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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthu Kudame Muthu Kudame

From Adutha Veedu · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Jothi Kanna
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Adutha Veedu1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Muthukkudamae muthukkudamaeO precious pearl pot, O precious pearl pot,
Pethu thara venumYou must give birth and deliver.
Muthukkudamae muthukkudamaeO precious pearl pot, O precious pearl pot,
Pethu thara venumYou must give birth and deliver.
Adi appan endra padhaviHey, the status of being called a father,
Adhu pengal seiyum udhaviIs a help/favor granted by women.
Kattilaraiyil kotti koduthenI showered love abundantly in the bedroom,
Vatti thara venumNow you must return it with interest.
Male
Muthukkudamae muthukkudamaeO precious pearl pot, O precious pearl pot,
Pethu thara venumYou must give birth and deliver.
Muthukkudamae muthukkudamaeO precious pearl pot, O precious pearl pot,
Pethu thara venumYou must give birth and deliver.
Adi appan endra padhaviHey, the status of being called a father,
Adhu pengal seiyum udhaviIs a help/favor granted by women.
Kattilaraiyil kotti koduthenI showered love abundantly in the bedroom,
Vatti thara venumNow you must return it with interest.
Male
Panguni poyi chithiraiyil maalai vandhadhuPanguni month passed and evening came in Chithirai,
Indha pillaiyoru pillai pera velai vandhadhuThe time has come for this young man to bear a child.
Kattililae kaamanukku velai vandhadhuThe God of Love got busy on the bed,
Andha kattiloru thottiluku olai thandhadhuAnd that bed sent an invitation for a cradle.
Male
Muthu ondru ippodhu sippikkullae vithaagumA pearl now becomes a seed inside the oyster shell,
Pathu maadham pengalukkae parambarai sothaagumThose ten months are a woman's hereditary wealth.
Adi pathu muzham poovai vaithaal baaram ennaagumHey, if you wear ten cubits of flowers, how heavy could it be?
Male
Muthukkudamae muthukkudamaeO precious pearl pot, O precious pearl pot,
Pethu thara venumYou must give birth and deliver.
Male
Adi appan endra padhaviHey, the status of being called a father,
Adhu pengal seiyum udhaviIs a help/favor granted by women.
Male
Kattilaraiyil kotti koduthenI showered love abundantly in the bedroom,
Vatti thara venumNow you must return it with interest.
Male
Kanmaniyae kannagiyae vetkam vandhadhaO darling, O virtuous Kannagi, did shyness overcome you?
Naan kanadicha vegathula karbam vandhadhaDid pregnancy happen from the speed of my wink?
Karbathaiyum kaadhalaiyum maraikka mudiyumaCan pregnancy and love ever be hidden?
Adi pothi vecha aththipazham poosani aagumaHey, can a wrapped fig fruit ever turn into a pumpkin?
Male
Pulli vechen un melae pudichadhu thannaalaeI made my mark on you, and it caught on naturally,
Penn kuzhandhai venumadi pethu kodu munnalaI want a baby girl, give birth to her first!
Adi enna pullae enna pullae sollanum kannalaeHey, tell me with your eyes what kind of child it will be!
Male
Muthukkudamae muthukkudamaeO precious pearl pot, O precious pearl pot,
Pethu thara venumYou must give birth and deliver.
Adi appan endra padhaviHey, the status of being called a father,
Adhu pengal seiyum udhaviIs a help/favor granted by women.
Kattilaraiyil kotti koduthenI showered love abundantly in the bedroom,
Vatti thara venumNow you must return it with interest.
Male
Muthukkudamae muthukkudamaeO precious pearl pot, O precious pearl pot,
Pethu thara venumYou must give birth and deliver.
Adi appan endra padhaviHey, the status of being called a father,
Adhu pengal seiyum udhaviIs a help/favor granted by women.
Kattilaraiyil kotti koduthenI showered love abundantly in the bedroom,
Vatti thara venumNow you must return it with interest.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Muthukkudamae Muthukkudamae' from the 1989 movie 'Adutha Veedu' is a playful, romantic duet expressing a husband's playful eagerness and affection toward his wife as they look forward to parenthood. Set to a lively rhythm composed by Shankar Ganesh and written by Vaali, the song uses playful metaphors comparing marital intimacy to an investment that yields 'interest' in the form of a newborn child. The husband humorously acknowledges that fatherhood is a gift granted only through a mother's endurance, comparing a mother carrying a baby to a pearl nurtured inside an oyster shell. Rich in traditional cultural proverbs and romantic banter, the song delightfully captures the joy, intimacy, and sweet anticipation surrounding pregnancy and family life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Metaphor)

Muthukkudamae muthukkudamae

Refers to the beloved wife as 'Muthukkudamae' (a pot of pearls), symbolizing preciousness and beauty.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kattilaraiyil kotti koduthen / Vatti thara venum

Rhyming of the second letter 'tti' in 'Kattilaraiyil' and 'Vatti'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Panguni poyi chithiraiyil maalai vandhadhu / Indha pillaiyoru pillai pera velai vandhadhu

Matching end sounds with 'maalai vandhadhu', 'velai vandhadhu', and 'olai thandhadhu'.

Proverbial Analogy (Pazhamozhi)

Adi pothi vecha aththipazham poosani aaguma

Uses the traditional folk imagery 'aththipazham poosani aaguma' (can a fig turn into a pumpkin) to state that love and pregnancy cannot remain hidden.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features energetic vocals by legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside Jothi Kanna, set to a memorable tune by the veteran music duo Shankar-Ganesh. Vaali's lyrics brilliantly blend folk metaphors with lighthearted marital banter.

Keep listening

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