Muthana Muthallavo
From Nenjil Or Aalayam · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nenjil Or Aalayam1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Muthaana | { Precious like a pearl, |
| Muthallavo mudhirndhu | Is it not a pearl that has matured |
| Vandha muthallavo | And grown into a fine gem? |
| Kattana malarallavo | Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower? |
| Kadavul thandha porulallavo } (2) | Is it not a divine gift given by God? } (2) |
| Female | |
| Muthaana | Precious like a pearl, |
| Muthallavo | Is it not a pearl? |
| Female | |
| ……………………… | ................... |
| Female | |
| Chinnanjiru | Tiny and tender, |
| Siragukonda singaara | With beautiful wings, |
| Chittallavo | Is it not a charming little bird? |
| Female | |
| { Semmadhulai | { Like a ripe red pomegranate |
| Pilandhu sirithu varum | Splitting open with a radiant smile, |
| Siripallavo } (2) | Is it not that sweet laughter? } (2) |
| Female | |
| { Maavadu | { Like a tender green mango, |
| Kannalavo mainavin | Are those not eyes? Like a mynah bird's, |
| Mozhiyallavo } (2) | Is it not sweet voice and speech? } (2) |
| Female | |
| Poovin | Like the flower's |
| Manamallavo pon | Fragrance, is it not? A golden-hued |
| Pondra mugamallavo | Radiant face, is it not? |
| Female | |
| Muthaana | Precious like a pearl, |
| Muthallavo mudhirndhu | Is it not a pearl that has matured |
| Vandha muthallavo | And grown into a fine gem? |
| Kattana malarallavo | Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower? |
| Kadavul thandha porulallavo | Is it not a divine gift given by God? |
| Female | |
| Muthaana | Precious like a pearl, |
| Muthallavo | Is it not a pearl? |
| Female | |
| ……………… | ............ |
| Female | |
| Vaazhadha | Even hopeless, |
| Manidharaiyum | Despair-filled people, |
| Vaazhavaikum seiallavo | Is it not a miracle that brings life back to them? |
| Female | |
| { Pesadha | { Even a silent |
| Deivathaiyum pesa | Deity, to make it speak, |
| Vaikum thaayallavo } (2) | Is she not a mother capable of doing so? } (2) |
| Female | |
| Thaazham | Like a screwpine flower |
| Kudai allavo | Umbrella, is it not? |
| Thallaadum nadaiyallavo | Is it not a toddling, swaying innocent walk? |
| Female | |
| Maalai | Like the pleasant evening |
| Pozhudhallavo | Time, is it not? |
| Vandadum chendallavo | Is it not a flower bunch around which bees hover? |
| Female | |
| Muthaana | Precious like a pearl, |
| Muthallavo mudhirndhu | Is it not a pearl that has matured |
| Vandha muthallavo | And grown into a fine gem? |
| Kattana malarallavo | Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower? |
| Kadavul thandha porulallavo | Is it not a divine gift given by God? |
| Female | |
| Muthaana | Precious like a pearl, |
| Muthallavo | Is it not a pearl? |
| Female | |
| ……………………………… | ................... |
{ முத்தான
முத்தல்லவோ முதிர்ந்து
வந்த முத்தல்லவோ
கட்டான மலரல்லவோ
கடவுள் தந்த பொருளல்லவோ } (2)
{ Precious like a pearl,
Is it not a pearl that has matured
And grown into a fine gem?
Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower?
Is it not a divine gift given by God? } (2)
முத்தான
முத்தல்லவோ
Precious like a pearl,
Is it not a pearl?
........................
...................
சின்னஞ்சிறு
சிறகு கொண்ட சிங்கார
சிட்டல்லவோ
Tiny and tender,
With beautiful wings,
Is it not a charming little bird?
{ செம்மாதுளை
பிளந்து சிரித்து வரும்
சிரிப்பல்லவோ } (2)
{ Like a ripe red pomegranate
Splitting open with a radiant smile,
Is it not that sweet laughter? } (2)
{ மாவடு
கண்ணல்லவோ
மைனாவின்
மொழியல்லவோ } (2)
{ Like a tender green mango,
Are those not eyes? Like a mynah bird's,
Is it not sweet voice and speech? } (2)
பூவின்
மணமல்லவோ
பொன்போன்ற
முகமல்லவோ
Like the flower's
Fragrance, is it not? A golden-hued
Radiant face, is it not?
