Ammave Deivam
From Amma · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Amma1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam | Mother is God, a heavenly lamp. |
| Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum | The tears shed by a mother burn the heart. |
| Pillai kaanamal ingu vaadum poo maalai | Without seeing her child, she is a flower garland wilting here. |
| Sogam thaalaamal rendu kannil neer odai | Unable to bear the grief, a stream of tears flows from both eyes. |
| Female | |
| Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam | Mother is God, a heavenly lamp. |
| Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum | The tears shed by a mother burn the heart. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | |
| Female | |
| Vaedhanai vazhakku vizhigalil iruttu | Pain is a routine, darkness dwells in her eyes. |
| Thiriyinai theduthu vilakkku | The lamp searches for its wick. |
| Paal mugam ninaindhu mel udai nanaindhu | Remembering that innocent face, her upper garment is soaked. |
| Kili thavikkum siraiyirunthu | Like a parrot suffering inside a prison. |
| Veyilai sumappaal nizhal koduthu | She bears the scorching heat to provide shade. |
| Female | |
| Andha aaraaroo maranthu | Forgetting that sweet lullaby. |
| Manam poraadum ninaindhu | Her heart struggles as she remembers. |
| Female | |
| Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam | Mother is God, a heavenly lamp. |
| Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum | The tears shed by a mother burn the heart. |
| Female | |
| Thaaimaiyin thavippaal | Out of maternal yearning, |
| Kuzhandhaiyai eduppaal | She lifts the child close. |
| Pookalinaal mugam thudaipaal | She wipes the face softly as if with flowers. |
| Saelaiyin thalaippaal kaatrinai thaduppaal | With the pallu of her saree, she blocks the harsh wind. |
| Kaayam padum ena ninaipaal | Fearing that the child might get hurt. |
| Thurumbhu vizhundhaal mugam sivappaal | Even if a speck of dust falls, her face turns anxious red. |
| Female | |
| Aval than maeni koduppaal | She gives her own body for her child. |
| Than kanneeril inippaal | She sweetens her life through her own tears. |
| Female | |
| Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam | Mother is God, a heavenly lamp. |
| Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum | The tears shed by a mother burn the heart. |
| Female | |
| Thaai vizhi azhuthaal sooriyan azhumae | If the mother's eyes weep, even the sun would cry. |
| Paaraigalum kasindhidumae | Even hard rocks would melt and ooze water. |
| Paalodu annai pasiyodu pillai | The mother with milk, while the child is with hunger. |
| Sogangalae aval varamae | Sorrows have become her only boon. |
| Veyilil vathangum malar saramae | Like a flower string wilting in the sun. |
| Female | |
| Andha aagaayam sirithu | That vast sky is actually small, |
| Aval thyaagangal peridhu | Compared to her immense sacrifices. |
| Female | |
| Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam | Mother is God, a heavenly lamp. |
| Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum | The tears shed by a mother burn the heart. |
| Pillai kaanamal ingu vaadum poo maalai | Without seeing her child, she is a flower garland wilting here. |
| Sogam thaalaamal rendu kannil neer odai | Unable to bear the grief, a stream of tears flows from both eyes. |
| Female | |
| Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam | Mother is God, a heavenly lamp. |
| Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum | The tears shed by a mother burn the heart. |
அம்மாவே தெய்வம் ஆகாய தீபம்
தாய் சிந்தும் கண்ணீர் நெஞ்சை சுடும்
பிள்ளை காணாமல் இங்கு வாடும் பூமாலை
சோகம் தாளாமல் ரெண்டு கண்ணில் நீரோடை
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
Without seeing her child, she is a flower garland wilting here.
Unable to bear the grief, a stream of tears flows from both eyes.
அம்மாவே தெய்வம் ஆகாய தீபம்
தாய் சிந்தும் கண்ணீர் நெஞ்சை சுடும்
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
...............................
வேதனை வழக்கு விழிகளில் இருட்டு
திரியினைத் தேடுது விளக்கு
பால் முகம் நினைந்து மேலுடை நனைந்து
கிளி தவிக்கும் சிறையிருந்து
வெயிலை சுமப்பாள் நிழல் கொடுத்து
Pain is a routine, darkness dwells in her eyes.
The lamp searches for its wick.
Remembering that innocent face, her upper garment is soaked.
Like a parrot suffering inside a prison.
She bears the scorching heat to provide shade.
அந்த ஆராரோ மறந்து
மனம் போராடும் நினைந்து
Forgetting that sweet lullaby.
Her heart struggles as she remembers.
அம்மாவே தெய்வம் ஆகாய தீபம்
தாய் சிந்தும் கண்ணீர் நெஞ்சை சுடும்
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
தாய்மையின் தவிப்பால்
குழந்தையை எடுப்பாள்
பூக்களினால் முகம் துடைப்பாள்
சேலையின் தலைப்பால் காற்றினைத் தடுப்பாள்
காயம் படும் என நினைப்பாள்
துரும்பு விழுந்தால் முகம் சிவப்பாள்
Out of maternal yearning,
She lifts the child close.
She wipes the face softly as if with flowers.
With the pallu of her saree, she blocks the harsh wind.
Fearing that the child might get hurt.
