Maamaa Pillai Maapille
From Aayiram Kalathu Payir · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Aayiram Kalathu Payir1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mama pillai maappillai | Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom |
| Maalaiyittaan thoppilae | He garlanded me in the grove |
| Mama pillai maappillai | Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom |
| Maalaiyittaan thoppilae | He garlanded me in the grove |
| Jaadhi sanam paakkalae….ae… | He didn't care about caste or relatives |
| Thadai irunthum ninaikalae | Despite obstacles, he paid them no mind |
| Female | |
| Mama pillai maappillai | Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom |
| Maalaiyittaan thoppilae | He garlanded me in the grove |
| Male | |
| Ammaa ponnu raajaaththi | Dear daughter, a royal princess |
| Azhagu kaattum kannaadi | A mirror reflecting pure beauty |
| Katti vachcha poovum vaadavillaiyae | Even the flowers woven haven't withered yet |
| Thottu vachcha pottum innum maaravillaiyae | The bindi placed on the forehead hasn't faded yet |
| Azhagu kaattum kannaadi | A mirror reflecting pure beauty |
| Thottu vanthaa pinnaadi….ee…. | If he touches and walks behind |
| Thodarnthu vanthaa munnaadi | If he continues and comes in front |
| Male | |
| Ammaa ponnu raajaaththi | Dear daughter, a royal princess |
| Azhagu kaattum kannaadi | A mirror reflecting pure beauty |
| Female | |
| Poo mudichchaan thalaiyilae | He adorned flowers in my hair |
| Pottu vachchaan mugaththilae | He placed a bindi on my face |
| Poo mudichchaan thalaiyilae | He adorned flowers in my hair |
| Pottu vachchaan mugaththilae | He placed a bindi on my face |
| Katti vachchaan kaiyilae | He held my hand tightly |
| Kalanthu vittaan nenjilae | He blended completely into my heart |
| Female | |
| Mama pillai maappillai | Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom |
| Maalaiyittaan thoppilae | He garlanded me in the grove |
| Male | |
| Katti vellam maambalam | Solid jaggery and sweet mango |
| Karaichchu vachcha thaen kudam | A pot of dissolved honey |
| Katti vellam maambalam | Solid jaggery and sweet mango |
| Karaichchu vachcha thaen kudam | A pot of dissolved honey |
| Vetti vittaa kannilae….ae… | When she cast a sharp glance from her eyes |
| Naan vizhanthu vittaen pennilae | I fell in love with her womanhood |
| Male | |
| Ammaa ponnu raajaaththi | Dear daughter, a royal princess |
| Azhagu kaattum kannaadi | A mirror reflecting pure beauty |
| Female | |
| Maanang kaakka saelaiyum | A saree to protect one's honor |
| Manasu pola purushanum | And a husband matching her heart's desire |
| Sernthu vantha ponnukku | For the woman who receives both together |
| Dheivanth thonum kannukku | God Himself appears before her eyes |
| Male | |
| Kootti vachcha kadavalae | Oh God who brought us together |
| Kodi kaalam vaazhgavae | May You be praised for millions of years |
| Vaazha vaiththa kadavulae | Oh God who granted us a beautiful life |
| Vaazhga vaazhgavea | Long live, long live! |
| Vaazha vaiththa kadavulae | Oh God who granted us a beautiful life |
| Vaazhga vaazhgavea | Long live, long live! |
| Female | |
| Mama pillai maappillai | Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom |
| Maalaiyittaan thoppilae | He garlanded me in the grove |
| Male | |
| Ammaa ponnu raajaaththi | Dear daughter, a royal princess |
| Azhagu kaattum kannaadi | A mirror reflecting pure beauty |
மாமா பிள்ளை மாப்பிள்ளை
மாலையிட்டான் தோப்பிலே
மாமா பிள்ளை மாப்பிள்ளை
மாலையிட்டான் தோப்பிலே
ஜாதி சனம் பாக்கலே....ஏ......
