Sambo Sambo Sami Saranam
From Rani Theni · 1982
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Rani Theni1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam | Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord |
| Vanthaa ingae maami varanum | If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami) |
| Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu | Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles |
| Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu | Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles |
| Raththam kaettu pogumpothu | When blood goes bad and deteriorates |
| Nyaanam maelae yaeruthu | Wisdom rises up high |
| Male | |
| Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam | Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord |
| Vanthaa ingae maami varanum | If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami) |
| Male | |
| Kaayatha kaanagaththae chee….. | In the un-dried forest, oh fie... |
| Kaanji pona aaththinilae | In the river that has dried up |
| Thuni thuvaikkum sunthari | The beauty who washes clothes |
| Oorum maeyaatha kazhuthai vara | While a donkey that strays nowhere comes along |
| Kandathundodi aei…. | I saw it running, hey... |
| Male | |
| Aalu ennai kandathum azhagaa sirikkum | When it sees me, it smiles beautifully |
| Naalu kolla thuniyum pothiyaa sumakkum | It carries loads of clothes worth four measures |
| Aalu ennai kandathum azhaga sirikkum | When it sees me, it smiles beautifully |
| Naalu kolla thuniyum pothiyaa sumakkum | It carries loads of clothes worth four measures |
| Thunaiyaa irukkum nejamaa suramaa padikkum | It acts as a companion, truly chanting notes in tune |
| Azhagaa mookku adhuvum unna pola irukkum | It has a beautiful nose, just like yours |
| Male | |
| Kaanaama angum ingum | Having lost it, here and there |
| Naan thaedi vanthaenae | I came searching for it |
| Kannaatti unna kandu | Seeing you, my sweet blind love |
| Athu kettu ninnaenae | It stood there corrupted |
| Pogattumdi en kazhutha solludi samathaththa | Let it go, my donkey, give your consent now! |
| Male | |
| Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam | Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord |
| Vanthaa ingae maami varanum | If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami) |
| Male | |
| Suththikkittu irukkum kazhuthai ulagam | The donkey world keeps spinning around |
| Aththukittu poyidum dhinamum kalagam | Every day, conflicts break all bounds |
| Suththikkittu irukkum kazhuthai ulagam | The donkey world keeps spinning around |
| Aththukittu poyidum dhinamum kalagam | Every day, conflicts break all bounds |
| Uravaa irukkum aanaa udanae moraikkum | They act like relatives, but immediately glare with anger |
| Ullae erikkum aanaa veliyae sirikkum | They burn inside, but smile on the outside |
| Male | |
| Ennaththaan soppu pottum | No matter how much soap you apply |
| Velukaatha ennangal | Thoughts that never get cleaned white |
| Vellaavi vachchu paaththum | Even if tried by steaming in a boiler |
| Azhukkaana ullangal | Hearts that remain dirty |
| Ammaadi ullukkullae ambuttu kallamunga | Oh dear, there is so much deceit inside human hearts! |
| Male | |
| Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam | Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord |
| Vanthaa ingae maami varanum | If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami) |
| Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu | Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles |
| Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu | Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles |
| Raththam kaettu pogumpothu | When blood goes bad and deteriorates |
| Nyaanam maelae yaeruthu | Wisdom rises up high |
| Male | |
| Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam | Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord |
| Vanthaa ingae maami varanum | If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami) |
| Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam | Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord |
| Vanthaa ingae maami varanum | If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami) |
சம்போ......சம்போ......சாமி சரணம்......
வந்தா இங்கே மாமி வரணும்.....
சக்தியுள்ள போதெல்லாம் புத்தி தடுமாறுது
சக்தியுள்ள போதெல்லாம் புத்தி தடுமாறுது
ரத்தம் கேட்டு போகும்போது
ஞானம் மேலே ஏறுது......
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles
Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles
When blood goes bad and deteriorates
Wisdom rises up high
சம்போ......சம்போ......சாமி சரணம்......
வந்தா இங்கே மாமி வரணும்.....
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
காயாத கானகத்தே ச்சீ........
