Ammammaa Pasikkudhammaa
From Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi · 1977
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singers
- B. S. Sasirekha, Poornima
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaasu panam kaetkavillai | I am not asking for cash or money, |
| Pidi soru podhum | A handful of rice is enough. |
| Kaasu panam kaetkavillai | I am not asking for cash or money, |
| Pidi soru podhum | A handful of rice is enough. |
| Paal pazhamum thaevai illai | Milk and fruits are not needed, |
| Pazhanchoru podhum | Cold leftover rice is enough. |
| Female | |
| Koduppadhanaalae kuraiyaadhammaa | Giving to others will not lessen your wealth, dear mother, |
| Iraikkira ootru vatraadhammaa | A spring that is drawn from will never dry up, dear mother. |
| Female | |
| Gangaiyum kaaviriyum | The Ganga and the Cauvery, |
| Paaindhodum naadu | In a land through which they flow, |
| Gangaiyum kaaviriyum | The Ganga and the Cauvery, |
| Paaindhodum naadu | In a land through which they flow, |
| Thingira sotrukku alaivadhengal paadu | Wandering around for a bite of food is our plight. |
| Female | |
| Koochalgalaal engal | Through loud shouts and clamor, |
| Pasi theerumaa | Will our hunger be quenched? |
| Koottatthai paarthu vayiraarumaa | Will our stomachs be filled by just looking at the crowd? |
| Female | |
| {Kaalam varum naal variyil | Until the day when good times arrive, |
| Uyir vaazha vaendum | We must manage to stay alive. |
| Female | |
| Kan thirandhu paarumaiyaa | Open your eyes and look at us, sir, |
| Punniyamaa pogum} (2) | It will earn you divine virtue. |
| Female | |
| Karunaiyil thaanae | It is only through compassion, |
| Manam vaazhudhu | That the heart truly lives. |
| Female | |
| Kadavulai polae | Like the presence of God, |
| Gunam vaazhudhu | A noble character lives on. |
{அம்மம்மா பசிக்குதம்மா
ஆதரவு இல்லையம்மா
ஒரு வாய் உணவு தந்தால்
கையெடுத்து கும்பிடுவோம்} (2)
அம்மம்மா பசிக்குதம்மா
I am not asking for cash or money,
A handful of rice is enough.
I am not asking for cash or money,
A handful of rice is enough.
Milk and fruits are not needed,
Cold leftover rice is enough.
காசு பணம் கேட்கவில்லை
பிடி சோறு போதும்
காசு பணம் கேட்கவில்லை
பிடி சோறு போதும்
பால் பழமும் தேவையில்லை
பழஞ்சோறு போதும்
Giving to others will not lessen your wealth, dear mother,
A spring that is drawn from will never dry up, dear mother.
கொடுப்பதனாலே குறையாதம்மா
இரைக்கிற ஊற்று வற்றாதம்மா
The Ganga and the Cauvery,
In a land through which they flow,
The Ganga and the Cauvery,
In a land through which they flow,
Wandering around for a bite of food is our plight.
அம்மம்மா பசிக்குதம்மா
ஆதரவு இல்லையம்மா
ஒரு வாய் உணவு தந்தால்
கையெடுத்து கும்பிடுவோம்
அம்மம்மா பசிக்குதம்மா
Through loud shouts and clamor,
Will our hunger be quenched?
Will our stomachs be filled by just looking at the crowd?
கங்கையும் காவிரியும்
பாய்ந்தோடும் நாடு
கங்கையும் காவிரியும்
பாய்ந்தோடும் நாடு
திங்கிற சோற்றுக்கு அலைவதெங்கள் பாடு
Until the day when good times arrive,
We must manage to stay alive.
கூச்சல்களால் எங்கள்
பசி தீருமா
கூட்டத்தை பார்த்து வயிறாறுமா
Open your eyes and look at us, sir,
It will earn you divine virtue.
அம்மம்மா பசிக்குதம்மா
ஆதரவு இல்லையம்மா
ஒரு வாய் உணவு தந்தால்
கையெடுத்து கும்பிடுவோம்
It is only through compassion,
That the heart truly lives.
{காலம் வரும் நாள் வரைக்கும்
உயிர் வாழ வேண்டும்
Like the presence of God,
A noble character lives on.
கண் திறந்து பாருமைய்யா
புண்ணியமா போகும்} (2)
கருணையில் தானே
மனம் வாழுது
கடவுளைப் போலே
குணம் வாழுது
அம்மம்மா பசிக்குதம்மா
ஆதரவு இல்லையம்மா
ஒரு வாய் உணவு தந்தால்
கையெடுத்து கும்பிடுவோம்
அம்மம்மா பசிக்குதம்மா
Kaasu panam kaetkavillai
I am not asking for cash or money,
Pidi soru podhum
A handful of rice is enough.
Kaasu panam kaetkavillai
I am not asking for cash or money,
Pidi soru podhum
A handful of rice is enough.
Paal pazhamum thaevai illai
Milk and fruits are not needed,
Pazhanchoru podhum
Cold leftover rice is enough.
Koduppadhanaalae kuraiyaadhammaa
Giving to others will not lessen your wealth, dear mother,
Iraikkira ootru vatraadhammaa
A spring that is drawn from will never dry up, dear mother.
Gangaiyum kaaviriyum
The Ganga and the Cauvery,
Paaindhodum naadu
In a land through which they flow,
Gangaiyum kaaviriyum
The Ganga and the Cauvery,
Paaindhodum naadu
In a land through which they flow,
Thingira sotrukku alaivadhengal paadu
Wandering around for a bite of food is our plight.
Koochalgalaal engal
Through loud shouts and clamor,
Pasi theerumaa
Will our hunger be quenched?
Koottatthai paarthu vayiraarumaa
Will our stomachs be filled by just looking at the crowd?
{Kaalam varum naal variyil
Until the day when good times arrive,
Uyir vaazha vaendum
We must manage to stay alive.
Kan thirandhu paarumaiyaa
Open your eyes and look at us, sir,
Punniyamaa pogum} (2)
It will earn you divine virtue.
Karunaiyil thaanae
It is only through compassion,
Manam vaazhudhu
That the heart truly lives.
Kadavulai polae
Like the presence of God,
Gunam vaazhudhu
A noble character lives on.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song expresses the poignant plea of the underprivileged who ask not for luxury or wealth, but for basic sustenance to stay alive. They emphasize that simple leftover rice is sufficient for them and remind society that charity does not deplete one's fortune, much like an active water spring that never runs dry.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Iraikkira ootru vatraadhammaa”
Comparing act of giving charity to drawing water from a spring that never dries up.
Antithesis (Muran)
“Paal pazhamum thaevai illai / Pazhanchoru podhum”
Contrasting luxurious food (paal pazhamum - milk and fruit) with humble food (pazhanchoru - cold leftover rice) to highlight contentment.
Simile (Uwamai)
“Kadavulai polae Gunam vaazhudhu”
Comparing a compassionate nature to godliness.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song from 'Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi' (1977) features lyrics written by Panchu Arunachalam, known for embedding social philosophy and realistic depictions of human suffering into simple Tamil lyrics.
Keep listening
More from Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi