Mama Mama Maatikkalama
From Ilamai · 1985
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- S. N. Surendar, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Ilamai1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ooraara adichchu olaiyila pottu | You beat up the villagers, wrap them in palm leaves, and cook them, |
| Okkaanthu thinguriyae mama | And sit down to eat them up, uncle! |
| Chorus :Mama mama mama mama mama | Chorus: Uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle |
| Male :Veraarum kaanaamal veettukkul sirai vachchaa | Male: If kept imprisoned inside the house unseen by anyone else, |
| Vegaama veguriyae mama | You boil over in anger quickly, uncle! |
| Chorus :Mama mama mama mama mama | Chorus: Uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle |
| Male | |
| Mama mama maattikalaama | Uncle, uncle, shall we get you hooked up? |
| Mama mama maattikalaama | Uncle, uncle, shall we get you caught? |
| Mappilla pasanga kitta haei | With these groom-like young men, hey! |
| Male :Unga bama pooma ponnunga | Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma, |
| Rendum surrender nammakitta | Both have surrendered to us! |
| Male | |
| Haei pudichchaa naanga pudichchathuthaan | Hey, if we catch something, we hold on tight, |
| Udambu pudiyaattam doi doidoi | It's like a firm wrestling grip, doi doidoi! |
| Male :Onnu nenaichchaa naanga mudichchuduvom | Male: If we decide on something, we will complete it, |
| Pothum piththalaattam yaeiyaeiyaei | Enough of your trickery and deception, yaeiyaeiyaei! |
| Male | |
| Mama mama | Uncle, uncle |
| Male :Haei haei | Male: Hey hey |
| Male :Maattikalaama | Male: Shall we get caught? |
| Male :………….. | Male: ... |
| Male | |
| Mama mama maattikalaama | Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught? |
| Mappilla pasanga kitta haeihaeihaei | With these groom-like young men, hey hey hey! |
| Male | |
| Yaezhainga kanneeril neechal podurae yaei | You go swimming in the tears of the poor, hey! |
| Male :Kadan vaangi kodukkaatti koochal podurae maamoi | Male: If someone borrows money and doesn't pay back, you raise an uproar, uncle! |
| Male :Thoppula thirudiyae thingura kuranguthaan | Male: Like a monkey that steals from the orchard and eats, |
| Male :Aappula maattiyae adanguchchu piraguthaan | Male: It only calmed down after getting caught in a wedge! |
| Male :Vaalaatta mudiyaathu | Male: You can't wag your tail anymore! |
| Chorus :Mama mama maraiththidalaamaa | Chorus: Uncle, uncle, shall we hide it? |
| Chorus | |
| Mama mama maattikalaama | Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught? |
| Male :Mama mama maattikalaama | Male: Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught? |
| Mappilla pasanga kitta haei | With these groom-like young men, hey! |
| Male :Unga bama poomaa ponnunga | Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma, |
| Rendum surrender nammakitta | Both have surrendered to us! |
| Chorus | |
| ………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Peril nee karnanthaan vallal parambara aiyyaa | By name you claim to be Karna, from a family of great givers, sir, |
| Male :Arakkaasu koranjaalum azhuthu pulampura | Male: But even if half a coin goes missing, you cry and lament! |
| Male :Uththaman polavae oorula nadikkirae haei | Male: You act like a saint in this town, hey! |
| Male :Aduththavan vayaththila adikkadi adikkirae | Male: But you constantly strike at another person's stomach (starve them)! |
| Male :Veen vambu vendaanga | Male: Don't cause unnecessary trouble! |