தடை இருந்தும் நினைக்கலே
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
He garlanded me in the grove
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
He garlanded me in the grove
He didn't care about caste or relatives
Despite obstacles, he paid them no mind
மாமா பிள்ளை மாப்பிள்ளை
மாலையிட்டான் தோப்பிலே
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
He garlanded me in the grove
அம்மாப் பொண்ணு ராஜாத்தி
அழகு காட்டும் கண்ணாடி
கட்டி வச்ச பூவும் வாடவில்லையே
தொட்டு வச்ச பொட்டும்
இன்னும் மாறவில்லையே
அம்மாப் பொண்ணு ராஜாத்தி
அழகு காட்டும் கண்ணாடி
தொட்டு வந்தா பின்னாடி....ஈ.....
தொடர்ந்து வந்தா முன்னாடி
Dear daughter, a royal princess
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
Even the flowers woven haven't withered yet
The bindi placed on the forehead hasn't faded yet
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
If he touches and walks behind
If he continues and comes in front
அம்மாப் பொண்ணு ராஜாத்தி
அழகு காட்டும் கண்ணாடி
Dear daughter, a royal princess
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
பூ முடிச்சான் தலையிலே
பொட்டு வச்சான் முகத்திலே
பூ முடிச்சான் தலையிலே
பொட்டு வச்சான் முகத்திலே
கட்டி வச்சான் கையிலே....
கலந்து விட்டான் நெஞ்சிலே
He adorned flowers in my hair
He placed a bindi on my face
He adorned flowers in my hair
He placed a bindi on my face
He held my hand tightly
He blended completely into my heart
மாமா பிள்ளை மாப்பிள்ளை
மாலையிட்டான் தோப்பிலே
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
He garlanded me in the grove
கட்டி வெல்லம் மாம்பழம்
கரைச்சு வச்ச தேன் குடம்
கட்டி வெல்லம் மாம்பழம்
கரைச்சு வச்ச தேன் குடம்
வெட்டி விட்டா கண்ணிலே.....ஏ...
நான் விழுந்து விட்டேன் பெண்ணிலே
Solid jaggery and sweet mango
A pot of dissolved honey
Solid jaggery and sweet mango
A pot of dissolved honey
When she cast a sharp glance from her eyes
I fell in love with her womanhood
அம்மாப் பொண்ணு ராஜாத்தி
அழகு காட்டும் கண்ணாடி
Dear daughter, a royal princess
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
மானங் காக்கச் சேலையும்
மனசு போல புருஷனும்
சேர்ந்து வந்த பொண்ணுக்கு
தெய்வந் தோணும் கண்ணுக்கு
A saree to protect one's honor
And a husband matching her heart's desire
For the woman who receives both together
God Himself appears before her eyes
கூட்டி வச்ச கடவுளே
கோடி காலம் வாழ்கவே
வாழ வைத்த கடவுளே
வாழ்க வாழ்கவே
வாழ வைத்த கடவுளே
வாழ்க வாழ்கவே
Oh God who brought us together
May You be praised for millions of years
Oh God who granted us a beautiful life
Long live, long live!
Oh God who granted us a beautiful life
Long live, long live!
மாமா பிள்ளை மாப்பிள்ளை
மாலையிட்டான் தோப்பிலே
அம்மாப் பொண்ணு ராஜாத்தி
அழகு காட்டும் கண்ணாடி
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
He garlanded me in the grove
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.......ஆ.......ஆஹ்
ஓஒ....ஓஒ.....ஓஹ்.....ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ஹ்ம்ம்
Dear daughter, a royal princess
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
Mama pillai maappillai
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
Maalaiyittaan thoppilae
He garlanded me in the grove
Mama pillai maappillai
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
Maalaiyittaan thoppilae
He garlanded me in the grove
Jaadhi sanam paakkalae….ae…
He didn't care about caste or relatives
Thadai irunthum ninaikalae
Despite obstacles, he paid them no mind
Mama pillai maappillai
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
Maalaiyittaan thoppilae
He garlanded me in the grove
Ammaa ponnu raajaaththi
Dear daughter, a royal princess
Azhagu kaattum kannaadi
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
Katti vachcha poovum vaadavillaiyae
Even the flowers woven haven't withered yet
Thottu vachcha pottum innum maaravillaiyae
The bindi placed on the forehead hasn't faded yet
Azhagu kaattum kannaadi
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
Thottu vanthaa pinnaadi….ee….
