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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammai Aanavan

From Murugan Adimai · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Murugan Adimai
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
26 Mar 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ammaiyanavan emakku appanaanavan
Ammaiyanavan emakku appanaanavan
Female :Nanmaiyanavan ulagil unmaiyanavan
Male :Ammaiyanavan emakku appanaanavan
Thaaimai vendrathu pillai thavamum vendrathu
Female :Vaaimai vendrathu bakthi valimai
vendrathu
Male :Thaaimai vendrathu pillai thavamum vendrathu
Female :Vaaimai vendrathu bakthi valimai
vendrathu
Nermai vendrathu muruga needhi vendrathu
Nermai vendrathu muruga needhi vendrathu
Female :Swami sakthiyaal engal dharumam vendrathu
Ammaiyanavan emakku appanaanavan
Female :Nanmaiyanavan ulagil unmaiyanavan
Acham therndhathu engal anbum vendrathu
Female :Aiyam theerndhathu aiyan arulum vendrathu
Male :Acham therndhathu engal anbum vendrathu
Female :Aiyam theerndhathu aiyan arulum vendrathu
Kavalai theerndhadhu engal kaalam vendrathu
Kavalai theerndhadhu engal kaalam vendrathu
Female :Kalam kalamaai seidha sevai vendrathu
Both :Ammaiyanavan emakku appanaanavan
He became both mother and father to us.
He became both mother and father to us.
Female: He is all goodness, the only truth in this world.
Male: He became both mother and father to us.
Motherhood has triumphed, and the child's prayer has triumphed.
Female: Truth has triumphed, and the strength of devotion...
...has triumphed!
Male: Motherhood has triumphed, and the child's prayer has triumphed.
Female: Truth has triumphed, and the strength of devotion...
...has triumphed!
Honesty has triumphed, O Muruga, justice has triumphed!
Honesty has triumphed, O Muruga, justice has triumphed!
Female: By the Lord's power, our righteousness has triumphed.
He became both mother and father to us.
Female: He is all goodness, the only truth in this world.
Fear is gone, and our love has triumphed.
Female: Doubt is gone, and the Lord's grace has triumphed.
Male: Fear is gone, and our love has triumphed.
Female: Doubt is gone, and the Lord's grace has triumphed.
Worries are gone, and our good time has triumphed.
Worries are gone, and our good time has triumphed.
Female: The service offered across generations has triumphed.
Both: He became both mother and father to us.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ammaiyanavan Emakku Appanaanavan is a soulful Tamil devotional song from the 1977 movie Murugan Adimai, scored by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, the song extols Lord Murugan as the ultimate divine figure who embodies both maternal tenderness and paternal protection for His ardent devotees. The lyrics celebrate the ultimate victory of truth (Vaaimai), righteousness (Dharma), honesty (Nermai), and pure devotion (Bakthi). By placing complete faith in the divine, the devotees find their fears and doubts vanquished, leading to moral and spiritual triumph after generations of dedicated service.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Ammaiyanavan emakku appanaanavan”

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'A' ('Ammaiyanavan', 'appanaanavan') establishing rhythmic harmony in the refrain.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Epiphora)

“Thaaimai vendrathu pillai thavamum vendrathu”

Repetition of the refrain word 'vendrathu' (victorious/won) at the end of clauses to emphasize divine triumph.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kavalai theerndhadhu engal kaalam vendrathu”

Initial consonant 'K' repetition ('Kavalai', 'kaalam') connecting emotional relief with temporal triumph.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Ammaiyanavan emakku appanaanavan”

Envisioning the divine lord as simultaneously fulfilling the role of mother (compassion) and father (protection).

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from Murugan Adimai (1977) draws inspiration from classic Tamil Bhakti literature like Abhirami Antati and Thiruvasagam, where God is venerated as both 'Ammai' (Mother) and 'Appan' (Father). Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully blends high devotional philosophy with accessible devotional phrasing for Tamil cinema.

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