- Lyricist
- P. K. Muthusami
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Kaveriyin Kanavan
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 14 Dec 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This iconic Tamil lullaby/maternal song from the movie Kaveriyin Kanavan (1959) captures the immense joy and divine love a mother feels when watching her child grow. The mother describes the child's tiny steps, coral-red lips, and sweet voice calling out 'Amma' as equivalent to a shower of divine nectar. She admires her child as the moon in the sky, a glowing lamp in the household, and a living poem dancing before her eyes. The lyricist elevates the child's existence above all natural wonders, describing the child as a divine gift. The song famously draws upon classical Tamil literary wisdom, stating that the sweet babbling of a child far surpasses the heavenly music of flutes and harps, declaring the child to be her ultimate treasure and bond in life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Metaphor)
“Sembavala vaai thirandhu”
'Sembavala vaai' metaphors the child's soft red lips to precious red coral.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vinnilaadum vennilavae / Veetil aadum mani vilakke”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Vinnilaadum' and 'Veetil' (Vinnilaadum / Veetil aadum).
Allusion (Thirukkural Reference)
“Kuzhalum yaazhum poiyandro”
Direct allusion to Thirukkural 66 ('Kuzhalinidhu yaazhinidhu...'), asserting child's babble is sweeter than flute or lute music.
Did you know?
Trivia
The line 'Kuzhalum yaazhum poiyandro' is a direct literary reference to Thirukkural Couplet 66 ('Kuzhalinidhu yaazhinidhu enbadham makkal mazhalaichol kelaadhavar'), which states that those who claim flutes and harps make the sweetest sound have never heard the babbling speech of their own children.
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