Kinnathil Theneduthu
From Appa Tata · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Appa Tata1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kinnaththil thaeneduththu | Having gathered honey in a cup, |
| Ennaththaal moodi vaiththaen | I kept it covered with my thoughts. |
| Ennavo iraivanukku | For some unknown reason, God |
| Ennidaththil karunai illai | Has shown no mercy toward me. |
| Female | |
| Kinnaththil thaeneduththu | Having gathered honey in a cup, |
| Ennaththaal moodi vaiththaen | I kept it covered with my thoughts. |
| Ennavo iraivanukku | For some unknown reason, God |
| Ennidaththil karunai illai | Has shown no mercy toward me. |
| Female | |
| Aariro aaraariro….aariro aariro… | Aariro aaraariro....aariro aariro... |
| Aariro aariro aariro aariro…aaraaro…. | Aariro aariro aariro aariro...aaraaro.... |
| Female | |
| Ottraiyadi paadhaiyilae pachchaikkili parakkavittaen | On the narrow single path, I let the green parrot fly away. |
| Ottraiyadi paadhaiyilae pachchaikkili parakkavittaen | On the narrow single path, I let the green parrot fly away. |
| Michamulla paingiliyum kattaruththu thavikkavittaen | And I left the remaining tender parrot stranded after cutting its ties. |
| Itchaiyudan paaduathai en kilikku thoodhuvittaen | I sent this song sung with deep affection as a message to my parrot. |
| En kilikku thoodhuvittaen…. | Sent as a message to my parrot.... |
| Female | |
| Kinnaththil thaeneduththu | Having gathered honey in a cup, |
| Female | |
| Muttraththu vennilavey pettra magan kannuranga | Oh full moon in the courtyard, so that my born son may sleep, |
| Muttraththu vennilavey pettra magan kannuranga | Oh full moon in the courtyard, so that my born son may sleep, |
| Sattru nee thaalaattu thaai vadivil nee irunthu | Lull him to sleep for a while, taking the form of a mother. |
| Ennai nee paarththa pinbum | Even after you have looked upon me, |
| Sollavo vaarththaiyillai | I have no words left to speak. |
| Female | |
| Thanthaikko orr iravu thaayaarkko munnooru | For a father it is just one night, but for a mother it is three hundred. |
| Thanthaikko orr iravu thaayaarkko munnooru | For a father it is just one night, but for a mother it is three hundred. |
| Munnoorum kanda kangal kanneeril vaaduthammaa | The eyes that witnessed all three hundred days are wilting in tears, my dear. |
| Kanneeril padagu vittu pillaiyidam oduthammaa | Sailing a boat made of tears, my heart runs towards my child, my dear. |
| Pillaiyidam oduthammaa…. | Runs towards my child, my dear.... |
| Female | |
| Kinnaththil thaeneduththu | Having gathered honey in a cup, |
| Ennaththaal moodi vaiththaen | I kept it covered with my thoughts. |
| Ennavo iraivanukku | For some unknown reason, God |
| Ennidaththil karunai illai | Has shown no mercy toward me. |
| Female | |
| Aariro aaraariro….aariro aariro… | Aariro aaraariro....aariro aariro... |
| Aariro aariro aariro aariro…aaraaro…. | Aariro aariro aariro aariro...aaraaro.... |
| Aariro aariro aariro aariro… | Aariro aariro aariro aariro... |
கிண்ணத்தில் தேனெடுத்து
எண்ணத்தால் மூடி வைத்தேன்
என்னவோ இறைவனுக்கு
என்னிடத்தில் கருணை இல்லை
Having gathered honey in a cup,
I kept it covered with my thoughts.
For some unknown reason, God
Has shown no mercy toward me.
கிண்ணத்தில் தேனெடுத்து
எண்ணத்தால் மூடி வைத்தேன்
என்னவோ இறைவனுக்கு
என்னிடத்தில் கருணை இல்லை
Having gathered honey in a cup,
I kept it covered with my thoughts.