காஞ்சி போன ஆத்தினிலே........
துணி துவைக்கும் சுந்தரி
ஊரும் மேயாத கழுதை வரக்
கண்டதுண்டோடி ஏய்........
In the un-dried forest, oh fie...
In the river that has dried up
The beauty who washes clothes
While a donkey that strays nowhere comes along
I saw it running, hey...
ஆளு என்னைக் கண்டதும் அழகா சிரிக்கும்
நாலு கொல்ல துணியும் பொதியா சுமக்கும்
ஆளு என்னைக் கண்டதும் அழகா சிரிக்கும்
நாலு கொல்ல துணியும் பொதியா சுமக்கும்
துணையா இருக்கும் நெஜமா சுரமா படிக்கும்
அழகா மூக்கு அதுவும் உன்னப் போல இருக்கும்
When it sees me, it smiles beautifully
It carries loads of clothes worth four measures
When it sees me, it smiles beautifully
It carries loads of clothes worth four measures
It acts as a companion, truly chanting notes in tune
It has a beautiful nose, just like yours
காணாம அங்கும் இங்கும்
நான் தேடி வந்தேனே
கண்ணாட்டி உன்னக் கண்டு
அது கேட்டு நின்னேனே
போகட்டும்டி என் கழுத சொல்லுடி சம்மதத்த
Having lost it, here and there
I came searching for it
Seeing you, my sweet blind love
It stood there corrupted
Let it go, my donkey, give your consent now!
சம்போ......சம்போ......சாமி சரணம்......
வந்தா இங்கே மாமி வரணும்.....
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
சுத்திக்கிட்டு இருக்கும் கழுதை உலகம்
அத்துக்கிட்டு போயிடும் தினமும் கலகம்
சுத்திக்கிட்டு இருக்கும் கழுதை உலகம்
அத்துக்கிட்டு போயிடும் தினமும் கலகம்
உறவா இருக்கும் ஆனா உடனே மொறைக்கும்
உள்ளே எரிக்கும் ஆனா வெளியே சிரிக்கும்
The donkey world keeps spinning around
Every day, conflicts break all bounds
The donkey world keeps spinning around
Every day, conflicts break all bounds
They act like relatives, but immediately glare with anger
They burn inside, but smile on the outside
என்னத்தான் சோப்பு போட்டும்
வெளுக்காத எண்ணங்கள்
வெள்ளாவி வச்சுப் பாத்தும்
அழுக்கான உள்ளங்கள்
அம்மாடி உள்ளுக்குள்ளே அம்புட்டும் கள்ளமுங்க
No matter how much soap you apply
Thoughts that never get cleaned white
Even if tried by steaming in a boiler
Hearts that remain dirty
Oh dear, there is so much deceit inside human hearts!
சம்போ......சம்போ......சாமி சரணம்......
வந்தா இங்கே மாமி வரணும்.....
சக்தியுள்ள போதெல்லாம் புத்தி தடுமாறுது
சக்தியுள்ள போதெல்லாம் புத்தி தடுமாறுது
ரத்தம் கேட்டு போகும்போது
ஞானம் மேலே ஏறுது......
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles
Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles
When blood goes bad and deteriorates
Wisdom rises up high
சம்போ......சம்போ......சாமி சரணம்......
வந்தா இங்கே மாமி வரணும்.....
சம்போ......சம்போ......சாமி சரணம்......
வந்தா இங்கே மாமி வரணும்.....
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
Vanthaa ingae maami varanum
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu
Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles
Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu
Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles
Raththam kaettu pogumpothu
When blood goes bad and deteriorates
Nyaanam maelae yaeruthu
Wisdom rises up high
Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
Vanthaa ingae maami varanum
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Kaayatha kaanagaththae chee…..
In the un-dried forest, oh fie...
Kaanji pona aaththinilae
In the river that has dried up
Thuni thuvaikkum sunthari
The beauty who washes clothes
Oorum maeyaatha kazhuthai vara
While a donkey that strays nowhere comes along
Kandathundodi aei….
