Ammadi Aathavittu Vellam
From Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile · 1981
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| …………………. | |
| Male | |
| Ammaadi……….aaththavittu vellam poguthu | Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks, |
| Kaadu vayal paayaama kadalukkum seraamaa | Without watering the fields or reaching the sea, |
| Kandapadi engo oduthu | It flows aimlessly somewhere. |
| Male | |
| Ammaadi……….aaththavittu vellam poguthu | Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks, |
| Kaadu vayal paayaama kadalukkum seraamaa | Without watering the fields or reaching the sea, |
| Kandapadi engo oduthu | It flows aimlessly somewhere. |
| Male | |
| Poongodi onnu paaradi kanu | Look at that flowering creeper, my child, |
| Poovumilla oru pinjumilla | It has neither a flower nor a tender fruit. |
| Veenaiyum undu viralgalum undu | There is a veena and there are fingers, |
| Meettavilla oru paattum illa | Yet it remains unplayed, and there is no song. |
| Male | |
| Pottathu mullai velanjuthu tholla | Jasmine was planted, but thorns grew instead, |
| Idhuthaan ulagam keladiyo | Listen my dear, this is how the world works. |
| Male | |
| Kannammaa…vaazhkkaikenna arththam kooradi | Oh Kannamma... tell me, what is the meaning of life? |
| Vaayiruthum illaama vaarththai yaedhum sollaama | Having a mouth but unable to speak any words, |
| Oomai kanda kanavu aachchudi | It has become like a dream seen by a mute person. |
| Female | |
| ………………. | |
| Male | |
| Senjathu thiyaagam saernthathu paavam | A sacrifice was made, yet sin was gathered, |
| Sodhanaiyo enna vedhanaiyo | Is this a trial or what kind of agony is this? |
| Thoranam aada oorvalam poga | To see festoons swaying and a grand procession passing, |
| Paaththirunthaal manam pooththirunthaal | She watched with a blooming heart, |
| Male | |
| Nettriya inbam indraiya thunbam | Yesterday's joy has turned into today's sorrow, |
| Edhuthaan nadakkum naalai ingae | What will happen here tomorrow? |
| Ellaamae….onnukkonnu ettaa dhooramaa | Is everything far beyond reach from one another? |
| Vaazha maram vachchaanaa | Just because a plantain tree was planted, |
| Thottaminnu sonnaal podhumaa | Is it enough to call it a garden? |
| Male | |
| Ammaadi……….aaththavittu vellam poguthu | Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks, |
| Kaadu vayal paayaama kadalukkum seraamaa | Without watering the fields or reaching the sea, |
| Kandapadi engo oduthu | It flows aimlessly somewhere. |
........................
அம்மாடி...........ஆத்த விட்டு வெள்ளம் போகுது
காடு வயல் பாயாம கடலுக்கும் சேராம
கண்டபடி எங்கோ ஓடுது
Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks,
Without watering the fields or reaching the sea,
It flows aimlessly somewhere.
அம்மாடி...........ஆத்த விட்டு வெள்ளம் போகுது
காடு வயல் பாயாம கடலுக்கும் சேராம
கண்டபடி எங்கோ ஓடுது
Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks,
Without watering the fields or reaching the sea,
It flows aimlessly somewhere.
பூங்கொடி ஒன்னு பாரடி கண்ணு
பூவுமில்ல ஒரு பிஞ்சுமில்ல
வீணையும் உண்டு விரல்களும் உண்டு
மீட்டவில்ல ஒரு பாட்டும் இல்ல
Look at that flowering creeper, my child,
It has neither a flower nor a tender fruit.
There is a veena and there are fingers,
Yet it remains unplayed, and there is no song.
போட்டது முல்லை வெளஞ்சுது தொல்லை
இதுதான் உலகம் கேளடியோ
Jasmine was planted, but thorns grew instead,
Listen my dear, this is how the world works.
கண்ணம்மா.......வாழ்க்கைகென்ன அர்த்தம் கூறடி
வாயிருந்தும் இல்லாம வார்த்தை ஏதும் சொல்லாம
ஊமை கண்ட கனவு ஆச்சுடி.....
Oh Kannamma... tell me, what is the meaning of life?
Having a mouth but unable to speak any words,
It has become like a dream seen by a mute person.
...........................
செஞ்சது தியாகம் சேர்ந்தது பாவம்
சோதனையோ என்ன வேதனையோ
தோரணம் ஆட ஊர்வலம் போக
பாத்திருந்தாள் மனம் பூத்திருந்தாள்
A sacrifice was made, yet sin was gathered,
Is this a trial or what kind of agony is this?
