Anbu Thaaye
From Anbulla Appa · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Anbulla Appa1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae | Loving mother, loving mother, |
| Ennammaa indha kobam | Why this anger, my child? |
| Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae | Loving mother, loving mother, |
| Ennammaa indha kobam | Why this anger, my child? |
| Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa | A father's heart cannot bear this, dear, |
| Indha thunbam yen ammaa | Why this sorrow/pain, my child? |
| Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa | A father's heart cannot bear this, dear, |
| Indha thunbam yen ammaa | Why this sorrow/pain, my child? |
| Male | |
| Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae | Loving mother, loving mother, |
| Ennammaa indha kobam | Why this anger, my child? |
| Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa | A father's heart cannot bear this, dear, |
| Indha thunbam yen ammaa | Why this sorrow/pain, my child? |
| Male | |
| Megangal moodi kondaal | Even if clouds cover it, |
| Vennilavu vin vittu povadhillai | The bright moon does not abandon the sky. |
| Sogangal moodi kolla | When sorrow engulfed her, |
| Ennai vittu ponadhu chinna pillai | My little child abandoned me and left. |
| Male | |
| Megangal moodi kondaal | Even if clouds cover it, |
| Vennilavu vin vittu povadhillai | The bright moon does not abandon the sky. |
| Sogangal moodi kolla | When sorrow engulfed her, |
| Ennai vittu ponadhu chinna pillai | My little child abandoned me and left. |
| Male | |
| Pillai endraal vandhu vidu | If you are indeed my child, return to me, |
| Illai endraal kondru vidu | Otherwise, just kill me. |
| Thandhai ullam thaangaadhu | A father's heart cannot endure this. |
| Male | |
| Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae | Loving mother, loving mother, |
| Ennammaa indha kobam | Why this anger, my child? |
| Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa | A father's heart cannot bear this, dear, |
| Indha thunbam yen ammaa | Why this sorrow/pain, my child? |
| Male | |
| Muthukku neram vandhaal | When the time arrives for a pearl, |
| Muthu andha chippikku sondham illai | The pearl no longer belongs to the oyster shell. |
| Penmaikku neram vandhaal | When womanhood arrives for a girl, |
| Pengal endrum petravan sondham illai | Daughters no longer belong to the father who raised them. |
| Male | |
| Muthukku neram vandhaal | When the time arrives for a pearl, |
| Muthu andha chippikku sondham illai | The pearl no longer belongs to the oyster shell. |
| Penmaikku neram vandhaal | When womanhood arrives for a girl, |
| Pengal endrum petravan sondham illai | Daughters no longer belong to the father who raised them. |
| Male | |
| Thandhai endraal mannikka vaa | If I am your father, come to forgive me, |
| Thappu endraal dhandikka vaa | If I made a mistake, come to punish me, |
| Annai naanae anbae vaa | I am as protective as a mother, come my love. |
| Male | |
| Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae | Loving mother, loving mother, |
| Ennammaa indha kobam | Why this anger, my child? |
| Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa | A father's heart cannot bear this, dear, |
| Indha thunbam yen ammaa | Why this sorrow/pain, my child? |
| Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa | A father's heart cannot bear this, dear, |
| Indha thunbam yen ammaa | Why this sorrow/pain, my child? |
அன்புத்தாயே அன்புத்தாயே
என்னம்மா இந்தக் கோபம்
அன்புத்தாயே அன்புத்தாயே
என்னம்மா இந்தக் கோபம்
தந்தை உள்ளம் தாங்காதம்மா
இந்தத் துன்பம் ஏன் அம்மா
தந்தை உள்ளம் தாங்காதம்மா
இந்தத் துன்பம் ஏன் அம்மா
Loving mother, loving mother,
Why this anger, my child?
Loving mother, loving mother,
Why this anger, my child?
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
அன்புத்தாயே அன்புத்தாயே
என்னம்மா இந்தக் கோபம்
தந்தை உள்ளம் தாங்காதம்மா
இந்தத் துன்பம் ஏன் அம்மா
Loving mother, loving mother,
Why this anger, my child?
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
மேகங்கள் மூடிக்கொண்டால்
வெண்ணிலவு விண்விட்டு போவதில்லை
சோகங்கள் மூடிக் கொள்ள
என்னை விட்டுப் போனது சின்னப்பிள்ளை
Even if clouds cover it,
The bright moon does not abandon the sky.
When sorrow engulfed her,
My little child abandoned me and left.
