- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Thaayin Madiyil
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 23 Feb 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Thaayin Madiyil' is a poignant ode to maternal love and sacrifice, penned by lyricist Vaali for the 1964 Tamil film of the same name. The song praises the unmatched sanctuary of a mother's lap, stating that no amount of wealth or luxury can replace her presence. It highlights her immense patience, comparing her forbearance to that of Mother Earth, and depicts how her soothing lullabies calm a restless soul. In the concluding verses, the song takes a tragic emotional turn as the protagonist laments his unfortunate fate of never having seen his mother's loving face or heard her affectionate endearments. The contrast between the divine virtues of motherhood and the protagonist's profound sense of loss makes it a classic Tamil film song filled with deep pathos and veneration.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Vellai manadhai thottilaakki”
'Vellai manadhai thottilaakki' metaphorically turns a mother's pure, innocent heart into a tender cradle for her child.
Hyperbole / Comparison (Uvamaani)
“Boomiyai minjiduvaal”
'Boomiyai minjiduvaal' exaggerates a mother's patience as surpassing even the proverbial patience of Mother Earth.
Anaphora / Repetition (Edbudhai)
“Kaadhil kettadhillai”
Repetition of 'Kaadhil kettadhillai' emphasizes the deep grief of never having heard a mother's soothing voice.
Monorhyme / Edhugai
“Ethanai selvangal vandhaalumae”
'Ethanai' and 'Athanaiyum' feature second-letter rhyming ('th'), creating a rhythmic and lyrical harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thaayin Madiyil' (1964) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The film's musical score was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, with lyrics penned by Vaali. The title song became one of the quintessential Tamil tracks honoring mothers.
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