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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Pillai Mugam

From Kalyana Mandapam · 1965

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
R. Parthasarathy
Details
Kalyana Mandapam1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
En pillai mugam therigirathu enakkuI can see my child's face.
Un annai mugam therigirathaa unakkuCan you see your mother's face?
Un mazhalai mozhi purigirathu enakkuI understand your baby babble.
En kavalai mozhi purigirathaa unakkuDo you understand my language of sorrow?
Female
Munbu naan thavamirunthaenEarlier, I performed penance,
Munnooru naal sumanthaenI carried you for three hundred days,
Pinbu unnai naanadainthaenLater, I was blessed with you,
NaanadainthaenI was blessed with you.
Munbu naan thavamirunthaenEarlier, I performed penance,
Munnooru naal sumanthaenI carried you for three hundred days,
Pinbu unnai naanadainthaenLater, I was blessed with you,
NaanadainthaenI was blessed with you.
Female
Anbu magan oridaththilBeloved son in one place,
Annai mattum veridaththilThe mother alone in another place,
Kodi thunbam naanadainthaen yaenadainthaenI endured ten million sorrows, oh why did I endure them?
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro…….Lullaby... lullaby... lullaby... lullaby...
Female
En pillai mugam therigirathu enakkuI can see my child's face.
Un annai mugam therigirathaa unakkuCan you see your mother's face?
Un mazhalai mozhi purigirathu enakkuI understand your baby babble.
En kavalai mozhi purigirathaa unakkuDo you understand my language of sorrow?
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro…….Lullaby... lullaby... lullaby... lullaby...
Female
Thangaththaal koyil kattiBuilding a temple out of gold,
Vairaththaal vaasal vaiththuMaking a doorway with diamonds,
Deivaththai naanadainthaen naanadainthaenI reached the deity, I reached the deity.
Koyil mattum oridaththilThe temple is in one place,
Deivam mattum veridaththilThe deity alone is in another place,
Kodi thunbam naanadainthaen yaenadainthaenI endured ten million sorrows, oh why did I endure them?
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro…….Lullaby... lullaby... lullaby... lullaby...
Female
En pillai mugam therigirathu enakkuI can see my child's face.
Un annai mugam therigirathaa unakkuCan you see your mother's face?
Un mazhalai mozhi purigirathu enakkuI understand your baby babble.
En kavalai mozhi purigirathaa unakkuDo you understand my language of sorrow?
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro…….Lullaby... lullaby... lullaby... lullaby...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant lullaby captures the agonizing grief of a mother separated from her newborn child. Though she can see her child in her thoughts and understand his innocent babbling, she laments that her baby cannot see her or comprehend the immense sorrow she is enduring. She recalls the ten months (three hundred days) of pregnancy and penance she underwent to give birth, only to be cruelly separated from her precious infant. Using striking metaphors, she compares her child to a divine deity and herself/her body to a golden temple adorned with diamonds. Just as a temple loses its soul and purpose when separated from its residing deity, her life feels empty and tormented without her son beside her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast

En pillai mugam therigirathu enakku / Un annai mugam therigirathaa unakku

Contrasts the mother's ability to see and understand her baby with the infant's inability to see her or comprehend her sorrow.

Metaphor

Thangaththaal koyil katti... Deivaththai naanadainthaen

Compares the child to a revered deity ('Deivam') and the maternal home/bond to a temple built of gold and diamonds.

Ethirai (Second letter rhyme in Tamil prosody)

Munbu naan thavamirunthaen / Pinbu unnai naanadainthaen

The second letters 'n' (ன்) in 'Munbu' and 'Pinbu' form a classic Tamil rhyming structure.

Refrain / Repetition

Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro…….

The repetitive chant 'Aaraaro' serves both as a traditional lullaby rhythm and as an emotional anchor emphasizing maternal longing.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kalyana Mandapam' (1965) featured music composed by R. Parthasarathy with lyrics penned by Vaali. The lullaby format is used ironically to highlight the deep tragedy and emotional distance between mother and child rather than a peaceful sleep.

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