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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mama Nee Mama

From Ullathai Allitha · 1996

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Mano, Geetha Sabesh
Music director
Sirpy
Details
Ullathai Allitha1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ni sa sa riSwaras: Ni sa sa ri
Ni ri saSwaras: Ni ri sa
Ni sa sa riSwaras: Ni sa sa ri
Ri sa ri saSwaras: Ri sa ri sa
Ni sa sa riSwaras: Ni sa sa ri
Ni ri saSwaras: Ni ri sa
Ni sa ni saSwaras: Ni sa ni sa
Male
Sa ri ma saSwaras: Sa ri ma sa
Ri ma pa riSwaras: Ri ma pa ri
Ma pa ni paSwaras: Ma pa ni pa
Pa ni sa ri saSwaras: Pa ni sa ri sa
Sa ri ri saSwaras: Sa ri ri sa
Sa ri pa maSwaras: Sa ri pa ma
Ri ma pa ma paSwaras: Ri ma pa ma pa
Ma ri sa sa riSwaras: Ma ri sa sa ri
Ri ma ri sa ri niSwaras: Ri ma ri sa ri ni
Ni sa sa riSwaras: Ni sa sa ri
Pa ni saSwaras: Pa ni sa
Ni sa ni sa ni pa niSwaras: Ni sa ni sa ni pa ni
Idhu eppadi irukku maamoi…How is this, uncle?
Male
1 2 3 maaplai…1 2 3 groom...
Male
Maammaa nee maammaaUncle, oh uncle
Puththam pudhu paattuA brand new song
Kettu nee kettuListen, you listen
Bandha paasam kaattuShow love and affection
Kuyilukku vaathiyaaru naanI am the teacher to the cuckoo bird
Maammaa nee maammaaUncle, oh uncle
Puththam pudhu paattuA brand new song
Male
Naan paada paadaAs I keep singing
Oorae thoongaadhaa hoo…Won't the whole town fall asleep? Hoo...
Nee paada paaruLook at you singing
Moochu vaangaadhaa hoo…Won't you gasp for breath? Hoo...
Ettu kattai yeri paaduvenI will sing scaling up to the eighth pitch!
Maammaa nee maammaaUncle, oh uncle
Puththam pudhu paattuA brand new song
Male
Sa ri ga ri sa riSwaras: Sa ri ga ri sa ri
Sa ri ga ri dha saSwaras: Sa ri ga ri dha sa
Sa ri ga ri sa ri ri ri riSwaras: Sa ri ga ri sa ri ri ri ri
Sa ri ga ri dha saSwaras: Sa ri ga ri dha sa
Sa ri ga sa ri ga pa dha sa dha saSwaras: Sa ri ga sa ri ga pa dha sa dha sa
Dha dha dha pa pa pa ga ri sa dhaSwaras: Dha dha dha pa pa pa ga ri sa dha
Male
Nettru en vaanamYesterday my sky
Mazhai thara villaiDid not yield any rain
Yeno en thoppil kuyil vara villaiFor some reason, no cuckoo came to my grove
Vaanavil irundhum vannangal illaiDespite having a rainbow, there were no colors
Pookkal irundhum punnagai illaiDespite having flowers, there was no smile
Male
Aranmanai vaasal thaandi naanCrossing the palace entrance, I
Anbukku yenginenLonged for love
Unnidam serndha pinbudhaanOnly after joining you
Sorgathai vaanginenDid I attain heaven
Enakkindha sondham podhumae… aaa…This bond alone is enough for me... aaa...
Male
Maammaa nee maammaaUncle, oh uncle
Puththam pudhu paattuA brand new song
Male
Enakkoru thunaiyaaiAs a companion for myself
Unaithaan ninaithaenI thought only of you
Ninaithadhai mudithu unnidam jeyippenAccomplishing what I intended, I will win over you
Nizhalinai polae unnudan nadappenI will walk with you like a shadow
Uyirukkul unnai sugamaai sumappenI will comfortably carry you within my soul
Male
Idhuvarai vaazhndha vaazhvilaeIn the life lived until now
Kanavugal illaiyaeThere were no dreams
Ini endhan paadhai yaavilumFrom now on, in all my paths
Needhaan ellaiyaeYou alone are the boundary
Nee indri sondham illaiyae… aaa…Without you, there is no relationship... aaa...
Male
Maammaa nee maammaaUncle, oh uncle
Puththam pudhu paattuA brand new song
Male
