Amma Un Pillai Naan
From Naan Kadavul · 2009
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Sadhana Sargam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Naan Kadavul2009
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ammaa un pillai naan | Mother, I am your child |
| Ariyaadhadhennavo | Is there anything unknown to you? |
| Un paadal ondru thaan | Is only your song |
| En sondham enbadho | Truly my own belonging? |
| Enai endrum kaakkavae | To protect me forever |
| Enai endrum kaakkavae | To protect me forever |
| Idhu ondru podhumaa ammaa… mm… | Is this one thing enough, Mother... mm... |
| Female | |
| Ammaa un pillai naan | Mother, I am your child |
| Ariyaadhadhennavo | Is there anything unknown to you? |
| Female | |
| Kaattoram odum neerae | The water running along the forest |
| Nadhiyaanadhae…ae…. | Became a river... |
| Kaattoram odum neerae | The water running along the forest |
| Nadhiyaanadhae…ae…. | Became a river... |
| Rottoramaai vazhvu vidhiyaanadhae | A life spent by the roadside became my destiny |
| Vidhiyenum ezhuththellaam | All the writing called fate |
| Vizhi neeril azhiyum orr neram | Is a moment washed away by tears of the eyes |
| Female | |
| Ammaa un pillai naan | Mother, I am your child |
| Ariyaadhadhennavo | Is there anything unknown to you? |
| Female | |
| Kaaval illaadha jeevan | A life without protection |
| Kanneerilae…. | Is drowned in tears... |
| Kaaval illaadha jeevan | A life without protection |
| Kanneerilae…. | Is drowned in tears... |
| Karai kandidaadha odam thanneerilae | Like a boat in water that cannot find the shore |
| Karaiyillaa thuyarukkorr | For boundless sorrow |
| Karaippottu kaattavaa neeyae | Will you draw a boundary and show me relief? |
| Female | |
| Ammaa un pillai naan | Mother, I am your child |
| Ariyaadhadhennavo | Is there anything unknown to you? |
| Female | |
| Jenmangalil paavam | The most sinful among births |
| Penn jenmamae | Is to be born as a woman |
| Jenmangalil paavam | The most sinful among births |
| Penn jenmamae | Is to be born as a woman |
| Bandhangal endru sonnaal thunbangalae | If one speaks of relationships, they are only sorrows |
| Pengalai silaiyilae | O world that worships women |
| Thozhugindra ulagamae yen sollu… | Only in statues, tell me why? |
| Female | |
| Ammaa un pillai naan | Mother, I am your child |
| Ariyaadhadhennavo | Is there anything unknown to you? |
| Enai endrum kaakkavae | To protect me forever |
| Enai endrum kaakkavae | To protect me forever |
| Idhu ondru podhumaa ammaa… mm… | Is this one thing enough, Mother... mm... |
| Female | |
| Ammaa un pillai naan | Mother, I am your child |
| Ariyaadhadhennavo | Is there anything unknown to you? |
| Mmm…mmm…mm…mmm… | Mmm...mmm...mm...mmm... |
| Mmmm…mmm…mm…mmm.. | Mmmm...mmm...mm...mmm.. |
அம்மா உன் பிள்ளை
நான் அறியாததென்னவோ
உன் பாடல் ஒன்றுதான் என்
சொந்தம் என்பதோ என்னை
என்றும் காக்கவே என்னை
என்றும் காக்கவே இது ஒன்று
போதுமா அம்மா ம்ம்
Mother, I am your child
Is there anything unknown to you?
Is only your song
Truly my own belonging?
To protect me forever
To protect me forever
Is this one thing enough, Mother... mm...
அம்மா உன் பிள்ளை
நான் அறியாததென்னவோ
Mother, I am your child
Is there anything unknown to you?
காட்டோரம் ஓடும்
நீரே நதியானதே காட்டோரம்
ஓடும் நீரே நதியானதே
ரோட்டோரமாய் வாழ்வு
விதியானதே விதியென்னும்
எழுத்தெல்லாம் விழிநீரில்
அழியும் ஓர் நேரம்
The water running along the forest
Became a river...
The water running along the forest
Became a river...
A life spent by the roadside became my destiny
All the writing called fate
Is a moment washed away by tears of the eyes
அம்மா உன் பிள்ளை
நான் அறியாததென்னவோ
Mother, I am your child
Is there anything unknown to you?
காவல் இல்லாத
ஜீவன் கண்ணீரிலே காவல்
இல்லாத ஜீவன் கண்ணீரிலே
கரை கண்டிடாத ஓடம்
தண்ணீரிலே கரையில்லா
துயருக்கோர் கரைபோட்டு
காட்டவா நீயே
A life without protection
Is drowned in tears...
A life without protection
Is drowned in tears...
Like a boat in water that cannot find the shore
For boundless sorrow
Will you draw a boundary and show me relief?
அம்மா உன் பிள்ளை
நான் அறியாததென்னவோ
Mother, I am your child
Is there anything unknown to you?
