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Isaimozhi
Amma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ammave Deivam

From Amma · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Amma
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
15 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
Pillai kaanamal ingu vaadum poo maalai
Sogam thaalaamal rendu kannil neer odai
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
………………………..
Vaedhanai vazhakku vizhigalil iruttu
Thiriyinai theduthu vilakkku
Paal mugam ninaindhu mel udai nanaindhu
Kili thavikkum siraiyirunthu
Veyilai sumappaal nizhal koduthu
Andha aaraaroo maranthu
Manam poraadum ninaindhu
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
Thaaimaiyin thavippaal
Kuzhandhaiyai eduppaal
Pookalinaal mugam thudaipaal
Saelaiyin thalaippaal kaatrinai thaduppaal
Kaayam padum ena ninaipaal
Thurumbhu vizhundhaal mugam sivappaal
Aval than maeni koduppaal
Than kanneeril inippaal
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
Thaai vizhi azhuthaal sooriyan azhumae
Paaraigalum kasindhidumae
Paalodu annai pasiyodu pillai
Sogangalae aval varamae
Veyilil vathangum malar saramae
Andha aagaayam sirithu
Aval thyaagangal peridhu
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
Pillai kaanamal ingu vaadum poo maalai
Sogam thaalaamal rendu kannil neer odai
Ammavae deivam aagaaya deebam
Thaai sindhum kanneer nenjai sudum
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp,
The tears a mother sheds burn the heart.
Unable to see her child, the flower garland here wilts,
Unable to bear the grief, a stream of tears flows from both eyes.
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp,
The tears a mother sheds burn the heart.
...
A trial of agony, darkness fills her eyes,
The lamp searches for its wick.
Thinking of that innocent face, her clothing grows soaked,
The parrot agonizes inside its cage.
She bears the scorching heat to offer shade,
Forgetting even that soothing lullaby,
Her heart struggles in deep anguish.
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp,
The tears a mother sheds burn the heart.
Driven by a mother's deep yearning,
She lifts her child close,
She gently wipes its face with soft flowers.
With the end of her saree, she shields against the wind,
Fearing her child might be hurt.
If a speck of dust falls, her face turns red in distress,
She would offer her very body,
She sweetens everything through her tears.
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp,
The tears a mother sheds burn the heart.
If a mother's eyes weep, even the sun will cry,
Even hard rocks will melt with grief.
The mother has milk, yet the child remains hungry,
Sorrows are her only boon,
A string of flowers wilting in the harsh heat.
That sky above is small,
Her sacrifices are immense.
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp,
The tears a mother sheds burn the heart.
Unable to see her child, the flower garland here wilts,
Unable to bear the grief, a stream of tears flows from both eyes.
Mother is God, a heavenly lamp,
The tears a mother sheds burn the heart.
Female
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Chorus
Female
Female
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Female
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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