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Ullathai Allitha album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mama Nee Mama

From Ullathai Allitha · 1996

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Mano, Geetha Sabesh
Music director
Sirpy
Movie name
Ullathai Allitha
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
15 Jun 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ni sa sa ri
Ni ri sa
Ni sa sa ri
Ri sa ri sa
Ni sa sa ri
Ni ri sa
Ni sa ni sa
Sa ri ma sa
Ri ma pa ri
Ma pa ni pa
Pa ni sa ri sa
Sa ri ri sa
Sa ri pa ma
Ri ma pa ma pa
Ma ri sa sa ri
Ri ma ri sa ri ni
Ni sa sa ri
Pa ni sa
Ni sa ni sa ni pa ni
Idhu eppadi irukku maamoi…
1 2 3 maaplai…
Maammaa nee maammaa
Puththam pudhu paattu
Kettu nee kettu
Bandha paasam kaattu
Kuyilukku vaathiyaaru naan
Maammaa nee maammaa
Puththam pudhu paattu
Naan paada paada
Oorae thoongaadhaa hoo…
Nee paada paaru
Moochu vaangaadhaa hoo…
Ettu kattai yeri paaduven
Maammaa nee maammaa
Puththam pudhu paattu
Sa ri ga ri sa ri
Sa ri ga ri dha sa
Sa ri ga ri sa ri ri ri ri
Sa ri ga ri dha sa
Sa ri ga sa ri ga pa dha sa dha sa
Dha dha dha pa pa pa ga ri sa dha
Nettru en vaanam
Mazhai thara villai
Yeno en thoppil kuyil vara villai
Vaanavil irundhum vannangal illai
Pookkal irundhum punnagai illai
Aranmanai vaasal thaandi naan
Anbukku yenginen
Unnidam serndha pinbudhaan
Sorgathai vaanginen
Enakkindha sondham podhumae… aaa…
Maammaa nee maammaa
Puththam pudhu paattu
Enakkoru thunaiyaai
Unaithaan ninaithaen
Ninaithadhai mudithu unnidam jeyippen
Nizhalinai polae unnudan nadappen
Uyirukkul unnai sugamaai sumappen
Idhuvarai vaazhndha vaazhvilae
Kanavugal illaiyae
Ini endhan paadhai yaavilum
Needhaan ellaiyae
Nee indri sondham illaiyae… aaa…
Maammaa nee maammaa
Puththam pudhu paattu
Sa ri ga pa dha sa ri ga
Ri sa sa dha pa gaaaa…
Riii… riii… sa
Sa ri ga ri sa ri
Ri ga ri sa sa
Sa ri ga ri pa pa dha pa
Sa sa ga ga sa
Ga pa ga ri ga pa ga ri sa
Ga ga ri sa sa
Pa ga sa ri dha ga ri sa
Ga ga ri sa sa
Sa dha pa ga ri sa sa ri dha ga
Ga ga ri sa sa
Sa dha pa ga ri sa sa ri dha ga
Ga ga ri sa
Female :Ga ga ri sa
Male :Ga ri sa
Female :Ga ri sa
Male :Ga ri sa
Female :Ga ri sa
Male :Ga ri ga ri ga ri ga ri
Ga ri ga ri ga ri ga ri
Female :Dha pa dha pa dha pa dha pa
Dha pa dha pa dha pa dha sa ga ri
Male :Ga ri ga ri
Female :Dha pa dha pa
Male :Ga ri
Female :Dha pa
Male :Ga ri
Female :Dha pa
Male :Sa
Female :Sa
Male :Sa
Female :Sa
Male & Female :Pa dha ni saa saa….
Ni Sa Sa Ri
Ni Ri Sa
Ni Sa Sa Ri
Ri Sa Ri Sa
Ni Sa Sa Ri
Ni Ri Sa
Ni Sa Ni Sa
Sa Ri Ma Sa
Ri Ma Pa Ri
Ma Pa Ni Pa
Pa Ni Sa Ri Sa
Sa Ri Ri Sa
Sa Ri Pa Ma
Ri Ma Pa Ma Pa
Ma Ri Sa Sa Ri
Ri Ma Ri Sa Ri Ni
Ni Sa Sa Ri
Pa Ni Sa
Ni Sa Ni Sa Ni Pa Ni
How do you like that, uncle?
One, two, three, groom!
Mama, oh Mama!
Here is a brand-new song!
Listen to it, just listen!
Show some love and affection!
I am the teacher to the cuckoo!
Mama, oh Mama!
Here is a brand-new song!
When I sing along,
won't the whole town fall asleep? Hoo...
Look at you trying to sing,
won't you run out of breath? Hoo...
I will climb to the highest pitch and sing!
Mama, oh Mama!
Here is a brand-new song!
Sa Ri Ga Ri Sa Ri
Sa Ri Ga Ri Dha Sa
Sa Ri Ga Ri Sa Ri Ri Ri Ri
Sa Ri Ga Ri Dha Sa
Sa Ri Ga Sa Ri Ga Pa Dha Sa Dha Sa
Dha Dha Dha Pa Pa Pa Ga Ri Sa Dha
Yesterday, my sky
did not bring any rain.
For some reason, no cuckoo came to my grove.
Though there was a rainbow, there were no colors.
Though there were flowers, there were no smiles.
Stepping out of the palace gates,
I longed for love.
Only after coming to you,
did I find heaven.
This bond with you is all I need... Ah...
Mama, oh Mama!
Here is a brand-new song!
As a companion for myself,
you are the one I dreamed of.
I will achieve what I wished and win your heart.
I will walk beside you like your shadow.
I will hold you gently within my soul.
In the life I lived until now,
there were no dreams.
From now on, in all my paths,
you are my only destination.
Without you, I have no family of my own... Ah...
Mama, oh Mama!
Here is a brand-new song!
Sa Ri Ga Pa Dha Sa Ri Ga
Ri Sa Sa Dha Pa Gaaa...
Reee... Reee... Sa
Sa Ri Ga Ri Sa Ri
Ri Ga Ri Sa Sa
Sa Ri Ga Ri Pa Pa Dha Pa
Sa Sa Ga Ga Sa
Ga Pa Ga Ri Ga Pa Ga Ri Sa
Ga Ga Ri Sa Sa
Pa Ga Sa Ri Dha Ga Ri Sa
Ga Ga Ri Sa Sa
Sa Dha Pa Ga Ri Sa Sa Ri Dha Ga
Ga Ga Ri Sa Sa
Sa Dha Pa Ga Ri Sa Sa Ri Dha Ga
Ga Ga Ri Sa
Female: Ga Ga Ri Sa
Male: Ga Ri Sa
Female: Ga Ri Sa
Male: Ga Ri Sa
Female: Ga Ri Sa
Male: Ga Ri Ga Ri Ga Ri Ga Ri
Ga Ri Ga Ri Ga Ri Ga Ri
Female: Dha Pa Dha Pa Dha Pa Dha Pa
Dha Pa Dha Pa Dha Pa Dha Sa Ga Ri
Male: Ga Ri Ga Ri
Female: Dha Pa Dha Pa
Male: Ga Ri
Female: Dha Pa
Male: Ga Ri
Female: Dha Pa
Male: Sa
Female: Sa
Male: Sa
Female: Sa
Male & Female: Pa Dha Ni Saa Saa...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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