Munnooru Naal
From Kasthuri Manjal · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Kasthuri Manjal1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Munnooru naal sumandhu | Carrying me for three hundred days |
| Mul melae thavam irundhu | Performing penance as if standing on thorns |
| Pethuthaan | Giving birth to me |
| Per vecha aathaa | The mother who named me |
| Male | |
| Unnaama thaan irundhu | Going without food |
| Urangaama vizhichirundhu | Staying awake without sleep |
| Enna dhaan | Me indeed |
| Kaalam ellaam kaatha | Protecting me all this time |
| Male | |
| Petha thaai pola | Like the mother who gave birth |
| Oru deivam alla | There is no other deity |
| Naanum kumbidathaan | For me to worship as well |
| Veru koyil illa | There is no other temple |
| Ava thaalattu thandha varam | The boon given by her lullaby |
| En paattu thaan | Is my song itself |
| Male | |
| Munnooru naal sumandhu | Carrying me for three hundred days |
| Mul melae thavam irundhu | Performing penance as if standing on thorns |
| Pethuthaan | Giving birth to me |
| Per vecha aathaa | The mother who named me |
| Male | |
| Pattaala velaikkuthaan | To do military service |
| Poyi serndha purushanum thaan | Her husband who went and joined |
| Vedu avndha seravilla | Did not return home |
| Saedhi enna theriyavilla | Not knowing what news came of him |
| Male | |
| Aanaalum than purushan | Yet, believing her husband |
| Vandhu sera koodumunnu | Might return and join her |
| Vecha poova edukavilla | She did not remove the flowers she wore |
| Nethi pottu | The bindi on her forehead |
| Kalaikkavilla | She did not erase |
| Male | |
| Thaniya irundhaa | Staying alone |
| Thavicha en aathaa | My mother who suffered in anguish |
| Enathaan valarthu | Raised me up |
| Kudumbatha kaatha | And protected the family |
| Male | |
| Avapatta thunbam | The sorrows she endured |
| Onnaa rendaa | Are they just one or two |
| Paattula solla | To tell in a song? |
| Ava vitta kanneer ennaal | The tears she shed, because of me |
| Ippa kaayudhu mella | Are now drying slowly |
| Male | |
| Munnooru naal sumandhu | Carrying me for three hundred days |
| Mul melae thavam irundhu | Performing penance as if standing on thorns |
| Pethuthaan | Giving birth to me |
| Per vecha aathaa | The mother who named me |
| Male | |
| Munnooru naal sumandhu | Carrying me for three hundred days |
| Mul melae thavam irundhu | Performing penance as if standing on thorns |
| Pethuthaan | Giving birth to me |
| Per vecha aathaa | The mother who named me |
| Male | |
| Unnaama thaan irundhu | Going without food |
| Urangaama vizhichirundhu | Staying awake without sleep |
| Enna dhaan | Me indeed |
| Kaalam ellaam kaatha | Protecting me all this time |
| Male | |
| Petha thaai pola | Like the mother who gave birth |
| Oru deivam alla | There is no other deity |
| Naanum kumbidathaan | For me to worship as well |
| Veru koyil illa | There is no other temple |
| Ava thaalattu thandha varam | The boon given by her lullaby |
| En paattu thaan | Is my song itself |
| Male | |
| Edhaachum siru thurumbhu | If even a tiny speck of dust |
| En mel vilundhuchunna | Fell upon me |
| Than vazhiyil mullu onnu | As if a thorn pricked her own path |
| Thachadhu pol thudithiduvaa | She would writhe in pain |
| Male | |
| Yaaraachum kannu vechi | Fearing someone's evil eye |
| En maeni ilaikkumunnu | Might make my body wither away |
| Enga ooru ammanukku | To our village goddess |
| Ponga vechu padaichiduvaa | She would cook and offer sweet pongal |
| Male | |
| Usura udalaa irukkum en aathaa | My mother who is life and body to me |
| Irvaa pagalaa ozhaichadha paath | Seeing her labor day and night |
| Ada indha jenmam paathathaiyaa | Ah, is this lifetime enough |
| Nandriya solla | To express my gratitude? |
| Adha sollavittaa | If I fail to express that |
| Naanum ingae manushanum alla | I am not even a human being here |
