Muthu Chippikkulle
From Kuzhanthai Ullam · 1969
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- S. P. Kothandapani
- Details
- Kuzhanthai Ullam1969
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Muthu chippikkullae | Inside the pearl oyster shell |
| Oru poo vandu | A flower beetle |
| Muthu chippikkullae | Inside the pearl oyster shell |
| Oru poo vandu | A flower beetle |
| Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu | Took up residence and drank sweet honey |
| Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu | Took up residence and drank sweet honey |
| Mudhal naal mayakkam vara kandu | Seeing the first day's intoxication arrive |
| Monathil aazhndhadhu suvai kondu | It sank into silent meditation, savoring the taste |
| Male | |
| Muthu chippikkullae | Inside the pearl oyster shell |
| Oru poo vandu | A flower beetle |
| Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu | Took up residence and drank sweet honey |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa… | Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa… |
| Male | |
| Thalai magan seidhadhu sodhanaiyo | Is what the firstborn son did a trial? |
| Thalaivikku inbathin vaedhanaiyo | Or is it a painful pleasure for the heroine? |
| Thalai magan seidhadhu sodhanaiyo | Is what the firstborn son did a trial? |
| Thalaivikku inbathin vaedhanaiyo | Or is it a painful pleasure for the heroine? |
| Kalaigalil oviyam rasikkindradho | Is art admiring a painting among all arts? |
| Kalaigalil oviyam rasikkindradho | Is art admiring a painting among all arts? |
| Kanavinilae kandu sirikkindradho | Or is it smiling while seeing it in a dream? |
| Male | |
| Muthu chippikkullae | Inside the pearl oyster shell |
| Oru poo vandu | A flower beetle |
| Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu | Took up residence and drank sweet honey |
| Female | |
| Laalaallalaa… laalaallalaa… | Laalaallalaa… laalaallalaa… |
| Laalaallalaa… laallaa | Laalaallalaa… laallaa |
| Male | |
| Muthamitta idhazhae paalaaga | The kissed lips turning sweet like milk |
| Munnidai melindhu noolaaga | surroundings/waist thinning down like a thread |
| Katti vaitha koondhal alaiyaaga | The tied-up hair flowing like waves |
| Katti vaitha koondhal alaiyaaga | The tied-up hair flowing like waves |
| Kannangal irandum vilaiyaaga | Both cheeks engaging in playful joy |
| Male | |
| Muthu chippikkullae | Inside the pearl oyster shell |
| Oru poo vandu | A flower beetle |
| Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu | Took up residence and drank sweet honey |
| Female | |
| Thaen tharum nilavae nee saatchi | Oh sweet honey-giving moon, you are the witness |
| Thendral kaatrae nee saatchi | Oh gentle breeze, you are the witness |
| Thaen tharum nilavae nee saatchi | Oh sweet honey-giving moon, you are the witness |
| Thendral kaatrae nee saatchi | Oh gentle breeze, you are the witness |
| Vaanum nilavum ulla varai | As long as the sky and moon exist |
| Vaanum nilavum ulla varai | As long as the sky and moon exist |
| Valarattum kaadhal arasaatchi | May the kingdom of love flourish and grow |
| Valarattum kaadhal arasaatchi | May the kingdom of love flourish and grow |
| Female | |
| Muthu chippikkullae | Inside the pearl oyster shell |
| Oru poo vandu | A flower beetle |
| Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu | Took up residence and drank sweet honey |
| Mudhal naal mayakkam vara kandu | Seeing the first day's intoxication arrive |
| Monathil aazhndhadhu suvai kondu | It sank into silent meditation, savoring the taste |
முத்து சிப்பிக்குள்ளே
ஒரு பூ வண்டு
முத்து சிப்பிக்குள்ளே
ஒரு பூ வண்டு
குடிக் கொண்டதே இன்ப தேனுண்டு
குடிக் கொண்டதே இன்ப தேனுண்டு
முதல் நாள் மயக்கம் வரக்கண்டு
மோனத்தில் ஆழ்ந்தது சுவைகொண்டு
Inside the pearl oyster shell
A flower beetle
Inside the pearl oyster shell
A flower beetle
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Seeing the first day's intoxication arrive
It sank into silent meditation, savoring the taste
முத்து சிப்பிக்குள்ளே
ஒரு பூ வண்டு
குடிக் கொண்டதே இன்ப தேனுண்டு
Inside the pearl oyster shell
A flower beetle
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
ஆஅ.....ஆ.......ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa…
தலைமகன் செய்தது சோதனையோ
தலைவிக்கு இன்பத்தின் வேதனையோ
தலைமகன் செய்தது சோதனையோ
தலைவிக்கு இன்பத்தின் வேதனையோ
கலைகளில் ஓவியம் ரசிக்கின்றதோ
கலைகளில் ஓவியம் ரசிக்கின்றதோ
கனவினிலே கண்டு சிரிக்கின்றதோ
Is what the firstborn son did a trial?
