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Vilaiyattu Pillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aasaikku Pillaiyendru

From Vilaiyattu Pillai · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Vilaiyattu Pillai
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
7 May 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aasaikku pillai endru
Aandavanai kettadhundu
Pillai vandha nerathilae thalaeloo
Unnai petra manam vaadudhada thalaelo
Nee pirandha neram enbaar
Indha nilai vandhadhenbaar
Naan pirandha neramada thalaeloo
Adhil veen pazhiyai nee sumandhaai thaleloo
Naalai poluthu varum
Nallavarukku vaazhvu varum
Ezhai azhudha kanneer thalaeloo
Andha eesanukku puriyumada thalaeloo
Muthu thamil paadu
sittu nadai podu
Thathi thathi vilaiyaadu
Nadai vandi thalli thalli nadamaadu
Thandhaiyidam naesama
Annaiyidam aasaiyaa
Evaridam paasam endraal
Kaigal iru pakkam kattumada
Muthu thamil paadu
sittu nadai podu
Thathi thathi vilaiyaadu
Nadai vandi thalli thalli nadamaadu
Pattam melae pogudhu paaru
Paravai polae parakkudhu paaru
Vattamittu aadudhu paaru
aadudhu paaru
Melae vaalai neetti parakkudhupaaru parakkudhu paaru
Noolai iluthaal melae pogum
Vaalai aruthaal karanam podum
Kaatru adithaal nimirndhu nirkkum
Kayiru arundhaal kuninji pakkum
Vattamittu aadudhu paaru
aadudhu paaru
Melae vaalai neetti parakkudhu paaru parakkudhu paaru
Longing for a child of my own,
I once prayed to God.
Yet at the very hour you arrived, lullaby,
the heart that bore you withers in sorrow, lullaby.
They say it is the hour you were born,
they say it brought us this plight.
It is only the hour of my own birth, my child, lullaby,
yet you bear this blame in vain, lullaby.
A new dawn will arrive tomorrow,
and good souls will see better days.
The tears wept by the poor, lullaby,
that Lord above will surely understand, lullaby.
Sing words sweet as pearl-like Tamil,
take little hops like a sparrow,
toddle along and play,
push your baby walker and learn to walk.
Is your love for your father?
Or is your heart with your mother?
If asked whom you love more,
your tiny arms embrace both of us together!
Sing words sweet as pearl-like Tamil,
take little hops like a sparrow,
toddle along and play,
push your baby walker and learn to walk.
Look at the kite flying high up there!
Look, it flies just like a bird!
Look, it circles and dances around!
Look, it dances!
Stretching its tail high above, look at it fly, look at it fly!
Tug the string and it rises higher;
cut its tail and it tumbles around;
when the wind blows, it stands upright;
if the string breaks, it bows its head and falls.
Look, it circles and dances around!
Look, it dances!
Stretching its tail high above, look at it fly, look at it fly!
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Vilaiyattu Pillai' (1970) begins as a deeply emotional lullaby where a mother comforts her innocent child. She grieves over how society unjustly blames the child's birth star for their family's misfortunes, firmly asserting that her own karma is to blame instead. She offers comfort by reminding her child that God sees the tears of the innocent and that better days will eventually dawn for the righteous. The mood then transitions into a joyful and playful nursery-rhyme sequence. The mother delights in her toddler's early milestones—walking with a wooden walker (nadai vandi), babbling in Tamil, and showing equal love to both parents. The final verses use the visual imagery of a flying kite as a extended metaphor for life, growth, and the delicate control maintained through love and destiny.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Pillai vandha nerathilae thalaeloo”

The traditional Tamil lullaby refrain 'Thalaeloo' ends alternate lines in the first half to create a soothing rhythmic cadence.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Muthu thamil paadu”

Describing the child's sweet speech as 'Muthu Thamil' (pearl-like Tamil).

Simile (Upamai)

“Paravai polae parakkudhu paaru”

Comparing the movement of the child to a sparrow ('sittu') and the flight of the kite to a bird ('paravai polae').

Allegory / Life Metaphor

“Noolai iluthaal melae pogum / Kayiru arundhaal kuninji pakkum”

The kite rising with a pulled string and falling when the thread snaps serves as a poetic allegory for human reliance on divine control and life's ups and downs.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1970 Tamil movie 'Vilaiyattu Pillai' starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. The song features music composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with poignant lyrics written by Kannadasan and expressive playback vocals by P. Susheela.

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