Muthu Charame Mullai
From Nambikkai Natchathiram · 1975
- Lyricist
- Poovai Senguttavan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nambikkai Natchathiram1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Muthu saramae mullai malarae | String of pearls, jasmine flower! |
| Thanga similae | Golden casket! |
| Muthu saramae mullai malarae | String of pearls, jasmine flower! |
| Thanga similae | Golden casket! |
| En sothu sugamae sondha uravae | My wealth and comfort, my own kin! |
| Pillai thamizhae …en pillai thamizhae | My child Tamil... my child Tamil! |
| Lalalalalalalalaaa…(2) | Lalalalalalalalaaa…(2) |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna kuzhandhai ullam | A world where tiny children's hearts |
| Serndhu vaazhum ulagam | Live together |
| Anbu ennum sarithirathin | Serves as the beginning |
| Aarambamaai thigalum | Of the history called love. |
| Female | |
| Unnai pol kuzhandhaiyaaga | Like you, as a child, |
| Naan irundhen kannae | I too once was, my dear. |
| Unnai pol kuzhandhaiyaaga | Like you, as a child, |
| Naan irundhen kannae | I too once was, my dear. |
| Unnai pettra anniyaaga | As the mother who gave birth to you, |
| Maarivitten kannae | I have now changed, my dear. |
| Female | |
| Muthu saramae mullai malarae | String of pearls, jasmine flower! |
| Thanga similae | Golden casket! |
| En sothu sugamae sondha uravae | My wealth and comfort, my own kin! |
| Pillai thamizhae …en pillai thamizhae | My child Tamil... my child Tamil! |
| Female | |
| Konji konji pesugaiyil | When speaking in lisping babbles, |
| Kodi malarooo sirikkum | A crore flowers seem to bloom and smile! |
| Thathi thathi nadakkaiyilae | When walking with toddling steps, |
| Thamizh nadai pol irukkum | It feels like the graceful walk of Tamil. |
| Female | |
| Aasaigalai pesa veikkum | Making desires find expression, |
| Anbu manam kattil | Is the bed of a loving heart. |
| Aasaigalai pesa veikkum | Making desires find expression, |
| Anbu manam kattil | Is the bed of a loving heart. |
| Ai irandu thingal varaiyil | For ten whole months, |
| Thaai vayiru thottil | The mother's womb is the cradle. |
| Female | |
| Muthu saramae mullai malarae | String of pearls, jasmine flower! |
| Thanga similae | Golden casket! |
| En sothu sugamae sondha uravae | My wealth and comfort, my own kin! |
| Pillai thamizhae …en pillai thamizhae | My child Tamil... my child Tamil! |
| Female | |
| Alli alli anaithidavae | To gather you in my arms and embrace, |
| Thulludhadaa ullam | My heart leaps with joy! |
| Unnai enni paadugaiyilae | When thinking of you and singing, |
| Ooruthada inbam | Sweet bliss wells up within! |
| Female | |
| Kalmennum maedaiyil nee | On the stage of arts and learning, you |
| Kalaingan aaga vendum | Must become a fine artist! |
| Kalmennum maedaiyil nee | On the stage of arts and learning, you |
| Kalaingan aaga vendum | Must become a fine artist! |
| Naalai indru annavai pol | Tomorrow, like Anna today, |
| Thalaivanaaga vendum | You must become a great leader! |
| Naalai indru annavai pol | Tomorrow, like Anna today, |
| Thalaivanaaga vendum | You must become a great leader! |
| Female | |
| Muthu saramae mullai malarae | String of pearls, jasmine flower! |
| Thanga similae | Golden casket! |
| En sothu sugamae sondha uravae | My wealth and comfort, my own kin! |
| Pillai thamizhae …en pillai thamizhae | My child Tamil... my child Tamil! |
| Female | |
| {Lalalalalalalalaaa… | {Lalalalalalalalaaa… |
| La lalalalalalalalaaa…} (2) | La lalalalalalalalaaa…} (2) |
முத்துச் சரமே முல்லை மலரே
தங்கச்சிமிழே
முத்துச் சரமே முல்லை மலரே
தங்கச்சிமிழே
என் சொத்து சுகமே சொந்த உறவே
பிள்ளை தமிழே என் பிள்ளைத் தமிழே...
லாலாலலாலலால்லா...(2)
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Golden casket!
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Golden casket!
My wealth and comfort, my own kin!
My child Tamil... my child Tamil!
