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Chinna Durai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Neeye Gathi Amma

From Chinna Durai · 1999

Lyricist
Vasan
Singer
Devi
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Chinna Durai
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
23 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Neeyae gadhi ammaa…
En thaayae thunai ammaa…
Neeyae gadhi ammaa
En thaayae thunai ammaa
Neeyae gadhi ammaa
En thaayae thunai ammaa
Nallavarai vaattuvadhaa
Vaedhanaiyil aazhthuvadhaa
Nallavarai vaattuvadhaa
Vaedhanaiyil aazhthuvadhaa
Nee thaanae kaavaladi sodhanai podhumadi
Neeyae gadhi ammaa
En thaayae thunai ammaa
Neeyae gadhi ammaa
En thaayae thunai ammaa
Aa… aa….aaa….
Aaa….aaa….aaa…
Aaa….aa….aaa….
Aa….aaa…aaa….
Dharumam thazhaikka vandha raasaavum
Verum tharaiyil kidakka vidhiyo
Dhinamum thuyaril ingu naan vaadi
Sudum kanalil eriya vidhiyo
Arumai thalaivan uyir pogaamal
Nee abayam koduthu vidammaa
Thalaivan karunai manam nogaamal
Avar thuyaram thudaithu vidammaa
Kaattu mugam kaattu maakaali
Kanneer idhai maatrru karumaari
Yaetru vizhi dheepam adhai yaetru
Podhum adi podhum vilaiyaattu
Siva sakthi siva sakthi yena unnai
Azhaithadhan porul ennavo
Paduthavan ezhundhida oru sakthi thara
Innum manam illaiyo varam illaiyo
Neeyae gadhi ammaa
En thaayae thunai ammaa
Neeyae gadhi ammaa
En thaayae thunai ammaa
Nallavarai vaattuvadhaa
Vaedhanaiyil aazhthuvadhaa
Nallavarai vaattuvadhaa
Vaedhanaiyil aazhthuvadhaa
Nee thaanae kaavaladi sodhanai podhumadi
Neeyae gadhi ammaa
En thaayae thunai ammaa
Neeyae gadhi ammaa
En thaayae thunai ammaa
Koyil kundrathilae
Adi theeyai nee moottalaam
Ezhai nenjathilae
Adi nee yaen thee moottinaai
Ezhaikku aadhaaram avar thaanammaa
Anjaadha nenjukku thuyar yaenamma
En aavi ponaalum pogattumae
En jeevan avar endrum vaazhattumae
Thalaivan pizhaikka
Enadhu uyirai tharavaa
Dharumam nilaikka
Thanalil irangi varavaa
Enadhu uyirai eduppaai
Avarai pizhaikka viduvaai
Aangaari omkaariyae… maari…
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa…
You are my only refuge, Mother...
My Mother, you are my only support...
You are my only refuge, Mother
My Mother, you are my only support
You are my only refuge, Mother
My Mother, you are my only support
Is it right to torment a good man?
Is it right to drown him in agony?
Is it right to torment a good man?
Is it right to drown him in agony?
Aren't you his protector? Enough of this testing!
You are my only refuge, Mother
My Mother, you are my only support
You are my only refuge, Mother
My Mother, you are my only support
Aa... aa... aaaa...
Aaaa... aa... aa...
Aaaa... aa... aa...
Aaaa... aa... aa...
The noble king who came to uphold righteousness,
is he fated to lie on the bare ground?
Languishing every day here in pain,
is he fated to burn in scorching fire?
So that my dear leader does not lose his life,
grant him your protection, Mother!
Without hurting his compassionate heart,
wipe away his suffering, Mother!
Show your face to us, Mahakali!
Wipe away these tears, Karumari!
Accept this prayer lit by tearful eyes,
Enough, oh enough of this cruel game!
Calling out to you as Shiva Shakthi, Shiva Shakthi—
what was the purpose if you remain silent?
To give him the strength to rise from his bed,
do you still lack the heart, or a blessing to give?
You are my only refuge, Mother
My Mother, you are my only support
You are my only refuge, Mother
My Mother, you are my only support
Is it right to torment a good man?
Is it right to drown him in agony?
Is it right to torment a good man?
Is it right to drown him in agony?
Aren't you his protector? Enough of this testing!
You are my only refuge, Mother
My Mother, you are my only support
You are my only refuge, Mother
My Mother, you are my only support
Upon the temple hill,
you may kindle a holy flame.
But in the heart of the poor,
why did you light a fire of grief?
He is the only hope of the poor, Mother!
Why must such a fearless heart suffer, Mother?
Even if my own breath leaves me, let it go,
but let him, who is my life, live on forever!
For my leader to survive,
shall I surrender my life?
For righteousness to endure,
shall I walk across burning coals?
Take my life instead,
and let him live!
Fierce goddess, cosmic Omkari... Mari!
Aa... aa... aa...
Aaa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa...
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Neeyae Gadhi Ammaa is a poignant, high-pitched emotional song from the 1999 film Chinna Durai. The song features a desperate devotee calling out to the fierce mother goddess (Mahakali / Karumari) to cure and protect a noble leader who lies critically incapacitated. The lyrics question the fairness of cosmic justice, asking why good people who uphold righteousness must suffer and burn in agony. Driven by deep loyalty and selflessness, the devotee offers her own life and soul in exchange for her leader's recovery. She expresses readiness to walk through burning embers or surrender her breath as long as her beloved leader lives, pleading with the goddess to stop testing them and grant the boon of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etuakai (Second-letter Assonance)

“Dharumam thazhaikka vandha raasaavum... / Verum tharaiyil kidakka vidhiyo...”

In lines 20-23, the second letter 'ru'/'nu' creates a rhythmic harmony (Dharumam / Verum / Dhinamum / Sudum).

Rhetorical Questioning

“Nallavarai vaattuvadhaa / Vaedhanaiyil aazhthuvadhaa”

The lyrics frequently question divine justice and fate to emphasize the depth of anguish.

Metaphor

“Ezhai nenjathilae / Adi nee yaen thee moottinaai”

'Thee moottinaai' (kindling a fire) metaphorically represents inflicting intolerable emotional agony into a poor person's heart.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Neeyae gadhi ammaa / En thaayae thunai ammaa”

The repetition of 'Neeyae gadhi ammaa' creates a intense hypnotic chant of absolute surrender.

Did you know?

Trivia

Chinna Durai (1999) stars R. Sarathkumar and Roja, with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics written by Vasan. This song serves as a climax dramatic prayer sequence in the film where ultimate devotion and sacrifice are pledged to save the protagonist.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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