Ammamma
From Kavalukku Kettikaran · 1990
- Lyricist
- M. Karunanidhi
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kavalukku Kettikaran1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ammammaa…. | Alas... |
| Idhayam eriyum | A burning heart's |
| Kodumai nadandhadhae… | Cruelty has happened... |
| Poo maalai… | A flower garland... |
| Kanalil vizhundhu | Fell into the embers |
| Karugi ponadhae… | And got charred away... |
| Theeyodu theeyaagi | Becoming fire with fire, |
| Theendhaayae… ammammaa… | You were consumed... alas... |
| Male | |
| Eriyum sidhaiyilae | In the burning pyre, |
| Nilavum karugavae | Even the moon gets charred, |
| Thanimai chiraiyilae | In the prison of solitude, |
| Manadhum urugavae | The heart melts away, |
| Anbu nenjamae | O loving heart, |
| Ingu analil vegudhae | It burns in fire here, |
| Thunbam ondru thaan | Sorrow alone |
| En sondham aanadhae | Has become my relative. |
| Kanavugal thaan kalaindhidavae | Dreams have shattered, |
| Pudhu malar thaan posungiyadhae | The fresh flower has scorched. |
| Male | |
| Eriyum sidhaiyilae | In the burning pyre, |
| Nilavum karugavae | Even the moon gets charred, |
| Thanimai chiraiyilae | In the prison of solitude, |
| Manadhum urugavae | The heart melts away, |
| Anbu nenjamae | O loving heart, |
| Ingu analil vegudhae | It burns in fire here, |
| Thunbam ondru thaan | Sorrow alone |
| En sondham aanadhae | Has become my relative. |
| Male | |
| Sor ootti paathirundhu | Who fed rice and cared, |
| Sondham yena aadharitha | Who supported as kin, |
| Thaayavalum thee kondaal | If even that mother catches fire, |
| Enna sadhiyo | What kind of conspiracy is this! |
| Male | |
| Thaalaatta thaayum indri | With no mother to sing a lullaby, |
| Solli azha yaarum indri | With no one to share tears with, |
| Yengi azhudhae ingae | Yearning and crying here, |
| Ezhai kiliyae | Is this poor parrot. |
| Male | |
| Oliyae maraindhae kidakka | While the light remains hidden, |
| Ulagae irulil thavikka | While the world suffers in darkness, |
| Adimai uyir thaan malivaa | Is a slave's life so cheap? |
| Vidivae yemakku illaiyaa | Is there no dawn for us? |
| Vizhiyil theriyum vidivae | The dawn seen in the eyes, |
| Adhu dhinamum theriyum mudivae | Is an end seen every day. |
| Ingu vedithidum neruppinil | In the fire that explodes here, |
| Kodumaigal erindhidumae | Cruelties will burn to ashes! |
| Male | |
| Eriyum sidhaiyilae | In the burning pyre, |
| Nilavum karugavae | Even the moon gets charred, |
| Thanimai chiraiyilae | In the prison of solitude, |
| Manadhum urugavae | The heart melts away, |
| Anbu nenjamae | O loving heart, |
| Ingu analil vegudhae | It burns in fire here, |
| Thunbam ondru thaan | Sorrow alone |
| En sondham aanadhae | Has become my relative. |
| Male | |
| Aandaandu kaalam ingu | For years and years here, |
| Adimai yena vaazhndhadhellaam | All that was lived in slavery, |
| Naalai mudhalae | From tomorrow onwards, |
| Ingae maari vidalaam | Can change right here. |
| Male | |
| Vaadhaadi paarthadhellaam | All the arguments attempted, |
| Veenaaga ponadhenna | Why did they go in vain? |
