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Nenjil Or Aalayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Muthana Muthallavo

From Nenjil Or Aalayam · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Nenjil Or Aalayam
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
29 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Muthaana
Muthallavo mudhirndhu
Vandha muthallavo
Kattana malarallavo
Kadavul thandha porulallavo } (2)
Muthaana
Muthallavo
………………………
Chinnanjiru
Siragukonda singaara
Chittallavo
{ Semmadhulai
Pilandhu sirithu varum
Siripallavo } (2)
{ Maavadu
Kannalavo mainavin
Mozhiyallavo } (2)
Poovin
Manamallavo pon
Pondra mugamallavo
Muthaana
Muthallavo mudhirndhu
Vandha muthallavo
Kattana malarallavo
Kadavul thandha porulallavo
Muthaana
Muthallavo
………………
Vaazhadha
Manidharaiyum
Vaazhavaikum seiallavo
{ Pesadha
Deivathaiyum pesa
Vaikum thaayallavo } (2)
Thaazham
Kudai allavo
Thallaadum nadaiyallavo
Maalai
Pozhudhallavo
Vandadum chendallavo
Muthaana
Muthallavo mudhirndhu
Vandha muthallavo
Kattana malarallavo
Kadavul thandha porulallavo
Muthaana
Muthallavo
………………………………
{ Are you not a pearl,
a precious pearl? Are you not a pearl
that has grown into perfection?
Are you not a well-blossomed flower?
Are you not a treasure given by God? } (2)
Are you not a pearl,
a precious pearl?
...
Aren't you a tiny,
lovely little bird
with delicate wings?
{ Isn't this a smile
opening wide like a ripe red pomegranate,
such a radiant laugh? } (2)
{ Aren't those tender mango-shaped
eyes? Isn't yours the sweet voice
of a chirping myna? } (2)
Aren't you the sweet fragrance
of a flower? Isn't yours
a face glowing like pure gold?
Are you not a pearl,
a precious pearl? Are you not a pearl
that has grown into perfection?
Are you not a well-blossomed flower?
Are you not a treasure given by God?
Are you not a pearl,
a precious pearl?
...
Isn't this an act
that gives life even to people
who have lost the will to live?
{ Aren't you a motherly child
who can make even a silent god
speak? } (2)
Aren't you like a swaying
umbrella, with your sweet
and tottering little walk?
Aren't you like the pleasant
evening hour?
Aren't you a bouquet of flowers dancing with bees?
Are you not a pearl,
a precious pearl? Are you not a pearl
that has grown into perfection?
Are you not a well-blossomed flower?
Are you not a treasure given by God?
Are you not a pearl,
a precious pearl?
...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Muthana Muthallavo' from the iconic 1962 film Nenjil Or Aalayam is a tender and poetic lullaby celebrating the boundless innocence and beauty of a newborn child. Kannadasan compares the child to nature's finest gifts—a ripe pomegranate bursting into a smile, tender mango-shaped eyes, the sweet melody of a mynah, and the divine grace of a mature pearl given by God. The song captures a mother's profound love and joy, presenting the child as a force capable of infusing life into hopeless hearts and bringing speech even to silent deities. Set to a gentle rhythm by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and rendered with sublime sweetness by P. Susheela, this song stands as one of Tamil cinema's greatest depictions of maternal devotion and infant charm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile / Imagery)

“Semmadhulai Pilandhu sirithu varum Siripallavo”

Compares the baby's smile to a splitting ripe pomegranate ('Semmadhulai pilandhu sirithu varum siripallavo').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Muthaana Muthallavo mudhirndhu Vandha muthallavo”

Metaphorically equates the child to a mature, precious pearl given as a gift by God.

Monal (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Maavadu Kannalavo mainavin Mozhiyallavo”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'M' across consecutive lines ('Maavadu', 'Mainavin', 'Manamallavo', 'Mugamallavo').

Ebugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kattana malarallavo Kadavul thandha porulallavo”

Matching second syllable sound ('tt') across adjacent lines ('Kattana' and 'Kadavul').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nenjil Or Aalayam' (1962), directed by C. V. Sridhar, was shot entirely in a single hospital set in just 28 days. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and sung by P. Susheela, winning widespread acclaim for its emotional depth.

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