Nallathoru Kudumbam
From Thanga Pathakkam · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Thanga Pathakkam1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Nalladhoru | { A good |
| Kudumbam palkazhai | family is a |
| Kazhagam } (2) | university } (2) |
| Female | |
| Anbu | Love |
| Mani vazhangum | yielding gem-like |
| Surangam vaazhga vaazhga | mine, long live, long live! |
| Female | |
| { Engal | { Our |
| Veedu gokulam | house is Gokulam, |
| En magan thaan | my son indeed |
| Kannanaam thandhai | is Krishna, and father |
| Vaasudhevano thangamana | is Vasudeva, a golden |
| Mannanam } (2) | king } (2) |
| Female | |
| Nalladhoru | A good |
| Kudumbam palkazhai | family is a |
| Kazhagam | university |
| Female | |
| Anbu | Love |
| Mani vazhangum | yielding gem-like |
| Surangam vaazhga vaazhga | mine, long live, long live! |
| Male | |
| { Annai | { The ocean |
| Ennum kadal | called Mother |
| Thanthadhu | gave it, |
| Thandhai ennum | and the shadow called Father |
| Nizhal kondadhu } (2) | shielded it } (2) |
| Male | |
| Pillai | Child, |
| Selvam ennum | in the form of |
| Vannam kannan | a colorful treasure, Krishna |
| Pirandhan | was born |
| Male | |
| Nandri | Gratitude, |
| Ennum gunam | the virtue |
| Kondadhu nanmai | it holds, a mind |
| Seiyum manam kondadhu | that does good, it possesses |
| Male | |
| Engal | Our |
| Illam ennum | home's good |
| Perai kannan valarpan | reputation, Krishna will elevate |
| Female | |
| Nalladhoru | A good |
| Kudumbam palkazhai | family is a |
| Kazhagam | university |
| Female | |
| Anbu | Love |
| Mani vazhangum | yielding gem-like |
| Surangam vaazhga vaazhga | mine, long live, long live! |
| Female | |
| Vellam | Like a flood |
| Polae oduvan | he will run, |
| Venmanal mel aaduvan | he will play on the white sand |
| { Gaanam kodi paaduvan | { He will sing a crore songs, |
| Kannan ennai theduvan }(2) | Krishna will seek me }(2) |
| Male | |
| Maayam | Magical |
| Seiyum magan | mischievous son |
| Vandhadhu aayarpaadi | arrived, and Gokulam |
| Bayam kondadhu | feared |
| Male | |
| Andha | Those |
| Pillai seiyum | childish playful |
| Leelai naanariven | pranks, I know them |
| Male | |
| Indha | This |
| Pillai nalam kollavum | child's well-being to nurture, |
| Ennai paarthu enai vellavum | looking at me and conquering me, |
| Kannil vaithu nenjil vaithu | keeping in my eyes and keeping in my heart, |
| Naan valarthen | I raised him |
| Male | |
| Nalladhoru | A good |
| Kudumbam palkazhai | family is a |
| Kazhagam | university |
| Male | |
| Anbu | Love |
| Mani vazhangum | yielding gem-like |
| Surangam vaazhga vaazhga | mine, long live, long live! |
| Female | |
| Kolam | Adorned with beauty, |
| Konda baalanae | the young child |
| Kovil konda dheivamam | is like a deity in a temple |
| Thaayil pillai paasamae | A child's love for the mother |
| Thattil vaitha deebamam | is like a lamp placed on an offering plate |
| Male | |
| Paasam | Affection, |
| Endru edhai solvadhu | what shall we call it? |
| Bakthi endru edhai solvadhu | Devotion, what shall we call it? |
| Male | |
| Annai | Mother |
| Thandhai kaatum | and father show, |
| Nalla sondham allavaa | is it not a noble bond? |
| Male | |
| Pillai | Child, |
| Ennum thunai | as a companion |
| Vandhadhu ullam | has come, and my heart |
| Engum idam kondadhu | everywhere he has taken space |
| Male | |
| Illam | Seeing our home, |
| Kandu dheivam | the Almighty |
| Thandha selvam allavaa | has blessed us with this treasure, hasn't He? |
| Male | |
| Nalladhoru | A good |
| Kudumbam palkazhai | family is a |
| Kazhagam | university |
| Male | |
| Anbu | Love |
| Mani vazhangum | yielding gem-like |
| Surangam vaazhga vaazhga | mine, long live, long live! |
{ நல்லதொரு
குடும்பம் பல்கலைக்கழகம் } (2)
{ A good
family is a
university } (2)
அன்பு மணி
வழங்கும் சுரங்கம்
வாழ்க வாழ்க
Love
yielding gem-like
mine, long live, long live!
