- Lyricist
- Kuyilan
- Singers
- M. S. Rajeswari, A. L. Ragavan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Engal Selvi
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 21 Dec 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a charming and poignant musical dialogue between a young motherless girl and 'Ambuli Mama' (Uncle Moon). The child asks innocent, imaginative questions—why the moon lives so far away like unreachable fruit, where he goes during the daytime, and who his mother is. The moon answers comfortingly, explaining that staying far keeps him safe from bad people, and that he works by day serving his mother before visiting children at night.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Ambuli mama varuvaayae”
Addressing the moon as a maternal uncle ('Ambuli mama') and attributing human actions to it, such as serving its mother and visiting children.
Metaphor
“Ettaatha thooraththil kittaatha pazhamaai”
Comparing the distant moon to an unreachable fruit on a high tree.
Edugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Unthan amma yaaro / Enthan ullae kudu kudu kizhavi”
The second letters 'th' rhyme across lines ('Unthan' / 'Enthan').
Cultural Allusion
“Enthan ullae kudu kudu kizhavi”
Refers to the traditional Tamil folklore myth of a 'kudu kudu kizhavi' (old spinning woman) living inside the moon.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in 'Engal Selvi' (1960), this song showcases singer M. S. Rajeswari's signature childlike vocals, which made her famous for playing and singing for children in Golden Era Tamil cinema. The song blends innocent childlike wonder with deep emotional undertones regarding maternal absence.
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