performance brilliantly captured the pathos of child suffering, rendering it a classic sad song of 1970s Tamil cinema.
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