I saw it running, hey...
Aalu ennai kandathum azhagaa sirikkum
When it sees me, it smiles beautifully
Naalu kolla thuniyum pothiyaa sumakkum
It carries loads of clothes worth four measures
Aalu ennai kandathum azhaga sirikkum
When it sees me, it smiles beautifully
Naalu kolla thuniyum pothiyaa sumakkum
It carries loads of clothes worth four measures
Thunaiyaa irukkum nejamaa suramaa padikkum
It acts as a companion, truly chanting notes in tune
Azhagaa mookku adhuvum unna pola irukkum
It has a beautiful nose, just like yours
Kaanaama angum ingum
Having lost it, here and there
Naan thaedi vanthaenae
I came searching for it
Kannaatti unna kandu
Seeing you, my sweet blind love
Athu kettu ninnaenae
It stood there corrupted
Pogattumdi en kazhutha solludi samathaththa
Let it go, my donkey, give your consent now!
Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
Vanthaa ingae maami varanum
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Suththikkittu irukkum kazhuthai ulagam
The donkey world keeps spinning around
Aththukittu poyidum dhinamum kalagam
Every day, conflicts break all bounds
Suththikkittu irukkum kazhuthai ulagam
The donkey world keeps spinning around
Aththukittu poyidum dhinamum kalagam
Every day, conflicts break all bounds
Uravaa irukkum aanaa udanae moraikkum
They act like relatives, but immediately glare with anger
Ullae erikkum aanaa veliyae sirikkum
They burn inside, but smile on the outside
Ennaththaan soppu pottum
No matter how much soap you apply
Velukaatha ennangal
Thoughts that never get cleaned white
Vellaavi vachchu paaththum
Even if tried by steaming in a boiler
Azhukkaana ullangal
Hearts that remain dirty
Ammaadi ullukkullae ambuttu kallamunga
Oh dear, there is so much deceit inside human hearts!
Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
Vanthaa ingae maami varanum
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu
Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles
Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu
Whenever there is strength, intellect stumbles
Raththam kaettu pogumpothu
When blood goes bad and deteriorates
Nyaanam maelae yaeruthu
Wisdom rises up high
Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
Vanthaa ingae maami varanum
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Sambo…. sambo….saami saranam
Sambo... Sambo... refuge in the Lord
Vanthaa ingae maami varanum
If anyone comes here, it must be the aunt (maami)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Rani Theni' uses humorous, satirical folk lyrics centered on a washerman and his donkey to offer philosophical commentary on human nature. On the surface, the singer sings about his faithful donkey that works hard carrying clothes and compares its features amusingly to a lady. Beneath the humor, the song reflects on how worldliness, ego, and physical strength blind human intellect, while hardship and old age bring real wisdom. Furthermore, the lyricist uses metaphor to contrast animal fidelity with human hypocrisy. While the donkey remains faithful and hardworking, human society is depicted as deceitful—smiling on the outside while burning with jealousy within. The song concludes that no amount of superficial cleansing ('soap' or 'boiling') can wash away the ingrained deceit within corrupt human hearts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Sakthiyulla pothellam puthi thadumaaruthu / Raththam kaettu pogumpothu”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines like Sakthiyulla / Raththam and Suththikkittu / Aththukittu.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Suththikkittu irukkum kazhuthai ulagam”
Comparing the deceitful, chaotic human world to a world of wandering donkeys ('kazhuthai ulagam').
Irony & Satire
“Ennaththaan soppu pottum Velukaatha ennangal”
Using soap and boiler cleaning metaphors ('soppu pottum', 'vellaavi vachchu') to illustrate the impossibility of cleansing corrupt human thoughts.
Humorous Simile (Upamaani)
“Azhagaa mookku adhuvum unna pola irukkum”
Amusingly comparing the donkey's facial features directly to the beloved ('mookku adhuvum unna pola irukkum').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Rani Theni' (1982) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. The song blends rural folk beats with satirical philosophy, a trademark style of Gangai Amaran's comedic-philosophical lyric writing.
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