For some unknown reason, God
Has shown no mercy toward me.
ஆரிரோ ஆராரிரோ......ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ
ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ.......ஆராரோ.....
Aariro aaraariro....aariro aariro...
Aariro aariro aariro aariro...aaraaro....
ஒற்றையடிப் பாதையிலே பச்சைக்கிளி பறக்க விட்டேன்
ஒற்றையடிப் பாதையிலே பச்சைக்கிளி பறக்க விட்டேன்
மிச்சமுள்ள பைங்கிளியும் கட்டறுந்து தவிக்க விட்டேன்
இச்சையுடன் பாடுவதை என் கிளிக்கு தூது விட்டேன்
என் கிளிக்கு தூது விட்டேன்...........
On the narrow single path, I let the green parrot fly away.
On the narrow single path, I let the green parrot fly away.
And I left the remaining tender parrot stranded after cutting its ties.
I sent this song sung with deep affection as a message to my parrot.
Sent as a message to my parrot....
கிண்ணத்தில் தேனெடுத்து
Having gathered honey in a cup,
முற்றத்து வெண்ணிலவே பெற்ற மகன் கண்ணுறங்க
முற்றத்து வெண்ணிலவே பெற்ற மகன் கண்ணுறங்க
சற்று நீ தாலாட்டு தாய் வடிவில் நீ இருந்து
என்னை நீ பார்த்த பின்பும்
சொல்லவோ வார்த்தையில்லை..........
Oh full moon in the courtyard, so that my born son may sleep,
Oh full moon in the courtyard, so that my born son may sleep,
Lull him to sleep for a while, taking the form of a mother.
Even after you have looked upon me,
I have no words left to speak.
தந்தைக்கோ ஓர் இரவு தாயார்க்கு முன்னூறு
தந்தைக்கோ ஓர் இரவு தாயார்க்கு முன்னூறு
முன்னூறும் கண்ட கண்கள் கண்ணீரில் வாடுதம்மா
கண்ணீரில் படகு விட்டு பிள்ளையிடம் ஓடுதம்மா
பிள்ளையிடம் ஓடுதம்மா.............
For a father it is just one night, but for a mother it is three hundred.
For a father it is just one night, but for a mother it is three hundred.
The eyes that witnessed all three hundred days are wilting in tears, my dear.
Sailing a boat made of tears, my heart runs towards my child, my dear.
Runs towards my child, my dear....
கிண்ணத்தில் தேனெடுத்து
எண்ணத்தால் மூடி வைத்தேன்
என்னவோ இறைவனுக்கு
என்னிடத்தில் கருணை இல்லை
Having gathered honey in a cup,
I kept it covered with my thoughts.
For some unknown reason, God
Has shown no mercy toward me.
ஆரிரோ ஆராரிரோ......ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ
ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ.......
ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ ஆரிரோ
Aariro aaraariro....aariro aariro...
Aariro aariro aariro aariro...aaraaro....
Aariro aariro aariro aariro...
Kinnaththil thaeneduththu
Having gathered honey in a cup,
Ennaththaal moodi vaiththaen
I kept it covered with my thoughts.
Ennavo iraivanukku
For some unknown reason, God
Ennidaththil karunai illai
Has shown no mercy toward me.
Kinnaththil thaeneduththu
Having gathered honey in a cup,
Ennaththaal moodi vaiththaen
I kept it covered with my thoughts.
Ennavo iraivanukku
For some unknown reason, God
Ennidaththil karunai illai
Has shown no mercy toward me.
Aariro aaraariro….aariro aariro…
Aariro aaraariro....aariro aariro...
Aariro aariro aariro aariro…aaraaro….
Aariro aariro aariro aariro...aaraaro....
Ottraiyadi paadhaiyilae pachchaikkili parakkavittaen
On the narrow single path, I let the green parrot fly away.
Ottraiyadi paadhaiyilae pachchaikkili parakkavittaen
On the narrow single path, I let the green parrot fly away.
