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Isaimozhi
Marupiravi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaveri Maanthoppu

From Marupiravi · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Movie name
Marupiravi
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
21 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyo
Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyo
Nalla paavaenthar paaraattum mozhiyo
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyo
Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyo
Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyo
Nalla paavaenthar paaraattum mozhiyo
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyo
Aa….aa….aa….aa….
Paadalggal kelaatha thamizhai
Pazhagum dhinamum entham mazhalai
Avan nadaiyai sinthum nagaiyai
Avan udalai konjum azhagai
Kannil kandaalae undaagum kavithai
Adhu undaana pinnaethu kavalai
Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyo
Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyo
Nalla paavaenthar paaraattum mozhiyo
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyo
Thaai thanthai mounamathin iravu
Thaai thanthai mounamathin iravu
Iravin vilaivu oru varavu
Oru kanavu indru ninaivu
Pudhu nilavu thantha azhagu
Idhu orr naalum maaraatha uravu
Intha thaayaarukku deivaththin parishu
Kaveri maanthoppu kaniyo
Kangal kalyaana mandapaththu maniyo
Nalla paavaenthar paaraattum mozhiyo
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyo
Panpaadum thenpaangu kiliyo
Are you a fruit from the Kaveri mango groves?
Are your eyes gems from a wedding hall?
Are you the sweet language praised by the king of poets?
Are you a southern parrot singing a sweet melody?
Are you a fruit from the Kaveri mango groves?
Are your eyes gems from a wedding hall?
Are you the sweet language praised by the king of poets?
Are you a southern parrot singing a sweet melody?
Aa....aa......aa....aa.....
A Tamil never heard in songs,
Is what my little child babbles every day.
His little steps, his blossoming smile,
His tender body, his charming beauty,
Just looking at him inspires poetry,
And once it is born, what worry can remain?
Are you a fruit from the Kaveri mango groves?
Are your eyes gems from a wedding hall?
Are you the sweet language praised by the king of poets?
Are you a southern parrot singing a sweet melody?
A night of silence between mother and father,
A night of silence between mother and father,
Out of that night came a blessed arrival,
A dream that has come true today,
A beauty gifted like a new moon,
This is a bond that will never change,
A gift from God to this mother.
Are you a fruit from the Kaveri mango groves?
Are your eyes gems from a wedding hall?
Are you the sweet language praised by the king of poets?
Are you a southern parrot singing a sweet melody?
Are you a southern parrot singing a sweet melody?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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