| Chorus :Mama mama maraiththidalaamaa | Chorus: Uncle, uncle, shall we hide it? |
| Chorus | |
| Mama mama maattikalaama | Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught? |
| Male :Mama mama maattikalaama | Male: Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught? |
| Mappilla pasanga kitta haei | With these groom-like young men, hey! |
| Male :Unga bama poomaa ponnunga | Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma, |
| Rendum surrender nammakitta | Both have surrendered to us! |
| Male | |
| Haei pudichchaa naanga pudichchathuthaan | Hey, if we catch something, we hold on tight, |
| Udambu pudiyaattam Thagathina thagathinathom | It's like a firm wrestling grip, Thagathina thagathinathom! |
| Male :Onnu nenaichchaa naanga mudichchuduvom | Male: If we decide on something, we will complete it, |
| Pothum piththalaattam | Enough of your trickery! |
| Male | |
| Mama mama | Uncle, uncle |
| Male :Haei haei | Male: Hey hey |
| Male :Maattikalaama | Male: Shall we get caught? |
| Male :…………….. | Male: ... |
| Chorus | |
| Mama mama maattikalaama | Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught? |
| Male :………………. | Male: ... |
ஊரார அடிச்சு ஒலையில போட்டு
ஒக்காந்து திங்குறியே மாமா
குழு :
மாமா மாமா மாமா மாமா மாமா
வேறாரும் காணாமல் வீட்டுக்குள் சிறை வச்சா
வேகாம வேகுறியே மாமா
குழு :
மாமா மாமா மாமா மாமா மாமா
You beat up the villagers, wrap them in palm leaves, and cook them,
And sit down to eat them up, uncle!
Chorus: Uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle
Male: If kept imprisoned inside the house unseen by anyone else,
You boil over in anger quickly, uncle!
Chorus: Uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle
மாமா மாமா மாட்டிக்கலாமா
மாமா மாமா மாட்டிக்கலாமா
மாப்பிள்ள பசங்க கிட்ட ஹேய்
உங்க பாமா பூமா பொண்ணுங்க
ரெண்டும் சரண்டர் நம்மகிட்ட
Uncle, uncle, shall we get you hooked up?
Uncle, uncle, shall we get you caught?
With these groom-like young men, hey!
Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma,
Both have surrendered to us!
ஹேய் புடிச்சா நாங்க புடிச்சதுதான்
உடும்பு புடியாட்டம் டோய் டோய்டோய்
ஒன்னு நெனச்சா நாங்க முடிச்சுடுவோம்
போதும் பித்தலாட்டம் ஏய்ஏய்ஏய்
Hey, if we catch something, we hold on tight,
It's like a firm wrestling grip, doi doidoi!
Male: If we decide on something, we will complete it,
Enough of your trickery and deception, yaeiyaeiyaei!
மாமா மாமா
ஹேய் ஹேய்
மாட்டிக்கலாமா
.....................
Uncle, uncle
Male: Hey hey
Male: Shall we get caught?
Male: ...
மாமா மாமா மாட்டிக்கலாமா
மாப்பிள்ள பசங்க கிட்ட ஹேய்ஹேய்ஹேய்
Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
With these groom-like young men, hey hey hey!
ஏழைங்க கண்ணீரில் நீச்சல் போடுறே ஏய்
கடன் வாங்கி கொடுக்காட்டி கூச்சல் போடுறே மாமோய்
தோப்புல திருடியே திங்குற குரங்குதான்
ஆப்புல மாட்டியே அடங்குச்சு பிறகுதான்
வாலாட்ட முடியாது
குழு :
மாமா மாமா மறைத்திடலாமா
You go swimming in the tears of the poor, hey!
Male: If someone borrows money and doesn't pay back, you raise an uproar, uncle!
Male: Like a monkey that steals from the orchard and eats,
Male: It only calmed down after getting caught in a wedge!
Male: You can't wag your tail anymore!
Chorus: Uncle, uncle, shall we hide it?
மாமா மாமா மாட்டிக்கலாமா
மாமா மாமா மாட்டிக்கலாமா
மாப்பிள்ள பசங்க கிட்ட ஹேய்
உங்க பாமா பூமா பொண்ணுங்க
ரெண்டும் சரண்டர் நம்மகிட்ட
Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Male: Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
With these groom-like young men, hey!
Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma,
Both have surrendered to us!
..............................
...