Or is it a painful pleasure for the heroine?
Is what the firstborn son did a trial?
Or is it a painful pleasure for the heroine?
Is art admiring a painting among all arts?
Is art admiring a painting among all arts?
Or is it smiling while seeing it in a dream?
முத்து சிப்பிக்குள்ளே
ஒரு பூ வண்டு
குடிக் கொண்டதே இன்ப தேனுண்டு
Inside the pearl oyster shell
A flower beetle
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
லாலாலலா......லாலாலலா......
லாலாலலா......லால்லா
Laalaallalaa… laalaallalaa…
Laalaallalaa… laallaa
முத்தமிட்ட இதழே பாலாக
முன்னிடை மெலிந்து நூலாக
கட்டி வைத்த கூந்தல் அலையாக
கட்டி வைத்த கூந்தல் அலையாக
கன்னங்கள் இரண்டும் விலையாக
The kissed lips turning sweet like milk
surroundings/waist thinning down like a thread
The tied-up hair flowing like waves
The tied-up hair flowing like waves
Both cheeks engaging in playful joy
முத்து சிப்பிக்குள்ளே
ஒரு பூ வண்டு
குடிக் கொண்டதே இன்ப தேனுண்டு
Inside the pearl oyster shell
A flower beetle
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
தேன் தரும் நிலவே நீ சாட்சி
தென்றல் காற்றே நீ சாட்சி
தேன் தரும் நிலவே நீ சாட்சி
தென்றல் காற்றே நீ சாட்சி
வானும் நிலவும் உள்ளவரை
வானும் நிலவும் உள்ளவரை
வளரட்டும் காதல் அரசாட்சி
வளரட்டும் காதல் அரசாட்சி
Oh sweet honey-giving moon, you are the witness
Oh gentle breeze, you are the witness
Oh sweet honey-giving moon, you are the witness
Oh gentle breeze, you are the witness
As long as the sky and moon exist
As long as the sky and moon exist
May the kingdom of love flourish and grow
May the kingdom of love flourish and grow
முத்து சிப்பிக்குள்ளே
ஒரு பூ வண்டு
குடிக் கொண்டதே இன்ப தேனுண்டு
முதல் நாள் மயக்கம் வரக்கண்டு
மோனத்தில் ஆழ்ந்தது சுவைகொண்டு
Inside the pearl oyster shell
A flower beetle
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Seeing the first day's intoxication arrive
It sank into silent meditation, savoring the taste
முத்து சிப்பிக்குள்ளே
ஒரு பூ வண்டு
குடிக் கொண்டதே இன்ப தேனுண்டு
Muthu chippikkullae
Inside the pearl oyster shell
Oru poo vandu
A flower beetle
Muthu chippikkullae
Inside the pearl oyster shell
Oru poo vandu
A flower beetle
Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Mudhal naal mayakkam vara kandu
Seeing the first day's intoxication arrive
Monathil aazhndhadhu suvai kondu
It sank into silent meditation, savoring the taste
Muthu chippikkullae
Inside the pearl oyster shell
Oru poo vandu
A flower beetle
Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa…
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa…
Thalai magan seidhadhu sodhanaiyo
Is what the firstborn son did a trial?
