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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaveri Maanthoppu

From Marupiravi · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Marupiravi1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyoAre you a fruit from the mango groves of Kaveri?
Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyoAre your eyes the bells of a wedding hall?
Nalla paavaenthar paaraattum mozhiyoAre you the language praised by great poets?
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyoAre you a parrot singing sweet folk melodies?
Female
Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyoAre you a fruit from the mango groves of Kaveri?
Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyoAre your eyes the bells of a wedding hall?
Nalla paavaenthar paaraattum mozhiyoAre you the language praised by great poets?
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyoAre you a parrot singing sweet folk melodies?
Female
Aa….aa….aa….aa….Ah....ah....ah....ah....
Paadalggal kelaatha thamizhaiA form of Tamil untainted by standard songs,
Pazhagum dhinamum entham mazhalaiOur child speaks it daily in babble.
Avan nadaiyai sinthum nagaiyaiHis walk, his scattered smile,
Avan udalai konjum azhagaiThe beauty that caresses his tiny body,
Kannil kandaalae undaagum kavithaiLooking at it creates poetry in the mind,
Adhu undaana pinnaethu kavalaiOnce that poetry is born, where is any sorrow?
Female
Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyoAre you a fruit from the mango groves of Kaveri?
Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyoAre your eyes the bells of a wedding hall?
Nalla paavaenthar paaraattum mozhiyoAre you the language praised by great poets?
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyoAre you a parrot singing sweet folk melodies?
Female
Thaai thanthai mounamathin iravuThe night of sacred silence between mother and father,
Thaai thanthai mounamathin iravuThe night of sacred silence between mother and father,
Iravin vilaivu oru varavuThe yield of that night is a new blessing,
Oru kanavu indru ninaivuA dream has turned into reality today,
Pudhu nilavu thantha azhaguA grace bestowed like a new moon,
Idhu orr naalum maaraatha uravuThis is an eternal relationship that will never change,
Intha thaayaarukku deivaththin parishuThis is a gift from God to this mother.
Female
Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyoAre you a fruit from the mango groves of Kaveri?
Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyoAre your eyes the bells of a wedding hall?
Nalla paavaenthar paaraattum mozhiyoAre you the language praised by great poets?
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyoAre you a parrot singing sweet folk melodies?
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyoAre you a parrot singing sweet folk melodies?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic lullaby-style song from 'Marupiravi' (1973) captures a mother's profound joy and unconditional love for her child. Lyricist Kannadasan crafts rich metaphors comparing the infant to the lush harvest of Kaveri, auspicious wedding bells, pure Tamil poetry, and a singing bird. The lyrics celebrate the child as the sacred outcome of love between parents, transforming a cherished dream into reality and bringing endless solace to the mother's heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaikkal (Initial Alliteration)

Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyo / Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyo

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Ka' across consecutive lines.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

kaniyo / maniyo / mozhiyo / kiliyo

Consistent rhythmic ending '-yo' across all four lines in the refrain creates a musical, questioning cadence.

Uruvagamy (Metaphor)

Paadalggal kelaatha thamizhai / Pazhagum dhinamum entham mazhalai

Comparing the infant's innocent babble directly to pure Tamil poetry ('mazhalai' as 'thamizhai').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Marupiravi' (1973), directed by T. R. Ramanna, is a Tamil film starring Gemini Ganesan and Nagesh, adapted from the Malayalam hit 'Punarjanmam'. T. R. Pappa's music and Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi's soulful voice made this track a memorable maternal anthem in Tamil cinema.

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