Amma Venuma
From Karpooram · 1957
- Lyricist
- V. Lakshmanan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- D. B. Ramachandran
- Details
- Karpooram1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Amma venuma kanna akka venuma | Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister? |
| Amma venuma kanna akka venuma | Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister? |
| Amma endraal paal tharuvaal | If she is a mother, she will give milk. |
| Akka endraal pazham tharuvaal | If she is an elder sister, she will give fruit. |
| Paal venuma illai pazham venuma | Do you want milk, or do you want fruit? |
| Amma venuma kanna akka venuma | Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister? |
| Female | |
| Amma endru sollum bothu aasai ponguthada | When you call me mother, desire overflows, my dear. |
| Amma endru sollum bothu aasai ponguthada | When you call me mother, desire overflows, my dear. |
| Summa kedacha sorgathilae manasum thulludhada | My heart leaps in this heaven received for free. |
| Summa kedacha sorgathilae manasum thulludhada | My heart leaps in this heaven received for free. |
| Amma endraal paalootta venum illaiyaa | If I am a mother, shouldn't I breastfeed? |
| Amma endraal paalootta venum illaiyaa | If I am a mother, shouldn't I breastfeed? |
| Andha paalukku naan engae poven sollada raaja | Where will I go for that milk, tell me, my king? |
| Amma venuma kanna akka venuma | Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister? |
| Female | |
| Kattil ingae podavillai thottil podanum | I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle. |
| Uluuuu….hai | Uluuuu... hai |
| Kattil ingae podavillai thottil podanum | I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle. |
| Andha thottililae kann valara paattu paadanum | And in that cradle, I must sing a lullaby for you to sleep. |
| Haaa aa aaa | Haaa aa aaa |
| Kattil ingae podavillai thottil podanum | I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle. |
| Andha thottililae kann valara paattu paadanum | And in that cradle, I must sing a lullaby for you to sleep. |
| Kann kottamal iravellam kavanikkavum vendum | I must also watch over you all night without blinking. |
| Kann kottamal iravellam kavanikkavum vendum | I must also watch over you all night without blinking. |
| Andha kittadha padhavikku naan poruthama raja | Am I suitable for that unattainable status, my king? |
| Amma venuma kanna akka venuma | Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister? |
| Female | |
| Kanni pennai ammavakki sirikkiraaiyada | You turned a young maiden into a mother and you laugh, my dear. |
| Kanni pennai ammavakki sirikkiraaiyada | You turned a young maiden into a mother and you laugh, my dear. |
| Kallamilla punnagaiyil kalikkirenada | I rejoice in your innocent smile, my dear. |
| Kallamilla punnagaiyil kalikkirenada | I rejoice in your innocent smile, my dear. |
| Ennai unakku thandhu vitten chinna kannane | I have given myself to you, my little Krishna. |
| Ennai unakku thandhu vitten chinna kannane | I have given myself to you, my little Krishna. |
| Unnai ennaalumae kaathiduven inbamae raaja | I will protect you forever, my joyful king. |
| Amma venuma kanna akka venuma | Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister? |
| Amma endraal paal tharuvaal | If she is a mother, she will give milk. |
| Akka endraal pazham tharuvaal | If she is an elder sister, she will give fruit. |
| Paal venuma illai pazham venuma | Do you want milk, or do you want fruit? |
| Amma venuma kanna akka venuma | Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister? |
அம்மா வேணுமா கண்ணா அக்கா வேணுமா
அம்மா வேணுமா கண்ணா அக்கா வேணுமா
அம்மா என்றால் பால் தருவாள்
அக்கா என்றால் பழம் தருவாள்
பால் வேணுமா இல்லை பழம் வேணுமா..
அம்மா வேணுமா கண்ணா அக்கா வேணுமா
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
If she is a mother, she will give milk.
If she is an elder sister, she will give fruit.
Do you want milk, or do you want fruit?
