Moothaval Nee
From Arangetram · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Arangetram1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai | You, the eldest sister, gave |
| Vaazhvilae munnaetram | Progress in life |
| Munnaerum vazhiyil indru | Today, on the path of progress |
| Ilaiyaval arangaettram.. | Is the younger sister's stage debut.. |
| Thamizhae …ye… | Oh sweet Tamil... ye... |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai | You, the eldest sister, gave |
| Vaazhvilae munnaetram | Progress in life |
| Munnaerum vazhiyil indru | Today, on the path of progress |
| Ilaiyaval arangaettram.. | Is the younger sister's stage debut.. |
| Female | |
| Thannaiyae taheithu tharum | Grinding itself down to give fragrance |
| Sandahnam undhan ullam | Sandalwood is like your heart |
| Mannilae oruvar illai | There is no one on this earth |
| Mangai unakkeedu solla | To match your worth, oh woman |
| Thannaiyae taheithu tharum | Grinding itself down to give fragrance |
| Sandahnam undhan ullam | Sandalwood is like your heart |
| Mannilae oruvar illai | There is no one on this earth |
| Mangai unakkeedu solla | To match your worth, oh woman |
| Ennavoo nee kedaithaai | By some blessing you were born to us |
| Ellorkkum vazhvu thara | To provide a livelihood for everyone |
| Moothaval nee | You, the eldest sister |
| Female | |
| Aanaaga pirandhirundhaal | Had you been born as a man |
| Raajangam uandhu kaiyil | A kingdom would be in your hands |
| Pennaaga pirandhu vittaai | Since you were born as a woman |
| Naangal thaan un madiyil | We are all resting in your lap |
| Aanaaga pirandhirundhaal | Had you been born as a man |
| Raajangam uandhu kaiyil | A kingdom would be in your hands |
| Pennaaga pirandhu vittaai | Since you were born as a woman |
| Naangal thaan un madiyil | We are all resting in your lap |
| Thanmaanam kaappaval nee | You are the protector of self-respect |
| Sanmaanam yaar tharuvaar | Who can ever give you your deserving reward? |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai | You, the eldest sister, gave |
| Vaazhvilae ……arangaettram.. | In life ...... stage debut.. |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai | You, the eldest sister, gave |
| Female | |
| Moothaval nee koduthaai | You, the eldest sister, gave |
| Vaazhvilae munnaetram | Progress in life |
| Munnaerum vazhiyil indru | Today, on the path of progress |
| Ilaiyaval arangaettram.. | Is the younger sister's stage debut.. |
மூத்தவள் நீ கொடுத்தாய்
வாழ்விலே முன்னேற்றம்
முன்னேறும் வழியில் இன்று
இளையவள் அரங்கேற்றம்..
தமிழே.....ஏ
You, the eldest sister, gave
Progress in life
Today, on the path of progress
Is the younger sister's stage debut..
Oh sweet Tamil... ye...
மூத்தவள் நீ கொடுத்தாய்
வாழ்விலே முன்னேற்றம்
முன்னேறும் வழியில் இன்று
இளையவள் அரங்கேற்றம்
You, the eldest sister, gave
Progress in life
Today, on the path of progress
Is the younger sister's stage debut..
மேகத்தால் மழை பொழியும்
மேகத்துக்கு லாபமென்ன
மேகத்தால் மழை பொழியும்
மேகத்துக்கு லாபமென்ன
தியாகத்தால் எமை வளர்த்த
தெய்வம் கண்ட லாபமென்ன
மூத்தவள் நீ
Grinding itself down to give fragrance
Sandalwood is like your heart
There is no one on this earth
To match your worth, oh woman
Grinding itself down to give fragrance
Sandalwood is like your heart
There is no one on this earth
To match your worth, oh woman
By some blessing you were born to us
To provide a livelihood for everyone
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
மூத்தவள் நீ
Had you been born as a man
A kingdom would be in your hands
Since you were born as a woman
We are all resting in your lap
Had you been born as a man
A kingdom would be in your hands
Since you were born as a woman
We are all resting in your lap
You are the protector of self-respect
Who can ever give you your deserving reward?
ஆணாக பிறந்திருந்தால்
ராஜாங்கம் உனது கையில்
பெண்ணாக பிறந்து விட்டாய்
நாங்கள்தான் உன் மடியில்
ஆணாக பிறந்திருந்தால்
ராஜாங்கம் உனது கையில்
பெண்ணாக பிறந்து விட்டாய்
நாங்கள்தான் உன் மடியில்
தன்மானம் காப்பவள் நீ
சன்மானம் யார் தருவார்
You, the eldest sister, gave
In life ...... stage debut..
