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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammamma Saranam

From Sattam · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Sattam
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
20 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ammammaa saranam saranam
Un paadhangal
Appappo tharanum tharanum
En thevaigal
Adi raadhaa theriyaadhaa
Ilam bodhai
Pudhu raadhaa thodaraadhaa
Adhan paadhai
Koduthaal naan eduthaal
Thaen vadiyaadhaa…
Appappaa peridhu peridhu
Un penn bakthi
Appappo ariven ariven
Naan un sakthi
Nee thaanae naan potrum
Sivalingam
Ival maeni sarpaadhi un angam
Pagalum nalliravum poojaigal thaanae
Ammammaa saranam saranam
Un paadhangal
Appappo tharanum tharanum
En thevaigal
{Aaraadhanai seiya
Ambaalum irukka
Adiyaenum thaan
Paalil abishaegam nadatha} (2)
Nee vanga vandha
Varam ennavo
Neengaamal kaatchi
Thara vendumo
Naan paarkka varam ketkka
Arul serkka vaa eswari haa…
Appappaa peridhu peridhu
Un penn bakthi
Appappo ariven ariven
Naan un sakthi
{Pullaanguzhal kannan
Kaiyodu irukka
Raadhaa manam adhai
Paarthaalae thudikka} (2)
Kuzhalodu vandha
Gopaalan naan ha ha
Gopaalan paadum boopaalam nee
Un paattu naan kettu paaraatta
Naal vendumo hoo…
Ammammaa saranam saranam
Un paadhangal
Appappo tharanum tharanum
En thevaigal
Nee thaanae naan potrum
Sivalingam
Ival maeni sarpaadhi un angam
Koduthaal naan eduthaal
Thaen vadiyaadhaa… raadhaa…
Thaa thaa thaa thaa thaa thaa
Ah, I surrender, I surrender
at your feet!
From time to time, you must satisfy
all my desires!
Hey Radha, don't you know
this youthful intoxication?
Won't a new Radha follow
along its path?
If you give and I take,
won't sweet honey overflow...?
My goodness, it is so immense,
your devotion to this woman!
Now and then I come to know
the great power you hold!
Aren't you the Shivalingam
that I worship?
Half of my body is a part of yours!
Day and night are filled with worship alone!
Ah, I surrender, I surrender
at your feet!
From time to time, you must satisfy
all my desires!
When the goddess is right here
for you to worship,
and your humble servant is here
to bathe you with milk,
what blessing have you
come here to receive?
Must I appear before your eyes
without ever leaving?
For me to gaze at you and seek your favor,
come and shower your grace, my goddess! Ha...
My goodness, it is so immense,
your devotion to this woman!
Now and then I come to know
the great power you hold!
When the flute rests
in Krishna's hands,
Radha's heart begins to flutter
just at the sight of it!
I am that Gopalan (Krishna)
who arrived with his flute! Ha ha...
And you are the morning melody sung by Gopalan!
To listen to your song and praise you,
do we need a special day? Hoo...
Ah, I surrender, I surrender
at your feet!
From time to time, you must satisfy
all my desires!
Aren't you the Shivalingam
that I worship?
Half of my body is a part of yours!
If you give and I take,
won't sweet honey overflow... Radha...?
Tha tha tha tha tha tha
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This sensual and romantic duets intertwines spiritual devotion with romantic desire. The lovers play with metaphors comparing their romantic bond to sacred relationships—Shiva and Shakti, Krishna and Radha, and divine worship ceremonies (Pooja and Abhishekam). The song beautifully illustrates the playful surrender of lovers to one another, elevating physical and emotional intimacy into a sacred ritual.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Nee thaanae naan potrum Sivalingam

Compares the beloved directly to a Sivalingam (Lord Shiva idol) to express deep worship and devotion.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai)

Ammammaa saranam... Appappo tharanum...

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds in 'Ammammaa' and 'Appappo' creates rhythmic flow.

Mythological Imagery

Pullaanguzhal kannan Kaiyodu irukka Raadhaa manam adhai Paarthaalae thudikka

Uses the eternal romantic figures Krishna (Gopala with flute) and Radha to frame the dynamic between the lovers.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is from the 1983 Tamil crime-drama film 'Sattam', directed by K. Vijayan, starring Kamal Haasan and Sarath Babu. The music was composed by Gangai Amaran, and the playful lyricism was penned by Vaali.

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