Munnariyum Deivamada
From Nalla Theerppu · 1959
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Nalla Theerppu1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Munnariyum deivamadaa | They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man! |
| Annai pithaa avar mozhinthathellaam | Mother and father; everything they utter |
| Namakku vedhamadaa | Is scripture to us, O man! |
| Male | |
| Munnariyum deivamadaa | They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man! |
| Annai pithaa | Mother and father! |
| Munnariyum deivamadaa | They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man! |
| Annai pithaa avar mozhinthathellaam | Mother and father; everything they utter |
| Namakku vedhamadaa vedhamadaa | Is scripture to us, O man! Scripture to us! |
| Male | |
| Manithaa munnariyum deivamadaa | O human, they are the gods known to us from the beginning! |
| Annai pithaa | Mother and father! |
| Male | |
| Than porulum than sugamum | Their wealth and their happiness |
| Thanathu pillai | Is their child! |
| Than porulum than sugamum | Their wealth and their happiness |
| Thanathu pillai endrea | Is their child, they believe! |
| Anbu konda avarkeedu yaedhumillai | Nothing compares to them who love so deeply! |
| Male | |
| Munnariyum deivamadaa | They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man! |
| Annai pithaa | Mother and father! |
| Male | |
| Sellariththa aalamaram | Even if a termite-eaten banyan tree |
| Adippuram kaainthaalum | Dries up at its base, |
| Sellariththa aalamaram | Even if a termite-eaten banyan tree |
| Adippuram kaainthaalum | Dries up at its base, |
| Jeevanattru pogaamalae | Without losing its life completely, |
| Adhan pillaiyena ver vizhuthu | Its aerial roots fall down like its children, |
| Pinbu vanthu kilai thaangi | Coming later to support the branches |
| Penugindra seyal polae | And protect the tree—just like that action, |
| Male | |
| Nallakudi vazhi vantha | That is the nature of children |
| Makkal gunam adhuvendre | Who come from good, noble families! |
| Solluthadaa thellutamil noolae | So declare the clear, classical Tamil texts! |
| Solluthadaa thellutamil noolae | So declare the clear, classical Tamil texts! |
| Male | |
| Adhai ullamathu unaraatha | For children who fail to realize this in their hearts, |
| Pillaikalukke keeri | Even the young offspring of a mongoose |
| Pillai anil pillaigalum melae | Or a squirrel are far superior! |
| Male | |
| Munnariyum deivamadaa | They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man! |
| Annai pithaa | Mother and father! |
| Annai pithaa avar mozhinthathellaam | Mother and father; everything they utter |
| Namakku vedhamadaa vedhamadaa | Is scripture to us, O man! Scripture to us! |
| Male | |
| Manitha…. | O human... |
முன்னறியும் தெய்வமடா
அன்னை பிதா அவர் மொழிந்ததெல்லாம்
நமக்கு வேதமடா
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Mother and father; everything they utter
Is scripture to us, O man!
முன்னறியும் தெய்வமடா
அன்னை பிதா
முன்னறியும் தெய்வமடா
அன்னை பிதா அவர் மொழிந்ததெல்லாம்
நமக்கு வேதமடா வேதமடா
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Mother and father!
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Mother and father; everything they utter
Is scripture to us, O man! Scripture to us!
மனிதா முன்னறியும் தெய்வமடா
அன்னை பிதா
O human, they are the gods known to us from the beginning!
Mother and father!
தன் பொருளும் தன் சுகமும்
தனது பிள்ளை
தன் பொருளும் தன் சுகமும்
தனது பிள்ளை என்றே
அன்பு கொண்ட அவர்கீடு ஏதுமில்லை
Their wealth and their happiness
Is their child!
Their wealth and their happiness
Is their child, they believe!
Nothing compares to them who love so deeply!
முன்னறியும் தெய்வமடா
அன்னை பிதா
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Mother and father!
செல்லரித்த ஆலமரம்
அடிப்புறம் காய்ந்தாலும்
செல்லரித்த ஆலமரம்
அடிப்புறம் காய்ந்தாலும்
ஜீவனற்று போகாமலே
அதன் பிள்ளையென வேர் விழுது
பின்பு வந்து கிளை தாங்கி
பேணுகின்ற செயல் போலே
Even if a termite-eaten banyan tree
Dries up at its base,
Even if a termite-eaten banyan tree
Dries up at its base,
Without losing its life completely,
Its aerial roots fall down like its children,
Coming later to support the branches
And protect the tree—just like that action,
நல்லகுடி வழி வந்த
மக்கள் குணம் அதுவென்றே
சொல்லுதடா தெள்ளுத்தமிழ் நூலே
சொல்லுதடா தெள்ளுத்தமிழ் நூலே
That is the nature of children
Who come from good, noble families!