ஜென்மங்களில் பாவம்
பெண் ஜென்மமே ஜென்மங்களில்
பாவம் பெண் ஜென்மமே பந்தங்கள்
என்று சொன்னால் துன்பங்களே
பெண்களை சிலையிலே
தொழுகின்ற உலகமே
ஏன் சொல்லு
The most sinful among births
Is to be born as a woman
The most sinful among births
Is to be born as a woman
If one speaks of relationships, they are only sorrows
O world that worships women
Only in statues, tell me why?
அம்மா உன் பிள்ளை
நான் அறியாததென்னவோ
என்னை என்றும் காக்கவே
என்னை என்றும் காக்கவே
இது ஒன்று போதுமா அம்மா
ம்ம்ம்....
Mother, I am your child
Is there anything unknown to you?
To protect me forever
To protect me forever
Is this one thing enough, Mother... mm...
அம்மா உன் பிள்ளை
நான் அறியாததென்னவோ
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
Mother, I am your child
Is there anything unknown to you?
Mmm...mmm...mm...mmm...
Mmmm...mmm...mm...mmm..
Ammaa un pillai naan
Mother, I am your child
Ariyaadhadhennavo
Is there anything unknown to you?
Un paadal ondru thaan
Is only your song
En sondham enbadho
Truly my own belonging?
Enai endrum kaakkavae
To protect me forever
Enai endrum kaakkavae
To protect me forever
Idhu ondru podhumaa ammaa… mm…
Is this one thing enough, Mother... mm...
Ammaa un pillai naan
Mother, I am your child
Ariyaadhadhennavo
Is there anything unknown to you?
Kaattoram odum neerae
The water running along the forest
Nadhiyaanadhae…ae….
Became a river...
Kaattoram odum neerae
The water running along the forest
Nadhiyaanadhae…ae….
Became a river...
Rottoramaai vazhvu vidhiyaanadhae
A life spent by the roadside became my destiny
Vidhiyenum ezhuththellaam
All the writing called fate
Vizhi neeril azhiyum orr neram
Is a moment washed away by tears of the eyes
Ammaa un pillai naan
Mother, I am your child
Ariyaadhadhennavo
Is there anything unknown to you?
Kaaval illaadha jeevan
A life without protection
Kanneerilae….
Is drowned in tears...
Kaaval illaadha jeevan
A life without protection
Kanneerilae….
Is drowned in tears...
Karai kandidaadha odam thanneerilae
Like a boat in water that cannot find the shore
Karaiyillaa thuyarukkorr
For boundless sorrow
Karaippottu kaattavaa neeyae
Will you draw a boundary and show me relief?
Ammaa un pillai naan
Mother, I am your child
Ariyaadhadhennavo
Is there anything unknown to you?
Jenmangalil paavam
The most sinful among births
Penn jenmamae
Is to be born as a woman
Jenmangalil paavam
The most sinful among births
Penn jenmamae
Is to be born as a woman
Bandhangal endru sonnaal thunbangalae
If one speaks of relationships, they are only sorrows
Pengalai silaiyilae
O world that worships women
Thozhugindra ulagamae yen sollu…
Only in statues, tell me why?
Ammaa un pillai naan
Mother, I am your child
Ariyaadhadhennavo
Is there anything unknown to you?
Enai endrum kaakkavae
To protect me forever
Enai endrum kaakkavae
To protect me forever
Idhu ondru podhumaa ammaa… mm…
Is this one thing enough, Mother... mm...
Ammaa un pillai naan
Mother, I am your child
Ariyaadhadhennavo
Is there anything unknown to you?
Mmm…mmm…mm…mmm…
Mmm...mmm...mm...mmm...
Mmmm…mmm…mm…mmm..
Mmmm...mmm...mm...mmm..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ammaa Un Pillai Naan from the film Naan Kadavul (2009) is a deeply moving, melancholic song sung from the perspective of a helpless, visually impaired woman who faces extreme societal cruelty. She addresses the Divine Mother, pleading for protection and questioning the hardship and sorrow written into her destiny. The song laments the tragic state of human bonds, which often bring only suffering to the vulnerable. In addition to expressing personal grief, the lyrics present a powerful social critique. Lyricist Vaali highlights the hypocrisy of a society that reveres female deities carved in stone while mistreating and marginalizing real women in daily life. Through poignant imagery of endless tears and shoreless waters, the song captures both existential despair and a desperate plea for divine mercy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vidhiyenum ezhuththellaam / Vizhi neeril azhiyum orr neram”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds in consecutive lines, such as 'Vidhiyenum' and 'Vizhi' creating poetic rhythm.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kaaval illaadha jeevan / Kanneerilae….”
Rhyming of the second letter across lines, seen in 'Kaaval' and 'Kanneerilae'.
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)
“Karai kandidaadha odam thanneerilae”
Comparing a helpless life without refuge to an aimless boat adrift in water unable to reach the shore.
Irony & Rhetorical Question
“Pengalai silaiyilae / Thozhugindra ulagamae yen sollu…”
Highlighting societal hypocrisy by asking why people worship women as idols in temples while causing pain to living women.
Did you know?
Trivia
The soundtrack for Naan Kadavul was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by the legendary poet Vaali. Director Bala's intense depiction of marginalized individuals earned critical acclaim, and actress Pooja Umashankar received widespread praise and awards for her soul-stirring performance in this song.
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