Muthu Nagaiye
From En Thambi · 1968
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- En Thambi1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Muthu nagaiyae ..ae… | Oh pearl-like smile... |
| Unnai naanariven | I know you well. |
| Aahaa aahaa | Aahaa aahaa |
| Thaththum kiliyae | Oh prancing parrot, |
| Ennai nee arivaai | You know me well. |
| Nammai naam arivom | We know each other. |
| Ohooo oohoo | Ohooo oohoo |
| Male | |
| Muthu nagaiyae ..ae… | Oh pearl-like smile... |
| Unnai naanariven | I know you well. |
| Aahaa aahaa | Aahaa aahaa |
| Thaththum kiliyae | Oh prancing parrot, |
| Ennai nee arivaai | You know me well. |
| Nammai naam arivom | We know each other. |
| Ohooo oohoo | Ohooo oohoo |
| Male | |
| Nilavum vaanum nilamum neerum | The moon and sky, the land and water, |
| Ondrai vittu ondru sellumo | Will they ever part from one another? |
| Neeyum naanum kaanum uravu | The bond that you and I share, |
| Nenjai vittu chella ennumo | Would it ever think of leaving the heart? |
| Male | |
| Muthu nagaiyae ..ae… | Oh pearl-like smile... |
| Unnai naanariven | I know you well. |
| Aahaa aahaa | Aahaa aahaa |
| Male | |
| Thenmadhurai meenaal | Goddess Meenakshi of southern Madurai, |
| Thaen koduthaal | Gave sweet honey, |
| Sithirathai polae seer koduthaal | Bestowed blessings as precious as a painting. |
| Thenmadhurai meenaal | Goddess Meenakshi of southern Madurai, |
| Thaen khoduthaal | Gave sweet honey, |
| Sithirathai polae seer koduthaal | Bestowed blessings as precious as a painting. |
| En manadhil aada idam koduthaal | She granted a space in my heart to dance, |
| Idhu thaan sugamena varam koduthaal | She bestowed a boon that this indeed is true joy. |
| Male | |
| Muthu nagaiyae ..ae…ae… | Oh pearl-like smile... |
| Unnai naanariven | I know you well. |
| Aahaa aahaa | Aahaa aahaa |
| Thaththum kiliyae | Oh prancing parrot, |
| Ennai nee arivaai | You know me well. |
| Nammai naam arivom | We know each other. |
| Ohooo oohoo | Ohooo oohoo |
| Male | |
| Kannazhagu paarthaal | If one sees the beauty of your eyes, |
| Pon edharkku | Why does one need gold? |
| Kaiyazhagu paarthaal | If one sees the beauty of your hands, |
| Poo edharkku | Why does one need flowers? |
| Kannazhagu paarthaal | If one sees the beauty of your eyes, |
| Pon edharkku | Why does one need gold? |
| Kaiyazhagu paarthaal | If one sees the beauty of your hands, |
| Poo edharkku | Why does one need flowers? |
| Kaalazhagu paarthaal… | If one sees the beauty of your feet... |
| Male | |
| Kaalazhagu paarthaal | If one sees the beauty of your feet, |
| Dheivathukku | For the Almighty, |
| Karunai endroru per edharkku | Why should there be a name called mercy? |
| Kaalazhagu paarthaal dheivatthukku | If God beholds the beauty of your feet, |
| Karunai endroru per edharkku | Why would He need a name called mercy? |
| Male | |
| Muthu nagaiyae ..ae… | Oh pearl-like smile... |
| Unnai naanariven | I know you well. |
| Aahaa aahaa | Aahaa aahaa |
| Thaththum kiliyae | Oh prancing parrot, |
| Ennai nee arivaai | You know me well. |
| Nammai naam arivom | We know each other. |
| Ohooo oohoo | Ohooo oohoo |
முத்து நகையே...ஏ.....
உன்னை நானறிவேன்
ஆஹா ஆஹா
தத்துங்கிளியே
என்னை நீ அறிவாய்
நம்மை நாமறிவோம்
ஓஹோ...ஓஹோ...
