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Anbai Thedi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ammavum Appavum Vellai

From Anbai Thedi · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Pushpalatha
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Anbai Thedi
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
20 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ammaavum appaavum vellai poonaial
Avargalin magal naan chinna poonai
Ammaavum appaavum vellai poonaial
Avargalin magal naan chinna poonai
Ennathaan avargal sandai podattum
Ennathaan avargal sandai podattum
Adhu viraivinil samarasam aagividum
Ammaavum appaavum vellai poonaial
Avargalin magal naan chinna poonai
Thaayin manamo roja poo
En thanthai gunamo perum neruppu
Thaayin manamo roja poo
En thanthai gunamo perum neruppu
Roja poo neruppinil vizhunthathillai
Antha neruppum adhanai erinthathillai
Ammaavum appaavum vellai poonaial
Avargalin magal naan chinna poonai
Arasanai kandaal rajangam
Oru aandiyai kandaal sanyaasam
Arasanai kandaal rajangam
Oru aandiyai kandaal sanyaasam
Kadhaigalai polae maariduvaar
Avar kanavinil thaanae vaazhugindraar
Mamavin manasu vellai manasu
Maranthum adhilae kalangamillai
Oorukku avaro komaali
Intha uravukku avaro yaemaali
Oorukku avaro komaali
Intha uravukku avaro yaemaali
Naalaikku avarthaan medhaavi
En naakkinil solpaval sridevi
Mamavin manasu vellai manasu
Maranthum adhilae kalangamillai
Ammaavum appaavum vellai poonaial
Avargalin magal naan chinna poonai
Mother and father are white cats,
And I, their daughter, am a little kitten.
Mother and father are white cats,
And I, their daughter, am a little kitten.
No matter how much they fight,
No matter how much they fight,
They will quickly make peace again.
Mother and father are white cats,
And I, their daughter, am a little kitten.
Mother's heart is like a rose,
While my father's temper is a blazing fire.
Mother's heart is like a rose,
While my father's temper is a blazing fire.
Yet the rose has never fallen into the fire,
And that fire has never burned it.
Mother and father are white cats,
And I, their daughter, am a little kitten.
If he sees a king, he acts like royalty,
If he sees a wandering beggar, he turns into a monk.
If he sees a king, he acts like royalty,
If he sees a wandering beggar, he turns into a monk.
He changes just like the characters in stories,
For he truly lives in a world of dreams.
Uncle's heart is pure and innocent,
Without a single flaw, even by mistake.
To the town, he is just a clown,
To his family, he is an easy target.
To the town, he is just a clown,
To his family, he is an easy target.
Tomorrow, he will surely be seen as wise,
It is Goddess Sridevi herself speaking through my tongue!
Uncle's heart is pure and innocent,
Without a single flaw, even by mistake.
Mother and father are white cats,
And I, their daughter, am a little kitten.
Female
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Female
Female
Female
Female
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This lighthearted song from the movie Anbai Thedi captures the innocent perspective of a young child observing her family. She affectionately compares her parents to gentle white cats and describes their harmless, temporary quarrels that always end in loving reconciliation. She beautifully contrasts her mother's gentle, rose-like disposition with her father's fiery character, pointing out how love ensures neither ever hurts the other. She also lovingly portrays her uncle as an eccentric, pure-hearted dreamer who may seem simple to society, but possesses an untainted soul and potential for greatness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Ammaavum appaavum vellai poonaial / Avargalin magal naan chinna poonai”

Comparing parents directly to white cats and the daughter to a kitten metaphorically highlights their innocence and harmless nature.

Antithesis / Contrast

“Thaayin manamo roja poo / En thanthai gunamo perum neruppu”

Contrasting the delicate rose flower with intense fire to symbolize two opposite personalities harmoniously coexisting.

Monai (Initial Alliteration / Assonance)

“Arasanai kandaal rajangam / Oru aandiyai kandaal sanyaasam”

The repetition of starting sound patterns created by 'Arasanai' and 'Aandiyai' in adjacent thoughts.

Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Oorukku avaro komaali / Intha uravukku avaro yaemaali”

End-rhyme pairing between 'komaali' (jester) and 'yaemaali' (gullible person).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from 'Anbai Thedi' (1974), starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa, features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Kannadasan. The track is sung from the perspective of a child, offering a charming commentary on domestic harmony.

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