| Vaalai eduthaal ingae | If one takes up the sword here, |
| Needhi peralaam | Justice can be obtained! |
| Male | |
| Thunivae thunaiyaai ini vaa | Courage, come now as support! |
| Puliyaai ezhuvaai manidhaa | Rise like a tiger, O human! |
| Thadaiyae thagarum iniyae | Obstacles will crumble from now, |
| Dharumam jeyikkum nijamae | Righteousness will truly win! |
| Male | |
| Kodumai chiraiyum udaikka | To break the prison of cruelty, |
| Ooru sabadham yedutthu varuvaen | I will come taking a vow for the town. |
| Ini vidindhidum pozhudhugal | The dawns that rise hereafter, |
| Namakkena vidiyattumae | Let them dawn for us! |
| Male | |
| Eriyum sidhaiyilae | In the burning pyre, |
| Nilavum karugavae | Even the moon gets charred, |
| Thanimai chiraiyilae | In the prison of solitude, |
| Manadhum urugavae | The heart melts away, |
| Anbu nenjamae | O loving heart, |
| Ingu analil vegudhae | It burns in fire here, |
| Thunbam ondru thaan | Sorrow alone |
| En sondham aanadhae | Has become my relative. |
| Kanavugal thaan kalaindhidavae | Dreams have shattered, |
| Pudhu malar thaan posungiyadhae | The fresh flower has scorched. |
அம்மம்மா......
இதயம் எரியும் கொடுமை நடந்ததே...
பூ மாலை
கனலில் விழுந்து கருகிப் போனதே...
தீயோடு தீயாகித் தீந்தாயே...
அம்மம்மா...
Alas...
A burning heart's
Cruelty has happened...
A flower garland...
Fell into the embers
And got charred away...
Becoming fire with fire,
You were consumed... alas...
எரியும் சிதையிலே
நிலவும் கருகவே
தனிமைச் சிறையிலே
மனதும் உருகவே
In the burning pyre,
Even the moon gets charred,
In the prison of solitude,
The heart melts away,
O loving heart,
It burns in fire here,
Sorrow alone
Has become my relative.
Dreams have shattered,
The fresh flower has scorched.
அன்பு நெஞ்சமே
இங்கு அனலில் வேகுதே
துன்பம் ஒன்றுதான்
என் சொந்தம் ஆனதே
In the burning pyre,
Even the moon gets charred,
In the prison of solitude,
The heart melts away,
O loving heart,
It burns in fire here,
Sorrow alone
Has become my relative.
கனவுகள்தான் கலைந்திடவே
புது மலர்தான் பொசுங்கியதே
Who fed rice and cared,
Who supported as kin,
If even that mother catches fire,
What kind of conspiracy is this!
எரியும் சிதையிலே
நிலவும் கருகவே
தனிமைச் சிறையிலே
மனதும் உருகவே
With no mother to sing a lullaby,
With no one to share tears with,
Yearning and crying here,
Is this poor parrot.
அன்பு நெஞ்சமே
இங்கு அனலில் வேகுதே
துன்பம் ஒன்றுதான்
என் சொந்தம் ஆனதே
While the light remains hidden,
While the world suffers in darkness,
Is a slave's life so cheap?
Is there no dawn for us?
The dawn seen in the eyes,
Is an end seen every day.
In the fire that explodes here,
Cruelties will burn to ashes!
சோறூட்டிப் பார்த்திருந்து
சொந்தம் என ஆதரித்த
தாயவளும் தீ கொண்டாள்
என்ன சதியோ
In the burning pyre,
Even the moon gets charred,
In the prison of solitude,
The heart melts away,
O loving heart,
It burns in fire here,
Sorrow alone
Has become my relative.
தாலாட்ட தாயும் இன்றி
சொல்லி அழ யாரும் இன்றி
ஏங்கி அழுதே இங்கே
ஏழைக் கிளியே
For years and years here,
All that was lived in slavery,
From tomorrow onwards,
Can change right here.
ஒளியே மறைந்தே கிடக்க
உலகே இருளில் தவிக்க
அடிமை உயிர் தான் மலிவா
விடிவே எமக்கு இல்லையா
All the arguments attempted,
Why did they go in vain?