{ எங்கள் வீடு
கோகுலம் என் மகன்
தான் கண்ணனாம்
தந்தை வாசுதேவனோ
தங்கமான மன்னனாம் } (2)
{ Our
house is Gokulam,
my son indeed
is Krishna, and father
is Vasudeva, a golden
king } (2)
நல்லதொரு
குடும்பம் பல்கலைக்கழகம்
A good
family is a
university
அன்பு மணி
வழங்கும் சுரங்கம்
வாழ்க வாழ்க
Love
yielding gem-like
mine, long live, long live!
{ அன்னை என்னும்
கடல் தந்தது தந்தை என்னும்
நிழல் கொண்டது } (2)
{ The ocean
called Mother
gave it,
and the shadow called Father
shielded it } (2)
பிள்ளை செல்வம்
என்னும் வண்ணம்
கண்ணன் பிறந்தான்
Child,
in the form of
a colorful treasure, Krishna
was born
நன்றி என்னும்
குணம் கொண்டது
நன்மை செய்யும்
மனம் கொண்டது
Gratitude,
the virtue
it holds, a mind
that does good, it possesses
எங்கள் இல்லம்
என்னும் பேரை கண்ணன்
வளர்ப்பான்
Our
home's good
reputation, Krishna will elevate
நல்லதொரு
குடும்பம் பல்கலைக்கழகம்
A good
family is a
university
அன்பு மணி
வழங்கும் சுரங்கம்
வாழ்க வாழ்க
Love
yielding gem-like
mine, long live, long live!
வெள்ளம் போல
ஓடுவான் வெண்மணல்
மேல் ஆடுவான்
{ கானம் கோடி பாடுவான்
கண்ணன் என்னைத்
தேடுவான் } (2)
Like a flood
he will run,
he will play on the white sand
{ He will sing a crore songs,
Krishna will seek me }(2)
மாயம் செய்யும்
மகன் வந்தது ஆயர்பாடி
பயம் கொண்டது
Magical
mischievous son
arrived, and Gokulam
feared
அந்த பிள்ளை
செய்யும் லீலை
நானறிவேன்
Those
childish playful
pranks, I know them
இந்த பிள்ளை
நலம் கொள்ளவும்
என்னைப் பார்த்து
எனை வெல்லவும்
கண்ணில் வைத்து
நெஞ்சில் வைத்து
நான் வளர்த்தேன்
This
child's well-being to nurture,
looking at me and conquering me,
keeping in my eyes and keeping in my heart,
I raised him
நல்லதொரு
குடும்பம் பல்கலைக்கழகம்
A good
family is a
university
அன்பு மணி
வழங்கும் சுரங்கம்
வாழ்க வாழ்க
Love
yielding gem-like
mine, long live, long live!
கோலம் கொண்ட
பாலனே கோவில் கொண்ட
தெய்வமாம் தாயில் பிள்ளை
பாசமே தட்டில் வைத்த தீபமாம்
Adorned with beauty,
the young child
is like a deity in a temple
A child's love for the mother
is like a lamp placed on an offering plate
பாசம் என்று
எதை சொல்வது
பக்தி என்று எதை
சொல்வது
Affection,
what shall we call it?
Devotion, what shall we call it?
அன்னை தந்தை
காட்டும் நல்ல சொந்தம்
அல்லவா
Mother
and father show,
is it not a noble bond?
பிள்ளை என்னும்
துணை வந்தது உள்ளம்
எங்கும் இடம் கொண்டது
Child,
as a companion
has come, and my heart
everywhere he has taken space
இல்லம் கண்டு
தெய்வம் தந்த செல்வம்
அல்லவா
Seeing our home,
the Almighty
has blessed us with this treasure, hasn't He?
நல்லதொரு
குடும்பம் பல்கலைக்கழகம்
A good
family is a
university
அன்பு மணி
வழங்கும் சுரங்கம்
வாழ்க வாழ்க
Love
yielding gem-like
mine, long live, long live!
{ Nalladhoru
{ A good
Kudumbam palkazhai
family is a
Kazhagam } (2)
university } (2)
Anbu
Love
Mani vazhangum
yielding gem-like
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
mine, long live, long live!