Oh pearl-like smile...
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Oh prancing parrot,
You know me well.
We know each other.
Ohooo oohoo
முத்து நகையே...ஏ.....
உன்னை நானறிவேன்
ஆஹா ஆஹா
தத்துங்கிளியே
என்னை நீ அறிவாய்
நம்மை நாமறிவோம்
ஓஹோ...ஓஹோ...
Oh pearl-like smile...
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Oh prancing parrot,
You know me well.
We know each other.
Ohooo oohoo
நிலவும் வானும் நிலமும் நீரும்
ஒன்றைவிட்டு ஒன்று செல்லுமோ
நீயும் நானும் காணும் உறவு
நெஞ்சை விட்டு செல்ல எண்ணுமோ
The moon and sky, the land and water,
Will they ever part from one another?
The bond that you and I share,
Would it ever think of leaving the heart?
முத்து நகையே...ஏ.....
உன்னை நானறிவேன்
ஆஹா ஆஹா
தத்துங்கிளியே
Oh pearl-like smile...
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
தென்மதுரை மீனால்
தேன் கொடுத்தால்
சித்திரத்தை போலே சீர் கொடுத்தால்
தென்மதுரை மீனால்
தேன் கொடுத்தால்
சித்திரத்தை போலே சீர் கொடுத்தால்
என் மனதில் ஆட இடம் கொடுத்தால்
இதுதான் சுகமென வரும் கொடுத்தால்
Goddess Meenakshi of southern Madurai,
Gave sweet honey,
Bestowed blessings as precious as a painting.
Goddess Meenakshi of southern Madurai,
Gave sweet honey,
Bestowed blessings as precious as a painting.
She granted a space in my heart to dance,
She bestowed a boon that this indeed is true joy.
முத்து நகையே...ஏ.....
உன்னை நானறிவேன்
ஆஹா ஆஹா
தத்துங்கிளியே
என்னை நீ அறிவாய்
நம்மை நாமறிவோம்
ஓஹோ...ஓஹோ...
Oh pearl-like smile...
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Oh prancing parrot,
You know me well.
We know each other.
Ohooo oohoo
கண் அழகு பார்த்தால்
பொன் எதற்கு
கை அழகு பார்த்தால்
பூ எதற்கு
கண் அழகு பார்த்தால்
பொன் எதற்கு
கை அழகு பார்த்தால்
பூ எதற்கு
கால் அழகு பார்த்தால்...
If one sees the beauty of your eyes,
Why does one need gold?
If one sees the beauty of your hands,
Why does one need flowers?
If one sees the beauty of your eyes,
Why does one need gold?
If one sees the beauty of your hands,
Why does one need flowers?
If one sees the beauty of your feet...
கால் அழகு பார்த்தால்
தெய்வத்துக்கு
கருணை என்றொரு பேர் எதற்கு
கால் அழகு பார்த்தால்
தெய்வத்துக்கு
கருணை என்றொரு பேர் எதற்கு
If one sees the beauty of your feet,
For the Almighty,
Why should there be a name called mercy?
If God beholds the beauty of your feet,
Why would He need a name called mercy?
முத்து நகையே...ஏ.....
உன்னை நானறிவேன்
ஆஹா ஆஹா
தத்துங்கிளியே
என்னை நீ அறிவாய்
நம்மை நாமறிவோம்
ஓஹோ...ஓஹோ...
Oh pearl-like smile...
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Oh prancing parrot,
You know me well.
We know each other.
Ohooo oohoo
Muthu nagaiyae ..ae…
Oh pearl-like smile...
Unnai naanariven
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Aahaa aahaa
Thaththum kiliyae
Oh prancing parrot,
Ennai nee arivaai
You know me well.
Nammai naam arivom
We know each other.
Ohooo oohoo
Ohooo oohoo
Muthu nagaiyae ..ae…
Oh pearl-like smile...
Unnai naanariven
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Aahaa aahaa
Thaththum kiliyae
Oh prancing parrot,
Ennai nee arivaai
You know me well.
