Mazhai Kooda Oru Naalil
From Maalaiyitta Mangai · 1958
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Rajeswari
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Maalaiyitta Mangai1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mazhai kooda oru naalil thaenaagalaam | Even rain might become honey one day, |
| Manal kooda sila naalil ponnaagalaam | Even sand might turn into gold on some days, |
| Mazhai kooda oru naalil thaenaagalaam | Even rain might become honey one day, |
| Manal kooda sila naalil ponnaagalaam | Even sand might turn into gold on some days, |
| Female | |
| Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa | Even so, can any of those become equal to you? |
| Ammaa endrazhaikkindra seiyaagumaa | Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'? |
| Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa | Even so, can any of those become equal to you? |
| Ammaa endrazhaikkindra seiyaagumaa | Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'? |
| Female | |
| Aaraaroo aararoo aareeraroo | Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby... |
| Aaraaroo aararoo aareeraroo | Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby... |
| Female | |
| Vinmeenum kannae un kannaagumaa | My dear, can even stars in the sky equal your eyes? |
| Vilaiyaadum kili undhan mozhi pesumaa | Can a playful parrot speak in your sweet language? |
| Vinmeenum kannae un kannaagumaa | My dear, can even stars in the sky equal your eyes? |
| Vilaiyaadum kili undhan mozhi pesumaa | Can a playful parrot speak in your sweet language? |
| Female | |
| Kannaadi unai pola kadhai koorumaa | Can a mirror tell stories the way you do? |
| Kannaadi unai pola kadhai koorumaa | Can a mirror tell stories the way you do? |
| Iru kai veesi ulagaalum maganaagumaa | Will you grow into a son who sways his arms and rules the world? |
| Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa | Even so, can any of those become equal to you? |
| Ammaa endrazhaikkindra seiyaagumaa | Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'? |
| Female | |
| Manamaalai thanai soodi uravaaduvaar | People wear wedding garlands and share affectionate bonds, |
| Manam maaraamal pala kaalam vilaiyaaduvaar | They play and enjoy life for a long time without changing their hearts, |
| Manamaalai thanai soodi uravaaduvaar | People wear wedding garlands and share affectionate bonds, |
| Manam maaraamal pala kaalam vilaiyaaduvaar | They play and enjoy life for a long time without changing their hearts, |
| Female | |
| Oru kaala thamizhnaadu idhu thaanadaa | This was the glory of Tamil Nadu in a bygone era, my dear, |
| Oru kaala thamizhnaadu idhu thaanadaa | This was the glory of Tamil Nadu in a bygone era, my dear, |
| Idhai un kaala thamizhnaadu ariyaadhadaa | The Tamil Nadu of your modern era will not understand this, |
| Female | |
| Mazhai kooda oru naalil thaenaagalaam | Even rain might become honey one day, |
| Manal kooda sila naalil ponnaagalaam | Even sand might turn into gold on some days, |
| Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa | Even so, can any of those become equal to you? |
| Ammaa endrazhaikkindra seiyaagumaa | Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'? |
| Female | |
| Aaraaroo aararoo aareeraroo | Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby... |
| Aaraaroo aararoo aareeraroo | Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby... |
மழை கூட ஒரு நாளில் தேனாகலாம்
மணல் கூட சில நாளில் பொன்னாகலாம்
மழை கூட ஒரு நாளில் தேனாகலாம்
மணல் கூட சில நாளில் பொன்னாகலாம்
Even rain might become honey one day,
Even sand might turn into gold on some days,
Even rain might become honey one day,
Even sand might turn into gold on some days,
ஆனாலும் அவையாவும் நீயாகுமோ
அம்மா என்றழைக்கின்ற சேயாகுமோ
ஆனாலும் அவையாவும் நீயாகுமோ
அம்மா என்றழைக்கின்ற சேயாகுமோ
Even so, can any of those become equal to you?
Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'?
Even so, can any of those become equal to you?
Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'?
ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆரிராரோ..........
ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆரிராரோ..........
Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby...
Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby...
விண்மீனும் கண்ணே உன் கண்ணாகுமோ
விளையாடும் கிளி உந்தன் மொழி பேசுமா
விண்மீனும் கண்ணே உன் கண்ணாகுமோ
விளையாடும் கிளி உந்தன் மொழி பேசுமா
My dear, can even stars in the sky equal your eyes?
Can a playful parrot speak in your sweet language?
My dear, can even stars in the sky equal your eyes?
Can a playful parrot speak in your sweet language?
