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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammamma Saranam

From Sattam · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Sattam1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ammammaa saranam saranamOh my, I surrender, I surrender
Un paadhangalTo your feet
Appappo tharanum tharanumTime to time, you must fulfill, fulfill
En thevaigalMy needs
Male
Adi raadhaa theriyaadhaaOh Radha, don't you know?
Ilam bodhaiYouthful intoxication
Pudhu raadhaa thodaraadhaaWon't a new Radha follow
Adhan paadhaiIts path?
Koduthaal naan eduthaalIf given and if I take,
Thaen vadiyaadhaa…Won't honey drip?
Female
Appappaa peridhu peridhuOh my, it is great, it is great
Un penn bakthiYour womanly devotion
Appappo ariven arivenTime to time I realize, I realize
Naan un sakthiI am your divine energy
Female
Nee thaanae naan potrumYou are the very one I worship,
SivalingamThe Lord Shiva idol
Ival maeni sarpaadhi un angamMy body's half-snake adornment is your limb
Pagalum nalliravum poojaigal thaanaeDay and deep night are worship itself
Male
Ammammaa saranam saranamOh my, I surrender, I surrender
Un paadhangalTo your feet
Appappo tharanum tharanumTime to time, you must fulfill, fulfill
En thevaigalMy needs
Male
{Aaraadhanai seiya{To perform worship
Ambaalum irukkaWhile the Goddess is present,
Adiyaenum thaanThis humble devotee
Paalil abishaegam nadatha} (2)Performs anointing with milk}
Female
Nee vanga vandhaWhat is the boon you came to receive?
Varam ennavoShould you grant your presence without leaving?
Neengaamal kaatchiFor me to see, to seek a boon,
Thara vendumoCome to bestow grace, my goddess, ha...
Male
Naan paarkka varam ketkkaOh my, it is great, it is great
Arul serkka vaa eswari haa…Your womanly devotion
Female
Appappaa peridhu peridhuTime to time I realize, I realize
Un penn bakthiI am your divine energy
Appappo ariven ariven{When Krishna with his flute
Naan un sakthiIs right in your hands,
Female
{Pullaanguzhal kannanRadha's heart throbs
Kaiyodu irukkaJust by looking at it}
Raadhaa manam adhaiI am the Gopala who came with a flute, ha ha
Paarthaalae thudikka} (2)You are the morning melody sung by Gopala
Male
Kuzhalodu vandhaTo listen to your song and appreciate it,
Gopaalan naan ha haDo we need a specific day, hoo...
Gopaalan paadum boopaalam neeOh my, I surrender, I surrender
Female
Un paattu naan kettu paaraattaTo your feet
Naal vendumo hoo…Time to time, you must fulfill, fulfill
Male
Ammammaa saranam saranamMy needs
Un paadhangalYou are the very one I worship,
Appappo tharanum tharanumThe Lord Shiva idol
En thevaigalMy body's half-snake adornment is your limb
Female
Nee thaanae naan potrumIf given and if I take,
SivalingamWon't honey drip?... Radha...
Ival maeni sarpaadhi un angamGive, give, give, give, give, give!
Koduthaal naan eduthaal
Thaen vadiyaadhaa… raadhaa…
Thaa thaa thaa thaa thaa thaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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