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Amma Kanakku album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unakkum Enakkum Song Lyrics – Amma Kanakku

From Amma Kanakku · 2016

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
Ramya NSK, Vandana Srinivasan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Amma Kanakku
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
21 Aug 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unakkum enakkum
Ennenna kanavugal
Adhu nadakkum varaikkum
Ennenna unarvugal
Ingu ezhai
Kaanum kanavu
Adhu noottril ondru
Nadakkum
Adhai nambi nambi thaanae
Nam naatkal ingu pogum
Kadandhu pogum vazhigal
Pala pudhirgal sollum
Adhu kodukkum paadam unnai
Vazhi nadaththi sellum
Kanavae kanavae
Ellorkkum annai nee
Anbaal anaikkum
Azhagaana kanni nee
{Kuzhandhai pola manadhai
Naam paadhukaakka vendum
Oru kurai illaadhu valarndhaal
Oor pottri pugala vendum..} (2)
Ullukkullae urudhi vendum
Kaiyil eduthadhellaam
Naam mudikka vendum
{Kuzhandhai pola manadhai
Naam paadhukaakka vendum
Oru kurai illaadhu valarndhaal
Oor pottri pugala vendum..} (2)
Ullukkullae urudhi vendum
Kaiyil eduthadhellaam
Naam mudikka vendum
Manadhaal madhiyaal
Nee selva magaladi
Gunaththaal unarvaal
Endrum uyarndha pennadi
For you and for me,
so many dreams we have!
Until they come true,
what emotions we go through!
Here, the dream
that a poor person dreams,
only one in a hundred
will come true.
Trusting in that alone,
our days pass by here.
The paths we travel
will bring many riddles.
The lessons they give
will guide you on your way.
O dream, dear dream,
you are a mother to all.
Embracing everyone with love,
you are a beautiful young girl.
Like a child, our heart
is something we must protect.
If one grows without any flaw,
the whole world will praise and admire...
Deep inside, we need strong resolve;
whatever we take in hand,
we must see it through.
Like a child, our heart
is something we must protect.
If one grows without any flaw,
the whole world will praise and admire...
Deep inside, we need strong resolve;
whatever we take in hand,
we must see it through.
In heart and in wisdom,
you are a daughter of wealth, my girl.
In character and in spirit,
you will always be a noble woman, my girl.
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Amma Kanakku (2016) centers on the deep bond between an underprivileged mother and her daughter, emphasizing the transformative power of education and aspirations. This song serves as a soulful reflection on dreams and willpower. It notes that even if very few dreams come true for those living in poverty, the act of dreaming and hoping keeps life moving forward despite life's complex riddles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagam)

Ellorkkum annai nee / Anbaal anaikkum / Azhagaana kanni nee

Dreams are personified as a mother ('Ellorkkum annai nee') who nurtures everyone and an affectionate maiden ('Azhagaana kanni nee').

Simile (Uwamai)

Kuzhandhai pola manadhai

The innocence and purity of the human heart/mind are directly compared to a child using the word 'pola'.

Repetition / Anaphora (Adukku Thodar)

Adhai nambi nambi thaanae

The word 'nambi' (trusting/believing) is repeated consecutively to emphasize unwavering faith in one's dreams.

Rhyme / Assonance (Edhukai & Monai)

Manadhaal madhiyaal / Gunaththaal unarvaal

Rhyming structure with '-aal' instrumental suffix creates a rhythmic flow highlighting noble qualities.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amma Kanakku is the Tamil remake of the critically acclaimed Hindi film 'Nil Battey Sannata'. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja not only composed the music for the film but also penned the lyrics for this uplifting track, infusing it with philosophical wisdom on perseverance and women's empowerment.

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