முத்தான
முத்தல்லவோ முதிர்ந்து
வந்த முத்தல்லவோ
கட்டான மலரல்லவோ
கடவுள் தந்த பொருளல்லவோ
Precious like a pearl,
Is it not a pearl that has matured
And grown into a fine gem?
Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower?
Is it not a divine gift given by God?
முத்தான
முத்தல்லவோ
Precious like a pearl,
Is it not a pearl?
........................
............
வாழாத
மனிதரையும் வாழ
வைக்கும் சேயல்லவோ
Even hopeless,
Despair-filled people,
Is it not a miracle that brings life back to them?
{ பேசாத
தெய்வத்தையும்
பேச வைக்கும்
தாயல்லவோ } (2)
{ Even a silent
Deity, to make it speak,
Is she not a mother capable of doing so? } (2)
தாழம்குடை
அல்லவோ தள்ளாடும்
நடையல்லவோ
Like a screwpine flower
Umbrella, is it not?
Is it not a toddling, swaying innocent walk?
மாலை
பொழுதல்லவோ
வண்டாடும்
செண்டல்லவோ
Like the pleasant evening
Time, is it not?
Is it not a flower bunch around which bees hover?
முத்தான
முத்தல்லவோ முதிர்ந்து
வந்த முத்தல்லவோ
கட்டான மலரல்லவோ
கடவுள் தந்த பொருளல்லவோ
Precious like a pearl,
Is it not a pearl that has matured
And grown into a fine gem?
Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower?
Is it not a divine gift given by God?
முத்தான
முத்தல்லவோ
Precious like a pearl,
Is it not a pearl?
........................
...................
{ Muthaana
{ Precious like a pearl,
Muthallavo mudhirndhu
Is it not a pearl that has matured
Vandha muthallavo
And grown into a fine gem?
Kattana malarallavo
Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower?
Kadavul thandha porulallavo } (2)
Is it not a divine gift given by God? } (2)
Muthaana
Precious like a pearl,
Muthallavo
Is it not a pearl?
………………………
...................
Chinnanjiru
Tiny and tender,
Siragukonda singaara
With beautiful wings,
Chittallavo
Is it not a charming little bird?
{ Semmadhulai
{ Like a ripe red pomegranate
Pilandhu sirithu varum
Splitting open with a radiant smile,
Siripallavo } (2)
Is it not that sweet laughter? } (2)
{ Maavadu
{ Like a tender green mango,
Kannalavo mainavin
Are those not eyes? Like a mynah bird's,
Mozhiyallavo } (2)
Is it not sweet voice and speech? } (2)
Poovin
Like the flower's
Manamallavo pon
Fragrance, is it not? A golden-hued
Pondra mugamallavo
Radiant face, is it not?
Muthaana
Precious like a pearl,
Muthallavo mudhirndhu
Is it not a pearl that has matured
Vandha muthallavo
And grown into a fine gem?
Kattana malarallavo
Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower?
Kadavul thandha porulallavo
Is it not a divine gift given by God?
Muthaana
Precious like a pearl,
Muthallavo
Is it not a pearl?
………………
............
Vaazhadha
Even hopeless,
Manidharaiyum
Despair-filled people,
Vaazhavaikum seiallavo
Is it not a miracle that brings life back to them?
{ Pesadha
{ Even a silent
Deivathaiyum pesa
Deity, to make it speak,
Vaikum thaayallavo } (2)
Is she not a mother capable of doing so? } (2)
Thaazham
Like a screwpine flower
Kudai allavo
Umbrella, is it not?
Thallaadum nadaiyallavo
Is it not a toddling, swaying innocent walk?
Maalai
Like the pleasant evening
Pozhudhallavo
Time, is it not?
Vandadum chendallavo
Is it not a flower bunch around which bees hover?
Muthaana
Precious like a pearl,
Muthallavo mudhirndhu
Is it not a pearl that has matured
Vandha muthallavo
And grown into a fine gem?
Kattana malarallavo
Is it not a perfectly bloomed flower?
Kadavul thandha porulallavo
Is it not a divine gift given by God?
Muthaana
Precious like a pearl,
Muthallavo
Is it not a pearl?
………………………………
...................
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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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