Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Gunaa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Appan Endrum Ammai Endrum

From Gunaa · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Gunaa
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
15 Aug 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ooohoooo…oooohoooo..ooooo
Ooohoooo…oooohoooo..ooooo
Appanendrum ammaiyendrum
Aanum pennum kotti vacha
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Gnyana pennae
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Adhu budhanendrum sithanendrum
Pithanendrum aavadhenna
Sakkaiyaaga pogum karumbu
Gnyana pennae
Sakkaiyaaga pogum karumbu
Bandha paasa saettril
Vandhu vizhundha dhegam
Endha gangai aattril
Indha azhukku pogum
Appanendrum…..
Appanendrum ammaiyendrum
Aanum pennum kotti vacha
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Gnyana pennae
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Kuththam kurai yedhumattra
Jeevan ingu yaaradaa
Suththam endru yaarum illai
Paava moottai thaanadaa
Sivan-ai kooda pithan endru
Pesugindra ooradaa
Budhi ketta moodarkkendrum
Gnyaana paarvai yedhadaa
Aadhi mudhal andham
Un sondham un bandham
Nee ullavaraidhaan
Vandhu vandhu koodum
Kooththaadum vittodum
Or sandhai kadaidhaan
Idhil nee enna naan enna
Vandhaalum sendraalum
Ennaachu vittu thallu
Appanendrum…..
Appanendrum ammaiyendrum
Aanum pennum kotti vacha
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Gnyana pennae
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Kaiyum kaalum mookum kondu
Aada vandha kaaranam
Aadithaanae saethu vacha paavam
Yaavum theeranum
Aada aada paavam serum
Aadi odum maanidaa
Aada naanum maatten endru
Odipponadhaaradaa
Thattu kettu odum
Thallaadum ennaalum
Un ulla kurangu
Kattuppada koodum
Eppodhum nee podu
Meignyaana vilangu
Manam aadaamal vaadaamal
Meignyaanam undaaga
Angnyaanam attru vizhum
Appanendrum…..
Appanendrum ammaiyendrum
Aanum pennum kotti vacha
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Gnyana pennae
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Adhu budhanendrum sithanendrum
Pithanendrum aavadhenna
Sakkaiyaaga pogum karumbu
Gnyana pennae
Sakkaiyaaga pogum karumbu
Bandha paasa saettril
Vandhu vizhundha dhegam
Endha gangai aattril
Indha azhukku pogum
Appanendrum…..
Appanendrum ammaiyendrum
Aanum pennum kotti vacha
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Gnyana pennae
Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu
Oho... oho... oho...
Oho... oho... oho...
Calling them father and mother,
dumped together by a man and a woman,
this body arrived like a pile of trash,
oh wise girl!
This body arrived like a pile of trash!
Why does it become a Buddha, a mystic,
or even a madman?
Like sugarcane that ends up as crushed dry fiber,
oh wise girl!
Like sugarcane that ends up as crushed dry fiber!
Into the mud of attachment and affection,
this body has fallen.
In which river Ganges
can this filth ever be washed away?
Calling them father...
Calling them father and mother,
dumped together by a man and a woman,
this body arrived like a pile of trash,
oh wise girl!
This body arrived like a pile of trash!
Free of any fault or flaw,
who is there among living beings, my friend?
No one is truly pure,
everyone is just a bundle of sins!
This world is one that even calls Lord Shiva
a madman!
For senseless fools,
how could there ever be the vision of true wisdom?
From the very beginning to the end,
all your kin and relations
last only as long as you are alive.
People gather again and again,
dance around and run away—
this life is just a marketplace!
In this, who are you and who am I?
Whether someone comes or goes,
what does it matter? Just let it go!
Calling them father...
Calling them father and mother,
dumped together by a man and a woman,
this body arrived like a pile of trash,
oh wise girl!
This body arrived like a pile of trash!
Given hands, legs, and a nose,
the reason we came to dance this life
is that all the sins gathered by living
must finally be cleared away!
As you keep on playing, more sins pile up,
oh human dancing and running around!
Saying, "I will not take part in this dance,"
who has ever managed to run away?
It runs wildly out of control
and stumbles every single day—
that monkey of your inner mind!
It can be brought under control;
at all times, bind it with
the chains of true wisdom!
Without the mind wavering or withering,
if true wisdom arises,
all ignorance will fall away!
Calling them father...
Calling them father and mother,
dumped together by a man and a woman,
this body arrived like a pile of trash,
oh wise girl!
This body arrived like a pile of trash!
Why does it become a Buddha, a mystic,
or even a madman?
Like sugarcane that ends up as crushed dry fiber,
oh wise girl!
Like sugarcane that ends up as crushed dry fiber!
Into the mud of attachment and affection,
this body has fallen.
In which river Ganges
can this filth ever be washed away?
Calling them father...
Calling them father and mother,
dumped together by a man and a woman,
this body arrived like a pile of trash,
oh wise girl!
This body arrived like a pile of trash!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Appanendrum Ammaiyendrum' from the movie Gunaa (1991), composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Kamal Haasan with lyrics by Vaali, is a philosophical track written in the distinct style of Tamil Siddhar poetry. Addressed to a symbolic 'Gnyana Pen' (wise woman), the song contemplates the impermanence of the human body, describing it as trash brought together by mortal parents that eventually ends up crushed like spent sugarcane bagasse. The lyrics tackle philosophical concepts such as karma, human flaws, and spiritual liberation. Vaali highlights how society judges everyone—even calling Lord Shiva a madman—and compares the restless human mind to a monkey that must be bound with the 'fetters of spiritual wisdom' (Meignyaana vilangu) to achieve enlightenment and break free from the cycle of suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Sakkaiyaaga pogum karumbu”

Compares the human physical body to trash ('Kuppaiyaaga vandha udambu') and spent sugarcane ('Sakkaiyaaga pogum karumbu') to emphasize physical impermanence.

Siddhar Paadal Form (Refrain Motif)

“Gnyana pennae”

Employs the classic Tamil spiritual convention of addressing a 'Gnyana Pennae' (wise woman) as an archetype to convey philosophical truths.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kuththam kurai yedhumattra / Suththam endru yaarum illai”

Consonant agreement on the second letter across lines, such as 'Kuththam' and 'Suththam'.

Imagery & Metaphor

“Un ulla kurangu / Kattuppada koodum / Eppodhum nee podu / Meignyaana vilangu”

Describes the mind as a restless monkey ('Un ulla kurangu') and true knowledge as fetters or manacles ('Meignyaana vilangu').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Kamal Haasan himself. Vaali purposefully modeled the lyrics after ancient Tamil Siddhar poetry (specifically the style of Kudambai Siddhar, who addresses 'Kudambaiye'). The song serves as a psychological window into the protagonist Gunaa's complex, troubled, and philosophically inclined mind.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Paadupattu Panathai1957
Pudhu VazhvuSpiritualityImpermanence
Irukkum Idatthai Vittu1967
ThiruvarutchelvarSpiritualityContemplative
Nallar Inakkamum1972
Annai AbiramiSpiritualityImpermanence
Thannai Arindhu1954
Ratha KanneerSpiritualityImpermanence
Valaipugum Podhe1955
Kalvanin Kadhali -(1955)SpiritualityMortality
Madhiyilla Moorkkar1958
SarangatharaSpiritualityImpermanence

From the same album

More songs from Gunaa

View album
Paartha Vizhi1991
GunaaDevotional
Unnai Naan Ariven1991
GunaaMelancholic
Unnai Naan Ariven (Bit)1991
GunaaTender
Kanmani Anbodu1991
GunaaTender

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.