பேரில் நீ கர்ணன்தான் வள்ளல் பரம்பர அய்யா
அரக்காசு கொறஞ்சாலும் அழுது புலம்புற
உத்தமன் போலவே ஊருல நடிக்கிறே ஹேய்
அடுத்தவன் வயத்தில அடிக்கடி அடிக்கிறே
வீண் வம்பு வேண்டாங்க
குழு :
மாமா மாமா மறைத்திடலாமா
By name you claim to be Karna, from a family of great givers, sir,
Male: But even if half a coin goes missing, you cry and lament!
Male: You act like a saint in this town, hey!
Male: But you constantly strike at another person's stomach (starve them)!
Male: Don't cause unnecessary trouble!
Chorus: Uncle, uncle, shall we hide it?
மாமா மாமா மாட்டிக்கலாமா
மாமா மாமா மாட்டிக்கலாமா
மாப்பிள்ள பசங்க கிட்ட ஹேய்
உங்க பாமா பூமா பொண்ணுங்க
ரெண்டும் சரண்டர் நம்மகிட்ட
Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Male: Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
With these groom-like young men, hey!
Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma,
Both have surrendered to us!
ஹேய் புடிச்சா நாங்க புடிச்சதுதான்
உடும்பு புடியாட்டம் தகதின தகதினதோம்
ஒன்னு நெனச்சா நாங்க முடிச்சுடுவோம்
போதும் பித்தலாட்டம்
Hey, if we catch something, we hold on tight,
It's like a firm wrestling grip, Thagathina thagathinathom!
Male: If we decide on something, we will complete it,
Enough of your trickery!
மாமா மாமா
ஹேய் ஹேய்
மாட்டிக்கலாமா
Uncle, uncle
Male: Hey hey
Male: Shall we get caught?
Male: ...
மாமா மாமா மாட்டிக்கலாமா.........
.....................
Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Male: ...
Ooraara adichchu olaiyila pottu
You beat up the villagers, wrap them in palm leaves, and cook them,
Okkaanthu thinguriyae mama
And sit down to eat them up, uncle!
Chorus :Mama mama mama mama mama
Chorus: Uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle
Male :Veraarum kaanaamal veettukkul sirai vachchaa
Male: If kept imprisoned inside the house unseen by anyone else,
Vegaama veguriyae mama
You boil over in anger quickly, uncle!
Chorus :Mama mama mama mama mama
Chorus: Uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle, uncle
Mama mama maattikalaama
Uncle, uncle, shall we get you hooked up?
Mama mama maattikalaama
Uncle, uncle, shall we get you caught?
Mappilla pasanga kitta haei
With these groom-like young men, hey!
Male :Unga bama pooma ponnunga
Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma,
Rendum surrender nammakitta
Both have surrendered to us!
Haei pudichchaa naanga pudichchathuthaan
Hey, if we catch something, we hold on tight,
Udambu pudiyaattam doi doidoi
It's like a firm wrestling grip, doi doidoi!
Male :Onnu nenaichchaa naanga mudichchuduvom
Male: If we decide on something, we will complete it,
Pothum piththalaattam yaeiyaeiyaei
Enough of your trickery and deception, yaeiyaeiyaei!
Mama mama
Uncle, uncle
Male :Haei haei
Male: Hey hey
Male :Maattikalaama
Male: Shall we get caught?
Male :…………..
Male: ...
Mama mama maattikalaama
Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Mappilla pasanga kitta haeihaeihaei
With these groom-like young men, hey hey hey!
Yaezhainga kanneeril neechal podurae yaei
You go swimming in the tears of the poor, hey!
Male :Kadan vaangi kodukkaatti koochal podurae maamoi
Male: If someone borrows money and doesn't pay back, you raise an uproar, uncle!
Male :Thoppula thirudiyae thingura kuranguthaan
Male: Like a monkey that steals from the orchard and eats,
Male :Aappula maattiyae adanguchchu piraguthaan
Male: It only calmed down after getting caught in a wedge!
