Moothaval Nee Koduthai
From Arangetram · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Arangetram1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai vaazhvilae munnaetram | You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives |
| Munnaerum vazhiyil indru ilaiyaval arangaettram | On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance |
| Thamizhae…. | Oh Tamil language... |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai vaazhvilae munnaetram | You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives |
| Munnaerum vazhiyil indru ilaiyaval arangaettram | On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance |
| Megathaal mazhai pozhiyum megathukku laabamenna | Rain falls because of the clouds, but what profit do the clouds gain? |
| Megathaal mazhai pozhiyum megathukku laabamenna | Rain falls because of the clouds, but what profit do the clouds gain? |
| Thiyagathaal emai valartha deivam kanda laabamenna | What profit did the divine deity who raised us with sacrifice gain? |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee…. | You, the eldest sister... |
| Female | |
| Thannaiyae theithu tharum sandhanam undhan ullam | Your heart is like sandalwood that wears itself away to give fragrance |
| Mannilae oruvar illai mangai unakkeedu solla | Oh maiden, there is no one on this earth equal to match you |
| Thannaiyae theithu tharum sandhanam undhan ullam | Your heart is like sandalwood that wears itself away to give fragrance |
| Mannilae oruvar illai mangai unakkeedu solla | Oh maiden, there is no one on this earth equal to match you |
| Ennavoo nee kidaithaai ellorkkum vaazhvu thara | You were somehow granted to us to give life to everyone |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee………….. | You, the eldest sister... |
| Female | |
| Aanaaga piranthirunthaal raajangam unadhu kaiyil | If you had been born as a man, the kingdom would be in your hands |
| Aanaaga piranthirunthaal raajangam | If you had been born as a man, the kingdom |
| unadhu kaiyil | would be in your hands |
| Pennaaga pirandhu vittaai naangal thaan un madiyil | But you were born as a woman, and we rest in your lap |
| Than maanam kaappaval nee sanmaanam yaar tharuvaar | You protect the honor of the family, but who will reward you? |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai vaazhvilae …. arangaettram | You, the eldest sister, gave progress in life... debut performance |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee…… | You, the eldest sister... |
| Female | |
| Kalyaana sugamumillai kadamaikku mudivum illai | There is no marital happiness, nor is there an end to your duty |
| Ethanai iravu kandaai enna nee uravu kandaai | How many nights have you endured, what relationships have you seen? |
| Kalyaana sugamumillai kadamaikku mudivum illai | There is no marital happiness, nor is there an end to your duty |
| Ethanai iravu kandaai enna nee uravu kandaai | How many nights have you endured, what relationships have you seen? |
| Kann moodum velaiyilum emmai thaaan kanavu kandaai | Even when closing your eyes to sleep, you dreamt only of us |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai vaazhvilae munnaetram | You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives |
| Munnaerum vazhiyil indru ilaiyaval arangaettram | On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance |
| Ilaiyaval arangaettram | The younger sister's debut performance |
மூத்தவள் நீ கொடுத்தாய் வாழ்விலே முன்னேற்றம்
முன்னேறும் வழியில் இன்று இளையவள் அரங்கேற்றம்
தமிழே.............
You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives
On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance
Oh Tamil language...
மூத்தவள் நீ கொடுத்தாய் வாழ்விலே முன்னேற்றம்
முன்னேறும் வழியில் இன்று இளையவள் அரங்கேற்றம்
மேகத்தால் மழை பொழியும் மேகத்துக்கு லாபமென்ன
மேகத்தால் மழை பொழியும் மேகத்துக்கு லாபமென்ன
தியாகத்தால் எமை வளர்த்த தெய்வம் கண்ட லாபமென்ன
You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives
On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance
Rain falls because of the clouds, but what profit do the clouds gain?
Rain falls because of the clouds, but what profit do the clouds gain?
What profit did the divine deity who raised us with sacrifice gain?
மூத்தவள் நீ
You, the eldest sister...
தன்னையே தேய்த்துத் தரும் சந்தனம் உந்தன் உள்ளம்
மண்ணிலே ஒருவரில்லை மங்கை உனக்கீடு சொல்ல
தன்னையே தேய்த்துத் தரும் சந்தனம் உந்தன் உள்ளம்
மண்ணிலே ஒருவரில்லை மங்கை உனக்கீடு சொல்ல
என்னவோ நீ கிடைத்தாய் எல்லோர்க்கும் வாழ்வு தர
Your heart is like sandalwood that wears itself away to give fragrance
Oh maiden, there is no one on this earth equal to match you
Your heart is like sandalwood that wears itself away to give fragrance
Oh maiden, there is no one on this earth equal to match you
You were somehow granted to us to give life to everyone
மூத்தவள் நீ ...
You, the eldest sister...
ஆணாக பிறந்திருந்தால் ராஜாங்கம்
உனது கையில்
ஆணாக பிறந்திருந்தால் ராஜாங்கம்
உனது கையில்
பெண்ணாக பிறந்து விட்டாய் நாங்கள்தான்
உன் மடியில்
தன்மானம் காப்பவள் நீ சன்மானம் யார் தருவார்
If you had been born as a man, the kingdom would be in your hands
If you had been born as a man, the kingdom
would be in your hands
But you were born as a woman, and we rest in your lap
You protect the honor of the family, but who will reward you?
மூத்தவள் நீ கொடுத்தாய் வாழ்விலே .... அரங்கேற்றம்
You, the eldest sister, gave progress in life... debut performance
மூத்தவள் நீ.....
