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Karpagam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Annaimadi Methaiyadi

From Karpagam · 1963

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Karpagam
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
30 Mar 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Annai madi
Methaiyadi aadi vilaiyadama
Aadum varai aadi vitu
Alli vizhi moodamaa
Annai madi
Methaiyadi
Humming…
Vandhaal unnudan vandhiduven
Nindraal unnudan nindriduven
Vandhaal unnudan vandhiduven
Nindraal unnudan nindriduven
Thandhaal ennuyir thandhiduven
Thithikkum muthangal sindhiduven
Thithikkum muthangal sindhiduven..hmm
Annai madi
Methaiyadi aadi vilaiyadama
Aadum varai aadi vitu
Alli vizhi moodamaa
Annai madi
Methaiyadi
Humming…
A mother's lap
is a soft bed—won't you dance and play?
After playing to your heart's content,
won't you close your lily eyes?
A mother's lap
is a soft bed.
(Humming...)
If you come, I will come with you,
if you pause, I will stand with you.
If you come, I will come with you,
if you pause, I will stand with you.
If I must give, I will give my very life,
and shower you with sweet kisses.
and shower you with sweet kisses... hmm.
A mother's lap
is a soft bed—won't you dance and play?
After playing to your heart's content,
won't you close your lily eyes?
A mother's lap
is a soft bed.
(Humming...)
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic lullaby-esque song from 'Karpagam' captures deep warmth, comforting love, and complete emotional surrender. The singer compares a mother's lap to a soft bed, inviting her beloved/child to play, rest, and sleep peacefully in security. The verses express absolute devotion and togetherness, promising to follow wherever they go, stay by their side, give up one's life, and shower unending sweet affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

Annai madi Methaiyadi

Compares a mother's lap directly to a soft bed ('methai') to emphasize security, warmth, and extreme comfort.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Alli vizhi moodamaa

Compares eyes to water lilies ('alli vizhi'), highlighting softness and beauty.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Vandhiduven / Nindriduven / Thandhiduven / Sindhiduven

The deliberate end-rhyming structure of verb forms creates a rhythmic, hypnotic lullaby quality.

Anaphora / Parallel Structure

Vandhaal unnudan vandhiduven / Nindraal unnudan nindriduven

Repetition of conditional syntactic phrasing ('Vandhaal... Nindraal... Thandhaal...') for poetic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Karpagam' (1963) was a landmark film directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan that marked the acting debut of veteran actress K. R. Vijaya. The soundtrack by the legendary Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo, rendered masterfully by P. Susheela and penned by Vaali, remains one of Tamil cinema's most cherished lullabies.

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