You, the eldest sister, gave
மூத்தவள் நீ கொடுத்தாய்
வாழ்விலே ........ அரங்கேற்றம்
மூத்தவள் நீ ...
You, the eldest sister, gave
Progress in life
Today, on the path of progress
Is the younger sister's stage debut..
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
மூத்தவள் நீ கொடுத்தாய்
வாழ்விலே முன்னேற்றம்
முன்னேறும் வழியில் இன்று
இளையவள் அரங்கேற்றம்
இளையவள் அரங்கேற்றம்
Moothaval nee koduthaai
You, the eldest sister, gave
Vaazhvilae munnaetram
Progress in life
Munnaerum vazhiyil indru
Today, on the path of progress
Ilaiyaval arangaettram..
Is the younger sister's stage debut..
Thamizhae …ye…
Oh sweet Tamil... ye...
Moothaval nee koduthaai
You, the eldest sister, gave
Vaazhvilae munnaetram
Progress in life
Munnaerum vazhiyil indru
Today, on the path of progress
Ilaiyaval arangaettram..
Is the younger sister's stage debut..
Thannaiyae taheithu tharum
Grinding itself down to give fragrance
Sandahnam undhan ullam
Sandalwood is like your heart
Mannilae oruvar illai
There is no one on this earth
Mangai unakkeedu solla
To match your worth, oh woman
Thannaiyae taheithu tharum
Grinding itself down to give fragrance
Sandahnam undhan ullam
Sandalwood is like your heart
Mannilae oruvar illai
There is no one on this earth
Mangai unakkeedu solla
To match your worth, oh woman
Ennavoo nee kedaithaai
By some blessing you were born to us
Ellorkkum vazhvu thara
To provide a livelihood for everyone
Moothaval nee
You, the eldest sister
Aanaaga pirandhirundhaal
Had you been born as a man
Raajangam uandhu kaiyil
A kingdom would be in your hands
Pennaaga pirandhu vittaai
Since you were born as a woman
Naangal thaan un madiyil
We are all resting in your lap
Aanaaga pirandhirundhaal
Had you been born as a man
Raajangam uandhu kaiyil
A kingdom would be in your hands
Pennaaga pirandhu vittaai
Since you were born as a woman
Naangal thaan un madiyil
We are all resting in your lap
Thanmaanam kaappaval nee
You are the protector of self-respect
Sanmaanam yaar tharuvaar
Who can ever give you your deserving reward?
Moothaval nee koduthaai
You, the eldest sister, gave
Vaazhvilae ……arangaettram..
In life ...... stage debut..
Moothaval nee koduthaai
You, the eldest sister, gave
Moothaval nee koduthaai
You, the eldest sister, gave
Vaazhvilae munnaetram
Progress in life
Munnaerum vazhiyil indru
Today, on the path of progress
Ilaiyaval arangaettram..
Is the younger sister's stage debut..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from K. Balachander's 'Arangetram' (1973) is a poignant musical expression of gratitude sung to the eldest sister of a family. The lyrics written by Kannadasan praise her selfless sacrifices that enabled her siblings to achieve success and allowed her younger sister to celebrate her classical dance debut (Arangetram). She is likened to sandalwood, which wears itself out completely to give warmth and fragrance to others.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Metaphor/Simile)
“Sandahnam undhan ullam”
Compares the eldest sister's sacrificing heart to sandalwood ('Sandahnam'), which wears itself down to benefit others.
Contrast / Juxtaposition
“Aanaaga pirandhirundhaal ... Pennaaga pirandhu vittaai”
Contrasts the potential authority of being born a man ('Aanaaga pirandhirundhaal') against the protective, nurturing burden of being born a woman ('Pennaaga pirandhu vittaai').
Rhetorical Question
“Sanmaanam yaar tharuvaar”
Highlights the unpayable debt the family owes her, questioning who could ever adequately reward her sacrifice.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song carries a tragic dramatic irony within the plot of 'Arangetram'. While the family unknowingly praises the eldest sister (played by Pramila) for financing her sister's dance debut, she had to secretly resort to prostitution to support them, making the line 'Thanmaanam kaappaval nee' (You protect self-respect) deeply heartbreaking.
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