| Male | |
| Munnooru naal sumandhu | Carrying me for three hundred days |
| Mul melae thavam irundhu | Performing penance as if standing on thorns |
| Pethuthaan | Giving birth to me |
| Per vecha aathaa | The mother who named me |
| Male | |
| Unnaama thaan irundhu | Going without food |
| Urangaama vizhichirundhu | Staying awake without sleep |
| Enna dhaan | Me indeed |
| Kaalam ellaam kaatha | Protecting me all this time |
முன்னூறு நாள் சுமந்து
முள் மேலே தவம் இருந்து
பெத்துத்தான்
பேர் வெச்ச ஆத்தா
Carrying me for three hundred days
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Giving birth to me
The mother who named me
உண்ணாம தானிருந்து
உறங்காம விழிச்சிருந்து
என்னத்தான்
காலமெல்லாம் காத்தா
Going without food
Staying awake without sleep
Me indeed
Protecting me all this time
பெத்த தாயப் போல
ஒரு தெய்வம் இல்ல
நானும் கும்பிடத்தான்
வேறு கோயில் இல்ல
அவ தாலாட்டு தந்த வரம்
என் பாட்டுதான்
Like the mother who gave birth
There is no other deity
For me to worship as well
There is no other temple
The boon given by her lullaby
Is my song itself
முன்னூறு நாள் சுமந்து
முள் மேலே தவம் இருந்து
பெத்துத்தான்
பேர் வெச்ச ஆத்தா
Carrying me for three hundred days
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Giving birth to me
The mother who named me
பட்டாள வேலைக்குத்தான்
போய் சேர்ந்த புருஷனும் தான்
வீடு வந்து சேரவில்ல
சேதி என்ன தெரியவில்ல
To do military service
Her husband who went and joined
Did not return home
Not knowing what news came of him
ஆனாலும் தன் புருஷன்
வந்து சேர கூடுமுன்னு
வச்ச பூவ எடுக்கவில்ல
நெத்திப் பொட்டு
கலைக்கவில்ல
Yet, believing her husband
Might return and join her
She did not remove the flowers she wore
The bindi on her forehead
She did not erase
தனியா இருந்தா
தவிச்ச என் ஆத்தா
எனத்தான் வளர்த்து
குடும்பத்த காத்தா
Staying alone
My mother who suffered in anguish
Raised me up
And protected the family
அவ பட்ட துன்பம்
ஒண்ணா ரெண்டா
பாட்டுல சொல்ல
அவ விட்ட கண்ணீர் என்னால்
இப்ப காயுது மெல்ல
The sorrows she endured
Are they just one or two
To tell in a song?
The tears she shed, because of me
Are now drying slowly
முன்னூறு நாள் சுமந்து
முள் மேலே தவம் இருந்து
பெத்துத்தான்
பேர் வெச்ச ஆத்தா
Carrying me for three hundred days
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Giving birth to me
The mother who named me
முன்னூறு நாள் சுமந்து
முள் மேலே தவம் இருந்து
பெத்துத்தான்
பேர் வெச்ச ஆத்தா
Carrying me for three hundred days
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Giving birth to me
The mother who named me
உண்ணாம தானிருந்து
உறங்காம விழிச்சிருந்து
என்னத்தான்
காலமெல்லாம் காத்தா
Going without food
Staying awake without sleep
Me indeed
Protecting me all this time
பெத்த தாயப் போல
ஒரு தெய்வம் இல்ல
நானும் கும்பிடத்தான்
வேறு கோயில் இல்ல
அவ தாலாட்டு தந்த வரம்
என் பாட்டுதான்
Like the mother who gave birth
There is no other deity
For me to worship as well
There is no other temple
The boon given by her lullaby
Is my song itself
ஏதாச்சும் சிறு துரும்பு
எம் மேல விழுந்துச்சுன்னா
தன் விழியில் முள்ளு ஒண்ணு
தச்சது போல் துடித்திடுவா
If even a tiny speck of dust
Fell upon me
As if a thorn pricked her own path
She would writhe in pain
யாராச்சும் கண்ணு வச்சி
எம் மேனி இளைக்குமுன்னு
எங்க ஊரு அம்மனுக்கு
பொங்க வச்சு படைச்சிடுவா
Fearing someone's evil eye
Might make my body wither away
To our village goddess
She would cook and offer sweet pongal
உசுரா உடலா இருக்கும் என் ஆத்தா
இரவா பகலா ஒழைச்சத பாத்தா
அட இந்த ஜென்மம் பத்தாதய்யா
நன்றிய சொல்ல
அத சொல்லாவிட்டா
நானும் இங்கே மனுஷனுமல்ல
My mother who is life and body to me
Seeing her labor day and night
Ah, is this lifetime enough
To express my gratitude?
If I fail to express that
I am not even a human being here
முன்னூறு நாள் சுமந்து
முள் மேலே தவம் இருந்து
பெத்துத்தான்
பேர் வெச்ச ஆத்தா
Carrying me for three hundred days
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Giving birth to me
The mother who named me
உண்ணாம தானிருந்து
உறங்காம விழிச்சிருந்து
என்னத்தான்
காலமெல்லாம் காத்தா.....
