- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Rajeswari
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Maalaiyitta Mangai
- Movie release year
- 1958
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Apr 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic lullaby from the 1958 Tamil film 'Maalaiyitta Mangai', written by the legendary poet Kannadasan, expresses a mother's immense, incomparable love for her infant child. The mother reflects on how improbable nature miracles—like rain turning into sweet honey or sand turning into precious gold—might still theoretically happen, but nothing in the universe can ever replace the joy of a child calling her 'Amma'. She admires her child's pure beauty, comparing his eyes to stars and his innocent babble to a parrot's voice, while expressing hope that he will grow up to achieve great things. The song also touches on cultural nostalgia, contrasting the deep-rooted values and enduring relationships of ancient Tamil society with the changing sensibilities of modern times.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Mazhai kooda oru naalil thaenaagalaam / Manal kooda sila naalil ponnaagalaam”
The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes like 'thaenaagalaam' / 'ponnaagalaam' and 'neeyaagumaa' / 'seiyaagumaa', creating a sweet, rhythmic lullaby cadence.
Moonaal / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vinmeenum kannae un kannaagumaa / Vilaiyaadum kili undhan mozhi pesumaa”
Matching initial consonant sounds in 'Mazhai' and 'Manal', as well as 'Vinmeenum' and 'Vilaiyaadum', establishing melodic consistency across lines.
Hyperbole & Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Vinmeenum kannae un kannaagumaa”
The poet uses extreme poetic exaggeration—rain turning to honey, sand turning to gold, stars as eyes—to highlight the unique, nonpareil preciousness of a child.
Rhetorical Question
“Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa”
The lyricist repeatedly uses rhetorical questions ending in '-umaa' to emphasize that no earthly treasure can compare to a child's love.
Did you know?
Trivia
Maalaiyitta Mangai (1958) was the debut film produced by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan under his banner Kannadasan Films. The iconic music was composed by the duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and this immortal lullaby was rendered by the legendary playback singer P. Susheela.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Maalaiyitta Mangai
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.