- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Karpagam
- Movie release year
- 1963
- Lyrics added on
- 12 May 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Athai Madi Methaiyadi' is an iconic Tamil lullaby expressing deep maternal love and affection for a young child. The speaker describes her lap as a soft bed where the child can play freely before drifting off to sleep. She uses magical imagery, picturing a cradle carved out of the crescent moon layered with fragrant jasmine blossoms, accompanied by sweet cuckoo songs that lull the fawn-like child to rest. In the concluding verses, the speaker expresses pure devotion, declaring that she worships no other deity or lamp except the child, whom she reveres like Goddess Ambigai in the temple of her heart. The tender tone highlights unconditional love and protection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Alli vizhi moodamaa”
'Alli vizhi' compares the child's soft, tender eyes directly to lily blossoms.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Indha maan kutti ketu kan moodum”
'Maan kutti' affectionately equates the innocent child to a gentle fawn.
Second Letter Rhyme (Ethirhai)
“Athai madi / Methaiyadi”
'Athai' and 'Methai' share the second consonant sound 'thai', creating melodic harmony.
Hyperbole / Imagery
“Moonraam Piraiyil thottil katti Mullai malligai methaiyitu”
Imagining the crescent moon as a physical cradle bed adorned with jasmine flowers creates vivid, dreamlike poetic imagery suitable for a lullaby.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Athai Madi Methaiyadi' from the 1963 film 'Karpagam' was composed by the duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, written by legendary lyricist Vaali, and sung by P. Susheela. The movie and its songs were a major breakthrough for Vaali, cementing his status as one of Tamil cinema's premier lyricists.
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