Sa ri ga pa dha sa ri gaSwaras: Sa ri ga pa dha sa ri ga
Ri sa sa dha pa gaaaa…Swaras: Ri sa sa dha pa gaaaa...
Riii… riii… saSwaras: Riii... riii... sa
Sa ri ga ri sa riSwaras: Sa ri ga ri sa ri
Ri ga ri sa saSwaras: Ri ga ri sa sa
Sa ri ga ri pa pa dha paSwaras: Sa ri ga ri pa pa dha pa
Sa sa ga ga saSwaras: Sa sa ga ga sa
Ga pa ga ri ga pa ga ri saSwaras: Ga pa ga ri ga pa ga ri sa
Male
Ga ga ri sa saSwaras: Ga ga ri sa sa
Pa ga sa ri dha ga ri saSwaras: Pa ga sa ri dha ga ri sa
Male
Ga ga ri sa saSwaras: Ga ga ri sa sa
Sa dha pa ga ri sa sa ri dha gaSwaras: Sa dha pa ga ri sa sa ri dha ga
Female
Ga ga ri sa saSwaras: Ga ga ri sa sa
Sa dha pa ga ri sa sa ri dha gaSwaras: Sa dha pa ga ri sa sa ri dha ga
Male
Ga ga ri saSwaras: Ga ga ri sa
Female :Ga ga ri saFemale: Ga ga ri sa
Male :Ga ri saMale: Ga ri sa
Female :Ga ri saFemale: Ga ri sa
Male :Ga ri saMale: Ga ri sa
Female :Ga ri saFemale: Ga ri sa
Male :Ga ri ga ri ga ri ga riMale: Ga ri ga ri ga ri ga ri
Ga ri ga ri ga ri ga riMale: Ga ri ga ri ga ri ga ri
Female :Dha pa dha pa dha pa dha paFemale: Dha pa dha pa dha pa dha pa
Dha pa dha pa dha pa dha sa ga riFemale: Dha pa dha pa dha pa dha sa ga ri
Male :Ga ri ga riMale: Ga ri ga ri
Female :Dha pa dha paFemale: Dha pa dha pa
Male :Ga riMale: Ga ri
Female :Dha paFemale: Dha pa
Male :Ga riMale: Ga ri
Female :Dha paFemale: Dha pa
Male :SaMale: Sa
Female :SaFemale: Sa
Male :SaMale: Sa
Female :SaFemale: Sa
Male & Female :Pa dha ni saa saa….Male & Female: Pa dha ni saa saa....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mama Nee Mama is a playful yet emotionally expressive song from the 1996 Tamil comedy hit Ullathai Allitha. The track mixes lighthearted banter and musical improvisation (swara renditions) with deeply tender expressions of love, belonging, and emotional fulfillment. The protagonist playfully boasts about his singing prowess to his uncle/loved ones while reflecting on how his life was once devoid of happiness, like a rainless sky or a colorblind rainbow, until true love entered his life. The lyrics convey how finding the right partner transforms a lonely, palace-like existence into a blissful heavenly reality, promising lifelong togetherness and unwavering devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kuyilukku vaathiyaaru naan

The singer metaphorically claims to be the teacher/master of cuckoo birds, exaggerating his vocal skills.

Contrast / Imagery (Muran / Bimbam)

Vaanavil irundhum vannangal illai

Uses vivid contrasting natural imagery (a rainbow without colors, flowers without smiles) to convey inner emptiness despite superficial richness.

Simile (Uvamai)

Nizhalinai polae unnudan nadappen

Compares accompanying the loved one to a shadow, representing constant closeness and loyalty.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Ettu kattai yeri paaduven

Claims to sing at the eighth pitch octave (Ettu kattai), emphasizing playful vocal bravado.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for Ullathai Allitha was composed by Sirpy, and the album became one of the biggest musical blockbusters of 1996 in Tamil cinema. Directed by Sundar C., the movie played a major role in cementing Karthik and Goundamani's iconic comedy partnership, with this track featuring playful swara jugalbandi between the leads.

Keep listening

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