கண்ணாடி உனைப் போலக் கதை கூறுமோ
கண்ணாடி உனைப் போலக் கதை கூறுமோ
இரு கைவீசி உலகாளும் மகனாகுமா
ஆனாலும் அவையாவும் நீயாகுமோ
அம்மா என்றழைக்கின்ற சேயாகுமோ
Can a mirror tell stories the way you do?
Can a mirror tell stories the way you do?
Will you grow into a son who sways his arms and rules the world?
Even so, can any of those become equal to you?
Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'?
மணமாலை தனைச்சூடி உறவாடுவார்
மனம் மாறாமல் பல காலம் விளையாடுவார்
மணமாலை தனைச்சூடி உறவாடுவார்
மனம் மாறாமல் பல காலம் விளையாடுவார்
People wear wedding garlands and share affectionate bonds,
They play and enjoy life for a long time without changing their hearts,
People wear wedding garlands and share affectionate bonds,
They play and enjoy life for a long time without changing their hearts,
ஒரு காலத் தமிழ்நாடு இதுதானடா
ஒரு காலத் தமிழ்நாடு இதுதானடா
இதை உன் காலத் தமிழ் நாடு அறியாதடா
This was the glory of Tamil Nadu in a bygone era, my dear,
This was the glory of Tamil Nadu in a bygone era, my dear,
The Tamil Nadu of your modern era will not understand this,
மழை கூட ஒரு நாளில் தேனாகலாம்
மணல் கூட சில நாளில் பொன்னாகலாம்
ஆனாலும் அவையாவும் நீயாகுமோ
அம்மா என்றழைக்கின்ற சேயாகுமோ
Even rain might become honey one day,
Even sand might turn into gold on some days,
Even so, can any of those become equal to you?
Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'?
ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆரிராரோ..........
ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆரிராரோ..........
Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby...
Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby...
Mazhai kooda oru naalil thaenaagalaam
Even rain might become honey one day,
Manal kooda sila naalil ponnaagalaam
Even sand might turn into gold on some days,
Mazhai kooda oru naalil thaenaagalaam
Even rain might become honey one day,
Manal kooda sila naalil ponnaagalaam
Even sand might turn into gold on some days,
Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa
Even so, can any of those become equal to you?
Ammaa endrazhaikkindra seiyaagumaa
Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'?
Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa
Even so, can any of those become equal to you?
Ammaa endrazhaikkindra seiyaagumaa
Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'?
Aaraaroo aararoo aareeraroo
Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby...
Aaraaroo aararoo aareeraroo
Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby...
Vinmeenum kannae un kannaagumaa
My dear, can even stars in the sky equal your eyes?
Vilaiyaadum kili undhan mozhi pesumaa
Can a playful parrot speak in your sweet language?
Vinmeenum kannae un kannaagumaa
My dear, can even stars in the sky equal your eyes?
Vilaiyaadum kili undhan mozhi pesumaa
Can a playful parrot speak in your sweet language?
Kannaadi unai pola kadhai koorumaa
Can a mirror tell stories the way you do?
Kannaadi unai pola kadhai koorumaa
Can a mirror tell stories the way you do?
Iru kai veesi ulagaalum maganaagumaa
Will you grow into a son who sways his arms and rules the world?
Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa
Even so, can any of those become equal to you?
Ammaa endrazhaikkindra seiyaagumaa
Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'?
Manamaalai thanai soodi uravaaduvaar
People wear wedding garlands and share affectionate bonds,
Manam maaraamal pala kaalam vilaiyaaduvaar
They play and enjoy life for a long time without changing their hearts,
Manamaalai thanai soodi uravaaduvaar
People wear wedding garlands and share affectionate bonds,
Manam maaraamal pala kaalam vilaiyaaduvaar
They play and enjoy life for a long time without changing their hearts,
Oru kaala thamizhnaadu idhu thaanadaa
This was the glory of Tamil Nadu in a bygone era, my dear,
Oru kaala thamizhnaadu idhu thaanadaa
This was the glory of Tamil Nadu in a bygone era, my dear,
Idhai un kaala thamizhnaadu ariyaadhadaa
The Tamil Nadu of your modern era will not understand this,
Mazhai kooda oru naalil thaenaagalaam
Even rain might become honey one day,
Manal kooda sila naalil ponnaagalaam
Even sand might turn into gold on some days,
Aanaalum avai yaavum neeyaagumaa
Even so, can any of those become equal to you?
Ammaa endrazhaikkindra seiyaagumaa
Can they become the child who calls out 'Mother'?
Aaraaroo aararoo aareeraroo
Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby...
Aaraaroo aararoo aareeraroo
Lullaby, hushaby, lullaby...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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