Kattana Muthu Muthuchirippu
From Avare En Deivam · 1969
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Avare En Deivam1969
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu | A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter, |
| En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu | A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye. |
| Pottodu poo viriththa virippu | A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi, |
| Idhu ponnodu vairaththin madhippu | This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds. |
| Female | |
| Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu | A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter, |
| En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu | A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye. |
| Female | |
| Maamadhurai meenaal manisangam eduththu | Did Goddess Meenakshi of great Madurai take a ruby conch shell, |
| Thaenudan paal koduththaalo | And feed her honey along with milk? |
| Maamadhurai meenaal manisangam eduththu | Did Goddess Meenakshi of great Madurai take a ruby conch shell, |
| Thaenudan paal koduththaalo | And feed her honey along with milk? |
| Female | |
| En vannakkili pesi thulli vilaiyaada | For my colorful parrot to speak, leap, and play, |
| Vannakkili pesi thulli vilaiyaada | For the colorful parrot to speak, leap, and play, |
| Vaarththaigal ival koduththaalo…. | Did she bestow these precious words upon her? |
| Female | |
| Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu | A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter, |
| En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu | A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye. |
| Pottodu poo viriththa virippu | A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi, |
| Idhu ponnodu vairaththin madhippu | This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds. |
| Female | |
| Kaanjiyai aalum kaamaatchiyammai | Did Goddess Kamakshi who rules Kanchipuram, |
| Kalaigalai anuppi vaiththaalo | Send all the fine arts to her? |
| Antha kaasi visaalaatchi aruginil vanthu | Did Goddess Visalakshi of Kashi come nearby, |
| Kaalnadai payila vaiththaalo…. | And teach her how to take her first steps? |
| Female | |
| Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu | A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter, |
| En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu | A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye. |
| Pottodu poo viriththa virippu | A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi, |
| Idhu ponnodu vairaththin madhippu | This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds. |
| Female | |
| Poovaadai veesa pudhu malar polae | As a flower-scented breeze blows, like a fresh blooming flower, |
| Purappadu pallikku magalae | Set off to school, my dear daughter! |
| Un paavaadaiyodu pazhagiya thamizhin | Along with your skirt, let the richness of Tamil, |
| Paavaadai veesattum malarae | Spread its poetic fragrance, my flower! |
| Thamizhin paavaadai veesattum malarae | Let the poetic fragrance of Tamil spread, my flower! |
| Female | |
| Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu | A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter, |
| En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu | A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye. |
| Pottodu poo viriththa virippu | A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi, |
| Idhu ponnodu vairaththin madhippu | This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds. |
கட்டான முத்து முத்துச் சிரிப்பு
என் கண்மணிக்கு தெய்வம் தந்த நடிப்பு
பொட்டோடு பூ விரித்த விரிப்பு
இது பொன்னோடு வைரத்தின் மதிப்பு
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi,
This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds.
கட்டான முத்து முத்துச் சிரிப்பு
என் கண்மணிக்கு தெய்வம் தந்த நடிப்பு
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
மாமதுரை மீனாள் மணிச்சங்கம் எடுத்து
தேனுடன் பால் கொடுத்தாளோ
மாமதுரை மீனாள் மணிச்சங்கம் எடுத்து
தேனுடன் பால் கொடுத்தாளோ
Did Goddess Meenakshi of great Madurai take a ruby conch shell,
And feed her honey along with milk?
Did Goddess Meenakshi of great Madurai take a ruby conch shell,
And feed her honey along with milk?
என் வண்ணக்கிளி பேசித் துள்ளி விளையாட
வண்ணக்கிளி பேசித் துள்ளி விளையாட
வார்த்தைகள் இவள் கொடுத்தாளோ.....
For my colorful parrot to speak, leap, and play,
For the colorful parrot to speak, leap, and play,
Did she bestow these precious words upon her?
கட்டான முத்து முத்துச் சிரிப்பு
என் கண்மணிக்கு தெய்வம் தந்த நடிப்பு
பொட்டோடு பூ விரித்த விரிப்பு
இது பொன்னோடு வைரத்தின் மதிப்பு
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi,
This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds.
காஞ்சியை ஆளும் காமாட்சியம்மை
கலைகளை அனுப்பி வைத்தாளோ
அந்த காசி விசாலாட்சி அருகினில் வந்து
கால்நடை பயில வைத்தாளோ......
Did Goddess Kamakshi who rules Kanchipuram,
Send all the fine arts to her?
Did Goddess Visalakshi of Kashi come nearby,
And teach her how to take her first steps?