{ Engal
{ Our
Veedu gokulam
house is Gokulam,
En magan thaan
my son indeed
Kannanaam thandhai
is Krishna, and father
Vaasudhevano thangamana
is Vasudeva, a golden
Mannanam } (2)
king } (2)
Nalladhoru
A good
Kudumbam palkazhai
family is a
Kazhagam
university
Anbu
Love
Mani vazhangum
yielding gem-like
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
mine, long live, long live!
{ Annai
{ The ocean
Ennum kadal
called Mother
Thanthadhu
gave it,
Thandhai ennum
and the shadow called Father
Nizhal kondadhu } (2)
shielded it } (2)
Pillai
Child,
Selvam ennum
in the form of
Vannam kannan
a colorful treasure, Krishna
Pirandhan
was born
Nandri
Gratitude,
Ennum gunam
the virtue
Kondadhu nanmai
it holds, a mind
Seiyum manam kondadhu
that does good, it possesses
Engal
Our
Illam ennum
home's good
Perai kannan valarpan
reputation, Krishna will elevate
Nalladhoru
A good
Kudumbam palkazhai
family is a
Kazhagam
university
Anbu
Love
Mani vazhangum
yielding gem-like
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
mine, long live, long live!
Vellam
Like a flood
Polae oduvan
he will run,
Venmanal mel aaduvan
he will play on the white sand
{ Gaanam kodi paaduvan
{ He will sing a crore songs,
Kannan ennai theduvan }(2)
Krishna will seek me }(2)
Maayam
Magical
Seiyum magan
mischievous son
Vandhadhu aayarpaadi
arrived, and Gokulam
Bayam kondadhu
feared
Andha
Those
Pillai seiyum
childish playful
Leelai naanariven
pranks, I know them
Indha
This
Pillai nalam kollavum
child's well-being to nurture,
Ennai paarthu enai vellavum
looking at me and conquering me,
Kannil vaithu nenjil vaithu
keeping in my eyes and keeping in my heart,
Naan valarthen
I raised him
Nalladhoru
A good
Kudumbam palkazhai
family is a
Kazhagam
university
Anbu
Love
Mani vazhangum
yielding gem-like
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
mine, long live, long live!
Kolam
Adorned with beauty,
Konda baalanae
the young child
Kovil konda dheivamam
is like a deity in a temple
Thaayil pillai paasamae
A child's love for the mother
Thattil vaitha deebamam
is like a lamp placed on an offering plate
Paasam
Affection,
Endru edhai solvadhu
what shall we call it?
Bakthi endru edhai solvadhu
Devotion, what shall we call it?
Annai
Mother
Thandhai kaatum
and father show,
Nalla sondham allavaa
is it not a noble bond?
Pillai
Child,
Ennum thunai
as a companion
Vandhadhu ullam
has come, and my heart
Engum idam kondadhu
everywhere he has taken space
Illam
Seeing our home,
Kandu dheivam
the Almighty
Thandha selvam allavaa
has blessed us with this treasure, hasn't He?
Nalladhoru
A good
Kudumbam palkazhai
family is a
Kazhagam
university
Anbu
Love
Mani vazhangum
yielding gem-like
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
mine, long live, long live!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nalladhoru Kudumbam Palkalaikkazhagam' is a classic family anthem from the 1974 Tamil film 'Thanga Pathakkam', composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, and sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The song glorifies the virtues of a harmonious family, comparing an ideal household to a university where love, duty, and righteous values are learned and lived continuously. Using allegorical imagery from mythological lore—comparing the home to Gokulam, the child to Lord Krishna, and the father to Vasudeva—the lyrics express deep parental pride, filial affection, and divine gratitude. It beautifully captures the mother's joy in raising her child and the underlying moral strength that keeps a loving family unified.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kudumbam palkazhai Kazhagam”
Compares a harmonious family to a university ('Palkalaikkazhagam') and the home to 'Gokulam'.
Simile (Upamai)
“Vellam Polae oduvan”
Compares the child's energetic movement to a rushing flood ('Vellam Polae').
Simile (Upamai)
“Thaayil pillai paasamae Thattil vaitha deebamam”
Compares a child's love for the mother to an auspicious lamp held on an offering plate ('Thattil vaitha deebamam').
Etukai (Second letter rhyming)
“Annai Ennum kadal / Thandhai ennum Nizhal”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'n' across lines ('Annai' / 'Thandhai').
Did you know?
Trivia
The opening line 'Nalladhoru Kudumbam Palkalaikkazhagam' became a universally famous proverb in Tamil culture, used frequently to describe an exemplary, virtuous family. The movie 'Thanga Pathakkam' starring Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya was one of the biggest blockbusters of 1974.
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