Going without food
Staying awake without sleep
Me indeed
Protecting me all this time
Munnooru naal sumandhu
Carrying me for three hundred days
Mul melae thavam irundhu
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Pethuthaan
Giving birth to me
Per vecha aathaa
The mother who named me
Unnaama thaan irundhu
Going without food
Urangaama vizhichirundhu
Staying awake without sleep
Enna dhaan
Me indeed
Kaalam ellaam kaatha
Protecting me all this time
Petha thaai pola
Like the mother who gave birth
Oru deivam alla
There is no other deity
Naanum kumbidathaan
For me to worship as well
Veru koyil illa
There is no other temple
Ava thaalattu thandha varam
The boon given by her lullaby
En paattu thaan
Is my song itself
Munnooru naal sumandhu
Carrying me for three hundred days
Mul melae thavam irundhu
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Pethuthaan
Giving birth to me
Per vecha aathaa
The mother who named me
Pattaala velaikkuthaan
To do military service
Poyi serndha purushanum thaan
Her husband who went and joined
Vedu avndha seravilla
Did not return home
Saedhi enna theriyavilla
Not knowing what news came of him
Aanaalum than purushan
Yet, believing her husband
Vandhu sera koodumunnu
Might return and join her
Vecha poova edukavilla
She did not remove the flowers she wore
Nethi pottu
The bindi on her forehead
Kalaikkavilla
She did not erase
Thaniya irundhaa
Staying alone
Thavicha en aathaa
My mother who suffered in anguish
Enathaan valarthu
Raised me up
Kudumbatha kaatha
And protected the family
Avapatta thunbam
The sorrows she endured
Onnaa rendaa
Are they just one or two
Paattula solla
To tell in a song?
Ava vitta kanneer ennaal
The tears she shed, because of me
Ippa kaayudhu mella
Are now drying slowly
Munnooru naal sumandhu
Carrying me for three hundred days
Mul melae thavam irundhu
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Pethuthaan
Giving birth to me
Per vecha aathaa
The mother who named me
Munnooru naal sumandhu
Carrying me for three hundred days
Mul melae thavam irundhu
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Pethuthaan
Giving birth to me
Per vecha aathaa
The mother who named me
Unnaama thaan irundhu
Going without food
Urangaama vizhichirundhu
Staying awake without sleep
Enna dhaan
Me indeed
Kaalam ellaam kaatha
Protecting me all this time
Petha thaai pola
Like the mother who gave birth
Oru deivam alla
There is no other deity
Naanum kumbidathaan
For me to worship as well
Veru koyil illa
There is no other temple
Ava thaalattu thandha varam
The boon given by her lullaby
En paattu thaan
Is my song itself
Edhaachum siru thurumbhu
If even a tiny speck of dust
En mel vilundhuchunna
Fell upon me
Than vazhiyil mullu onnu
As if a thorn pricked her own path
Thachadhu pol thudithiduvaa
She would writhe in pain
Yaaraachum kannu vechi
Fearing someone's evil eye
En maeni ilaikkumunnu
Might make my body wither away
Enga ooru ammanukku
To our village goddess
Ponga vechu padaichiduvaa
She would cook and offer sweet pongal
Usura udalaa irukkum en aathaa
My mother who is life and body to me
Irvaa pagalaa ozhaichadha paath
Seeing her labor day and night
Ada indha jenmam paathathaiyaa
Ah, is this lifetime enough
Nandriya solla
To express my gratitude?
Adha sollavittaa
If I fail to express that
Naanum ingae manushanum alla
I am not even a human being here
Munnooru naal sumandhu
Carrying me for three hundred days
Mul melae thavam irundhu
Performing penance as if standing on thorns
Pethuthaan
Giving birth to me
Per vecha aathaa
The mother who named me
Unnaama thaan irundhu
Going without food
Urangaama vizhichirundhu
Staying awake without sleep
Enna dhaan
Me indeed
Kaalam ellaam kaatha
Protecting me all this time
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional song is a heartfelt tribute from a son to his mother, acknowledging her monumental sacrifices, unconditional love, and endurance throughout his life. He describes how she bore him for ten months with utmost care and pain, sacrificed her food and sleep to raise him, and stood as the sole pillar of the family after his father left for military service and never returned. Despite her grief and uncertainties, she maintained her hope and dignity, protecting her child from every hardship.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)
“Mul melae thavam irundhu”
Comparing pregnancy and motherly sacrifice to performing penance on thorns ('Mul melae thavam irundhu').
Metaphor
“Petha thaai pola Oru deivam alla”
Comparing the mother to a temple/deity, stating there is no greater god or shrine than her.
Ethukai (Second letter rhyming)
“Munnooru naal sumandhu / Mul melae thavam irundhu”
Rhyming of second letters in consecutive lines: 'Munnooru' / 'Mul melae' and 'Unnaama' / 'Urangaama'.
Hyperbole / Emphatic Imagery
“Than vazhiyil mullu onnu Thachadhu pol thudithiduvaa”
Exaggerating the mother's extreme empathy where a tiny speck falling on her child feels like a thorn pricking her own feet.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Deva with soulful lyrics by Vaali and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, this song from Kasthuri Manjal (1992) remains one of the iconic mother-sentiment tracks in Tamil cinema, known for its poignant depiction of a mother's endurance after her soldier husband goes missing.
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