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Lyrics & meaning

Mutrukai Porattam Veliye

From Thamarai Nenjam · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thamarai Nenjam1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Muttrugai porattumLet the siege protest begin,
Veliyae vida mattomWe will not let (you) go outside!
Chorus :Siruvargal naangal koodi vittomChorus: We children have gathered together,
Deivathin peyaraal aanaiyittomWe have sworn an oath in the name of God,
Thaniyae vida mattom ho hoWe won't let you go alone, ho ho!
Female
Muttrugai porattumLet the siege protest begin,
Veliyae vida mattomWe will not let (you) go outside!
Chorus :Siruvargal naangal koodi vittomChorus: We children have gathered together,
Deivathin peyaraal aanaiyittomWe have sworn an oath in the name of God,
Thaniyae vida mattom ho hoWe won't let you go alone, ho ho!
Female
Akka vendumWe want our elder sister,
Chorus :EngalukkaagaChorus: For our sake!
Female :Akka vendumFemale: We want our elder sister,
Chorus :EngalukkaagaChorus: For our sake!
Female :Arivithu vittom unnaviradhamFemale: We have declared a hunger strike,
Chorus :Adhu thaan porattamChorus: That indeed is our struggle!
Female
Muttrugai porattumLet the siege protest begin,
Veliyae vida mattomWe will not let (you) go outside!
Chorus :Siruvargal naangal koodi vittomChorus: We children have gathered together,
Deivathin peyaraal aanaiyittomWe have sworn an oath in the name of God,
Thaniyae vida mattom ho hoWe won't let you go alone, ho ho!
Male
Siruvargal porattamThe children's protest,
Periyavar thindaattamThe elders' predicament!
Siruvargal porattamThe children's protest,
Periyavar thindaattamThe elders' predicament!
Erumbukku kondaattamA time of joy for the ants,
Karumbukku thindattamA time of distress for the sugarcane!
Male
Koottam koottungalGather a crowd,
Veettai poottungalLock up the house,
Koottam koottungalGather a crowd,
Veettai poottungalLock up the house,
Kosham podungalRaise slogans,
Kaaval nillungalStand guard!
Female
Thambikku annanAn elder brother to a younger brother,
Thangaikku akkaAn elder sister to a younger sister,
Pillaikku amma veetukku lakshmiA mother to the child, and Goddess Lakshmi to the home!
Chorus :Veliyae vidamattomChorus: We will not let her go out!
Female
Kannae ennum anbinai kettomWe begged for love that treats us as precious as eyes,
Kanneeraalae sangili pottomWe formed a chain out of our tears,
Chorus :Veliyae vida mattomChorus: We will not let her go out!
Veliyae vida mattomWe will not let her go out!
Female
Akka vendumWe want our elder sister,
Chorus :EngalukkaagaChorus: For our sake!
Female :Akka vendumFemale: We want our elder sister,
Chorus :EngalukkaagaChorus: For our sake!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Muttrugai Porattum" is a playful, endearing protest song from the 1968 film 'Thamarai Nenjam'. In the story, children and family members organize a affectionate mock siege and hunger strike to prevent their beloved elder sister (Akka) from leaving the household. Through innocent demands, slogans, and fun blockades, they express how essential she is to their daily lives and emotional well-being. The song beautifully contrasts playful childhood innocence with deep emotional affection. Kannadasan's lyrics depict the sister not merely as a family member, but as a motherly guide and the auspicious presence (Lakshmi) of the home. Set to a lively rhythm by M. S. Vishwanathan, the track transforms a moment of potential sorrowful parting into a warm, united declaration of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Erumbukku kondaattam / Karumbukku thindattam

Matching rhyming line endings used across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic, chant-like effect for the protest.

Contrast / Antithesis

Erumbukku kondaattam / Karumbukku thindattam

Contrasting the joy of ants (erumbu) with the distress of sugarcane (karumbu) to humorously reflect the situation.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Kanneeraalae sangili pottom

Metaphorically describing the emotional restraint placed on the sister as a 'chain formed of tears'.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Koottam koottungal / Veettai poottungal

The second consonant sound 'tt' rhymes across consecutive imperative phrases.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thamarai Nenjam' (1968) was directed by legendary filmmaker K. Balachander and featured music composed by M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan. Starring Gemini Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, and Vanisri, the film was a major emotional drama of its era and was later remade in Telugu as 'Mooga Nomu'.

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