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Veerapandiya Kattabomman album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Jakkamma Verillai

From Veerapandiya Kattabomman · 1959

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Chorus
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
16 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jakkamma aaaaaa aaaa
Ver illai thikkamma
Jakkamma ver illai thikkamma
Chorus :Jakkamma ver illai thikkamma
Male and Chorus :Thakka balamullathoru thalapathi izhandhom
Mikka thuyar kondathoru manamadhu thalarndhom
Unnadi panindhom
Unnadi panindhom
Vallamai adainthom
Vallamai adainthom
Anniyarin aanavam azhithida ezhundhom
Jakkamma ver illai thikkamma
Jakkamma ver illai thikkamma
Vellam polae engal senai
Ullanthorum eedillatha veeram ponga vendum
Chorus :Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Male :Velum vaalum veesum engal
Kaalinkeezhae vellai koottam
Kaalantheera vendum amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Jakkamma ..aa….ver illai thikkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
Amma jakkamma
O Jakkamma... ah...
We have no other refuge, Mother!
Jakkamma, we have no other refuge, Mother!
Chorus: Jakkamma, we have no other refuge, Mother!
Male & Chorus: We lost a commander of great strength,
Weighted down by deep sorrow, our spirits faltered,
We bowed at your feet,
We bowed at your feet,
We gained our strength,
We gained our strength,
We rose up to destroy the arrogance of the invaders!
Jakkamma, we have no other refuge, Mother!
Jakkamma, we have no other refuge, Mother!
Like a surging flood across our army,
may matchless courage overflow in every heart!
Chorus: Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Male: As we wield our spears and swords,
under our feet, the white invaders
must meet their end, Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Jakkamma... ah... we have no other refuge, Mother!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Mother Jakkamma!
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a solemn yet fierce war prayer addressed to Goddess Jakkamma, the guardian deity of chieftain Veerapandiya Kattabomman's lineage. Following the heartbreaking loss of a formidable commander, the army initially experiences intense grief and exhaustion. However, seeking divine grace by surrendering at the Goddess's feet reinvigorates their spirits with invincible power. Re-energized and determined, the warriors vow to rise up like an unstoppable flood to completely obliterate the arrogant British forces beneath their weapons.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thakka balamullathoru thalapathi izhandhom / Mikka thuyar kondathoru manamadhu thalarndhom

Matching second consonants 'k' in 'Thakka' and 'Mikka' creates a rhythmic link across consecutive lines.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Unnadi panindhom / Vallamai adainthom / Anniyarin aanavam azhithida ezhundhom

The verbs end with the matching suffix '-ndhom' ('panindhom', 'adainthom', 'ezhundhom'), establishing a strong cadence.

Uvamai (Simile)

Vellam polae engal senai

The army's rising valor is directly compared to a rushing flood ('vellam polae').

Monai (Alliteration)

Anniyarin aanavam azhithida ezhundhom

Repetition of the root vowel sound 'A' ('Anniyarin', 'aanavam', 'azhithida') highlights the determination to crush foreign pride.

Did you know?

Trivia

Goddess Jakkamma is the ancestral deity (Kula Deivam) of the Rajakambalam Nayakar community to which Veerapandiya Kattabomman belonged. Sung by Seerkazhi Govindarajan with rich orchestration by G. Ramanathan, this song powerfully captures the emotional transition from tragedy to martial resurgence in the historic 1959 film starring Sivaji Ganesan.

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