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Lyrics & meaning

Mani Vilakkal Amma

From Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam · 1980

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Salil Chowdhury
Details
Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mani vilakkaal ammaMother was like a precious jewel lamp,
Magizha vaiththaalShe made everyone rejoice.
Indro manam kalangi valaiyilBut today, with a troubled mind, in a net
Veezhntha maan aanaalaeShe has become a trapped deer.
Veesum puyal kulungi mannilShaken by a blowing storm, onto the ground
Veezhantha poovaanaalaeShe has become a fallen flower.
Male
Mani vilakkaal ammaMother was like a precious jewel lamp,
Magizha vaiththaalShe made everyone rejoice.
Indro manam kalangi valaiyilBut today, with a troubled mind, in a net
Veezhntha maan aanaalaeShe has become a trapped deer.
Veesum puyal kulungi mannilShaken by a blowing storm, onto the ground
Veezhantha poovaanaalaeShe has become a fallen flower.
Male
Kanavondru kandaalShe dreamt a dream,
Aanaal manam ondru kondaalumThough two hearts became one,
Manam ondri nindraalShe stood devoted in her heart,
Manavaalan kaanaamal alainthaalShe wandered unable to find her husband,
Maganaiyum thediyinge vaaddugindralShe is now wilting here searching for her son too.
Male
Indro manam kalangi valaiyilBut today, with a troubled mind, in a net
Veezhantha maan aanaalaeShe has become a trapped deer.
Veesum puyal kulungi mannilShaken by a blowing storm, onto the ground
Veezhntha poovaanaalaeShe has become a fallen flower.
Male
Amma….aa….aa…Oh mother... ah... ah...
Valampuri sangum kaiyilEven with a sacred right-handed conch in hand,
Vilakkendhi nindraalum oli enge kandaalAnd holding a lamp, where did she find light?
Valampuri sangum kaiyilEven with a sacred right-handed conch in hand,
Vilakkendhi nindraalum oli enge kandaalAnd holding a lamp, where did she find light?
Piranthaalum piranthaal pizhaiyenna purinthaalThough she was born into this world, what wrong did she commit?
Vazhi paarththae kaalamellaam kaaththu nindraalShe stood waiting all her life watching the path.
Male
Indro manam kalangi valaiyilBut today, with a troubled mind, in a net
Veezhantha maan aanaalaeShe has become a trapped deer.
Veesum puyal kulungi mannilShaken by a blowing storm, onto the ground
Veezhntha poovaanaalaeShe has become a fallen flower.
Male
Mani vilakkaal ammaMother was like a precious jewel lamp,
Magizha vaiththaalShe made everyone rejoice.
Indro manam kalangi valaiyilBut today, with a troubled mind, in a net
Veezhntha maan aanaalaeShe has become a trapped deer.
Veesum puyal kulungi mannilShaken by a blowing storm, onto the ground
Veezhantha poovaanaalaeShe has become a fallen flower.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This melancholic song portrays the tragic fate of a loving mother who once brought light and happiness into the lives of others, like a shining jewel lamp. Despite her virtue and devotion, life has trapped her in tragic circumstances, reducing her status to a deer trapped in a hunter's net and a delicate flower knocked to the ground by a fierce storm. She suffers the grief of losing her husband and continues her agonizing search for her missing son. The song laments her innocence andQuestions why destiny inflicts such endless suffering on a woman who committed no sin, forced to spend her entire existence endlessly waiting and suffering in darkness despite holding auspicious symbols of hope.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Indro manam kalangi valaiyil veezhntha maan aanaalae

Compares the mother's ruined life to a deer trapped in a net ('valaiyil veezhntha maan') and a flower knocked down by a storm ('puyal kulungi mannil veezhntha poo').

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kanavondru kandaal / Aanaal manam ondru kondaalum / Manam ondri nindraal

The second letter 'na' matches across lines ('Kandaal', 'Kondaalum', 'Nindraal').

Monaai (Alliteration)

Mani vilakkaal amma magizha vaiththaal

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'm' across adjacent words ('Mani', 'Magizha', 'Manam', 'Manavaalan', 'Maganaiyum').

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa)

Vilakkendhi nindraalum oli enge kandaal

Asks rhetorically what error she committed ('pizhaiyenna purinthaal') and where her light is despite holding a lamp ('oli enge kandaal') to highlight her tragedy.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam' (1980) features music composed by the legendary Salil Chowdhury. The film won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. Lyricist Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam wrote poignant lyrics depicting maternal grief for this critically acclaimed drama.

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