Lalalalalalalalaaa…(2)
சின்ன சின்ன குழந்தை உள்ளம்
சேர்ந்து வாழும் உலகம்
அன்பு என்னும் சரித்திரத்தின்
ஆரம்பமாய் திகழும்
A world where tiny children's hearts
Live together
Serves as the beginning
Of the history called love.
உன்னைப் போல் குழந்தையாக
நானிருந்தேன் கண்ணே
உன்னைப் போல் குழந்தையாக
நானிருந்தேன் கண்ணே
உன்னை பெற்ற அன்னையாக
மாறிவிட்டேன் கண்ணே...
Like you, as a child,
I too once was, my dear.
Like you, as a child,
I too once was, my dear.
As the mother who gave birth to you,
I have now changed, my dear.
முத்துச் சரமே முல்லை மலரே
தங்கச்சிமிழே
என் சொத்து சுகமே சொந்த உறவே
பிள்ளை தமிழே என் பிள்ளைத் தமிழே...
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Golden casket!
My wealth and comfort, my own kin!
My child Tamil... my child Tamil!
கொஞ்சி கொஞ்சி பேசுகையில்
கொடி மலரோ சிரிக்கும்
தத்தி தத்தி நடக்கையிலே
தமிழ் நடை போல் இருக்கும்
When speaking in lisping babbles,
A crore flowers seem to bloom and smile!
When walking with toddling steps,
It feels like the graceful walk of Tamil.
ஆசைகளை பேச வைக்கும்
அன்பு மனம் கட்டில்
ஆசைகளை பேச வைக்கும்
அன்பு மனம் கட்டில்
ஐயிரண்டு திங்கள் வரையில்
தாய் வயிறு தொட்டில்..
Making desires find expression,
Is the bed of a loving heart.
Making desires find expression,
Is the bed of a loving heart.
For ten whole months,
The mother's womb is the cradle.
முத்துச் சரமே முல்லை மலரே
தங்கச்சிமிழே
என் சொத்து சுகமே சொந்த உறவே
பிள்ளை தமிழே என் பிள்ளைத் தமிழே...
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Golden casket!
My wealth and comfort, my own kin!
My child Tamil... my child Tamil!
அள்ளி அள்ளி அணைத்திடவே
துள்ளுதுதடா உள்ளம்
உன்னை எண்ணி பாடுகையில்
ஊறுதடா இன்பம்
To gather you in my arms and embrace,
My heart leaps with joy!
When thinking of you and singing,
Sweet bliss wells up within!
காலமென்னும் மேடையில் நீ
கலைஞன் ஆக வேண்டும்
காலமென்னும் மேடையில் நீ
கலைஞன் ஆக வேண்டும்
நாளை இன்று அண்ணாவை போல்
தலைவனாக வேண்டும்....
நாளை இன்று அண்ணாவை போல்
தலைவனாக வேண்டும்....
On the stage of arts and learning, you
Must become a fine artist!
On the stage of arts and learning, you
Must become a fine artist!
Tomorrow, like Anna today,
You must become a great leader!
Tomorrow, like Anna today,
You must become a great leader!
முத்துச் சரமே முல்லை மலரே
தங்கச்சிமிழே
என் சொத்து சுகமே சொந்த உறவே
பிள்ளை தமிழே என் பிள்ளைத் தமிழே...
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Golden casket!
My wealth and comfort, my own kin!
My child Tamil... my child Tamil!
{லாலாலலாலலால்லா
லாலாலலாலலால்லா...}(2)
{Lalalalalalalalaaa…
La lalalalalalalalaaa…} (2)
Muthu saramae mullai malarae
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Thanga similae
Golden casket!
Muthu saramae mullai malarae
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Thanga similae
Golden casket!
En sothu sugamae sondha uravae
My wealth and comfort, my own kin!
Pillai thamizhae …en pillai thamizhae
My child Tamil... my child Tamil!
Lalalalalalalalaaa…(2)
Lalalalalalalalaaa…(2)
Chinna chinna kuzhandhai ullam
A world where tiny children's hearts
Serndhu vaazhum ulagam
Live together
Anbu ennum sarithirathin
Serves as the beginning
Aarambamaai thigalum
Of the history called love.
Unnai pol kuzhandhaiyaaga
Like you, as a child,
Naan irundhen kannae
I too once was, my dear.
Unnai pol kuzhandhaiyaaga
Like you, as a child,
Naan irundhen kannae
I too once was, my dear.
Unnai pettra anniyaaga
As the mother who gave birth to you,
Maarivitten kannae
I have now changed, my dear.