கட்டான முத்து முத்துச் சிரிப்பு
என் கண்மணிக்கு தெய்வம் தந்த நடிப்பு
பொட்டோடு பூ விரித்த விரிப்பு
இது பொன்னோடு வைரத்தின் மதிப்பு
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi,
This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds.
பூவாடை வீச புது மலர் போலே
புறப்படு பள்ளிக்கு மகளே
உன் பாவாடையோடு பழகிய தமிழின்
பாவாடை வீசட்டும் மலரே
தமிழின் பாவாடை வீசட்டும் மலரே
As a flower-scented breeze blows, like a fresh blooming flower,
Set off to school, my dear daughter!
Along with your skirt, let the richness of Tamil,
Spread its poetic fragrance, my flower!
Let the poetic fragrance of Tamil spread, my flower!
கட்டான முத்து முத்துச் சிரிப்பு
என் கண்மணிக்கு தெய்வம் தந்த நடிப்பு
பொட்டோடு பூ விரித்த விரிப்பு
இது பொன்னோடு வைரத்தின் மதிப்பு
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi,
This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds.
Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
Pottodu poo viriththa virippu
A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi,
Idhu ponnodu vairaththin madhippu
This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds.
Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
Maamadhurai meenaal manisangam eduththu
Did Goddess Meenakshi of great Madurai take a ruby conch shell,
Thaenudan paal koduththaalo
And feed her honey along with milk?
Maamadhurai meenaal manisangam eduththu
Did Goddess Meenakshi of great Madurai take a ruby conch shell,
Thaenudan paal koduththaalo
And feed her honey along with milk?
En vannakkili pesi thulli vilaiyaada
For my colorful parrot to speak, leap, and play,
Vannakkili pesi thulli vilaiyaada
For the colorful parrot to speak, leap, and play,
Vaarththaigal ival koduththaalo….
Did she bestow these precious words upon her?
Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
Pottodu poo viriththa virippu
A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi,
Idhu ponnodu vairaththin madhippu
This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds.
Kaanjiyai aalum kaamaatchiyammai
Did Goddess Kamakshi who rules Kanchipuram,
Kalaigalai anuppi vaiththaalo
Send all the fine arts to her?
Antha kaasi visaalaatchi aruginil vanthu
Did Goddess Visalakshi of Kashi come nearby,
Kaalnadai payila vaiththaalo….
And teach her how to take her first steps?
Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
Pottodu poo viriththa virippu
A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi,
Idhu ponnodu vairaththin madhippu
This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds.
Poovaadai veesa pudhu malar polae
As a flower-scented breeze blows, like a fresh blooming flower,
Purappadu pallikku magalae
Set off to school, my dear daughter!
Un paavaadaiyodu pazhagiya thamizhin
Along with your skirt, let the richness of Tamil,
Paavaadai veesattum malarae
Spread its poetic fragrance, my flower!
Thamizhin paavaadai veesattum malarae
Let the poetic fragrance of Tamil spread, my flower!
Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu
A well-shaped, pearl-like laughter,
En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu
A divine expression given by God to the apple of my eye.
Pottodu poo viriththa virippu
A broad smile blooming like a flower with a bindi,
Idhu ponnodu vairaththin madhippu
This holds the priceless value of gold combined with diamonds.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kattaana Muththu Muththu Sirippu is a heartwarming maternal song written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan. The mother fondly praises her young daughter's innocence, beauty, and grace, comparing her smile to precious pearls and her worth to a combination of gold and diamonds. She attributes her daughter's beauty, speech, and movements to the blessings of three prominent forms of the Divine Mother: Meenakshi of Madurai, Kamakshi of Kanchipuram, and Visalakshi of Kashi. As the child prepares to go to school, the mother lovingly wishes that the sweetness and fragrance of the Tamil language accompany her child's growth and education.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu”
Compares the child's radiant smile directly to pearls ('muththu muththu sirippu') and her speech to a parrot ('vannakkili').
End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Kattaana muththu muththu sirippu / En kanmanikku deivam thantha nadippu”
The line endings 'sirippu', 'nadippu', 'virippu', and 'madhippu' share matching terminal sounds, creating a rhythmic and musical flow.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Kaanjiyai aalum kaamaatchiyammai”
Repetition of the 'K' consonant sound across words in the line ('Kaanjiyai', 'kaamaatchiyammai').
Simile (Uwamai)
“Poovaadai veesa pudhu malar polae”
Explicitly compares the little girl heading to school to a fresh blooming flower ('pudhu malar polae').
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic Tamil song from the film 'Avare En Deivam' (1969) features lyricism by Kannadasan that ingeniously invokes the classic Sakthi triad—Madurai Meenakshi, Kanchi Kamakshi, and Kashi Visalakshi—to shower maternal blessings upon a child.
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