Thalaivikku inbathin vaedhanaiyo
Or is it a painful pleasure for the heroine?
Thalai magan seidhadhu sodhanaiyo
Is what the firstborn son did a trial?
Thalaivikku inbathin vaedhanaiyo
Or is it a painful pleasure for the heroine?
Kalaigalil oviyam rasikkindradho
Is art admiring a painting among all arts?
Kalaigalil oviyam rasikkindradho
Is art admiring a painting among all arts?
Kanavinilae kandu sirikkindradho
Or is it smiling while seeing it in a dream?
Muthu chippikkullae
Inside the pearl oyster shell
Oru poo vandu
A flower beetle
Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Laalaallalaa… laalaallalaa…
Laalaallalaa… laalaallalaa…
Laalaallalaa… laallaa
Laalaallalaa… laallaa
Muthamitta idhazhae paalaaga
The kissed lips turning sweet like milk
Munnidai melindhu noolaaga
surroundings/waist thinning down like a thread
Katti vaitha koondhal alaiyaaga
The tied-up hair flowing like waves
Katti vaitha koondhal alaiyaaga
The tied-up hair flowing like waves
Kannangal irandum vilaiyaaga
Both cheeks engaging in playful joy
Muthu chippikkullae
Inside the pearl oyster shell
Oru poo vandu
A flower beetle
Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Thaen tharum nilavae nee saatchi
Oh sweet honey-giving moon, you are the witness
Thendral kaatrae nee saatchi
Oh gentle breeze, you are the witness
Thaen tharum nilavae nee saatchi
Oh sweet honey-giving moon, you are the witness
Thendral kaatrae nee saatchi
Oh gentle breeze, you are the witness
Vaanum nilavum ulla varai
As long as the sky and moon exist
Vaanum nilavum ulla varai
As long as the sky and moon exist
Valarattum kaadhal arasaatchi
May the kingdom of love flourish and grow
Valarattum kaadhal arasaatchi
May the kingdom of love flourish and grow
Muthu chippikkullae
Inside the pearl oyster shell
Oru poo vandu
A flower beetle
Kudi kondadhae inba thaenundu
Took up residence and drank sweet honey
Mudhal naal mayakkam vara kandu
Seeing the first day's intoxication arrive
Monathil aazhndhadhu suvai kondu
It sank into silent meditation, savoring the taste
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Muthu Chippikkullae' is a poetic romantic duet expressing the profound intimacy and romantic bliss between lovers. Through rich metaphors—such as a beetle residing inside a pearl oyster shell and drinking honey—Kannadasan captures the deep, mystical nature of love, passion, and union. The lyrics describe the beauty of the beloved, the intoxicating pain and pleasure of romance, and call upon natural elements like the moon and the gentle breeze to stand witness to a reign of love that should last as long as the skies.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை)
“Muthu chippikkullae / Oru poo vandu”
Comparing the lovers and their intimate dwelling/union to a flower beetle sheltered inside a pearl oyster shell ('Muthu chippikkullae oru poo vandu').
Monai / Alliteration (மோனை)
“Thaen tharum nilavae nee saatchi / Thendral kaatrae nee saatchi”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Tha' in 'Thaen tharum' and 'Thendral kaatrae' or 'Va' in 'Vaanum' and 'Valarattum'.
Anaphora / Repetition (அடுக்குத் தொடர் / திரும்பவருதல்)
“Thaen tharum nilavae nee saatchi”
Repeated line endings invoking witnesses ('nee saatchi') to emphasize the eternal endurance of their affection.
Simile (உவமை)
“Munnidai melindhu noolaaga / Katti vaitha koondhal alaiyaaga”
Comparing waist to thread ('moolaga') and tied hair to ocean waves ('alaiyaaga').
Did you know?
Trivia
This romantic song features in the 1969 film 'Kuzhanthai Ullam', composed by the legendary maestro M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, the song remains famous for its inventive poetic imagery blending oyster shells, honeybees, and classical Tamil poetic motifs.
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