- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singers
- P. Susheela, M. S. Ramarao
- Music director
- P. Aadhinarayana Rao
- Movie name
- Manalane Mangaiyin Bakkiam
- Movie release year
- 1957
- Lyrics added on
- 8 Sept 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic lullaby expresses a mother's immense affection, tenderness, and emotional depth toward a child. She affectionately addresses the young child with metaphors like sweet fruit, eternal flame, and the fruit of her devotion, calling the child to play and brighten her life. The song reflects on fate and divine design, comparing emotional separation to a mother cow yearning for her calf, while ultimately praising the pure, innocent nature of childhood as a divine blessing.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Kalaimaanai pol thulli kanna nee vaada”
Compares the child's energetic bouncing and movement to that of a stag/deer using 'pol'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kudumbha vilakkaai vilangha vandha”
Directly metaphorizes the child as the sacred lamp of the household that brings brightness.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kannae nee vaada kaniyae nee vaada”
Addresses the child metaphorically as 'Kani' (sweet fruit) and 'Thavam' (fruit of penance).
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kandrai pirindhu karavai yengum”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound (Kandrai / Karavai / Kaalam) creating melodic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Manalane Mangaiyin Bakkiam (1957) was a major bilingual hit simultaneously produced in Tamil and Telugu (as Anarkali). The music composed by P. Aadhinarayana Rao and sung by legendary singer P. Susheela remains one of the iconic early lullabies of South Indian cinema.
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