Ammamma Unnai
From Sadhu · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Sadhu1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ammammammaa unai polae | Mother, like you |
| Oru dheivam | A deity |
| Ingaedhum illai amudhae | Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar |
| Anbukkellaam unai polae | For all love, like you |
| Oru koyil | A temple |
| Engaeyum illai azhagae | Does not exist anywhere, my beautiful one |
| Male | |
| Naan vaangum moochum | Even the breath I take |
| Naan pesum pechum | And the words I speak |
| Unaiyae ninaithirukkum ooo…oo | Will only be thinking of you, ooo…oo |
| Male | |
| Ammaa en ammaa | Mother, my mother |
| Ennai peththa kamalammaa | Kamalamma who gave birth to me |
| Ammaa ammaa | Mother, mother |
| Ammaa en ammaa | Mother, my mother |
| Kannil undhan kanavammaa | Your dream is in my eyes, mother |
| Ammaa ammaa | Mother, mother |
| Male | |
| Ammammammaa unai polae | Mother, like you |
| Oru dheivam | A deity |
| Ingaedhum illai amudhae | Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar |
| Anbukkellaam unai polae | For all love, like you |
| Oru koyil | A temple |
| Engaeyum illai azhagae | Does not exist anywhere, my beautiful one |
| Male | |
| {Paalaabishaegam | {Anointing with milk |
| Thaenaabishaegam | Anointing with honey |
| Seidhaalum endhan | Even if I perform, my |
| Kadan theeraadhammaa} (2) | Debt to you will never end, mother} (2) |
| Male | |
| Kanagaabishaegam | Anointing with gold |
| Vairaabishaegam | Anointing with diamonds |
| Seidhaalum endhan | Even if I perform, my |
| Manam aaraadhammaa | Heart will not find peace, mother |
| Male | |
| Maadha vaadagai kodukkaamalae | Without paying any monthly rent |
| Un madi veettinilae | In the home of your lap |
| Udal vaazhndhadhu uyir moochudan | My body lived with life's breath |
| Ai iru maadhangalae | For ten whole months |
| Male | |
| Ammammammaa unai polae | Mother, like you |
| Oru dheivam | A deity |
| Ingaedhum illai amudhae | Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar |
| Ammammammaa unai polae | Mother, like you |
| Oru dheivam | A deity |
அம்மம்ம்மா உன்னை போலே
ஒரு தெய்வம்
இங்கேதும் இல்லை அமுதே
அன்புக்கெல்லாம் உன்னை போலே
ஒரு கோயில்
எங்கேயும் இல்லை அழகே
Mother, like you
A deity
Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar
For all love, like you
A temple
Does not exist anywhere, my beautiful one
நான் வாங்கும் மூச்சும்
நான் பேசும் பேச்சும்
உனையே நினைத்திருக்கு ஓஒ.....ஓ
Even the breath I take
And the words I speak
Will only be thinking of you, ooo…oo
அம்மா என் அம்மா
என்னை பெத்த கமலம்மா
அம்மா அம்மா
அம்மா என் அம்மா
கண்ணில் உந்தன் கனவம்மா
அம்மா அம்மா
Mother, my mother
Kamalamma who gave birth to me
Mother, mother
Mother, my mother
Your dream is in my eyes, mother
Mother, mother
அம்மம்ம்மா உன்னை போலே
ஒரு தெய்வம்
இங்கேதும் இல்லை அமுதே
அன்புக்கெல்லாம் உன்னை போலே
ஒரு கோயில்
எங்கேயும் இல்லை அழகே
Mother, like you
A deity
Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar
For all love, like you
A temple
Does not exist anywhere, my beautiful one
{பாலாபிஷேகம்
தேனாபிஷேகம்
செய்தாலும் எந்தன்
கடன் தீராதம்மா} (2)
{Anointing with milk
Anointing with honey
Even if I perform, my
Debt to you will never end, mother} (2)
கனகாபிஷேகம்
வைராபிஷேகம்
செய்தாலும் எந்தன்
மனம் ஆராதம்மா
Anointing with gold
Anointing with diamonds
Even if I perform, my
Heart will not find peace, mother
மாத வாடகை கொடுக்காமலே
உன் மடி வீட்டின்னிலே
உடல் வழ்ந்ததது உயிர் மூச்சுடன்
ஐ இரு மாதங்களே
Without paying any monthly rent
In the home of your lap
My body lived with life's breath
