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Rajapart Rangadurai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ammamma Thambi Endru

From Rajapart Rangadurai · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Rajapart Rangadurai
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
4 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ammammaa…
Thambi endru nambi
Avan unnai valarthaan
Ammammaa…
Thambi endru nambi
Avan unnai valarthaan
Thaai endrum thandhai endrum
Thannai ninaithaan
Thaai endrum thandhai endrum
Thannai ninaithaan
Athu unakkaaga vaazhndha
Ullam allavo
Athu unakkaaga vaazhndha
Ullam allavo
Ammammaa…
Thambi endru nambi
Avan unnai valarthaan
Kaiyil vaithu kaathirundhaal
Kaaladiyil kaathirukkum
Nandri mikka naaigal ulla naadu
Idhil sondhamindri bandhamindri
Vantha vazhi ninaivumindri
Pillaigalum pirandhirukkum veedu
{Raama naadagathil
Moondru thambigalin
Ullam kandenae
Nalla bhaaradhathil
Naalu thambigalai
Naanum kandenae} (2)
Athu naadagamaa…
Ithu naadagamaa…
Athu naadagamaa…
Ithu naadagamaa…
Ingu naan kaanum veshangal
Konjamallavae
Naan ithu pondra veshathil
Vandhadhillaiyae
Ammammaa…
Thambi endru nambi
Avan unnai valarthaan
Thangai ennum ilaiya kandru
Thaai veedu vandhadhendru
Ennudaiya naadagathil kaatchi
Aval kondavanai pirindhu vanthu
Kolam kondu nirpadhanai
Kandadharku innoruvan saatchi
{Kannil neer peruga
Seethai nindra nilai
Kannil therigirathu
Annan konda thuyar
Thambi latchumanan
Nenjil ezhugirathu} (2)
Athu paasamandro…
Ithu veshamandro…
Athu paasamandro…
Ithu veshamandro…
Avan raajaathi raajanukku
Pillai allavo
Intha raajapart rangadurai
Ezhai allavo
Ammammaa…
Thambi endru nambi
Avan unnai valarthaan
Thaai endrum thandhai endrum
Thannai ninaithaan
Athu unakkaaga vaazhndha
Ullam allavo
Ammammaa…
Thambi endru nambi
Avan unnai valarthaan
Oh, alas...
Trusting you as his brother,
he brought you up.
Oh, alas...
Trusting you as his brother,
he brought you up.
As both a mother and a father,
he looked after you.
As both a mother and a father,
he looked after you.
Wasn't that a heart
that lived only for you?
Wasn't that a heart
that lived only for you?
Oh, alas...
Trusting you as his brother,
he brought you up.
If fed and cared for by hand,
they will wait loyally at your feet—
this is a land of grateful dogs.
Yet in this home, with no bonds of love,
and no memory of where they came from,
ungrateful children are born.
In the play of Rama,
the devotion of three younger brothers
I have witnessed;
in the great Mahabharata,
four loyal younger brothers
I too have seen.
Was that just a play,
or is this the real drama?
Was that just a play,
or is this the real drama?
The false masks I see here
are not few at all!
Yet in a deceitful role like this,
I have never appeared on stage!
Oh, alas...
Trusting you as his brother,
he brought you up.
A younger sister, like a tender calf,
returning to her parental home—
is a scene in my play.
Separated from the husband she wed,
standing there in a broken state,
another man stands as witness.
With tears welling in her eyes,
the sight of Sita standing helpless
appears before my eyes;
the sorrow felt by the elder brother
now stirs in the heart of
his younger brother Lakshmana.
Wasn't that true love?
Isn't this just an act?
Wasn't that true love?
Isn't this just an act?
He was the prince of the king of kings,
was he not?
While this Rajapart (lead stage actor) Rangadurai
is just a poor man, is he not?
Oh, alas...
Trusting you as his brother,
he brought you up.
As both a mother and a father,
he looked after you.
Wasn't that a heart
that lived only for you?
Oh, alas...
Trusting you as his brother,
he brought you up.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional song from 'Rajapart Rangadurai' expresses the deep grief and betrayal felt by an elder brother who selflessly raised his younger siblings as both mother and father, only to face ingratitude and deceit. He contrasts the unconditional loyalty of animals with the cold insensitivity of selfish relatives. Drawing parallels to epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the protagonist questions whether historical bonds of brotherly devotion were merely scripted dramas compared to the real-life cruelties he now witnesses on stage and in life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Ammammaa… / Thambi endru nambi”

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'm' across lines 1 and 2 ('Ammammaa' / 'Thambi') and 'n' in lines 20-22 ('Nandri' / 'Idhil' / 'Vantha').

Monaai (Alliteration)

“Thambi endru nambi / Avan unnai valarthaan”

Matching initial consonant sounds across words in a line, such as 'Thambi' and 'Thannai' or 'Raama' and 'Rangadurai'.

Mythological Allusion

“Raama naadagathil / Moondru thambigalin”

References to Ramayana (Rama, Sita, Lakshmana) and Mahabharata to highlight ideal filial devotion versus present tragic betrayal.

Metaphor

“Thangai ennum ilaiya kandru”

Comparing the younger sister returning home in distress to a young calf ('ilaiya kandru').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by M. S. Viswanathan with iconic lyrics by Kannadasan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan. In the film 'Rajapart Rangadurai' (1973), Sivaji Ganesan plays a stage actor (Rangadurai) who specializes in mythological theater roles. This song serves a pivotal dramatic purpose as Rangadurai delivers a poignant performance on stage while pouring out his genuine personal pain over his ungrateful family.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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Inquilab Zindabad1973
Rajapart RangaduraiDefiant
Vanthaen Vandhanam1973
Rajapart RangaduraiPlayful
Thillai Ambala1973
Rajapart RangaduraiContemplative
Meiyatha Maan1973
Rajapart RangaduraiAwe Struck
Ammamma Thambi Endru Nambi1973
Rajapart RangaduraiTender
Jin Jinukaan1973
Rajapart RangaduraiMelancholic

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