Mullukku Roja Song
From Veguli Penn · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Veguli Penn1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mullukku roja sontham | The rose belongs to the thorn |
| Muththukku sippi sontham | The pearl belongs to the shell |
| Mullukku roja sontham | The rose belongs to the thorn |
| Muththukku sippi sontham | The pearl belongs to the shell |
| Female | |
| Pillaikku annai ennavo | What is a mother to a child? |
| En kannaa | Oh my Krishna! |
| Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo | What is motherhood to womanhood? |
| Female | |
| Mullukku roja sontham | The rose belongs to the thorn |
| Muththukku sippi sontham | The pearl belongs to the shell |
| Female | |
| Pillaikku annai ennavo | What is a mother to a child? |
| En kannaa | Oh my Krishna! |
| Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo | What is motherhood to womanhood? |
| Female | |
| Kannanin annai yasothaithaanae | Yashoda was Krishna's mother, was she not? |
| Kanneer yaenadi devagi maanae | Why tears then, oh gentle doe Devaki? |
| Kannanin annai yasothaithaanae | Yashoda was Krishna's mother, was she not? |
| Kanneer yaenadi devagi maanae | Why tears then, oh gentle doe Devaki? |
| Female | |
| Engirunthaalum manakkum mullai | Wherever it is, jasmine spreads its fragrance |
| Ennuyir kannan unakkum pillai | My precious Krishna is a child to you as well |
| Female | |
| Mullukku roja sontham | The rose belongs to the thorn |
| Muththukku sippi sontham | The pearl belongs to the shell |
| Female | |
| : Pillaikku annai ennavo | What is a mother to a child? |
| En kannaa | Oh my Krishna! |
| Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo | What is motherhood to womanhood? |
| Female | |
| Pillaiyin meethu kannpada vendaam | May no evil eye fall upon the child |
| Pettraval ullam punpada vendaam | May the biological mother's heart not be hurt |
| Female | |
| Ullangal veru ulagam veru | Hearts are different, the world is different |
| Ullangal veru ulagam veru | Hearts are different, the world is different |
| Unakkena vaazhven aandukal nooru | For your sake, I shall live a hundred years |
| Female | |
| Mullukku roja sontham | The rose belongs to the thorn |
| Muththukku sippi sontham | The pearl belongs to the shell |
| Pillaikku annai ennavo | What is a mother to a child? |
| En kannaa | Oh my Krishna! |
| Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo…. | What is motherhood to womanhood? |
| Female | |
| Vanna tamizhai padippathu pole | Like reading colorful, sweet Tamil literature |
| Vaanaththu nilavai paarppathu polae | Like gazing at the moon in the sky |
| Female | |
| : Kanmani mugaththai paaradi kannae | Look at the face of the beloved child, my dear |
| Kanmani mugaththai paaradi kannae | Look at the face of the beloved child, my dear |
| Kadhaigal irunthaal pesadi pinnae | If there are stories or grievances, talk about them later |
| Kadhaigal irunthaal pesadi pinnae | If there are stories or grievances, talk about them later |
| Female | |
| Mullukku roja sontham | The rose belongs to the thorn |
| Muththukku sippi sontham | The pearl belongs to the shell |
| Pillaikku annai ennavo | What is a mother to a child? |
| En kannaa | Oh my Krishna! |
| Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo…. | What is motherhood to womanhood? |
முள்ளுக்கு ரோஜா சொந்தம்
முத்துக்கு சிப்பி சொந்தம்
முள்ளுக்கு ரோஜா சொந்தம்
முத்துக்கு சிப்பி சொந்தம்
The rose belongs to the thorn
The pearl belongs to the shell
The rose belongs to the thorn
The pearl belongs to the shell
பிள்ளைக்கு அன்னை என்னவோ
என் கண்ணா
பெண்மைக்கு தாய்மை என்னவோ...
What is a mother to a child?
Oh my Krishna!
What is motherhood to womanhood?
முள்ளுக்கு ரோஜா சொந்தம்
முத்துக்கு சிப்பி சொந்தம்
The rose belongs to the thorn
The pearl belongs to the shell
பிள்ளைக்கு அன்னை என்னவோ
என் கண்ணா
பெண்மைக்கு தாய்மை என்னவோ...
What is a mother to a child?
Oh my Krishna!
What is motherhood to womanhood?
கண்ணனின் அன்னை யசோதைதானே
கண்ணீர் ஏனடி தேவகி மானே
கண்ணனின் அன்னை யசோதைதானே
கண்ணீர் ஏனடி தேவகி மானே
Yashoda was Krishna's mother, was she not?
Why tears then, oh gentle doe Devaki?
Yashoda was Krishna's mother, was she not?
Why tears then, oh gentle doe Devaki?
எங்கிருந்தாலும் மணக்கும் முல்லை
என்னுயிர் கண்ணன் உனக்கும் பிள்ளை
Wherever it is, jasmine spreads its fragrance
My precious Krishna is a child to you as well
முள்ளுக்கு ரோஜா சொந்தம்
முத்துக்கு சிப்பி சொந்தம்
பிள்ளைக்கு அன்னை என்னவோ என் கண்ணா
பெண்மைக்கு தாய்மை என்னவோ...
The rose belongs to the thorn
The pearl belongs to the shell
பிள்ளையின் மீது கண் படவேண்டாம்
பெற்றவள் உள்ளம் புண்பட வேண்டாம்
What is a mother to a child?
Oh my Krishna!
What is motherhood to womanhood?