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
அம்மா என்று சொல்லும்போது ஆசை பொங்குதடா
அம்மா என்று சொல்லும்போது ஆசை பொங்குதடா
சும்மா கெடச்ச சொர்க்கத்திலே மனசும் துள்ளுதடா
சும்மா கெடச்ச சொர்க்கத்திலே மனசும் துள்ளுதடா
அம்மா என்றால் பாலூட்ட வேணுமில்லையா
அம்மா என்றால் பாலூட்ட வேணுமில்லையா
அந்த பாலுக்கு நான் எங்கே போவேன் சொல்லடா ராஜா
அந்த பாலுக்கு நான் எங்கே போவேன் சொல்லடா ராஜா
அம்மா வேணுமா கண்ணா அக்கா வேணுமா
When you call me mother, desire overflows, my dear.
When you call me mother, desire overflows, my dear.
My heart leaps in this heaven received for free.
My heart leaps in this heaven received for free.
If I am a mother, shouldn't I breastfeed?
If I am a mother, shouldn't I breastfeed?
Where will I go for that milk, tell me, my king?
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
கட்டில் இங்கே போடவில்லை தொட்டில் போடணும்
..........
கட்டில் இங்கே போடவில்லை தொட்டில் போடணும்
அந்த தொட்டிலிலே கண் வளர பாட்டு பாடணும்
ஹா..ஆ.ஆ
I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle.
Uluuuu... hai
I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle.
And in that cradle, I must sing a lullaby for you to sleep.
Haaa aa aaa
I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle.
And in that cradle, I must sing a lullaby for you to sleep.
I must also watch over you all night without blinking.
I must also watch over you all night without blinking.
Am I suitable for that unattainable status, my king?
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
கட்டில் இங்கே போடவில்லை தொட்டில் போடணும்
அந்த தொட்டிலிலே கண் வளர பாட்டு பாடணும்
கண் கொட்டாமல் இரவெல்லாம் கவனிக்கவும் வேண்டும்
கண் கொட்டாமல் இரவெல்லாம் கவனிக்கவும் வேண்டும்
அந்த கிட்டாத பதவிக்கு நான் பொருத்தமா ராஜா
அம்மா வேணுமா கண்ணா அக்கா வேணுமா
You turned a young maiden into a mother and you laugh, my dear.
You turned a young maiden into a mother and you laugh, my dear.
I rejoice in your innocent smile, my dear.
I rejoice in your innocent smile, my dear.
I have given myself to you, my little Krishna.
I have given myself to you, my little Krishna.
I will protect you forever, my joyful king.
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
If she is a mother, she will give milk.
If she is an elder sister, she will give fruit.
Do you want milk, or do you want fruit?
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
கன்னிப் பெண்ணை அம்மாவாக்கி சிரிக்கிறாயடா
கன்னிப் பெண்ணை அம்மாவாக்கி சிரிக்கிறாயடா
கள்ளமில்லா புன்னகையில் களிக்கிறேனடா
கள்ளமில்லா புன்னகையில் களிக்கிறேனடா
என்னை உனக்கு தந்துவிட்டேன் சின்ன கண்ணனே
என்னை உனக்கு தந்துவிட்டேன் சின்ன கண்ணனே
உன்னை எந்நாளும் காத்திடுவேன் இன்பமே ராஜா
அம்மா வேணுமா கண்ணா அக்கா வேணுமா
அம்மா என்றால் பால் தருவாள்
அக்கா என்றால் பழம் தருவாள்
பால் வேணுமா இல்லை பழம் வேணுமா..
அம்மா வேணுமா கண்ணா அக்கா வேணுமா
Amma venuma kanna akka venuma
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
Amma venuma kanna akka venuma
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
Amma endraal paal tharuvaal
If she is a mother, she will give milk.
Akka endraal pazham tharuvaal
If she is an elder sister, she will give fruit.
Paal venuma illai pazham venuma
Do you want milk, or do you want fruit?
Amma venuma kanna akka venuma
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
Amma endru sollum bothu aasai ponguthada
When you call me mother, desire overflows, my dear.