If one takes up the sword here,
Justice can be obtained!
விழியில் தெரியும் விடிவே
அது தினமும் எழுதும் முடிவே
இங்கு வெடித்திடும் நெருப்பினில்
கொடுமைகள் எரிந்திடுமே
Courage, come now as support!
Rise like a tiger, O human!
Obstacles will crumble from now,
Righteousness will truly win!
எரியும் சிதையிலே
நிலவும் கருகவே
தனிமைச் சிறையிலே
மனதும் உருகவே
To break the prison of cruelty,
I will come taking a vow for the town.
The dawns that rise hereafter,
Let them dawn for us!
அன்பு நெஞ்சமே
இங்கு அனலில் வேகுதே
துன்பம் ஒன்றுதான்
என் சொந்தம் ஆனதே
In the burning pyre,
Even the moon gets charred,
In the prison of solitude,
The heart melts away,
O loving heart,
It burns in fire here,
Sorrow alone
Has become my relative.
Dreams have shattered,
The fresh flower has scorched.
ஆண்டாண்டு காலம் இங்கு
அடிமை என வாழ்ந்ததெல்லாம்
நாளை முதலே
இங்கே மாறி விடலாம்
வாதாடிப் பார்த்ததெல்லாம்
வீணாகப் போனதென்ன
வாளை எடுத்தால்
இங்கே நீதி பெறலாம்
துணிவே துணையாய் இனி வா
புலியாய் எழுவாய் மனிதா
தடையே தகரும் இனியே
தருமம் ஜெயிக்கும் நிஜமே
கொடுமைச் சிறையும் உடைக்க
ஒரு சபதம் எடுத்து வருவேன்
இனி விடிந்திடும் பொழுதுகள்
நமக்கென விடியட்டுமே....ஏ.....
எரியும் சிதையிலே
நிலவும் கருகவே
தனிமைச் சிறையிலே
மனதும் உருகவே
அன்பு நெஞ்சமே
இங்கு அனலில் வேகுதே
துன்பம் ஒன்றுதான்
என் சொந்தம் ஆனதே
கனவுகள்தான் கலைந்திடவே
புது மலர்தான் பொசுங்கியதே
Ammammaa….
Alas...
Idhayam eriyum
A burning heart's
Kodumai nadandhadhae…
Cruelty has happened...
Poo maalai…
A flower garland...
Kanalil vizhundhu
Fell into the embers
Karugi ponadhae…
And got charred away...
Theeyodu theeyaagi
Becoming fire with fire,
Theendhaayae… ammammaa…
You were consumed... alas...
Eriyum sidhaiyilae
In the burning pyre,
Nilavum karugavae
Even the moon gets charred,
Thanimai chiraiyilae
In the prison of solitude,
Manadhum urugavae
The heart melts away,
Anbu nenjamae
O loving heart,
Ingu analil vegudhae
It burns in fire here,
Thunbam ondru thaan
Sorrow alone
En sondham aanadhae
Has become my relative.
Kanavugal thaan kalaindhidavae
Dreams have shattered,
Pudhu malar thaan posungiyadhae
The fresh flower has scorched.
Eriyum sidhaiyilae
In the burning pyre,
Nilavum karugavae
Even the moon gets charred,
Thanimai chiraiyilae
In the prison of solitude,
Manadhum urugavae
The heart melts away,
Anbu nenjamae
O loving heart,
Ingu analil vegudhae
It burns in fire here,
Thunbam ondru thaan
Sorrow alone
En sondham aanadhae
Has become my relative.
Sor ootti paathirundhu
Who fed rice and cared,
Sondham yena aadharitha
Who supported as kin,
Thaayavalum thee kondaal
If even that mother catches fire,
Enna sadhiyo
What kind of conspiracy is this!
