Muthukku Muthaga
From Anbu Sagodharargal · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Ghantasala
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Anbu Sagodharargal1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Muthukku muthaaga | More precious than pearls to pearls, |
| Sothukku sothaaga | More valuable than wealth to wealth, |
| Annan thambi pirandhu vandhom | We were born as elder and younger brothers. |
| Kannukku kannaaga | Like an eye protecting an eye, |
| Anbaalae inaindhu vandhom | We came together through love, |
| Onnukkul onnaaga} (2) | Merged as one within another. |
| Male | |
| {Thaaiyaarum padithathillai | Mother was never educated, |
| Thandhai mugam paarthadhillai | We never saw our father's face, |
| Thalaattum kaettathandri | Apart from hearing a lullaby, |
| Orpaattum arindhadhillai} (2) | We knew no other song. |
| Male | |
| {Thaanaaga pandithu vandhaan | He grew up to become a scholar on his own, |
| Thangamena valarndha thambi} (2) | The younger brother who grew up like pure gold. |
| Male | |
| Thallaadum vayadhinil naan | In my old age when I totter, |
| Vaazhugiren avanai nambi | I live placing my trust in him. |
| Male | |
| Muthukku muthaaga | More precious than pearls to pearls, |
| Sothukku sothaaga | More valuable than wealth to wealth, |
| Annan thambi pirandhu vandhom | We were born as elder and younger brothers. |
| Kannukku kannaaga | Like an eye protecting an eye, |
| Anbaalae inaindhu vandhom | We came together through love, |
| Onnukkul onnaaga | Merged as one within another. |
| Male | |
| {Annan sollum vaarthai ellaam | Every word spoken by the elder brother, |
| Vedham enum thambi ullam} (2) | Is sacred scripture to the younger brother's heart. |
| Male | |
| {Annai ena vandha ullam | The heart that took the role of a mother, |
| Dheivam ena kaaval kollum} (2) | Will guard like a deity. |
| Male | |
| {Chinna thambi kadaisi thambi | The little brother, the youngest brother, |
| Chellamaai valarndha pillai} (2) | The child raised with deep affection. |
| Male | |
| Ondru patta idhayathilae | In hearts that have united as one, |
| Orunaalum pirivu illai | There is never any separation. |
| Male | |
| Muthukku muthaaga | More precious than pearls to pearls, |
| Sothukku sothaaga | More valuable than wealth to wealth, |
| Annan thambi pirandhu vandhom | We were born as elder and younger brothers. |
| Kannukku kannaaga | Like an eye protecting an eye, |
| Anbaalae inaindhu vandhom | We came together through love, |
| Onnukkul onnaaga | Merged as one within another. |
| Male | |
| {Rajakkal maaligaiyum | An unmatched joy that even |
| Kaanaatha inbamadaa | Palaces of kings have never seen, |
| Naalukaal mandabam pol | Like a sturdy four-pillar pavilion, |
| Naangal konda sondhamadaa} (2) | Is the bond of kinship we hold. |
| Male | |
| {Rojavin idhazhgalai pol | Like the delicate petals of a rose, |
| Theeraadha vaasamadaa} (2) | It holds an everlasting fragrance. |
| Male | |
| Nooraandu vazhavaikkum | It will sustain life for a hundred years, |
| Maaraadha paasamadaa | An unyielding and eternal affection. |
| Male | |
| Muthukku muthaaga | More precious than pearls to pearls, |
| Sothukku sothaaga | More valuable than wealth to wealth, |
| Annan thambi pirandhu vandhom | We were born as elder and younger brothers. |
| Kannukku kannaaga | Like an eye protecting an eye, |
| Anbaalae inaindhu vandhom | We came together through love, |
| Onnukkul onnaaga | Merged as one within another. |
{முத்துக்கு முத்தாக
சொத்துக்கு சொத்தாக
அண்ணன் தம்பி பிறந்து வந்தோம்
கண்ணுக்கு கண்ணாக
அன்பாலே இணைந்து வந்தோம்
ஒண்ணுக்குள் ஒண்ணாக} (2)
More precious than pearls to pearls,
More valuable than wealth to wealth,
We were born as elder and younger brothers.