Amma endru sollum bothu aasai ponguthada
When you call me mother, desire overflows, my dear.
Summa kedacha sorgathilae manasum thulludhada
My heart leaps in this heaven received for free.
Summa kedacha sorgathilae manasum thulludhada
My heart leaps in this heaven received for free.
Amma endraal paalootta venum illaiyaa
If I am a mother, shouldn't I breastfeed?
Amma endraal paalootta venum illaiyaa
If I am a mother, shouldn't I breastfeed?
Andha paalukku naan engae poven sollada raaja
Where will I go for that milk, tell me, my king?
Amma venuma kanna akka venuma
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
Kattil ingae podavillai thottil podanum
I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle.
Uluuuu….hai
Uluuuu... hai
Kattil ingae podavillai thottil podanum
I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle.
Andha thottililae kann valara paattu paadanum
And in that cradle, I must sing a lullaby for you to sleep.
Haaa aa aaa
Haaa aa aaa
Kattil ingae podavillai thottil podanum
I should not set up a bed here, I must set up a cradle.
Andha thottililae kann valara paattu paadanum
And in that cradle, I must sing a lullaby for you to sleep.
Kann kottamal iravellam kavanikkavum vendum
I must also watch over you all night without blinking.
Kann kottamal iravellam kavanikkavum vendum
I must also watch over you all night without blinking.
Andha kittadha padhavikku naan poruthama raja
Am I suitable for that unattainable status, my king?
Amma venuma kanna akka venuma
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
Kanni pennai ammavakki sirikkiraaiyada
You turned a young maiden into a mother and you laugh, my dear.
Kanni pennai ammavakki sirikkiraaiyada
You turned a young maiden into a mother and you laugh, my dear.
Kallamilla punnagaiyil kalikkirenada
I rejoice in your innocent smile, my dear.
Kallamilla punnagaiyil kalikkirenada
I rejoice in your innocent smile, my dear.
Ennai unakku thandhu vitten chinna kannane
I have given myself to you, my little Krishna.
Ennai unakku thandhu vitten chinna kannane
I have given myself to you, my little Krishna.
Unnai ennaalumae kaathiduven inbamae raaja
I will protect you forever, my joyful king.
Amma venuma kanna akka venuma
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
Amma endraal paal tharuvaal
If she is a mother, she will give milk.
Akka endraal pazham tharuvaal
If she is an elder sister, she will give fruit.
Paal venuma illai pazham venuma
Do you want milk, or do you want fruit?
Amma venuma kanna akka venuma
Do you want a mother, my darling, or do you want an elder sister?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a tender and playful expression of affection wherein a young woman interacts with a loved one, offering him the choice between motherly care and sisterly affection. She delights in the joy of being addressed with such pure warmth, comparing the sudden unearned happiness to a heaven granted effortlessly. She playfully reflects on the responsibilities of motherhood, such as rocking a cradle, singing lullabies, and staying vigilant through the night. Ultimately, she marvels at how innocent love transformed a young maiden into a maternal figure, and she vows to surrender her heart and protect him forever.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Paal venuma illai pazham venuma”
The speaker poses playful choices like whether the child wants a mother or sister, or milk vs. fruit, to highlight affectionate bonds.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Summa kedacha sorgathilae manasum thulludhada”
Comparing the sudden unearned joy of affection directly to 'heaven received for free'.
Contrast / Antithesis (Muran Ani)
“Kattil ingae podavillai thottil podanum”
Contrasting the adult implication of a bed ('kattil') with the maternal role represented by a cradle ('thottil').
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Kanni pennai ammavakki sirikkiraaiyada”
Repetition of initial consonants ('ka') in 'Kanni', 'kallamilla', and 'kalikkirenada' creating rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
This classic track from 'Karpooram' (1957) showcases the versatile early vocal style of L. R. Eswari, set to tunes composed by D. B. Ramachandran with lyrics written by V. Lakshmanan.
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