To see festoons swaying and a grand procession passing,
She watched with a blooming heart,
நேற்றைய இன்பம் இன்றைய துன்பம்
எதுதான் நடக்கும் நாளை இங்கே....
எல்லாமே...... ஒண்ணுக்குகொண்ணு எட்டா தூரமா
வாழ மரம் வச்சானே வாழ மனம் வச்சானா
தோட்டமின்னு சொன்னால் போதுமா......
Yesterday's joy has turned into today's sorrow,
What will happen here tomorrow?
Is everything far beyond reach from one another?
Just because a plantain tree was planted,
Is it enough to call it a garden?
அம்மாடி...........ஆத்த விட்டு வெள்ளம் போகுது
காடு வயல் பாயாம கடலுக்கும் சேராம
கண்டபடி எங்கோ ஓடுது
Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks,
Without watering the fields or reaching the sea,
It flows aimlessly somewhere.
………………….
Ammaadi……….aaththavittu vellam poguthu
Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks,
Kaadu vayal paayaama kadalukkum seraamaa
Without watering the fields or reaching the sea,
Kandapadi engo oduthu
It flows aimlessly somewhere.
Ammaadi……….aaththavittu vellam poguthu
Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks,
Kaadu vayal paayaama kadalukkum seraamaa
Without watering the fields or reaching the sea,
Kandapadi engo oduthu
It flows aimlessly somewhere.
Poongodi onnu paaradi kanu
Look at that flowering creeper, my child,
Poovumilla oru pinjumilla
It has neither a flower nor a tender fruit.
Veenaiyum undu viralgalum undu
There is a veena and there are fingers,
Meettavilla oru paattum illa
Yet it remains unplayed, and there is no song.
Pottathu mullai velanjuthu tholla
Jasmine was planted, but thorns grew instead,
Idhuthaan ulagam keladiyo
Listen my dear, this is how the world works.
Kannammaa…vaazhkkaikenna arththam kooradi
Oh Kannamma... tell me, what is the meaning of life?
Vaayiruthum illaama vaarththai yaedhum sollaama
Having a mouth but unable to speak any words,
Oomai kanda kanavu aachchudi
It has become like a dream seen by a mute person.
……………….
Senjathu thiyaagam saernthathu paavam
A sacrifice was made, yet sin was gathered,
Sodhanaiyo enna vedhanaiyo
Is this a trial or what kind of agony is this?
Thoranam aada oorvalam poga
To see festoons swaying and a grand procession passing,
Paaththirunthaal manam pooththirunthaal
She watched with a blooming heart,
Nettriya inbam indraiya thunbam
Yesterday's joy has turned into today's sorrow,
Edhuthaan nadakkum naalai ingae
What will happen here tomorrow?
Ellaamae….onnukkonnu ettaa dhooramaa
Is everything far beyond reach from one another?
Vaazha maram vachchaanaa
Just because a plantain tree was planted,
Thottaminnu sonnaal podhumaa
Is it enough to call it a garden?
Ammaadi……….aaththavittu vellam poguthu
Oh dear... the flood is overflowing the riverbanks,
Kaadu vayal paayaama kadalukkum seraamaa
Without watering the fields or reaching the sea,
Kandapadi engo oduthu
It flows aimlessly somewhere.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ammaadi Aaththavittu is a poignant philosophical composition from the 1981 Tamil film Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile. Through vivid metaphors from nature—such as a flood that wastes its water without feeding crops or joining the sea, a vine without blossoms, and an unplayed veena—lyricist Pulamaipithan reflects on the tragic irony of a life filled with potential and sacrifice that ultimately yields no happiness or fulfillment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urvagai)
“Kaadu vayal paayaama kadalukkum seraamaa / Kandapadi engo oduthu”
The overflowing river that misses both fields and ocean symbolizes a life squandered aimlessly without fulfilling its true purpose.
Analogy / Simile (Uvamai)
“Oomai kanda kanavu aachchudi”
Life's unexpressed sorrow and futility are compared to a dream seen by a mute person who cannot articulate it.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Nettriya inbam indraiya thunbam”
Contrasts past joy with present agony to highlight the unpredictability of fate.
Second-letter Rhyme (Etukai)
“Pottathu mullai velanjuthu tholla”
The second consonant 't' repeats across lines, creating traditional Tamil rhythmic unity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile (1981) was directed by Rajesh, who also starred in the film alongside Sulakshana. Gangai Amaran composed the music, and Malaysia Vasudevan's soulful rendition of this song remains one of the standout emotional track highlights of 1980s Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
More from Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile
Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile
Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile
Oruthi Mattum Karaiyinile