- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- R. Balasaraswathy
- Music director
- S. Dakshinamurthi
- Movie name
- Bhagyavathi
- Movie release year
- 1957
- Lyrics added on
- 28 Apr 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Ellorum Unnai Nallavan Endrae is an iconic maternal guidance song from the 1957 Tamil film Bhagyavathi. In this song, a mother lovingly imparts essential life values, ethics, and wisdom to her child. She encourages the child to wake up early, pursue education in Tamil, stay pious, stay away from bad influences, and strive to bring joy to the needy so that society will honor him as a righteous person. Sung with deep warmth by R. Balasaraswathy, composed by S. Dakshinamurthi, and written by A. Maruthakasi, the song serves as a timeless lullaby loaded with moral instructions that reflect traditional Tamil values.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kondaada vendumadaa / Undaaga vendumadaa”
The refrain ending phrase 'vendumadaa' is repeatedly used across multiple stanzas to create rhythmic consistency and emotional emphasis.
Refrain / Anaphora
“Ellorum unnai nallavan endrae”
The opening lines 'Ellorum unnai nallavan endrae / Kondaada vendumadaa' recur throughout the song as the central core message.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paalakaa athikaalaiyil vizhikkum / Pazhakkam vendumadaa en kannae”
Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'P' in consecutive lines for euphonic effect.
Did you know?
Trivia
Bhagyavathi (1957) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Padmini. The song is remembered as one of the classic moral-instruction lullabies in Tamil cinema, beautifully rendered by R. Balasaraswathy, who was one of the premier playback singers of the 1940s and 1950s.
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