Thaalaatta thaayum indri
With no mother to sing a lullaby,
Solli azha yaarum indri
With no one to share tears with,
Yengi azhudhae ingae
Yearning and crying here,
Ezhai kiliyae
Is this poor parrot.
Oliyae maraindhae kidakka
While the light remains hidden,
Ulagae irulil thavikka
While the world suffers in darkness,
Adimai uyir thaan malivaa
Is a slave's life so cheap?
Vidivae yemakku illaiyaa
Is there no dawn for us?
Vizhiyil theriyum vidivae
The dawn seen in the eyes,
Adhu dhinamum theriyum mudivae
Is an end seen every day.
Ingu vedithidum neruppinil
In the fire that explodes here,
Kodumaigal erindhidumae
Cruelties will burn to ashes!
Eriyum sidhaiyilae
In the burning pyre,
Nilavum karugavae
Even the moon gets charred,
Thanimai chiraiyilae
In the prison of solitude,
Manadhum urugavae
The heart melts away,
Anbu nenjamae
O loving heart,
Ingu analil vegudhae
It burns in fire here,
Thunbam ondru thaan
Sorrow alone
En sondham aanadhae
Has become my relative.
Aandaandu kaalam ingu
For years and years here,
Adimai yena vaazhndhadhellaam
All that was lived in slavery,
Naalai mudhalae
From tomorrow onwards,
Ingae maari vidalaam
Can change right here.
Vaadhaadi paarthadhellaam
All the arguments attempted,
Veenaaga ponadhenna
Why did they go in vain?
Vaalai eduthaal ingae
If one takes up the sword here,
Needhi peralaam
Justice can be obtained!
Thunivae thunaiyaai ini vaa
Courage, come now as support!
Puliyaai ezhuvaai manidhaa
Rise like a tiger, O human!
Thadaiyae thagarum iniyae
Obstacles will crumble from now,
Dharumam jeyikkum nijamae
Righteousness will truly win!
Kodumai chiraiyum udaikka
To break the prison of cruelty,
Ooru sabadham yedutthu varuvaen
I will come taking a vow for the town.
Ini vidindhidum pozhudhugal
The dawns that rise hereafter,
Namakkena vidiyattumae
Let them dawn for us!
Eriyum sidhaiyilae
In the burning pyre,
Nilavum karugavae
Even the moon gets charred,
Thanimai chiraiyilae
In the prison of solitude,
Manadhum urugavae
The heart melts away,
Anbu nenjamae
O loving heart,
Ingu analil vegudhae
It burns in fire here,
Thunbam ondru thaan
Sorrow alone
En sondham aanadhae
Has become my relative.
Kanavugal thaan kalaindhidavae
Dreams have shattered,
Pudhu malar thaan posungiyadhae
The fresh flower has scorched.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Kavalukku Kettikaran' (1990) opens with an intense, tragic lament over loss and injustice. The imagery of a heart burning on a funeral pyre, a flower garland charred to ashes, and solitude felt as a prison sets a tone of deep mourning. It reflects on the destruction of maternal care and innocent life, questioning why oppressive hardships afflict the poor and vulnerable.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagham)
“Thanimai chiraiyilae”
Compares solitude directly to a prison ('Thanimai chiraiyilae') and innocent people/dreams to flowers burning in fire.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Puliyaai ezhuvaai manidhaa”
Encourages a human being to rise up fiercely 'like a tiger' against oppression.
Emonai / Rhyming (Iyaibu)
“Thanimai chiraiyilae / Manadhum urugavae”
Rhyming endings in stanza couplets ('chiraiyilae / urugavae', 'vegudhae / aanadhae') create rhythmic emphasis and emotional cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics were written by former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and acclaimed writer M. Karunanidhi for the film 'Kavalukku Kettikaran' (1990), starring Prabhu and Nirosha. Karunanidhi incorporated his signature socio-political motifs of rising against tyranny and fighting for justice into the song.
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