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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Madham Oru

From Neela Malargal · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Neela Malargal1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hoo ho ho ho ooo oooHoo ho ho ho ooo ooo
Hoo hoo hoo hooo ooo ooHoo hoo hoo hooo ooo oo
Haaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…Haaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
Hoo hoo ooooHoo hoo oooo
Female
Maadham oru poo malarum alli pooThe water lily blooms once a month
Varusham oru poo malarum magizham pooThe Spanish cherry flower blooms once a year
Maadham oru poo malarum alli pooThe water lily blooms once a month
Varusham oru poo malarum magizham pooThe Spanish cherry flower blooms once a year
Female
Pannirendu aandugalil oru muraiOnce every twelve years
Malai meedhu malaruvadhu enna pooWhat is the flower that blooms atop the mountain?
Hmm eenna pooHmm, what flower is that?
Pannirendu aandugalil oru muraiOnce every twelve years
Malai meedhu malaruvadhu enna pooWhat is the flower that blooms atop the mountain?
Female
Pachaik kili pesuvadhu akkakkaaThe green parrot chatter calls 'akkakkaa'
Paadum kuyil koovuvadhu kukkukkooThe singing cuckoo coos 'kukkukkoo'
Pachai kili pesuvadhu akkakkaaThe green parrot chatter calls 'akkakkaa'
Paadum kuyil koovuvadhu kukkukkooThe singing cuckoo coos 'kukkukkoo'
Ichaiyulla enadhu pillai ennidamWhat does my loving child say to me?
Inimaiyaaga cholluvadhu enna ennaWhat does my child sweetly speak to me?
Female
Ichaiyulla enadhu pillai ennidamWhat my loving child sweetly tells me
Inimaiyaaga cholluvadhu ammaa ammaaIs 'Ammaa, Ammaa' (Mother, Mother)
Female
Maadham oru poo malarum alli pooThe water lily blooms once a month
Varusham oru poo malarum magizham pooThe Spanish cherry flower blooms once a year
Female
Aayiramaam sippigalil oru muthuA single pearl born of a thousand shells
Aalamara kilaigalilae oru sittuA tiny sparrow perched on the banyan branches
Aayiramaam sippigalil oru muthuA single pearl born of a thousand shells
Aalamara kilaigalilae oru sittuA tiny sparrow perched on the banyan branches
Female
Karpagathil kanindhu varum oru kaniA sweet fruit ripened in the heavenly Karpaga tree
En kangalilae aadudhadaa ponmaniDances as a precious golden gem in my eyes
Karpagathil kanindhu varum oru kaniA sweet fruit ripened in the heavenly Karpaga tree
En kangalilae aadudhadaa ponmaniDances as a precious golden gem in my eyes
Female
Maadham oru poo malarum alli pooThe water lily blooms once a month
Varusham oru poo malarum magizham pooThe Spanish cherry flower blooms once a year
Female
Thaai arindha kozhi kunju neeyadaaYou are a little chick that recognizes its mother
Thanai arindhu vaazhugindra thaayadaaYou are like a self-aware mother living with understanding
Thaai arindha kozhi kunju neeyadaaYou are a little chick that recognizes its mother
Thanai arindhu vaazhugindra thaayadaaYou are like a self-aware mother living with understanding
Female
Naalai indha ulagam unnai vanangumaeTomorrow this world shall bow before you
Nee nadandhu sellum vazhiyil maalai vazhangumaeGarlands will be showered along the path you walk
Nee nadandhu sellum vazhiyil maalai vazhangumaeGarlands will be showered along the path you walk
Nee nadandhu sellum vazhiyil maalai vazhangumaeGarlands will be showered along the path you walk
Female
Aaraari raari raari raari raariro…Aaraari raari raari raari raariro…
Aaraari raari raari raari raaraaro…Aaraari raari raari raari raaraaro…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic lullaby from 'Neela Malargal' (1979) is an affectionate maternal song celebrating the precious nature of a child. The lyrics draw rich comparisons between rare natural occurrences—such as monthly water lilies, yearly magizham blossoms, and the famous Kurinji flower blooming once every twelve years—to highlight how uniquely special and rare the child's sweet words are.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Maadham oru poo malarum alli poo / Varusham oru poo malarum magizham poo

The second consonant 'dh' matches in 'Maadham' and 'Varusham' (phonetically matched rhythm) as well as 'Pachai' and 'Ichai'.

Monaai (Initial alliteration)

Maadham oru poo malarum alli poo

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in words like 'Maadham' and 'Malarum'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aayiramaam sippigalil oru muthu

Comparing the child to a rare pearl in a thousand shells ('Aayiramaam sippigalil oru muthu') and a divine fruit from the Karpaga tree.

Onomatopoeia

Pachaik kili pesuvadhu akkakkaa / Paadum kuyil koovuvadhu kukkukkoo

Imitation of natural bird sounds 'akkakkaa' for the parrot and 'kukkukkoo' for the cuckoo.

Did you know?

Trivia

The riddle in the song referencing a flower blooming once every 12 years on the mountain refers to the famous Kurinji flower (Strobilanthes kunthiana) native to the Western Ghats. The music for this movie was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and the film features Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya.

Keep listening

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