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Thyagi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mullai Poovena

From Thyagi · 1982

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thyagi
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
11 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mullai poovena naam pettra pillai
Muththu maanikkam eedondrum illai
Mullai poovena naam pettra pillai
Muththu maanikkam eedondrum illai
Idhu yaarendru nee sollu kannaa
Gandhiyaa bhuththanaa kannanthanaa…..
Gandhiyaa bhuththanaa kannanthanaa…..
Ini thaalaattu nee paadumpothu
Ivan veeraathi veranena paadu
Ini thaalaattu nee paadumpothu
Ivan veeraathi veranena paadu
Idhu naadengum per sollum thangam
Ramana bheemana karnanthaanaa…..
Ramana bheemana karnanthaanaa…..
Ini thaalaattu nee paadumpothu
Ivan veeraathi veranena paadu
Nallorgal ellorkkum pollaamai vedham
Naalthorum solli tharuvaan
Nallorgal ellorkkum pollaamai vedham
Naalthorum solli tharuvaan
Ingu kallaarkkum kattraarkkum bhagavaanin geedhai
Kaiyaalae alli tharuvaan
Ivan rajangam kondaada poraadum
Kannanin vishvaroobam verum
Vedhaanntham siththaantham pesaatha
En pillai karma veeram
Ramana bheemana karnanthaanaa…..
Ramana bheemana karnanthaanaa…..
Melaana kolgaikku poraadi vaazhvaan
Veeraththai naadu vanangum
Ivan vilaiyaadum puli pola azhakaga nadappaan
Vaazh eendru vaan muzhangum
Konjam yosiththu sollungal
Aasaiku orr pillai muththu polae
Ivan aadattum paadatum aanaalum
Kaanattum nalla naalae
Gandhiyaa bhuththanaa kannanthanaa…..
Gandhiyaa bhuththanaa kannanthanaa…..
Mullai poovena naam petrapillai
Muththu maanikkam eedondrum illai
Male :Idhu naadengum per sollum thangam
Ramana bheemana karnanthaanaa…..
Female :Gandhiyaa bhuththanaa kannanthanaa…..
The child we have been blessed with is like a jasmine flower,
No pearl or ruby can ever match him.
The child we have been blessed with is like a jasmine flower,
No pearl or ruby can ever match him.
Tell me, my love, who does he resemble?
Is he Gandhi, is he Buddha, or is he Lord Krishna?
Is he Gandhi, is he Buddha, or is he Lord Krishna?
From now on, whenever you sing a lullaby,
Sing that he is the greatest of heroes!
From now on, whenever you sing a lullaby,
Sing that he is the greatest of heroes!
He is pure gold whose fame will echo across the land;
Is he Rama, is he Bhima, or is he Karna?
Is he Rama, is he Bhima, or is he Karna?
From now on, whenever you sing a lullaby,
Sing that he is the greatest of heroes!
To all good people, the sacred truth of non-violence
He will teach every single day.
To all good people, the sacred truth of non-violence
He will teach every single day.
To the uneducated and educated alike, the Lord's Gita
He will offer generously with his own hands.
To establish a righteous realm, he will fight,
Rising in Krishna's mighty cosmic form!
Instead of merely speaking of philosophies and doctrines,
My son is a hero of noble action!
Is he Rama, is he Bhima, or is he Karna?
Is he Rama, is he Bhima, or is he Karna?
He will live fighting for the highest ideals,
And the nation will bow to his courage.
He will walk with grace like a playful tiger,
As the skies roar when he bears his sword!
Think a little and tell me,
He is our only beloved child, precious as a pearl.
Let him dance and sing, and above all,
May he only see bright and joyful days!
Is he Gandhi, is he Buddha, or is he Lord Krishna?
Is he Gandhi, is he Buddha, or is he Lord Krishna?
The child we have been blessed with is like a jasmine flower,
No pearl or ruby can ever match him.
Male: He is pure gold whose fame will echo across the land;
Is he Rama, is he Bhima, or is he Karna?
Female: Is he Gandhi, is he Buddha, or is he Lord Krishna?
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic Tamil lullaby duet captures a couple marveling at their child's potential. The mother envisions the child growing into a messenger of peace, truth, and righteousness, comparing him to timeless legendary icons like Mahatma Gandhi, Gautama Buddha, and Lord Krishna. Meanwhile, the father imagines the child as a courageous, noble warrior who will stand up against injustice, drawing parallels to legendary epic characters such as Rama, Bhima, and Karna. Together, they pray for their child to lead a life of purposeful action ('Karma') rather than empty talk, blessing him with a bright and victorious future.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Mullai poovena naam pettra pillai”

Compares the gentleness and purity of the child to a jasmine flower ('Mullai poovena') and precious pearl ('muththu polae').

Simile (Upamai)

“Ivan vilaiyaadum puli pola azhakaga nadappaan”

Compares the majestic yet graceful gait of the child to a playful tiger ('vilaiyaadum puli pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Idhu naadengum per sollum thangam”

Refers directly to the precious child as pure gold ('thangam') that brings fame to the nation.

Alliteration (Monaai)

“Mullai poovena naam pettra pillai / Muththu maanikkam eedondrum illai”

Repetition of initial consonants like 'M' in 'Mullai' and 'Muththu' to create melodic flow.

Cultural Allusion

“Gandhiyaa bhuththanaa kannanthanaa”

Invokes prominent historical and mythological figures (Gandhi, Buddha, Krishna, Rama, Bhima, Karna) to represent ideal virtues.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thyagi' (1982) stars iconic actors Sivaji Ganesan and Sujatha. Composed by 'Mellisai Mannar' M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan, this song remains one of Tamil cinema's legendary parental lullaby duets performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela.

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