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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthe Pavalame

From Uthama Puthiran – 1958 Film · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
R. Balasaraswathi Devi, A. P. Komala
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Uthama Puthiran – 1958 Film1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Muthae… pavazhamae…Oh pearl... Oh coral...
Mukkaniyae… sarkkaraiyae…Oh three sacred fruits... Oh sugar...
Kothu marikkozhundhae… ae…Oh bunch of sweet aromatic herbs...
Komalamae kan valaraaiOh tender one, sleep peacefully
Female
Aala pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to rule
Aala pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to rule
Endhan aasaiyai kaeladaa venmaniyaeListen to my wish, oh precious white gem
Female
Aala pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to rule
Endhan aasaiyai kaeladaa venmaniyaeListen to my wish, oh precious white gem
Female
Aala pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to rule
Female
Naaloru maeniyum nee valarndhaeGrowing day by day in health and stature
Female
Naaloru maeniyum nee valarndhaeGrowing day by day in health and stature
Kalai gnyaanathil saerndhida vaendumadaaYou must attain proficiency in arts and wisdom
Naaloru maeniyum nee valarndhaeGrowing day by day in health and stature
Kalai gnyaanathil saerndhida vaendumadaaYou must attain proficiency in arts and wisdom
Seelam migundhae ennaalumWith high moral character always
Seelam migundhae ennaalumWith high moral character always
Sindhaiyil nilai pera vaendumadaaYou must hold a steady place in the minds
Female
Makkal sindhaiyil nilai pera vaendumadaaYou must hold a steady place in the minds of the people
Female
Aala pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to rule
Endhan aasaiyai kaeladaa venmaniyaeListen to my wish, oh precious white gem
Female
Aala pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to rule
Female
Ezhai en veettukku vandhavanaeOh one who arrived at my poor home
Female
Ezhai en veettukku vandhavanaeOh one who arrived at my poor home
Inai illaadha aanandham thandhavanaeOh one who gave matchless joy
Ezhai en veettukku vandhavanaeOh one who arrived at my poor home
Inai illaadha aanandham thandhavanaeOh one who gave matchless joy
Vaazhai kurutthena nee valarndhaeGrowing lush like a tender banana shoot
Vaazhai kurutthena nee valarndhaeGrowing lush like a tender banana shoot
Oru vallavan aagida vaendumadaaYou must become a strong and capable person
Female
Oru vallavan aagida vaendumadaaYou must become a strong and capable person
Female
Vaazha pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to live fully
Sollum vaarthaiyai kaeladaa ponmaniyaeListen to the words I say, oh golden gem
Female
Vaazha pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to live fully
Female
Pillai kali theertha thellamudhae…Oh sweet nectar who relieved my sorrow of childlessness...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Female
Pillai kali theertha thellamudhaeOh sweet nectar who relieved my sorrow of childlessness
Undhan sollae aanaiyaaga vaendumadaaYour word should become a royal command
Pillai kali theertha thellamudhaeOh sweet nectar who relieved my sorrow of childlessness
Undhan sollae aanaiyaaga vaendumadaaYour word should become a royal command
Ullam kulira imman maelaeTo gladden the heart upon this earth
Endhan ullam kulira imman maelaeTo gladden my heart upon this earth
Ellai illaa pugazh thaeda vaendumadaaYou must earn boundless fame
Female
Ellai illaa pugazh thaeda vaendumadaaYou must earn boundless fame
Female
Aala pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to rule
Endhan aasaiyai kaeladaa venmaniyaeListen to my wish, oh precious white gem
Female
Aala pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to rule
Female
Ezhaiyaaga endrum vaazhndhaalumEven if you live in poverty forever
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Female
Ezhaiyaaga endrum vaazhndhaalumEven if you live in poverty forever
Oru kozhaiyaaga mattum vaazhaadhaeDo not ever live as a coward
Ezhaiyaaga endrum vaazhndhaalumEven if you live in poverty forever
Oru kozhaiyaaga mattum vaazhaadhaeDo not ever live as a coward
Undhan vaazhvin kadamai maravaadhaeNever forget your life's duties
Undhan vaazhvin kadamai maravaadhaeNever forget your life's duties
Thanmaanathai kaakkavum thavaraadhaeNever fail to protect your self-respect
Female
Thanmaanathai kaakkavum thavaraadhaeNever fail to protect your self-respect
Female
Vaazha pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to live fully
Sollum vaarthaiyai kaeladaa ponmaniyaeListen to the words I say, oh golden gem
Female
Vaazha pirandha en kanmaniyaeOh apple of my eye, born to live fully

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic lullaby from the film Uthama Puthiran (1958) captures a mother expressing profound affection and high ambitions for her newborn child. Adorning him with sweet endearments like pearls, corals, and nectar, she rejoices at how his birth ended her painful yearning for a child and brought boundless happiness to her modest home. Beyond maternal affection, the lullaby serves as a set of life moral guidelines. The mother advises her son to acquire wisdom and arts, maintain high moral integrity, win the hearts of the public, and strive for eternal fame. Most importantly, she urges him that even if faced with poverty, he must never act like a coward, neglect his duties, or compromise his self-respect.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Muthae… pavazhamae… Mukkaniyae… sarkkaraiyae…

The child is metaphorically addressed as precious gems (Muthae, pavazhamae), sweet fruits (Mukkaniyae), sugar (Sarkkaraiyae), and nectar (Thellamudhae).

Simile (Uvamai)

Vaazhai kurutthena nee valarndhae

The child's healthy growth is compared using 'ena' (like) to a tender banana shoot ('Vaazhai kurutthu').

Ethirai (Second-letter rhyme)

Ezhai en veettukku vandhavanae / Vaazhai kurutthena nee valarndhae

Rhyming of the second letter 'zh' across lines ('Ezhai' and 'Vaazhai').

Refrain / Repetition (Anaphora)

Aala pirandha en kanmaniyae

The line 'Aala pirandha en kanmaniyae' is repeatedly used as a refrain to emphasize the child's royal destiny.

Did you know?

Trivia

Uthama Puthiran (1958) is a landmark Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan in a famous dual role. The music was composed by G. Ramanathan and the lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi. Sung by P. Leela and P. Susheela, this song remains one of the most celebrated maternal lullabies in Tamil cinema.

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