Maamane Maamane Kettukka
From Nerupukkul Eeram · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Sailaja, Saibaba
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nerupukkul Eeram1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maamanae maamanae kettukka | Uncle, uncle, listen to me, |
| Female | |
| Maamanae maamanae kettukka | Uncle, uncle, listen to me, |
| En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka | Lend your ear to my song. |
| Male | |
| Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa | Is the law only what you lay down? |
| Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa | Is everything just a circle drawn by you? |
| Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa | Is the law only what you lay down? |
| Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa | Is everything just a circle drawn by you? |
| Female | |
| Maamanae maamanae kettukka | Uncle, uncle, listen to me, |
| En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka | Lend your ear to my song. |
| Female | |
| Oorkkaavalae un kaiyilae | O village guardian, authority is in your hands, |
| Adhikaaram theriyaatha mama | Don't you know that, uncle? |
| Yaezhaigalin kanneerilum | Even in the tears of the poor, |
| Edhirneechchal nee podaalaamaa | Should you swim against the tide? |
| Female | |
| Yaeno intha kobamthaan | Why this anger anyway? |
| Male :Aahaa | Aahaa |
| Female :Idhanaalenna laabamthaan | What benefit do you gain from this? |
| Male :Ohho laallaallaa….laallaallaa…. | Ohho laallaallaa....laallaallaa.... |
| Female | |
| Vaai sandaiyum veen pottiyum | Verbal fights and futile rivalry, |
| Oyaamal podaathae oor paakkuthu | Don't wage them endlessly, the whole village is watching! |
| Female | |
| Maamanae maamanae kettukka | Uncle, uncle, listen to me, |
| En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka | Lend your ear to my song. |
| Male | |
| Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa | Is the law only what you lay down? |
| Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa | Is everything just a circle drawn by you? |
| Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa | Is the law only what you lay down? |
| Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa | Is everything just a circle drawn by you? |
| Female | |
| Maamanae maamanae kettukka | Uncle, uncle, listen to me, |
| En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka | Lend your ear to my song. |
| Female | |
| Annaalilae vaalmeegiyo ammaadi | In those ancient days, Valmiki, oh my, |
| Pollaatha thirudan | Was a wicked thief; |
| Pollaathavan pinnaalilae | That wicked man later on, |
| Ellorum kondaadum kavingan | Became a poet celebrated by everyone. |
| Female | |
| Kaalam vara gunam maarum | With time, human character changes, |
| Male :Yaehae | Yaehae |
| Female :Manithan konda manam maarum | The mind possessed by a human changes. |
| Male :Oho laallaallaa….laallaallaa…. | Oho laallaallaa....laallaallaa.... |
| Female | |
| Poo pookkuthu kaayaaguthu | A flower blooms and turns into fruit, |
| Koodaathu endringu yaar solvathu | Who here can say that shouldn't happen? |
| Female | |
| Maamanae maamanae kettukka | Uncle, uncle, listen to me, |
| En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka | Lend your ear to my song. |
| Male | |
| Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa | Is the law only what you lay down? |
| Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa | Is everything just a circle drawn by you? |
| Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa | Is the law only what you lay down? |
| Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa | Is everything just a circle drawn by you? |
| Female | |
| Maamanae maamanae kettukka | Uncle, uncle, listen to me, |
| En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka | Lend your ear to my song. |
மாமனே மாமனே கேட்டுக்க
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
மாமனே மாமனே கேட்டுக்க
என் பாட்ட நீ காதிலே போட்டுக்க
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
Lend your ear to my song.
நீதான் இட்டதென்ன சட்டமா
அட எல்லாம் நீ வரைந்த வட்டமா...
நீதான் இட்டதென்ன சட்டமா
அட எல்லாம் நீ வரைந்த வட்டமா...
Is the law only what you lay down?
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Is the law only what you lay down?
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
என் மாமனே மாமனே கேட்டுக்க
என் பாட்ட நீ காதிலே போட்டுக்க
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
Lend your ear to my song.
ஊர்க்காவலே உன் கையிலே
அதிகாரம் தெரியாத மாமா
ஏழைகளின் கண்ணீரிலும்
எதிர்நீச்சல் நீ போடலாமா
O village guardian, authority is in your hands,
Don't you know that, uncle?
Even in the tears of the poor,
Should you swim against the tide?
ஏனோ இந்த கோபம்தான்
ஆஹா
இதனாலென்ன லாபம்தான்..
ஓஹோ லால்லால்லா...லால்லால்லா...
Why this anger anyway?
Aahaa
What benefit do you gain from this?
Ohho laallaallaa....laallaallaa....
வாய்ச் சண்டையும் வீண் போட்டியும்
ஓயாமல் போடாதே ஊர்ப் பாக்குது
Verbal fights and futile rivalry,
Don't wage them endlessly, the whole village is watching!
மாமனே மாமனே கேட்டுக்க
என் பாட்ட நீ காதிலே போட்டுக்க
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
Lend your ear to my song.
நீதான் இட்டதென்ன சட்டமா
அட எல்லாம் நீ வரைந்த வட்டமா...
நீதான் இட்டதென்ன சட்டமா
அட எல்லாம் நீ வரைந்த வட்டமா...
Is the law only what you lay down?
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Is the law only what you lay down?
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
மாமனே மாமனே கேட்டுக்க
என் பாட்ட நீ காதிலே போட்டுக்க
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
Lend your ear to my song.
