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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nallathoru Kudumbam

From Thanga Pathakkam · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thanga Pathakkam
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
30 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Nalladhoru
Kudumbam palkazhai
Kazhagam } (2)
Anbu
Mani vazhangum
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
{ Engal
Veedu gokulam
En magan thaan
Kannanaam thandhai
Vaasudhevano thangamana
Mannanam } (2)
Nalladhoru
Kudumbam palkazhai
Kazhagam
Anbu
Mani vazhangum
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
{ Annai
Ennum kadal
Thanthadhu
Thandhai ennum
Nizhal kondadhu } (2)
Pillai
Selvam ennum
Vannam kannan
Pirandhan
Nandri
Ennum gunam
Kondadhu nanmai
Seiyum manam kondadhu
Engal
Illam ennum
Perai kannan valarpan
Nalladhoru
Kudumbam palkazhai
Kazhagam
Anbu
Mani vazhangum
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
Vellam
Polae oduvan
Venmanal mel aaduvan
{ Gaanam kodi paaduvan
Kannan ennai theduvan }(2)
Maayam
Seiyum magan
Vandhadhu aayarpaadi
Bayam kondadhu
Andha
Pillai seiyum
Leelai naanariven
Indha
Pillai nalam kollavum
Ennai paarthu enai vellavum
Kannil vaithu nenjil vaithu
Naan valarthen
Nalladhoru
Kudumbam palkazhai
Kazhagam
Anbu
Mani vazhangum
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
Kolam
Konda baalanae
Kovil konda dheivamam
Thaayil pillai paasamae
Thattil vaitha deebamam
Paasam
Endru edhai solvadhu
Bakthi endru edhai solvadhu
Annai
Thandhai kaatum
Nalla sondham allavaa
Pillai
Ennum thunai
Vandhadhu ullam
Engum idam kondadhu
Illam
Kandu dheivam
Thandha selvam allavaa
Nalladhoru
Kudumbam palkazhai
Kazhagam
Anbu
Mani vazhangum
Surangam vaazhga vaazhga
A good
family is a university,
a great institution of learning!
It is a treasure
that showers gems of love,
long may it live!
Our
home is Gokulam (Krishna's village),
and my son
is little Krishna; his father
is Vasudeva,
a king with a heart of gold!
A good
family is a university,
a great institution of learning!
It is a treasure
that showers gems of love,
long may it live!
The mother,
an ocean of love,
gave birth to him,
and the protective shade
of the father sheltered him.
In the beautiful form
of a precious child,
our little Krishna
was born.
With a heart full
of deep gratitude,
and a mind that always
does what is good,
Kannan will bring
honor and pride
to the name of our home.
A good
family is a university,
a great institution of learning!
It is a treasure
that showers gems of love,
long may it live!
Like a gushing stream,
he will run around,
and dance upon the white sand.
He will sing countless sweet songs,
and my Kannan will come looking for me.
When this mischievous
little son arrived,
the cowherd village of Gokulam
was astonished in awe!
All the playful pranks
that this child plays,
I know them all too well.
So this child
would prosper in goodness
and grow to surpass me,
I kept him close to my eyes and heart
and raised him with care.
A good
family is a university,
a great institution of learning!
It is a treasure
that showers gems of love,
long may it live!
This beautifully
adorned little boy
is like the deity enshrined in a temple!
The bond of love between a mother and child
is like the sacred light held on a prayer plate!
What truly is
affection?
What truly is devotion?
Is it not the noble bond
shown by a mother
and a father?
A sweet companion
in the form of a child
has arrived, and filled
every corner of our hearts!
Seeing the love in our home,
is he not the precious treasure
bestowed by God Himself?
A good
family is a university,
a great institution of learning!
It is a treasure
that showers gems of love,
long may it live!
Female
Female
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Female
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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