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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Sirithaal Sad

From Paavai Vilakku · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Paavai Vilakku
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
30 Sept 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee sirithaal naan sirippen
Singaara kannae
Nee azhuthaal naan azhuven
Mangaadha ponnae
Nee sirithaal naan sirippen
Singaara kannae
Nee azhuthaal naan azhuven
Mangaadha ponnae
Thaen manakkum vaai idhazhum
Sivappu mathaappu
Chinna iru kann malarum
Neela mathaappu
Thaen manakkum vaai idhazhum
Sivappu mathaappu
Chinna iru kann malarum
Neela mathaappu
Maeniyilae theriyudhamma
Thangathin jolippu
Maeniyilae theriyudhamma
Thangathin jolippu
Adhai kaanum podhu manasukkullae
Ethanai kalippu
Nee sirithaal naan sirippen
Singaara kannae
Nee azhuthaal naan azhuven
Mangaadha ponnae
Kaiasaithu kaal asaithu
Kann simittum kaniyae
Kann urangaai nee siridhu
Oivu kolla kaniyae
Vaiyagathil siragadithu
Parakkapogum kiliyae
Vaiyagathil siragadithu
Parakkapogum kiliyae
Vadivazhagae kulam thazhaikka
Vandhudhitha kodiyae
Vadivazhagae kulam thazhaikka
Vandhudhitha kodiyae
Nee sirithaal naan sirippen
Singaara kannae
Nee azhuthaal naan azhuven
Mangaadha ponnae
Etti etti vatta nilaa
Unnai paarkkudhu
Un echil patta sottrai
Adhu thanakku kertkkudhu
Etti etti vatta nilaa
Unnai paarkkudhu
Un echil patta sottrai
Adhu thanakku kertkkudhu
Sattamaaga seekiram nee
Saapidu amma
Sattamaaga seekiram nee
Saapidu amma
Andha chandhiranai vilaiyaada
Koopidu amma
Nee sirithaal naan sirippen
Singaara kannae
Nee azhuthaal naan azhuven
Mangaadha ponnae
Nee sirithaal naan sirippen
Singaara kannae
Nee azhuthaal naan azhuven
Mangaadha ponnae
If you smile, I will smile,
my lovely little darling.
If you cry, I will cry,
my unfading gold.
If you smile, I will smile,
my lovely little darling.
If you cry, I will cry,
my unfading gold.
Your honey-sweet lips
are like red sparklers,
and your two little flower-like eyes
are like blue sparklers.
Your honey-sweet lips
are like red sparklers,
and your two little flower-like eyes
are like blue sparklers.
On your tender body shines
the bright glow of gold,
on your tender body shines
the bright glow of gold,
and seeing it fills my heart
with so much joy!
If you smile, I will smile,
my lovely little darling.
If you cry, I will cry,
my unfading gold.
Waving your hands and kicking your feet,
blinking your eyes, my sweet fruit,
close your eyes and sleep a little,
get some rest, my darling.
You will spread your wings and fly
across this wide world, my little parrot!
You will spread your wings and fly
across this wide world, my little parrot!
Beautiful child, born to make our family bloom,
like a tender blossoming vine!
Beautiful child, born to make our family bloom,
like a tender blossoming vine!
If you smile, I will smile,
my lovely little darling.
If you cry, I will cry,
my unfading gold.
Peeking from above, the round moon
is watching you,
asking for a share of the rice
touched by your sweet lips.
Peeking from above, the round moon
is watching you,
asking for a share of the rice
touched by your sweet lips.
Eat your food nicely and quickly,
my dear child,
eat your food nicely and quickly,
my dear child,
and call that moon over
to play with you, my little one...
If you smile, I will smile,
my lovely little darling.
If you cry, I will cry,
my unfading gold.
If you smile, I will smile,
my lovely little darling.
If you cry, I will cry,
my unfading gold.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nee Sirithaal Naan Sirippen is an iconic and affectionate Tamil lullaby from the movie Paavai Vilakku (1960). Sung deeply from a mother's perspective, the song expresses unconditional love, empathy, and deep emotional attachment to her child. She mirrors every emotional expression of the baby—smiling when the child smiles and weeping when the child cries. Through vivid imagery, she compares her child's features to red and blue sparklers, blooming flowers, and pure glittering gold. The mother coaxingly lulls the baby to sleep and feeds her by painting playful fantasies involving the moon looking down from the sky, eager to share the baby's food. Penned by A. Maruthakasi and set to music by K. V. Mahadevan, this piece captures the gentle charm and warmth of traditional Tamil maternal songs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Parallelism / Antithesis

“Nee sirithaal naan sirippen ... Nee azhuthaal naan azhuven”

Contrasting paired emotional reactions ('Nee sirithaal... Nee azhuthaal...') to establish emotional unity between mother and child.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Thaen manakkum vaai idhazhum Sivappu mathaappu”

Compares the child's lips and eyes directly to colorful firecrackers ('mathaappu') and sweet fruit ('kaniyae').

Personification

“Etti etti vatta nilaa Unnai paarkkudhu”

Attributes human traits to the moon, describing it as peeping down to request food from the child.

Repetition / Repetend (Adukku Thodar)

“Etti etti vatta nilaa”

Uses rhythmic doubled words like 'Etti etti' to create a lyrical cadence suited for a lullaby.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by K. V. Mahadevan for the 1960 movie Paavai Vilakku, starring Sivaji Ganesan and Sowcar Janaki. It remains one of the most famous maternal lullabies in Tamil cinema history, famously rendered by Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi.

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From the same album

More songs from Paavai Vilakku

View album
Vetkamaai Irukkudhu1960
Paavai VilakkuTender
Vanna Tamizh1960
Paavai VilakkuRomantic
Nee Sirithaal Happy1960
Paavai VilakkuAffectionate
Mangiyathor Nilavinile1960
Paavai VilakkuDreamy
Naan Unnai Ninai1960
Paavai VilakkuTender
Aayiram Kann1960
Paavai VilakkuAwe Struck

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