உள்ளங்கள் வேறு உலகம் வேறு
உள்ளங்கள் வேறு உலகம் வேறு
உனக்கென வாழ்வேன் ஆண்டுகள் நூறு
May no evil eye fall upon the child
May the biological mother's heart not be hurt
முள்ளுக்கு ரோஜா சொந்தம்
முத்துக்கு சிப்பி சொந்தம்
பிள்ளைக்கு அன்னை என்னவோ
என் கண்ணா
பெண்மைக்கு தாய்மை என்னவோ...
Hearts are different, the world is different
Hearts are different, the world is different
For your sake, I shall live a hundred years
வண்ணத் தமிழைப் படிப்பது போலே
வானத்து நிலவை பார்ப்பது போலே
The rose belongs to the thorn
The pearl belongs to the shell
What is a mother to a child?
Oh my Krishna!
What is motherhood to womanhood?
கண்மணி முகத்தை பாரடி கண்ணே
கண்மணி முகத்தை பாரடி கண்ணே
கதைகள் இருந்தால் பேசடி பின்னே
கதைகள் இருந்தால் பேசடி பின்னே
Like reading colorful, sweet Tamil literature
Like gazing at the moon in the sky
முள்ளுக்கு ரோஜா சொந்தம்
முத்துக்கு சிப்பி சொந்தம்
பிள்ளைக்கு அன்னை என்னவோ என் கண்ணா
பெண்மைக்கு தாய்மை என்னவோ...
Look at the face of the beloved child, my dear
Look at the face of the beloved child, my dear
If there are stories or grievances, talk about them later
If there are stories or grievances, talk about them later
The rose belongs to the thorn
The pearl belongs to the shell
What is a mother to a child?
Oh my Krishna!
What is motherhood to womanhood?
Mullukku roja sontham
The rose belongs to the thorn
Muththukku sippi sontham
The pearl belongs to the shell
Mullukku roja sontham
The rose belongs to the thorn
Muththukku sippi sontham
The pearl belongs to the shell
Pillaikku annai ennavo
What is a mother to a child?
En kannaa
Oh my Krishna!
Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo
What is motherhood to womanhood?
Mullukku roja sontham
The rose belongs to the thorn
Muththukku sippi sontham
The pearl belongs to the shell
Pillaikku annai ennavo
What is a mother to a child?
En kannaa
Oh my Krishna!
Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo
What is motherhood to womanhood?
Kannanin annai yasothaithaanae
Yashoda was Krishna's mother, was she not?
Kanneer yaenadi devagi maanae
Why tears then, oh gentle doe Devaki?
Kannanin annai yasothaithaanae
Yashoda was Krishna's mother, was she not?
Kanneer yaenadi devagi maanae
Why tears then, oh gentle doe Devaki?
Engirunthaalum manakkum mullai
Wherever it is, jasmine spreads its fragrance
Ennuyir kannan unakkum pillai
My precious Krishna is a child to you as well
Mullukku roja sontham
The rose belongs to the thorn
Muththukku sippi sontham
The pearl belongs to the shell
: Pillaikku annai ennavo
What is a mother to a child?
En kannaa
Oh my Krishna!
Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo
What is motherhood to womanhood?
Pillaiyin meethu kannpada vendaam
May no evil eye fall upon the child
Pettraval ullam punpada vendaam
May the biological mother's heart not be hurt
Ullangal veru ulagam veru
Hearts are different, the world is different
Ullangal veru ulagam veru
Hearts are different, the world is different
Unakkena vaazhven aandukal nooru
For your sake, I shall live a hundred years
Mullukku roja sontham
The rose belongs to the thorn
Muththukku sippi sontham
The pearl belongs to the shell
Pillaikku annai ennavo
What is a mother to a child?
En kannaa
Oh my Krishna!
Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo….
What is motherhood to womanhood?
Vanna tamizhai padippathu pole
Like reading colorful, sweet Tamil literature
Vaanaththu nilavai paarppathu polae
Like gazing at the moon in the sky
: Kanmani mugaththai paaradi kannae
Look at the face of the beloved child, my dear
Kanmani mugaththai paaradi kannae
Look at the face of the beloved child, my dear
Kadhaigal irunthaal pesadi pinnae
If there are stories or grievances, talk about them later
Kadhaigal irunthaal pesadi pinnae
If there are stories or grievances, talk about them later
Mullukku roja sontham
The rose belongs to the thorn
Muththukku sippi sontham
The pearl belongs to the shell
Pillaikku annai ennavo
What is a mother to a child?
En kannaa
Oh my Krishna!
Penmaikku thaaimai ennavo….
What is motherhood to womanhood?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant lullaby from 'Veguli Penn' explores the deep emotions of maternal love, sacrifice, and the bond between a child, a foster mother, and a biological mother. Kannadasan draws a parallel to Hindu mythology where Krishna was born to Devaki but raised by Yashoda, emphasizing that maternal affection transcends biological bonds. Natural allegories like a rose protected by its thorn and a pearl nurtured inside a shell illustrate how motherhood protects and nurtures life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani (Simile)
“Mullukku roja sontham / Muththukku sippi sontham”
Comparing maternal protection to thorns guarding a rose and a shell sheltering a pearl.
Mythological Allusion
“Kannanin annai yasothaithaanae / Kanneer yaenadi devagi maanae”
Referencing Devaki and Yashoda to validate the bond between adoptive/foster mothering and biological birth.
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pillaiyin meethu kannpada vendaam / Pettraval ullam punpada vendaam”
Rhyming of second letters in adjacent lines ('ll' in Mullukku / Muththukku, 'll' in Pillaiyin / Pettraval).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Veguli Penn' (1971) featured music composed by V. Kumar, who was known for his melodious compositions in the late 1960s and 70s. Lyricist Kannadasan's use of Devaki-Yashoda metaphors became a quintessential benchmark in Tamil cinema for songs exploring adoption and maternal sacrifice.
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