Like an eye protecting an eye,
We came together through love,
Merged as one within another.
{தாயாரும் படித்ததில்லை
தந்தை முகம் பார்த்ததில்லை
தாலாட்டு கேட்டதன்றி
ஓர் பாட்டும் அறிந்ததில்லை} (2)
Mother was never educated,
We never saw our father's face,
Apart from hearing a lullaby,
We knew no other song.
{தானாக படித்து வந்தான்
தங்கமென வளர்ந்த தம்பி} (2)
He grew up to become a scholar on his own,
The younger brother who grew up like pure gold.
தள்ளாத வயதினில் நான்
வாழுகிறேன் அவனை நம்பி
In my old age when I totter,
I live placing my trust in him.
முத்துக்கு முத்தாக
சொத்துக்கு சொத்தாக
அண்ணன் தம்பி பிறந்து வந்தோம்
கண்ணுக்கு கண்ணாக
அன்பாலே இணைந்து வந்தோம்
ஒண்ணுக்குள் ஒண்ணாக
More precious than pearls to pearls,
More valuable than wealth to wealth,
We were born as elder and younger brothers.
Like an eye protecting an eye,
We came together through love,
Merged as one within another.
{அண்ணன் சொல்லும் வார்த்தை எல்லாம்
வேதமெனும் தம்பியுள்ளம்} (2)
Every word spoken by the elder brother,
Is sacred scripture to the younger brother's heart.
{அன்னையென வந்த உள்ளம்
தெய்வமெனக் காவல் கொள்ளும்} (2)
The heart that took the role of a mother,
Will guard like a deity.
{சின்னத்தம்பி கடைசித்தம்பி
செல்லமாய் வளர்ந்த பிள்ளை} (2)
The little brother, the youngest brother,
The child raised with deep affection.
ஒன்றுப்பட்ட இதயத்திலே
ஒரு நாளும் பிரிவு இல்லை
In hearts that have united as one,
There is never any separation.
முத்துக்கு முத்தாக
சொத்துக்கு சொத்தாக
அண்ணன் தம்பி பிறந்து வந்தோம்
கண்ணுக்கு கண்ணாக
அன்பாலே இணைந்து வந்தோம்
ஒண்ணுக்குள் ஒண்ணாக
More precious than pearls to pearls,
More valuable than wealth to wealth,
We were born as elder and younger brothers.
Like an eye protecting an eye,
We came together through love,
Merged as one within another.
{ராஜாக்கள் மாளிகையும்
காணாத இன்பமடா
நாலுகால் மண்டபம்போல்
நாங்கள் கொண்ட சொந்தமடா} (2)
An unmatched joy that even
Palaces of kings have never seen,
Like a sturdy four-pillar pavilion,
Is the bond of kinship we hold.
{ரோஜாவின் இதழ்களைப் போல்
தீராத வாசமடா} (2)
Like the delicate petals of a rose,
It holds an everlasting fragrance.
நூறாண்டு வாழவைக்கும்
மாறாத பாசமடா
It will sustain life for a hundred years,
An unyielding and eternal affection.
முத்துக்கு முத்தாக
சொத்துக்கு சொத்தாக
அண்ணன் தம்பி பிறந்து வந்தோம்
கண்ணுக்கு கண்ணாக
அன்பாலே இணைந்து வந்தோம்
ஒண்ணுக்குள் ஒண்ணாக
More precious than pearls to pearls,
More valuable than wealth to wealth,
We were born as elder and younger brothers.
Like an eye protecting an eye,
We came together through love,
Merged as one within another.
{Muthukku muthaaga
More precious than pearls to pearls,
Sothukku sothaaga
More valuable than wealth to wealth,
Annan thambi pirandhu vandhom
We were born as elder and younger brothers.
Kannukku kannaaga
Like an eye protecting an eye,
Anbaalae inaindhu vandhom
We came together through love,
Onnukkul onnaaga} (2)
Merged as one within another.
