Ammamma Unnai Sad
From Sadhu · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Sadhu1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kanneerai ellaam | Accepting all the tears, |
| Nee yaettru kondu | You took them upon yourself, |
| Panneeril naalum | And in rosewater every day, |
| Enai neeraattinaai | You bathed me. |
| Male | |
| Kanneerai ellaam | Accepting all the tears, |
| Nee yaettru kondu | You took them upon yourself, |
| Panneeril naalum | And in rosewater every day, |
| Enai neeraattinaai | You bathed me. |
| Male | |
| Thanneerai undu | Drinking only water, |
| Pasi theerthu kondu | Quenching your own hunger, |
| Pillaikku vaayaara | To the child's heart's content, |
| Nee soru oottinaai | You fed food. |
| Male | |
| Manam veesida | To spread fragrance, |
| Dhinam thaeindhidum | Wears down every day— |
| Sandhanam un inamae | Sandalwood is your true nature! |
| Nizhal naan pera | For me to receive shade, |
| Dhinam veyilil | Every day in the hot sun, |
| Nindridum karpagamae | Standing like the celestial wish-fulfilling tree! |
| Male | |
| Ammammammaa | Oh Mother! |
| Unai polae oru dheivam | A deity like you, |
| Ingaedhum illai amudhae | Is nowhere to be found, my sweet nectar! |
| Ammammammaa | Oh Mother! |
| Unai polae oru dheivam | A deity like you. |
கண்ணீரை எல்லாம்
நீ ஏற்று கொண்டு
பன்னீரில் நாளும்
எனை நீராட்டினாய்
Accepting all the tears,
You took them upon yourself,
And in rosewater every day,
You bathed me.
கண்ணீரை எல்லாம்
நீ ஏற்று கொண்டு
பன்னீரில் நாளும்
எனை நீராட்டினாய்
Accepting all the tears,
You took them upon yourself,
And in rosewater every day,
You bathed me.
தண்ணீரை உண்டு
படி தீர்த்து கொண்டு
பிள்ளைக்கு வாயார
நீ சோறு ஊட்டினாய்
Drinking only water,
Quenching your own hunger,
To the child's heart's content,
You fed food.
மனம் வீசிட
தினம் தேய்ந்திடும்
சந்தானம் உன் இனமே
நிழல் நான் பெற
தினம் வெயிலில்
நின்றிடும் கற்பகமே
To spread fragrance,
Wears down every day—
Sandalwood is your true nature!
For me to receive shade,
Every day in the hot sun,
Standing like the celestial wish-fulfilling tree!
அம்மம்ம்மா உன்னை போலே
ஒரு தெய்வம்
இங்கேதும் இல்லை அமுதே
அம்மம்ம்மா உன்னை போலே
ஒரு தெய்வம்
Oh Mother!
A deity like you,
Is nowhere to be found, my sweet nectar!
Oh Mother!
A deity like you.
Kanneerai ellaam
Accepting all the tears,
Nee yaettru kondu
You took them upon yourself,
Panneeril naalum
And in rosewater every day,
Enai neeraattinaai
You bathed me.
Kanneerai ellaam
Accepting all the tears,
Nee yaettru kondu
You took them upon yourself,
Panneeril naalum
And in rosewater every day,
Enai neeraattinaai
You bathed me.
Thanneerai undu
Drinking only water,
Pasi theerthu kondu
Quenching your own hunger,
Pillaikku vaayaara
To the child's heart's content,
Nee soru oottinaai
You fed food.
Manam veesida
To spread fragrance,
Dhinam thaeindhidum
Wears down every day—
Sandhanam un inamae
Sandalwood is your true nature!
Nizhal naan pera
For me to receive shade,
Dhinam veyilil
Every day in the hot sun,
Nindridum karpagamae
Standing like the celestial wish-fulfilling tree!
Ammammammaa
Oh Mother!
Unai polae oru dheivam
A deity like you,
Ingaedhum illai amudhae
Is nowhere to be found, my sweet nectar!
Ammammammaa
Oh Mother!
Unai polae oru dheivam
A deity like you.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional song from the movie Sadhu (1994), written by legendary lyricist Vaali, is an ode expressing heartfelt gratitude to a mother. The lyrics depict the infinite selfless love and sacrifices of a mother who absorbs all grief and hardship herself while providing comfort and joy to her child. She satisfies her own hunger with just water so her child can eat fully. Vaali uses rich Tamil literary imagery to compare the mother to sandalwood, which wears itself down to spread fragrance, and the divine Karpaga tree, which endures harsh heat to offer shade to others. The speaker concludes that no god on Earth can ever equal a mother's sweet, life-sustaining divine presence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Sandhanam un inamae”
Compares the mother's sacrificial nature to sandalwood (Sandhanam), which gradually wears itself away to give fragrance to others.
Allusion / Metaphor
“Nindridum karpagamae”
Compares the mother to the mythical celestial Karpaga tree (Karpagaviruksham) that stands in the blazing sun to give shade.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme / Contrast)
“Kanneerai ellaam / Panneeril naalum”
Contrasts tears (Kanneer) with rosewater (Panneer) sharing the second consonant sound 'nn', emphasizing grief transformed into love.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie Sadhu (1994) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, directed by P. Vasu, starring Vijayakanth. Vaali's lyrics frequently draw from traditional Tamil literary metaphors like the Karpaga tree and sandalwood to signify selfless sacrifice.
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