Even if a speck of dust falls, her face turns anxious red.
அவள் தன் மேனி கொடுப்பாள்
தன் கண்ணீரில் இனிப்பாள்
She gives her own body for her child.
She sweetens her life through her own tears.
அம்மாவே தெய்வம் ஆகாய தீபம்
தாய் சிந்தும் கண்ணீர் நெஞ்சை சுடும்
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
தாய் விழி அழுதால் சூரியன் அழுமே
பாறைகளும் கசிந்திடுமே
பாலோடு அன்னை பசியோடு பிள்ளை
சோகங்களே அவள் வரமே
வெயிலில் வதங்கும் மலர் சரமே
If the mother's eyes weep, even the sun would cry.
Even hard rocks would melt and ooze water.
The mother with milk, while the child is with hunger.
Sorrows have become her only boon.
Like a flower string wilting in the sun.
அந்த ஆகாயம் சிறிது
அவள் தியாகங்கள் பெரிது......
That vast sky is actually small,
Compared to her immense sacrifices.
அம்மாவே தெய்வம் ஆகாய தீபம்
தாய் சிந்தும் கண்ணீர் நெஞ்சை சுடும்
பிள்ளை காணாமல் இங்கு வாடும் பூமாலை
சோகம் தாளாமல் ரெண்டு கண்ணில் நீரோடை
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
Without seeing her child, she is a flower garland wilting here.
Unable to bear the grief, a stream of tears flows from both eyes.
அம்மாவே தெய்வம் ஆகாய தீபம்
தாய் சிந்தும் கண்ணீர் நெஞ்சை சுடும்
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
Pillai kaanamal ingu vaadum poo maalai
Without seeing her child, she is a flower garland wilting here.
Sogam thaalaamal rendu kannil neer odai
Unable to bear the grief, a stream of tears flows from both eyes.
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
………………………..
Vaedhanai vazhakku vizhigalil iruttu
Pain is a routine, darkness dwells in her eyes.
Thiriyinai theduthu vilakkku
The lamp searches for its wick.
Paal mugam ninaindhu mel udai nanaindhu
Remembering that innocent face, her upper garment is soaked.
Kili thavikkum siraiyirunthu
Like a parrot suffering inside a prison.
Veyilai sumappaal nizhal koduthu
She bears the scorching heat to provide shade.
Andha aaraaroo maranthu
Forgetting that sweet lullaby.
Manam poraadum ninaindhu
Her heart struggles as she remembers.
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
Thaaimaiyin thavippaal
Out of maternal yearning,
Kuzhandhaiyai eduppaal
She lifts the child close.
Pookalinaal mugam thudaipaal
She wipes the face softly as if with flowers.
Saelaiyin thalaippaal kaatrinai thaduppaal
With the pallu of her saree, she blocks the harsh wind.
Kaayam padum ena ninaipaal
Fearing that the child might get hurt.
Thurumbhu vizhundhaal mugam sivappaal
Even if a speck of dust falls, her face turns anxious red.
Aval than maeni koduppaal
She gives her own body for her child.
Than kanneeril inippaal
She sweetens her life through her own tears.
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
Thaai vizhi azhuthaal sooriyan azhumae
If the mother's eyes weep, even the sun would cry.
Paaraigalum kasindhidumae
Even hard rocks would melt and ooze water.
Paalodu annai pasiyodu pillai
The mother with milk, while the child is with hunger.
Sogangalae aval varamae
Sorrows have become her only boon.
Veyilil vathangum malar saramae
Like a flower string wilting in the sun.
Andha aagaayam sirithu
That vast sky is actually small,
Aval thyaagangal peridhu
Compared to her immense sacrifices.
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
Pillai kaanamal ingu vaadum poo maalai
Without seeing her child, she is a flower garland wilting here.
Sogam thaalaamal rendu kannil neer odai
Unable to bear the grief, a stream of tears flows from both eyes.
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp.
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
The tears shed by a mother burn the heart.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ammavae Deivam is a deeply emotional ode to maternal love, selflessness, and the intense agony of a mother separated from her child. Written by lyricist Vairamuthu, the song elevates the mother to a divine stature, comparing her to a heavenly lamp whose tears have the power to burn hearts and make even the sun and rocks weep. The song vividly portrays her protective instincts—shielding the child from the harsh sun and wind—and highlights how her sacrifices dwarf even the vastness of the sky.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagakani)
“Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam”
Directly compares the mother to God and a divine lamp in the sky.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)
“Thaai vizhi azhuthaal sooriyan azhumae / Paaraigalum kasindhidumae”
Exaggerates maternal grief by stating that her tears would cause even the sun to cry and rocks to melt.
Imagery
“Sogam thaalaamal rendu kannil neer odai”
Creates a vivid visual of continuous crying described as a stream of water flowing from both eyes.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Andha aagaayam sirithu / Aval thyaagangal peridhu”
Contrasts the immense size of the sky with the even greater scale of a mother's sacrifice.
Did you know?
Trivia
This poignant track from the film 'Amma' (1982) features emotional lyrics penned by Vairamuthu, capturing the timeless theme of motherly sacrifice which is a popular motif in Tamil cinema music.
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