So declare the clear, classical Tamil texts!
So declare the clear, classical Tamil texts!
அதை உள்ளமது உணராத
பிள்ளைகளுக்கே கீறி
பிள்ளை அணில் பிள்ளைகளும் மேலே
For children who fail to realize this in their hearts,
Even the young offspring of a mongoose
Or a squirrel are far superior!
முன்னறியும் தெய்வமடா
அன்னை பிதா
அவர் மொழிந்ததெல்லாம்
நமக்கு வேதமடா வேதமடா
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Mother and father!
Mother and father; everything they utter
Is scripture to us, O man! Scripture to us!
மனிதா..................
O human...
Munnariyum deivamadaa
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Annai pithaa avar mozhinthathellaam
Mother and father; everything they utter
Namakku vedhamadaa
Is scripture to us, O man!
Munnariyum deivamadaa
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Annai pithaa
Mother and father!
Munnariyum deivamadaa
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Annai pithaa avar mozhinthathellaam
Mother and father; everything they utter
Namakku vedhamadaa vedhamadaa
Is scripture to us, O man! Scripture to us!
Manithaa munnariyum deivamadaa
O human, they are the gods known to us from the beginning!
Annai pithaa
Mother and father!
Than porulum than sugamum
Their wealth and their happiness
Thanathu pillai
Is their child!
Than porulum than sugamum
Their wealth and their happiness
Thanathu pillai endrea
Is their child, they believe!
Anbu konda avarkeedu yaedhumillai
Nothing compares to them who love so deeply!
Munnariyum deivamadaa
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Annai pithaa
Mother and father!
Sellariththa aalamaram
Even if a termite-eaten banyan tree
Adippuram kaainthaalum
Dries up at its base,
Sellariththa aalamaram
Even if a termite-eaten banyan tree
Adippuram kaainthaalum
Dries up at its base,
Jeevanattru pogaamalae
Without losing its life completely,
Adhan pillaiyena ver vizhuthu
Its aerial roots fall down like its children,
Pinbu vanthu kilai thaangi
Coming later to support the branches
Penugindra seyal polae
And protect the tree—just like that action,
Nallakudi vazhi vantha
That is the nature of children
Makkal gunam adhuvendre
Who come from good, noble families!
Solluthadaa thellutamil noolae
So declare the clear, classical Tamil texts!
Solluthadaa thellutamil noolae
So declare the clear, classical Tamil texts!
Adhai ullamathu unaraatha
For children who fail to realize this in their hearts,
Pillaikalukke keeri
Even the young offspring of a mongoose
Pillai anil pillaigalum melae
Or a squirrel are far superior!
Munnariyum deivamadaa
They are the gods known to us from the beginning, O man!
Annai pithaa
Mother and father!
Annai pithaa avar mozhinthathellaam
Mother and father; everything they utter
Namakku vedhamadaa vedhamadaa
Is scripture to us, O man! Scripture to us!
Manitha….
O human...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song emphasizes the philosophical and moral principle that one's mother and father are the first recognizable gods in a person's life, and their words should be treated with the sanctity of holy scriptures. It highlights the selfless devotion of parents who consider their children to be their true wealth and happiness. Using a powerful metaphor from nature, the song compares good children to the prop roots (vizhuthu) of an old banyan tree. Even when the main trunk decays, these roots descend to give new life and support to the tree's branches. Children from good families similarly support their aging parents. Conversely, children who fail to cherish and support their parents are criticized as being inferior even to tiny animals like squirrels or mongooses that care for their own.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை)
“Adhan pillaiyena ver vizhuthu pinbu vanthu kilai thaangi”
Compares good children who support their aging parents to the aerial roots (vizhuthu) of a banyan tree supporting its old branches.
Moonaai / Rhyme (எதுகை)
“Sellariththa aalamaram / Adippuram kaainthaalum”
Second-letter rhyming (Edhugai) present across adjacent lines like 'Sellariththa' and 'Adippuram'.
Ethirpaadumaanam / Contrast
“Adhai ullamathu unaraatha pillaikalukke keeri pillai anil pillaigalum melae”
Contrasts virtuous children from good families with ungrateful children who are deemed inferior to young squirrels and mongooses.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the famed rationalist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi, this song highlights classical Tamil ethical principles inspired by texts like Tirukkural and Athichudi. Sung with characteristic grandeur by T. M. Soundararajan, it remains one of the iconic filial devotion songs in early Tamil cinema history.
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