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Isaimozhi
Amma Kanakku album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maths Tough

From Amma Kanakku · 2016

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Srinisha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Amma Kanakku
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
6 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maths appappa
Mug up pannuppa
Mark dubbappa
Maths appappa
Pickup pannalum
Exam-il zero pa
Maths-ai yaar
Kondu vandhaan
Students-ku yen
Torture thandhaan
Alpha beta-nu soldraan
Trignometry-nu koldraan
Hei newton
Einsteinum
Ada thandhaanae noi
Thadhinginathom
Thadhinginathom
Thadhinginathom
Maths tough-u pa
Pickup-u pannalum
Stuckup-u aagumpaa
Amma ponnum
Orae classilae
Nalla super combination
Padippil koda potti pottidum
Tough tough tough tough
Combination
Terroraa irukku situation
Puriyala indha equation
Vidaama padichaa confusion
Ada eppovumae erangala
En tension
Evan vechaan examination
Pass mark endroru fixation
Mindu kulla oru calculation
Mathsu endraalae enga
Studentsukku eppavum
Frustration……
Thurathi thurathi
Torture dhaan tharudhae
Maths-um pei dhaano
Vaalai aatti
Vandhu ingae vizhudhae
Maths-um naai dhaano
Left-il pala velai joli
Right-il mathsoda rally
Left ai rightaakkum veli
Rendum seriyaachu tally
Dhillaaga irundhaalum
Bayamaachu doi
Thadhinginathom
Maths appappa
Mug up pannuppa
Mark dubbappa
Maths appappa
Pickup pannalum
Exam-il zero pa
Maths-ai yaar
Kondu vandhaan
Students-ku yen
Torture thandhaan
Alpha beta-nu soldraan
Trignometry-nu koldraan
Hei newton
Einsteinum
Ada thandhaanae noi
Thadhinginathom
Thadhinginathom
Thadhinginathom
Maths tough-u pa
Pickup-u pannalum
Stuckup-u aagumpaa
Oh boy, this Maths!
Just memorize it, buddy!
But the marks are a total flop!
Oh boy, this Maths!
Even if you try to pick it up,
You score a zero in the exam!
Who on earth...
...created this Maths?
Why on students...
...did he inflict this torture?
He talks about Alpha and Beta,
And kills us with Trigonometry!
Hey, Newton...
...and Einstein too,
Ah, they gave us this headache!
Thathinginathom!
Thathinginathom!
Thathinginathom!
Maths is so tough!
Even if you try to catch up,
You always get stuck!
Mother and daughter,
In the very same class,
What a super combination!
Competing with each other even in studies,
A tough, tough, tough, tough...
...combination!
The situation is terrifying!
I don't understand this equation!
Studying non-stop only brings confusion!
Ah, it never ever comes down,
This tension of mine!
He set up this examination,
Fixed a pass mark to aim for,
Constant calculation in the mind!
Just the mention of Maths,
For us students, it is always...
...frustration!
Chasing and chasing,
It only brings torture!
Is Maths a ghost?
Wagging its tail,
It comes and pounces right here!
Is Maths a dog?
On the left, tons of household chores,
On the right, a rush of Maths problems!
Balancing the left to match the right,
Now both sides finally tally!
Even if you are brave,
Fear creeps in!
Thathinginathom!
Oh boy, this Maths!
Just memorize it, buddy!
But the marks are a total flop!
Oh boy, this Maths!
Even if you try to pick it up,
You score a zero in the exam!
Who on earth...
...created this Maths?
Why on students...
...did he inflict this torture?
He talks about Alpha and Beta,
And kills us with Trigonometry!
Hey, Newton...
...and Einstein too,
Ah, they gave us this headache!
Thathinginathom!
Thathinginathom!
Thathinginathom!
Maths is so tough!
Even if you try to catch up,
You always get stuck!
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Chorus
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Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maths Appappa from the film Amma Kanakku humorously captures the intense frustration and academic anxiety students experience when dealing with Mathematics. The lyrics rail against complex mathematical concepts like Trigonometry and equations, playfully blaming legendary scientists like Newton and Einstein for bringing such suffering upon students. It reflects the plot context of a mother joining her daughter's class to motivate her, turning study time into a high-stakes, tense competition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Terroraa irukku situation / Puriyala indha equation / Vidaama padichaa confusion

Continuous usage of English words ending in '-ation' to create a rhythmic, rhyming effect representing academic stress.

Metaphor

Maths-um pei dhaano... Maths-um naai dhaano

Comparing the subject of Mathematics to a ghost (pei) and a dog (naai) to highlight fear and persistent annoyance.

Repetition (Anaphora / Sorkal Aavarthanam)

Thurathi thurathi

Repetition of words like 'Thurathi thurathi' and 'Tough tough' to emphasize relentless pressure.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amma Kanakku (2016) is the official Tamil remake of the critically acclaimed Hindi film Nil Battey Sannata. Interestingly, both lyrics and music for this track were composed by maestro Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja, demonstrating his knack for writing colloquial, youth-centric song lyrics.

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