Nammai naam arivom
We know each other.
Ohooo oohoo
Ohooo oohoo
Nilavum vaanum nilamum neerum
The moon and sky, the land and water,
Ondrai vittu ondru sellumo
Will they ever part from one another?
Neeyum naanum kaanum uravu
The bond that you and I share,
Nenjai vittu chella ennumo
Would it ever think of leaving the heart?
Muthu nagaiyae ..ae…
Oh pearl-like smile...
Unnai naanariven
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Aahaa aahaa
Thenmadhurai meenaal
Goddess Meenakshi of southern Madurai,
Thaen koduthaal
Gave sweet honey,
Sithirathai polae seer koduthaal
Bestowed blessings as precious as a painting.
Thenmadhurai meenaal
Goddess Meenakshi of southern Madurai,
Thaen khoduthaal
Gave sweet honey,
Sithirathai polae seer koduthaal
Bestowed blessings as precious as a painting.
En manadhil aada idam koduthaal
She granted a space in my heart to dance,
Idhu thaan sugamena varam koduthaal
She bestowed a boon that this indeed is true joy.
Muthu nagaiyae ..ae…ae…
Oh pearl-like smile...
Unnai naanariven
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Aahaa aahaa
Thaththum kiliyae
Oh prancing parrot,
Ennai nee arivaai
You know me well.
Nammai naam arivom
We know each other.
Ohooo oohoo
Ohooo oohoo
Kannazhagu paarthaal
If one sees the beauty of your eyes,
Pon edharkku
Why does one need gold?
Kaiyazhagu paarthaal
If one sees the beauty of your hands,
Poo edharkku
Why does one need flowers?
Kannazhagu paarthaal
If one sees the beauty of your eyes,
Pon edharkku
Why does one need gold?
Kaiyazhagu paarthaal
If one sees the beauty of your hands,
Poo edharkku
Why does one need flowers?
Kaalazhagu paarthaal…
If one sees the beauty of your feet...
Kaalazhagu paarthaal
If one sees the beauty of your feet,
Dheivathukku
For the Almighty,
Karunai endroru per edharkku
Why should there be a name called mercy?
Kaalazhagu paarthaal dheivatthukku
If God beholds the beauty of your feet,
Karunai endroru per edharkku
Why would He need a name called mercy?
Muthu nagaiyae ..ae…
Oh pearl-like smile...
Unnai naanariven
I know you well.
Aahaa aahaa
Aahaa aahaa
Thaththum kiliyae
Oh prancing parrot,
Ennai nee arivaai
You know me well.
Nammai naam arivom
We know each other.
Ohooo oohoo
Ohooo oohoo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Muthu Nagaiyae is a romantic track from the 1968 Tamil movie En Thambi, penned by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan. The song celebrates deep intimacy, eternal companionship, and mutual understanding between two lovers. The lover tenderly addresses his sweetheart with fond metaphors, calling her a pearl-like smile and a lively parrot, emphasizing that their connection is instinctual and profound.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor
“Muthu nagaiyae ..ae…”
Compares a bright, radiant smile to glistening pearls.
Metaphor
“Thaththum kiliyae”
Compares the lively, graceful beloved to a fluttering/prancing parrot.
Rhetorical Question
“Nilavum vaanum nilamum neerum Ondrai vittu ondru sellumo”
Uses nature's inseparable elements (moon & sky, earth & water) to poetically ask if true lovers could ever be separated.
Anaphora / Monai
“Kannazhagu paarthaal... Kaiyazhagu paarthaal...”
Repetition of beauty prefixes (Kannazhagu, Kaiyazhagu, Kaalazhagu) across consecutive lines to build poetic rhythm.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Kaalazhagu paarthaal dheivatthukku Karunai endroru per edharkku”
Exaggerates the grace of her feet, claiming even God wouldn't need a separate title of 'merciful' after witnessing such grace.
Did you know?
Trivia
En Thambi (1968) stars Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV). The song highlights Kannadasan's classic style of infusing divine imagery—such as Madurai Meenakshi—into intimate romantic poetry.
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