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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammamma Thambi Endru

From Rajapart Rangadurai · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Rajapart Rangadurai1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ammammaa…Alas...
Thambi endru nambiTrusting you as his younger brother
Avan unnai valarthaanHe raised you
Male
Ammammaa…Alas...
Thambi endru nambiTrusting you as his younger brother
Avan unnai valarthaanHe raised you
Thaai endrum thandhai endrumAs both a mother and a father
Thannai ninaithaanHe considered himself
Thaai endrum thandhai endrumAs both a mother and a father
Thannai ninaithaanHe considered himself
Athu unakkaaga vaazhndhaThat was a heart that lived
Ullam allavoOnly for your sake, wasn't it?
Athu unakkaaga vaazhndhaThat was a heart that lived
Ullam allavoOnly for your sake, wasn't it?
Male
Ammammaa…Alas...
Thambi endru nambiTrusting you as his younger brother
Avan unnai valarthaanHe raised you
Male
Kaiyil vaithu kaathirundhaalIf you feed and take care of them
Kaaladiyil kaathirukkumThey will wait loyally at your feet
Nandri mikka naaigal ulla naaduThis is a land with grateful dogs
Idhil sondhamindri bandhamindriIn this land, without affection or family bond
Vantha vazhi ninaivumindriWithout even remembering where they came from
Pillaigalum pirandhirukkum veeduThere is a house where ungrateful children are born
Male
{Raama naadagathilIn the play of Ramayana
Moondru thambigalinThe noble hearts of three younger brothers
Ullam kandenaeI have witnessed
Nalla bhaaradhathilIn the great epic Mahabharata
Naalu thambigalaiFour devoted brothers
Naanum kandenae} (2)I too have seen
Male
Athu naadagamaa…Was that just a drama?
Ithu naadagamaa…Is this the real drama?
Athu naadagamaa…Was that just a drama?
Ithu naadagamaa…Is this the real drama?
Ingu naan kaanum veshangalThe disguises and roles I see here
KonjamallavaeAre not few at all
Naan ithu pondra veshathilIn such a deceitful disguise
VandhadhillaiyaeI have never come before
Male
Ammammaa…Alas...
Thambi endru nambiTrusting you as his younger brother
Avan unnai valarthaanHe raised you
Male
Thangai ennum ilaiya kandruThe younger calf called a sister
Thaai veedu vandhadhendruHas returned to her maternal home
Ennudaiya naadagathil kaatchiThis is a scene in my play
Aval kondavanai pirindhu vanthuHaving separated from her husband
Kolam kondu nirpadhanaiStanding in sorrow and despair
Kandadharku innoruvan saatchiAnother person is witness to seeing her like this
Male
{Kannil neer perugaWith tears welling up in her eyes
Seethai nindra nilaiThe state in which Sita stood
Kannil therigirathuIs visible right before my eyes
Annan konda thuyarThe grief felt by the elder brother
Thambi latchumananInside the heart of younger brother Lakshmana
Nenjil ezhugirathu} (2)Is rising up now
Male
Athu paasamandro…Was that true love and affection?
Ithu veshamandro…Is this merely a pretentious role?
Athu paasamandro…Was that true love and affection?
Ithu veshamandro…Is this merely a pretentious role?
Avan raajaathi raajanukkuIs he not the child
Pillai allavoOf the king of kings?
Intha raajapart rangaduraiWhereas this stage actor Rangadurai
Ezhai allavoIs just a poor man, isn't he?
Male
Ammammaa…Alas...
Thambi endru nambiTrusting you as his younger brother
Avan unnai valarthaanHe raised you
Male
Thaai endrum thandhai endrumAs both a mother and a father
Thannai ninaithaanHe considered himself
Athu unakkaaga vaazhndhaThat was a heart that lived
Ullam allavoOnly for your sake, wasn't it?
Male
Ammammaa…Alas...
Thambi endru nambiTrusting you as his younger brother
Avan unnai valarthaanHe raised you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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