Michamulla paingiliyum kattaruththu thavikkavittaen
And I left the remaining tender parrot stranded after cutting its ties.
Itchaiyudan paaduathai en kilikku thoodhuvittaen
I sent this song sung with deep affection as a message to my parrot.
En kilikku thoodhuvittaen….
Sent as a message to my parrot....
Kinnaththil thaeneduththu
Having gathered honey in a cup,
Muttraththu vennilavey pettra magan kannuranga
Oh full moon in the courtyard, so that my born son may sleep,
Muttraththu vennilavey pettra magan kannuranga
Oh full moon in the courtyard, so that my born son may sleep,
Sattru nee thaalaattu thaai vadivil nee irunthu
Lull him to sleep for a while, taking the form of a mother.
Ennai nee paarththa pinbum
Even after you have looked upon me,
Sollavo vaarththaiyillai
I have no words left to speak.
Thanthaikko orr iravu thaayaarkko munnooru
For a father it is just one night, but for a mother it is three hundred.
Thanthaikko orr iravu thaayaarkko munnooru
For a father it is just one night, but for a mother it is three hundred.
Munnoorum kanda kangal kanneeril vaaduthammaa
The eyes that witnessed all three hundred days are wilting in tears, my dear.
Kanneeril padagu vittu pillaiyidam oduthammaa
Sailing a boat made of tears, my heart runs towards my child, my dear.
Pillaiyidam oduthammaa….
Runs towards my child, my dear....
Kinnaththil thaeneduththu
Having gathered honey in a cup,
Ennaththaal moodi vaiththaen
I kept it covered with my thoughts.
Ennavo iraivanukku
For some unknown reason, God
Ennidaththil karunai illai
Has shown no mercy toward me.
Aariro aaraariro….aariro aariro…
Aariro aaraariro....aariro aariro...
Aariro aariro aariro aariro…aaraaro….
Aariro aariro aariro aariro...aaraaro....
Aariro aariro aariro aariro…
Aariro aariro aariro aariro...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kinnaththil Thaeneduththu from the 1972 film Appa Tata is a sorrowful lullaby that captures the poignant grief and unconditional love of a mother. Sung masterfully by P. Susheela with music composed by V. Kumar, the lyricist Kannadasan frames the mother's emotional anguish within a traditional lullaby tune. She laments that despite filling her heart with sweet maternal love (metaphorically described as honey in a cup), fate and divine decree have covered it with distress and separated her from peace. Throughout the song, the mother addresses the moon, asking it to step in as a surrogate mother to lull her child to sleep. In one of Kannadasan's most iconic couplets, she highlights the contrast between fatherhood and motherhood, stating that a father's contribution lasts a single night while a mother endures three hundred days of pregnancy and a lifetime of tearful sacrifice. The song remains a quintessential Tamil classic on maternal suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urugavam)
“Kinnaththil thaeneduththu Ennaththaal moodi vaiththaen”
Honey in a cup ('Kinnaththil thaen') is used as a metaphor for pure maternal affection and joy, while covering it with thoughts ('Ennaththaal moodi') represents lingering anxieties.
Personification
“Sattru nee thaalaattu thaai vadivil nee irunthu”
The courtyard moon ('Muttraththu vennilavey') is personified and requested to assume a mother's form to sing a lullaby to the child.
Contrast / Anthesis
“Thanthaikko orr iravu thaayaarkko munnooru”
Kannadasan starkly contrasts a father's brief role ('orr iravu') with a mother's extensive gestation period ('munnooru' / 300 days).
Metaphor / Imagery
“Kanneeril padagu vittu pillaiyidam oduthammaa”
'Kanneeril padagu vittu' creates vivid emotional imagery of sailing a boat made of tears toward her child.
Did you know?
Trivia
The line 'Thanthaikko orr iravu thaayaarkko munnooru' (For a father it is just one night, for a mother it is three hundred days) written by Kaviarasu Kannadasan became one of the most famous and widely quoted lines in Tamil cinema history regarding the depth of motherhood.
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