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Anbulla Appa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Anbu Thaaye

From Anbulla Appa · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Anbulla Appa
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
20 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Ennammaa indha kobam
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Ennammaa indha kobam
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Ennammaa indha kobam
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Megangal moodi kondaal
Vennilavu vin vittu povadhillai
Sogangal moodi kolla
Ennai vittu ponadhu chinna pillai
Megangal moodi kondaal
Vennilavu vin vittu povadhillai
Sogangal moodi kolla
Ennai vittu ponadhu chinna pillai
Pillai endraal vandhu vidu
Illai endraal kondru vidu
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhu
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Ennammaa indha kobam
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Muthukku neram vandhaal
Muthu andha chippikku sondham illai
Penmaikku neram vandhaal
Pengal endrum petravan sondham illai
Muthukku neram vandhaal
Muthu andha chippikku sondham illai
Penmaikku neram vandhaal
Pengal endrum petravan sondham illai
Thandhai endraal mannikka vaa
Thappu endraal dhandikka vaa
Annai naanae anbae vaa
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Ennammaa indha kobam
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
My dearest child, my loving mother,
What is this anger, my dear?
My dearest child, my loving mother,
What is this anger, my dear?
A father's heart cannot bear this, my child;
Why cause this sorrow, my dear?
A father's heart cannot bear this, my child;
Why cause this sorrow, my dear?
My dearest child, my loving mother,
What is this anger, my dear?
A father's heart cannot bear this, my child;
Why cause this sorrow, my dear?
Even when clouds cover it,
The white moon never leaves the sky.
Yet when sorrows gathered around,
My little child left me and went away.
Even when clouds cover it,
The white moon never leaves the sky.
Yet when sorrows gathered around,
My little child left me and went away.
If you are my child, come back to me;
If not, just take my life.
A father's heart cannot bear this.
My dearest child, my loving mother,
What is this anger, my dear?
A father's heart cannot bear this, my child;
Why cause this sorrow, my dear?
When the right time comes for a pearl,
It no longer belongs to the oyster shell.
When womanhood arrives for a girl,
She no longer belongs to the father who raised her.
When the right time comes for a pearl,
It no longer belongs to the oyster shell.
When womanhood arrives for a girl,
She no longer belongs to the father who raised her.
If I am your father, come forgive me;
If I was wrong, come punish me.
I am your mother too—come to me, my dearest.
My dearest child, my loving mother,
What is this anger, my dear?
A father's heart cannot bear this, my child;
Why cause this sorrow, my dear?
A father's heart cannot bear this, my child;
Why cause this sorrow, my dear?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Anbulla Appa' (1987) is a poignant plea from a distraught father to his estranged daughter. Affectionately addressing his daughter as 'Anbu Thaaye' (Loving Mother), the father expresses the intolerable pain in his heart caused by her anger and departure. He uses deeply moving analogies to reflect on the inevitable distance that grows as children age, while desperately asking her to return, forgive him, or punish him if he erred.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Analogy / Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Muthukku neram vandhaal / Muthu andha chippikku sondham illai”

Compares a daughter coming of age and leaving her father's home to a mature pearl that leaves its oyster shell.

Contrast / Imagery

“Megangal moodi kondaal / Vennilavu vin vittu povadhillai”

Contrasts the moon remaining in the sky despite clouds with his child leaving him when hardship arose.

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

“Pillai endraal vandhu vidu / Illai endraal kondru vidu”

The second letters 'll' in 'Pillai' and 'Illai' rhyme, adding rhythmic grief to the father's extreme dilemma.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Anbulla Appa' (1987) stars legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan alongside Nadhiya, exploring a tender father-daughter relationship. The film's music was composed by Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics written by Vairamuthu.

Keep listening

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