{Thaaiyaarum padithathillai
Mother was never educated,
Thandhai mugam paarthadhillai
We never saw our father's face,
Thalaattum kaettathandri
Apart from hearing a lullaby,
Orpaattum arindhadhillai} (2)
We knew no other song.
{Thaanaaga pandithu vandhaan
He grew up to become a scholar on his own,
Thangamena valarndha thambi} (2)
The younger brother who grew up like pure gold.
Thallaadum vayadhinil naan
In my old age when I totter,
Vaazhugiren avanai nambi
I live placing my trust in him.
Muthukku muthaaga
More precious than pearls to pearls,
Sothukku sothaaga
More valuable than wealth to wealth,
Annan thambi pirandhu vandhom
We were born as elder and younger brothers.
Kannukku kannaaga
Like an eye protecting an eye,
Anbaalae inaindhu vandhom
We came together through love,
Onnukkul onnaaga
Merged as one within another.
{Annan sollum vaarthai ellaam
Every word spoken by the elder brother,
Vedham enum thambi ullam} (2)
Is sacred scripture to the younger brother's heart.
{Annai ena vandha ullam
The heart that took the role of a mother,
Dheivam ena kaaval kollum} (2)
Will guard like a deity.
{Chinna thambi kadaisi thambi
The little brother, the youngest brother,
Chellamaai valarndha pillai} (2)
The child raised with deep affection.
Ondru patta idhayathilae
In hearts that have united as one,
Orunaalum pirivu illai
There is never any separation.
Muthukku muthaaga
More precious than pearls to pearls,
Sothukku sothaaga
More valuable than wealth to wealth,
Annan thambi pirandhu vandhom
We were born as elder and younger brothers.
Kannukku kannaaga
Like an eye protecting an eye,
Anbaalae inaindhu vandhom
We came together through love,
Onnukkul onnaaga
Merged as one within another.
{Rajakkal maaligaiyum
An unmatched joy that even
Kaanaatha inbamadaa
Palaces of kings have never seen,
Naalukaal mandabam pol
Like a sturdy four-pillar pavilion,
Naangal konda sondhamadaa} (2)
Is the bond of kinship we hold.
{Rojavin idhazhgalai pol
Like the delicate petals of a rose,
Theeraadha vaasamadaa} (2)
It holds an everlasting fragrance.
Nooraandu vazhavaikkum
It will sustain life for a hundred years,
Maaraadha paasamadaa
An unyielding and eternal affection.
Muthukku muthaaga
More precious than pearls to pearls,
Sothukku sothaaga
More valuable than wealth to wealth,
Annan thambi pirandhu vandhom
We were born as elder and younger brothers.
Kannukku kannaaga
Like an eye protecting an eye,
Anbaalae inaindhu vandhom
We came together through love,
Onnukkul onnaaga
Merged as one within another.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic track celebrates the sacred and unbreakable bond between brothers. The song paints a poignant picture of siblings who grew up orphaned, relying on each other for emotional support and guidance. The elder brother reflects on their modest beginnings and expresses pride in his younger brother's self-made success, placing his ultimate faith and reliance on him in his twilight years.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Naalukaal mandabam pol”
Compares the family relationship to a sturdy four-pillared hall ('Naalukaal mandabam pol') and the fragrance of affection to rose petals ('Rojavin idhazhgalai pol').
Uruvagaim (Metaphor)
“Vedham enum thambi ullam”
Equates the elder brother's words to sacred scriptures or Vedas ('Vedham enum thambi ullam').
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Muthukku muthaaga”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent lines or words like 'Muthukku' and 'Kannukku'.
Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Sothukku sothaaga”
Matching of second consonants in adjacent lines such as 'Muthukku' / 'Sothukku'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Anbu Sagodharargal (1973) is a Tamil remake of the 1970 Kannada film Namma Makkalu. The song was composed by legendary music director K. V. Mahadevan, sung by T. M. Soundararajan, and written by 'Kaviarasu' Kannadasan.
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