Male :Vaalaatta mudiyaathu
Male: You can't wag your tail anymore!
Chorus :Mama mama maraiththidalaamaa
Chorus: Uncle, uncle, shall we hide it?
Mama mama maattikalaama
Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Male :Mama mama maattikalaama
Male: Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Mappilla pasanga kitta haei
With these groom-like young men, hey!
Male :Unga bama poomaa ponnunga
Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma,
Rendum surrender nammakitta
Both have surrendered to us!
…………………
...
Peril nee karnanthaan vallal parambara aiyyaa
By name you claim to be Karna, from a family of great givers, sir,
Male :Arakkaasu koranjaalum azhuthu pulampura
Male: But even if half a coin goes missing, you cry and lament!
Male :Uththaman polavae oorula nadikkirae haei
Male: You act like a saint in this town, hey!
Male :Aduththavan vayaththila adikkadi adikkirae
Male: But you constantly strike at another person's stomach (starve them)!
Male :Veen vambu vendaanga
Male: Don't cause unnecessary trouble!
Chorus :Mama mama maraiththidalaamaa
Chorus: Uncle, uncle, shall we hide it?
Mama mama maattikalaama
Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Male :Mama mama maattikalaama
Male: Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Mappilla pasanga kitta haei
With these groom-like young men, hey!
Male :Unga bama poomaa ponnunga
Male: Your daughters Bama and Pooma,
Rendum surrender nammakitta
Both have surrendered to us!
Haei pudichchaa naanga pudichchathuthaan
Hey, if we catch something, we hold on tight,
Udambu pudiyaattam Thagathina thagathinathom
It's like a firm wrestling grip, Thagathina thagathinathom!
Male :Onnu nenaichchaa naanga mudichchuduvom
Male: If we decide on something, we will complete it,
Pothum piththalaattam
Enough of your trickery!
Mama mama
Uncle, uncle
Male :Haei haei
Male: Hey hey
Male :Maattikalaama
Male: Shall we get caught?
Male :……………..
Male: ...
Mama mama maattikalaama
Uncle, uncle, shall we get caught?
Male :……………….
Male: ...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful and satirical song from the 1985 movie 'Ilamai' features young men teasing an oppressive, greedy, and hypocritical uncle ('Mama'). The lyrics mock the uncle for his miserly ways, exploiting poor villagers, and crying over small financial losses despite boasting a noble heritage like King Karna. At the same time, the young men gloat that his two daughters, Bama and Pooma, have surrendered their affection to them. Using energetic folk rhythms and vivid metaphors, the song serves as a lighthearted warning that the uncle's days of intimidation and trickery are over.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thoppula thirudiyae thingura kuranguthaan / Aappula maattiyae adanguchchu piraguthaan”
Matching second consonants across lines ('Thoppula' / 'Aappula') creates a rhythmic cadence characteristic of Tamil folk music.
Irony / Satire
“Peril nee karnanthaan vallal parambara aiyyaa / Male :Arakkaasu koranjaalum azhuthu pulampura”
Comparing a greedy miser who complains over half a coin to the legendary generous king Karna is a sharp satirical device.
Metaphor (Proverbial Metaphor)
“Thoppula thirudiyae thingura kuranguthaan / Aappula maattiyae adanguchchu piraguthaan”
Compares the uncle to a troublemaking monkey trapped by a wedge ('Aappu'), symbolizing how his trickery has finally backfired.
Idiom / Hyperbole
“Aduththavan vayaththila adikkadi adikkirae”
'Aduththavan vayaththila adikkirae' (striking another's stomach) is a common Tamil idiom meaning to deprive someone of their livelihood.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Gangai Amaran for the movie 'Ilamai' (1985), the song incorporates hyper-local Tamil folk idioms and playful youth banter. The line 'Aappula maattiyae adanguchchu' refers to the famous Panchatantra fable of the monkey and the wedge, a frequent motif in traditional Tamil storytelling to describe hubris leading to a trap.
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