மேகங்கள் மூடிக்கொண்டால்
வெண்ணிலவு விண்விட்டு போவதில்லை
சோகங்கள் மூடிக் கொள்ள
என்னை விட்டுப் போனது சின்னப்பிள்ளை
Even if clouds cover it,
The bright moon does not abandon the sky.
When sorrow engulfed her,
My little child abandoned me and left.
பிள்ளை என்றால் வந்து விடு
இல்லை என்றால் கொன்று விடு
தந்தை உள்ளம் தாங்காது
If you are indeed my child, return to me,
Otherwise, just kill me.
A father's heart cannot endure this.
முத்துக்கு நேரம் வந்தால்
முத்து அந்தச் சிப்பிக்குச் சொந்தமில்லை
பெண்மைக்கு நேரம் வந்தால்
பெண்கள் என்றும்
பெற்றவன் சொந்தமில்லை
Loving mother, loving mother,
Why this anger, my child?
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
முத்துக்கு நேரம் வந்தால்
முத்து அந்தச் சிப்பிக்குச் சொந்தமில்லை
பெண்மைக்கு நேரம் வந்தால்
பெண்கள் என்றும்
பெற்றவன் சொந்தமில்லை
When the time arrives for a pearl,
The pearl no longer belongs to the oyster shell.
When womanhood arrives for a girl,
Daughters no longer belong to the father who raised them.
தந்தை என்றால் மன்னிக்க வா
தப்பு என்றால் தண்டிக்க வா
அன்னை நானே அன்பே வா
When the time arrives for a pearl,
The pearl no longer belongs to the oyster shell.
When womanhood arrives for a girl,
Daughters no longer belong to the father who raised them.
அன்புத்தாயே அன்புத்தாயே
என்னம்மா இந்தக் கோபம்
தந்தை உள்ளம் தாங்காதம்மா
இந்தத் துன்பம் ஏன் அம்மா
தந்தை உள்ளம் தாங்காதம்மா
இந்தத் துன்பம் ஏன் அம்மா
If I am your father, come to forgive me,
If I made a mistake, come to punish me,
I am as protective as a mother, come my love.
Loving mother, loving mother,
Why this anger, my child?
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Loving mother, loving mother,
Ennammaa indha kobam
Why this anger, my child?
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Loving mother, loving mother,
Ennammaa indha kobam
Why this anger, my child?
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Loving mother, loving mother,
Ennammaa indha kobam
Why this anger, my child?
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
Megangal moodi kondaal
Even if clouds cover it,
Vennilavu vin vittu povadhillai
The bright moon does not abandon the sky.
Sogangal moodi kolla
When sorrow engulfed her,
Ennai vittu ponadhu chinna pillai
My little child abandoned me and left.
Megangal moodi kondaal
Even if clouds cover it,
Vennilavu vin vittu povadhillai
The bright moon does not abandon the sky.
Sogangal moodi kolla
When sorrow engulfed her,
Ennai vittu ponadhu chinna pillai
My little child abandoned me and left.
Pillai endraal vandhu vidu
If you are indeed my child, return to me,
Illai endraal kondru vidu
Otherwise, just kill me.
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhu
A father's heart cannot endure this.
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Loving mother, loving mother,
Ennammaa indha kobam
Why this anger, my child?
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
Muthukku neram vandhaal
When the time arrives for a pearl,
Muthu andha chippikku sondham illai
The pearl no longer belongs to the oyster shell.
Penmaikku neram vandhaal
When womanhood arrives for a girl,
Pengal endrum petravan sondham illai
Daughters no longer belong to the father who raised them.
Muthukku neram vandhaal
When the time arrives for a pearl,
Muthu andha chippikku sondham illai
The pearl no longer belongs to the oyster shell.
Penmaikku neram vandhaal
When womanhood arrives for a girl,
Pengal endrum petravan sondham illai
Daughters no longer belong to the father who raised them.
Thandhai endraal mannikka vaa
If I am your father, come to forgive me,
Thappu endraal dhandikka vaa
If I made a mistake, come to punish me,
Annai naanae anbae vaa
I am as protective as a mother, come my love.
Anbu thaayae anbu thaayae
Loving mother, loving mother,
Ennammaa indha kobam
Why this anger, my child?
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
Thandhai ullam thaangaadhammaa
A father's heart cannot bear this, dear,
Indha thunbam yen ammaa
Why this sorrow/pain, my child?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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