You, the eldest sister...
கல்யாண சுகமுமில்லை கடமைக்கு முடிவும் இல்லை
எத்தனை இரவு கண்டாய் என்ன நீ உறவு கண்டாய்
கல்யாண சுகமுமில்லை கடமைக்கு முடிவும் இல்லை
எத்தனை இரவு கண்டாய் என்ன நீ உறவு கண்டாய்
கண்மூடும் வேளையிலும் எம்மைதான் கனவு கண்டாய்
There is no marital happiness, nor is there an end to your duty
How many nights have you endured, what relationships have you seen?
There is no marital happiness, nor is there an end to your duty
How many nights have you endured, what relationships have you seen?
Even when closing your eyes to sleep, you dreamt only of us
மூத்தவள் நீ கொடுத்தாய் வாழ்விலே முன்னேற்றம்
முன்னேறும் வழியில் இன்று இளையவள் அரங்கேற்றம்
இளையவள் அரங்கேற்றம்
You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives
On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance
The younger sister's debut performance
Moothaval nee koduthaai vaazhvilae munnaetram
You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives
Munnaerum vazhiyil indru ilaiyaval arangaettram
On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance
Thamizhae….
Oh Tamil language...
Moothaval nee koduthaai vaazhvilae munnaetram
You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives
Munnaerum vazhiyil indru ilaiyaval arangaettram
On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance
Megathaal mazhai pozhiyum megathukku laabamenna
Rain falls because of the clouds, but what profit do the clouds gain?
Megathaal mazhai pozhiyum megathukku laabamenna
Rain falls because of the clouds, but what profit do the clouds gain?
Thiyagathaal emai valartha deivam kanda laabamenna
What profit did the divine deity who raised us with sacrifice gain?
Moothaval nee….
You, the eldest sister...
Thannaiyae theithu tharum sandhanam undhan ullam
Your heart is like sandalwood that wears itself away to give fragrance
Mannilae oruvar illai mangai unakkeedu solla
Oh maiden, there is no one on this earth equal to match you
Thannaiyae theithu tharum sandhanam undhan ullam
Your heart is like sandalwood that wears itself away to give fragrance
Mannilae oruvar illai mangai unakkeedu solla
Oh maiden, there is no one on this earth equal to match you
Ennavoo nee kidaithaai ellorkkum vaazhvu thara
You were somehow granted to us to give life to everyone
Moothaval nee…………..
You, the eldest sister...
Aanaaga piranthirunthaal raajangam unadhu kaiyil
If you had been born as a man, the kingdom would be in your hands
Aanaaga piranthirunthaal raajangam
If you had been born as a man, the kingdom
unadhu kaiyil
would be in your hands
Pennaaga pirandhu vittaai naangal thaan un madiyil
But you were born as a woman, and we rest in your lap
Than maanam kaappaval nee sanmaanam yaar tharuvaar
You protect the honor of the family, but who will reward you?
Moothaval nee koduthaai vaazhvilae …. arangaettram
You, the eldest sister, gave progress in life... debut performance
Moothaval nee……
You, the eldest sister...
Kalyaana sugamumillai kadamaikku mudivum illai
There is no marital happiness, nor is there an end to your duty
Ethanai iravu kandaai enna nee uravu kandaai
How many nights have you endured, what relationships have you seen?
Kalyaana sugamumillai kadamaikku mudivum illai
There is no marital happiness, nor is there an end to your duty
Ethanai iravu kandaai enna nee uravu kandaai
How many nights have you endured, what relationships have you seen?
Kann moodum velaiyilum emmai thaaan kanavu kandaai
Even when closing your eyes to sleep, you dreamt only of us
Moothaval nee koduthaai vaazhvilae munnaetram
You, the eldest sister, gave progress in our lives
Munnaerum vazhiyil indru ilaiyaval arangaettram
On this path of progress, today is the younger sister's debut performance
Ilaiyaval arangaettram
The younger sister's debut performance
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from K. Balachander's classic film 'Arangetram' serves as a tribute to the selfless sacrifice of an eldest sister (played by Pramila) who shoulders the entire burden of supporting her impoverished family. Lyricist Kannadasan compares her noble acts to rain-bearing clouds that expect no return and sandalwood that grinds itself away to spread sweet fragrance. While her sacrifices enable her younger sister's stage debut (Arangetram) and uplift the family, she herself remains deprived of marriage, peace, and societal reward.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Thannaiyae theithu tharum sandhanam undhan ullam”
Compares the sister's self-sacrificing heart to sandalwood ('sandhanam') that wears itself down to give fragrance to others.
Analogy / Nature Metaphor
“Megathaal mazhai pozhiyum megathukku laabamenna”
Compares her selfless upbringing of the family to rain clouds that give life-sustaining rain without expecting any personal gain.
Second-letter Rhyme (Edukai)
“Thannaiyae theithu tharum sandhanam undhan ullam / Mannilae oruvar illai mangai unakkeedu solla”
The second consonant 'nn' matches across lines ('Thannaiyae' and 'Mannilae'), creating poetic symmetry.
Rhetorical Question
“Than maanam kaappaval nee sanmaanam yaar tharuvaar”
Asks who will reward her for protecting the family's honor, emphasizing the tragic lack of recognition for her immense sacrifice.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Arangetram' (1973), directed by K. Balachander, was a groundbreaking movie tackling financial destitution and forced prostitution within a traditional family structure. This song highlights the central theme: while the family celebrates the younger sister's debut in dance, it comes at the tragic expense of the eldest sister's virtue and personal life.
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