For ten whole months
அம்மம்ம்மா உன்னை போலே
ஒரு தெய்வம்
இங்கேதும் இல்லை அமுதே
அம்மம்ம்மா உன்னை போலே
ஒரு தெய்வம்
Mother, like you
A deity
Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar
Mother, like you
A deity
Ammammammaa unai polae
Mother, like you
Oru dheivam
A deity
Ingaedhum illai amudhae
Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar
Anbukkellaam unai polae
For all love, like you
Oru koyil
A temple
Engaeyum illai azhagae
Does not exist anywhere, my beautiful one
Naan vaangum moochum
Even the breath I take
Naan pesum pechum
And the words I speak
Unaiyae ninaithirukkum ooo…oo
Will only be thinking of you, ooo…oo
Ammaa en ammaa
Mother, my mother
Ennai peththa kamalammaa
Kamalamma who gave birth to me
Ammaa ammaa
Mother, mother
Ammaa en ammaa
Mother, my mother
Kannil undhan kanavammaa
Your dream is in my eyes, mother
Ammaa ammaa
Mother, mother
Ammammammaa unai polae
Mother, like you
Oru dheivam
A deity
Ingaedhum illai amudhae
Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar
Anbukkellaam unai polae
For all love, like you
Oru koyil
A temple
Engaeyum illai azhagae
Does not exist anywhere, my beautiful one
{Paalaabishaegam
{Anointing with milk
Thaenaabishaegam
Anointing with honey
Seidhaalum endhan
Even if I perform, my
Kadan theeraadhammaa} (2)
Debt to you will never end, mother} (2)
Kanagaabishaegam
Anointing with gold
Vairaabishaegam
Anointing with diamonds
Seidhaalum endhan
Even if I perform, my
Manam aaraadhammaa
Heart will not find peace, mother
Maadha vaadagai kodukkaamalae
Without paying any monthly rent
Un madi veettinilae
In the home of your lap
Udal vaazhndhadhu uyir moochudan
My body lived with life's breath
Ai iru maadhangalae
For ten whole months
Ammammammaa unai polae
Mother, like you
Oru dheivam
A deity
Ingaedhum illai amudhae
Does not exist anywhere here, my sweet nectar
Ammammammaa unai polae
Mother, like you
Oru dheivam
A deity
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soulful devotional lullaby dedicated to a mother from the film 'Sadhu' expresses boundless gratitude and affection. The singer elevates the mother to the status of a living goddess and a temple of selfless love, stating that every breath and word spoken is indebted to her. The lyrics highlight that no amount of grand rituals—such as performative bathings of milk, honey, gold, or diamonds—can ever repay the debt owed for the ten months spent safely inside her womb.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaai / Uruvagagathuvam)
“Oru dheivam / Oru koyil”
Compares the mother directly to a 'dheivam' (deity) and a 'koyil' (temple) of pure love, elevating her human existence to sacred divine status.
Repetition & Monorhyme (Edhukai / Iyaibu)
“Paalaabishaegam / Thaenaabishaegam / Kanagaabishaegam / Vairaabishaegam”
Sustained use of '-abishaegam' (sacred bath ritual) imagery across multiple lines creates a rhythmic, devotional cadence ('Paalaabishaegam', 'Thaenaabishaegam', 'Kanagaabishaegam', 'Vairaabishaegam').
Anaphora (Monaai)
“Naan vaangum moochum / Naan pesum pechum”
Repetition of starting words across adjacent lines ('Naan... / Naan...') emphasizes personal devotion and deep connection.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Sadhu' (1994) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and starred Arjun Sarja and Raveena Tandon. The lyrics were penned by the legendary poet Vaali, who frequently incorporated sacred Hindu ritual terminology ('Abishegam') into emotional maternal songs.
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