அந்நாளிலே வால்மீகியோ அம்மாடி
பொல்லாத திருடன்
பொல்லாதவன் பின்னாளிலே
எல்லோரும் கொண்டாடும் கவிஞன்
In those ancient days, Valmiki, oh my,
Was a wicked thief;
That wicked man later on,
Became a poet celebrated by everyone.
காலம் வர குணம் மாறும்
ஏஹே
மனிதன் கொண்ட மனம் மாறும்
ஓஹோ லால்லால்லா...லால்லால்லா...
With time, human character changes,
Yaehae
The mind possessed by a human changes.
Oho laallaallaa....laallaallaa....
பூப்பூக்குது காயாகுது
கூடாது என்றிங்கு யார் சொல்வது
A flower blooms and turns into fruit,
Who here can say that shouldn't happen?
மாமனே மாமனே கேட்டுக்க
என் பாட்ட நீ காதிலே போட்டுக்க
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
Lend your ear to my song.
நீதான் இட்டதென்ன சட்டமா
அட எல்லாம் நீ வரைந்த வட்டமா...
நீதான் இட்டதென்ன சட்டமா
அட எல்லாம் நீ வரைந்த வட்டமா...
Is the law only what you lay down?
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Is the law only what you lay down?
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
என் மாமனே மாமனே கேட்டுக்க
என் பாட்ட நீ காதிலே போட்டுக்க
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
Lend your ear to my song.
............................
Maamanae maamanae kettukka
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
Maamanae maamanae kettukka
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka
Lend your ear to my song.
Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa
Is the law only what you lay down?
Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa
Is the law only what you lay down?
Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Maamanae maamanae kettukka
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka
Lend your ear to my song.
Oorkkaavalae un kaiyilae
O village guardian, authority is in your hands,
Adhikaaram theriyaatha mama
Don't you know that, uncle?
Yaezhaigalin kanneerilum
Even in the tears of the poor,
Edhirneechchal nee podaalaamaa
Should you swim against the tide?
Yaeno intha kobamthaan
Why this anger anyway?
Male :Aahaa
Aahaa
Female :Idhanaalenna laabamthaan
What benefit do you gain from this?
Male :Ohho laallaallaa….laallaallaa….
Ohho laallaallaa....laallaallaa....
Vaai sandaiyum veen pottiyum
Verbal fights and futile rivalry,
Oyaamal podaathae oor paakkuthu
Don't wage them endlessly, the whole village is watching!
Maamanae maamanae kettukka
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka
Lend your ear to my song.
Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa
Is the law only what you lay down?
Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa
Is the law only what you lay down?
Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Maamanae maamanae kettukka
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka
Lend your ear to my song.
Annaalilae vaalmeegiyo ammaadi
In those ancient days, Valmiki, oh my,
Pollaatha thirudan
Was a wicked thief;
Pollaathavan pinnaalilae
That wicked man later on,
Ellorum kondaadum kavingan
Became a poet celebrated by everyone.
Kaalam vara gunam maarum
With time, human character changes,
Male :Yaehae
Yaehae
Female :Manithan konda manam maarum
The mind possessed by a human changes.
Male :Oho laallaallaa….laallaallaa….
Oho laallaallaa....laallaallaa....
Poo pookkuthu kaayaaguthu
A flower blooms and turns into fruit,
Koodaathu endringu yaar solvathu
Who here can say that shouldn't happen?
Maamanae maamanae kettukka
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka
Lend your ear to my song.
Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa
Is the law only what you lay down?
Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Needhaan ittathenna sattamaa
Is the law only what you lay down?
Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa
Is everything just a circle drawn by you?
Maamanae maamanae kettukka
Uncle, uncle, listen to me,
En paatta nee kaathilae pottukka
Lend your ear to my song.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this lively track, the female protagonist addresses an elder figure ('Maaman' or uncle) with lighthearted yet impactful advice. She questions his rigid, authoritative attitude and queries whether the rules he sets are absolute law. She advises him against engaging in petty arguments and needlessly fighting against the welfare of the poor, reminding him that the entire village observes his conduct. To emphasize her point on redemption and growth, she references the mythological transformation of Valmiki from a thief into a venerated sage poet. She concludes that change is a natural law of life, just as a blossom naturally transitions into fruit, urging him to open his heart and mind.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Metonymy
“Ada ellaam nee varaintha vattamaa”
The phrase 'varaintha vattam' (a drawn circle) serves as a metaphor for rigid boundaries and arbitrary rules imposed by authority.
Allusion / Mythological Reference
“Annaalilae vaalmeegiyo ammaadi pollaatha thirudan”
Refers to Sage Valmiki's transformation from a bandit to the celebrated author of the Ramayana to illustrate human capacity for change.
Natural Imagery / Metaphor
“Poo pookkuthu kaayaaguthu koodaathu endringu yaar solvathu”
Compares moral development and human growth to the natural progression of a flower blossoming into fruit.
Monorhyme / Anaphora
“Maamanae maamanae kettukka”
Repetition of 'Maamanae maamanae' adds rhythmic cadence and playful persistent addressing.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Nerupukkul Eeram' (1984) is a Tamil film starring M. Thiagarajan, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Lyricist Vaali cleverly weaves philosophical motifs—such as Valmiki's transformation—into simple, folk-infused colloquial Tamil lyrics sung playfully by S. P. Sailaja.
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