Muthu saramae mullai malarae
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Thanga similae
Golden casket!
En sothu sugamae sondha uravae
My wealth and comfort, my own kin!
Pillai thamizhae …en pillai thamizhae
My child Tamil... my child Tamil!
Konji konji pesugaiyil
When speaking in lisping babbles,
Kodi malarooo sirikkum
A crore flowers seem to bloom and smile!
Thathi thathi nadakkaiyilae
When walking with toddling steps,
Thamizh nadai pol irukkum
It feels like the graceful walk of Tamil.
Aasaigalai pesa veikkum
Making desires find expression,
Anbu manam kattil
Is the bed of a loving heart.
Aasaigalai pesa veikkum
Making desires find expression,
Anbu manam kattil
Is the bed of a loving heart.
Ai irandu thingal varaiyil
For ten whole months,
Thaai vayiru thottil
The mother's womb is the cradle.
Muthu saramae mullai malarae
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Thanga similae
Golden casket!
En sothu sugamae sondha uravae
My wealth and comfort, my own kin!
Pillai thamizhae …en pillai thamizhae
My child Tamil... my child Tamil!
Alli alli anaithidavae
To gather you in my arms and embrace,
Thulludhadaa ullam
My heart leaps with joy!
Unnai enni paadugaiyilae
When thinking of you and singing,
Ooruthada inbam
Sweet bliss wells up within!
Kalmennum maedaiyil nee
On the stage of arts and learning, you
Kalaingan aaga vendum
Must become a fine artist!
Kalmennum maedaiyil nee
On the stage of arts and learning, you
Kalaingan aaga vendum
Must become a fine artist!
Naalai indru annavai pol
Tomorrow, like Anna today,
Thalaivanaaga vendum
You must become a great leader!
Naalai indru annavai pol
Tomorrow, like Anna today,
Thalaivanaaga vendum
You must become a great leader!
Muthu saramae mullai malarae
String of pearls, jasmine flower!
Thanga similae
Golden casket!
En sothu sugamae sondha uravae
My wealth and comfort, my own kin!
Pillai thamizhae …en pillai thamizhae
My child Tamil... my child Tamil!
{Lalalalalalalalaaa…
{Lalalalalalalalaaa…
La lalalalalalalalaaa…} (2)
La lalalalalalalalaaa…} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Muthu Saramae is a deeply affectionate Tamil lullaby in which a mother expresses her boundless love and aspirations for her child. Comparing the toddler to precious gems, fragrant flowers, and the sweet resonance of the Tamil language ('Pillai Thamizhae'), she reflects on how motherhood transformed her life. She sees innocence and pure love in her child's soft babbling and toddling steps. In the latter verses, her maternal love turns into high hopes for the child's future. She wishes for the child to excel in the arts and grow up to be a charismatic, benevolent leader, referencing legendary leader C.N. Annadurai ('Anna'). The song beautifully captures the emotional connection of maternal affection alongside social and cultural pride.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor ( உருவகம் - Uruvagam )
“Muthu saramae mullai malarae / Thanga similae”
Directly identifying the child as a string of pearls ('muthu saramae'), jasmine flower ('mullai malarae'), and a golden box ('thanga similae') to denote preciousness.
Simile ( உவமையணி - Uvamai )
“Thathi thathi nadakkaiyilae / Thamizh nadai pol irukkum”
Comparing the toddling steps of the child ('thathi thathi nadakkaiyilae') to the beautiful flow and rhythm of the Tamil language ('thamizh nadai').
Reiteration / Alliteration ( அடுக்குத் தொடர் - Adukku Thodar )
“Konji konji pesugaiyil / Thathi thathi nadakkaiyilae”
Using duplicated words like 'Chinna chinna', 'Konji konji', 'Thathi thathi', and 'Alli alli' for poetic emphasis and rhythm.
Metaphor ( உருவகம் - Uruvagam )
“Ai irandu thingal varaiyil / Thaai vayiru thottil”
Referring to the mother's womb during the ten months of pregnancy ('ai irandu thingal') as a protective bed or cradle ('thottil').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M. S. Vishwanathan and rendered by P. Susheela, this lullaby features lyrics by Poovai Senguttavan. The reference 'Naalai indru annavai pol thalaivanaaga vendum' explicitly pays homage to C. N. Annadurai (popularly called 'Anna'), former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Dravidian leader. Incorporating political/cultural icons into maternal aspirations was a notable lyrical trend in 1970s Tamil cinema.
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