En Bommu Kutti Ammavukku
From En Bommakutty Ammavukku · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- En Bommakutty Ammavukku1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro | Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby |
| Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo | Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar |
| Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro | Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby |
| Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo | Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar |
| Vaaraamal vandha selvam | A treasure that arrived unexpectedly |
| Veedaeri vandha dheivam | A deity that walked into the home |
| Thaedaamal thaedi vandha | A garland of fragrant screwpine flowers |
| Thaazham poo charam | That came searching without being sought |
| Male | |
| Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro | Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby |
| Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo | Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar |
| Male | |
| Rendu thaaikkoru pillai endru | A jasmine blossom living as a child to two mothers |
| Vaazhndhidum mullai | Do you know the truth of who bore you in her womb |
| Unnai yaaru sumandhaaro | A jasmine blossom living as a child to two mothers |
| Unmai nee arivaayo | Do you know the truth of who bore you in her womb |
| Male | |
| Rendu thaaikkoru pillai endru | The woman who melts thinking of you |
| Vaazhndhidum mullai | Her heart does not dare to part from you |
| Unnai yaaru sumandhaaro | Oh flower, oh dew flower, without you |
| Unmai nee arivaayo | Our eyes cannot fall asleep |
| Male | |
| Unnai ninaithu urugidum maadhu | Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby |
| Unnai piriya manam thuniyaadhu | Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby |
| Poovae pani poovae nee thaan illaadhu | Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar |
| Paarvai engal paarvai thookkam kollaadhu | The struggle that the birth mother endures |
| Aaraaro aaraaro aaro aaro aaraaro | The child does not know |
| Male | |
| Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro | This is a crow's nest |
| Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo | Here is a female cuckoo bird |
| Male | |
| Petra thaai padum paadu | The struggle that the birth mother endures |
| Pillai thaan ariyaadhu | The child does not know |
| Idhu kaakkaiyin koodu | This is a crow's nest |
| Ingae poonguyil paedu | Here is a female cuckoo bird |
| Male | |
| Petra thaai padum paadu | Will this woman let go of the bond that arrived |
| Pillai thaan ariyaadhu | Will she give up her child to the birth mother |
| Idhu kaakkaiyin koodu | Affection and life-bond live within the heart |
| Ingae poonguyil paedu | My soul suffers and connects with you |
| Male | |
| Vandha uravai ival viduvaalo | Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby |
| Sondha uravai aval tharuvaalo | Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby |
| Paasam uyir naesam vaazhum nenjodu | Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar |
| Vaadum uravaadum jeevan unnodu | A treasure that arrived unexpectedly |
| Aaraaro aaraaro aaro aaro aaraaro | A deity that walked into the home |
| Male | |
| Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro | A garland of fragrant screwpine flowers |
| Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo | That came searching without being sought |
| Vaaraamal vandha selvam | Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby |
| Veedaeri vandha dheivam | Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar |
| Thaedaamal thaedi vandha | |
| Thaazham poo charam | |
| Male | |
| Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro | |
| Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo | |
பெண் குழந்தை :
பொம்முக்குட்டி
அம்மாவுக்கு ஆராரோ... .....
தங்கக்கட்டி பாப்பாவுக்கு
தாலேலோ
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
A treasure that arrived unexpectedly
A deity that walked into the home
A garland of fragrant screwpine flowers
That came searching without being sought
பொம்முக்குட்டி அம்மாவுக்கு
ஆராரோ... .....
தங்கக்கட்டி பாப்பாவுக்கு
தாலேலோ......
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
பொம்முக்குட்டி அம்மாவுக்கு
ஆராரோ... .....
தங்கக்கட்டி பாப்பாவுக்கு
தாலேலோ......
A jasmine blossom living as a child to two mothers
Do you know the truth of who bore you in her womb
A jasmine blossom living as a child to two mothers
Do you know the truth of who bore you in her womb
வாராமல் வந்த செல்வம்
வீடேறி வந்த தெய்வம்
தேடாமல் தேடி வந்த
தாழம்பூச்சரம்
The woman who melts thinking of you
Her heart does not dare to part from you
Oh flower, oh dew flower, without you
Our eyes cannot fall asleep
பொம்முக்குட்டி அம்மாவுக்கு
ஆராரோ... .....
தங்கக்கட்டி பாப்பாவுக்கு
தாலேலோ......
Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
The struggle that the birth mother endures
The child does not know
ரெண்டு தாய்க்கொரு பிள்ளை
என்று வாழ்ந்திடும் முல்லை
உன்னை யார் சுமந்தாரோ
உண்மை நீ அறிவாயோ
This is a crow's nest
Here is a female cuckoo bird
ரெண்டு தாய்க்கொரு பிள்ளை
என்று வாழ்ந்திடும் முல்லை
உன்னை யார் சுமந்தாரோ
உண்மை நீ அறிவாயோ
The struggle that the birth mother endures
The child does not know
This is a crow's nest
Here is a female cuckoo bird
உன்னை நினைத்து
உருகிடும் மாது
உன்னை பிரிய மனம் துணியாது
பூவே பனிப்பூவே நீதான் இல்லாது
Will this woman let go of the bond that arrived
Will she give up her child to the birth mother
Affection and life-bond live within the heart
My soul suffers and connects with you
பார்வை எங்கள்
பார்வை தூக்கம் கொள்ளாது
ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆரோ
ஆரோ ஆராரோ...
Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
A treasure that arrived unexpectedly
A deity that walked into the home
பொம்முக்குட்டி அம்மாவுக்கு
ஆராரோ... .....
தங்கக்கட்டி பாப்பாவுக்கு
தாலேலோ......
A garland of fragrant screwpine flowers
That came searching without being sought
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
பெற்ற தாய் படும்பாடு
பிள்ளை தானறியாது
இது காக்கையின் கூடு
இங்கே பூங்குயில் பேடு
பெற்ற தாய் படும்பாடு
பிள்ளை தானறியாது
இது காக்கையின் கூடு
இங்கே பூங்குயில் பேடு
வந்த உறவை இவள் விடுவாளோ
சொந்த உறவை அவள் தருவாளோ
பாசம் உயிர்நேசம் வாழும் நெஞ்சோடு
பாடும் உறவாடும் ஜீவன் உன்னோடு
ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆரோ ஆரோ ஆராரோ.....
பொம்முக்குட்டி அம்மாவுக்கு
ஆராரோ... .....
தங்கக்கட்டி பாப்பாவுக்கு
தாலேலோ......
வாராமல் வந்த செல்வம்
வீடேறி வந்த தெய்வம்
தேடாமல் தேடி வந்த
தாழம்பூச்சரம்
பொம்முக்குட்டி அம்மாவுக்கு
ஆராரோ... .....
தங்கக்கட்டி பாப்பாவுக்கு
தாலேலோ......
Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
Vaaraamal vandha selvam
A treasure that arrived unexpectedly
Veedaeri vandha dheivam
A deity that walked into the home
Thaedaamal thaedi vandha
A garland of fragrant screwpine flowers
Thaazham poo charam
That came searching without being sought
Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
Rendu thaaikkoru pillai endru
A jasmine blossom living as a child to two mothers
Vaazhndhidum mullai
Do you know the truth of who bore you in her womb
Unnai yaaru sumandhaaro
A jasmine blossom living as a child to two mothers
Unmai nee arivaayo
Do you know the truth of who bore you in her womb
Rendu thaaikkoru pillai endru
The woman who melts thinking of you
Vaazhndhidum mullai
Her heart does not dare to part from you
Unnai yaaru sumandhaaro
Oh flower, oh dew flower, without you
Unmai nee arivaayo
Our eyes cannot fall asleep
Unnai ninaithu urugidum maadhu
Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby
Unnai piriya manam thuniyaadhu
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Poovae pani poovae nee thaan illaadhu
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
Paarvai engal paarvai thookkam kollaadhu
The struggle that the birth mother endures
Aaraaro aaraaro aaro aaro aaraaro
The child does not know
Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro
This is a crow's nest
Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo
Here is a female cuckoo bird
Petra thaai padum paadu
The struggle that the birth mother endures
Pillai thaan ariyaadhu
The child does not know
Idhu kaakkaiyin koodu
This is a crow's nest
Ingae poonguyil paedu
Here is a female cuckoo bird
Petra thaai padum paadu
Will this woman let go of the bond that arrived
Pillai thaan ariyaadhu
Will she give up her child to the birth mother
Idhu kaakkaiyin koodu
Affection and life-bond live within the heart
Ingae poonguyil paedu
My soul suffers and connects with you
Vandha uravai ival viduvaalo
Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby, lullaby
Sondha uravai aval tharuvaalo
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Paasam uyir naesam vaazhum nenjodu
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
Vaadum uravaadum jeevan unnodu
A treasure that arrived unexpectedly
Aaraaro aaraaro aaro aaro aaraaro
A deity that walked into the home
Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro
A garland of fragrant screwpine flowers
Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo
That came searching without being sought
Vaaraamal vandha selvam
Lullaby to the mother of the doll baby
Veedaeri vandha dheivam
Lullaby to the baby like a gold bar
Thaedaamal thaedi vandha
Thaazham poo charam
Bommukkutti ammaavukku aaraaro
Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Bommukkutti Ammaavukku' is a poignant Tamil lullaby from the movie 'En Bommakutty Ammavukku' (1988), composed by Ilaiyaraaja and penned by Vaali. The song revolves around a little girl who is raised by foster parents while her biological mother longs for her. It captures the complex emotional tug-of-war between maternal affection, foster bonding, and the innocence of childhood. The lyricist metaphorically describes the child as a cuckoo in a crow's nest, highlighting the emotional dilemma of two mothers who love the same child dearly.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagham)
“Thanga katti paappaavukku thaalaelo”
Comparing the child to a 'Thaazham poo charam' (garland of screwpine flowers) and 'Thanga katti' (gold bar).
Analogy / Metaphor
“Idhu kaakkaiyin koodu / Ingae poonguyil paedu”
Comparing the foster home to a crow's nest (kaakkaiyin koodu) and the child/biological mother dynamic to a cuckoo (poonguyil paedu).
Monai (Alliteration)
“Vaaraamal vandha selvam / Veedaeri vandha dheivam”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Vaaraamal' and 'Veedaeri' creating rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
'En Bommakutty Ammavukku' was directed by Fazil and is a remake of his acclaimed Malayalam film 'Ente Mamattikkuttiyammakku'. The song, composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja, remains one of the most iconic lullabies in Tamil cinema, celebrated for its emotional depth and tender lyrics.
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