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Lyrics & meaning

Jakkamma Verillai

From Veerapandiya Kattabomman · 1959

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Chorus
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Veerapandiya Kattabomman1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Jakkamma aaaaaa aaaaOh Mother Jakkamma! Ah...
Ver illai thikkammaWe have no other direction or refuge, Goddess.
Male
Jakkamma ver illai thikkammaOh Jakkamma, we have no other refuge, Goddess!
Chorus :Jakkamma ver illai thikkammaOh Jakkamma, we have no other refuge, Goddess!
Male and Chorus :Thakka balamullathoru thalapathi izhandhomWe lost a commander who possessed immense strength.
Mikka thuyar kondathoru manamadhu thalarndhomStricken with great sorrow, our minds grew weary and faltered.
Unnadi panindhomWe bowed down at your holy feet.
Unnadi panindhomWe bowed down at your holy feet.
Vallamai adainthomWe attained strength and power.
Vallamai adainthomWe attained strength and power.
Anniyarin aanavam azhithida ezhundhomWe rose up to destroy the arrogance of the foreigners.
Jakkamma ver illai thikkammaOh Jakkamma, we have no other refuge, Goddess!
Jakkamma ver illai thikkammaOh Jakkamma, we have no other refuge, Goddess!
Male
Vellam polae engal senaiLike a surging flood, within our army's heart,
Ullanthorum eedillatha veeram ponga vendumUnmatched valor must overflow endlessly.
Chorus :Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Male :Velum vaalum veesum engalBeneath the feet of us who wield spears and swords,
Kaalinkeezhae vellai koottamThe crowd of white colonizers...
Kaalantheera vendum amma jakkammaMust meet their ultimate demise, Mother Jakkamma!
Chorus
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Male
Jakkamma ..aa….ver illai thikkammaOh Jakkamma... ah... we have no other refuge, Goddess!
Chorus
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Chorus
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!
Amma jakkammaMother Jakkamma!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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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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