If he touches and walks behind
Thodarnthu vanthaa munnaadi
If he continues and comes in front
Ammaa ponnu raajaaththi
Dear daughter, a royal princess
Azhagu kaattum kannaadi
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
Poo mudichchaan thalaiyilae
He adorned flowers in my hair
Pottu vachchaan mugaththilae
He placed a bindi on my face
Poo mudichchaan thalaiyilae
He adorned flowers in my hair
Pottu vachchaan mugaththilae
He placed a bindi on my face
Katti vachchaan kaiyilae
He held my hand tightly
Kalanthu vittaan nenjilae
He blended completely into my heart
Mama pillai maappillai
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
Maalaiyittaan thoppilae
He garlanded me in the grove
Katti vellam maambalam
Solid jaggery and sweet mango
Karaichchu vachcha thaen kudam
A pot of dissolved honey
Katti vellam maambalam
Solid jaggery and sweet mango
Karaichchu vachcha thaen kudam
A pot of dissolved honey
Vetti vittaa kannilae….ae…
When she cast a sharp glance from her eyes
Naan vizhanthu vittaen pennilae
I fell in love with her womanhood
Ammaa ponnu raajaaththi
Dear daughter, a royal princess
Azhagu kaattum kannaadi
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
Maanang kaakka saelaiyum
A saree to protect one's honor
Manasu pola purushanum
And a husband matching her heart's desire
Sernthu vantha ponnukku
For the woman who receives both together
Dheivanth thonum kannukku
God Himself appears before her eyes
Kootti vachcha kadavalae
Oh God who brought us together
Kodi kaalam vaazhgavae
May You be praised for millions of years
Vaazha vaiththa kadavulae
Oh God who granted us a beautiful life
Vaazhga vaazhgavea
Long live, long live!
Vaazha vaiththa kadavulae
Oh God who granted us a beautiful life
Vaazhga vaazhgavea
Long live, long live!
Mama pillai maappillai
Maternal uncle's son, the bridegroom
Maalaiyittaan thoppilae
He garlanded me in the grove
Ammaa ponnu raajaaththi
Dear daughter, a royal princess
Azhagu kaattum kannaadi
A mirror reflecting pure beauty
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic duet from the 1963 film 'Aayiram Kalathu Payir' expresses the joyful romance and deep marital devotion between a newlywed couple. The heroine sings fondly of her groom (her maternal uncle's son in traditional cross-cousin marriage fashion), praising his courage to marry her despite societal barriers and family opposition. She delights in his tender gestures—decorating her hair with flowers and applying a bindi on her forehead. In turn, the hero praises her sweet demeanor and beauty, comparing her to jaggery, mango, and honey. The song concludes with a sacred reflection on marriage, noting that a woman who is blessed with dignity and a loving husband of her choice sees the divine in her life, offering gratitude to God for uniting them.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edukai (Second letter rhyming)
“Katti vachcha poovum vaadavillaiyae / Thottu vachcha pottum innum maaravillaiyae”
The second consonant 'tt' rhymes across consecutive lines 'Katti vachcha poovum' and 'Thottu vachcha pottum'.
Uvamaani / Metaphor
“Katti vellam maambalam / Karaichchu vachcha thaen kudam”
The heroine's sweetness is metaphorically compared to delicacies like solid jaggery (katti vellam), sweet mango (maambalam), and a pot of dissolved honey (karaichchu vachcha thaen kudam).
Monnai (Initial letter alliteration)
“Maanang kaakka saelaiyum / Manasu pola purushanum”
Initial consonant sound 'M' repeats across words 'Maanang', 'Manasu', and 'Maalaiyittaan'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The title 'Aayiram Kalathu Payir' refers to an ancient Tamil proverb describing marriage as a crop cultivated to last for a thousand seasons. Kannadasan's lyrics in this film beautifully reflect traditional Tamil rural wedding customs, including cross-cousin marriage (Mama pillai).
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