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Anbu Magan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Thayumillai

From Anbu Magan · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
T. Chalapathi Rao
Movie name
Anbu Magan
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
3 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Paal kodutha thanangal sollum
Paarthiruntha kangal sollum
Sollukku porul ariyaar
Sollivittu odi vittar
Sollivittu odi vittar
Nee thaaiyum illaiyaam
Avan saeiyum illaiyaam
Nee thaaiyum illaiyaam
Avan saeiyum illaiyaam
Sattathilae
Avar sattathilae
Ungal sondham kaanvillaiyaam
Nee thaaiyum illaiyaam
Avan saeiyum illaiyaam
Pasuvai kooda annai endru
Paadam solgiraar
Than paal koduthu valarthaval
Thaaiyillai engiraar
Pasuvai kooda annai endru
Paadam solgiraar
Than paal koduthu valarthaval
Thaaiyillai engiraar
Pillai kandru pola kadharum podhu
Thookki selgiraar
Ini karpanaiyil maganai kandu
Pesa solgiraar
Nee thaaiyum illaiyaam
Avan saeiyum illaiyaam
Nee poovilandhu pottilandhu
Pona naalilae
Unai porumai kolla sonna
Pillai karuvil irundhaan
Nee poovilandhu pottilandhu
Pona naalilae
Unai porumai kolla sonna
Pillai karuvil irundhaan
Nee kann thirandhu paartha podhu
Kaiyil irundhaan
Andru kandathellam kanavai pola
Odi marainthaan
Nee thaaiyum illaiyaam
Avan saeiyum illaiyaam
Anbariyaa manidhar unnai
Aadavum vaithaar
Nee aadum bothu medai yeri
Kaalai murithaar
Anbariyaa manidhar unnai
Aadavum vaithaar
Nee aadum bothu medai yeri
Kaalai murithaar
Nee kannizhandha velaiyilae
Kangal koduthaar
Nee kaanum varai paarthirunthu
Kannai parithaar
Nee thaaiyum illaiyaam
Avan saeiyum illaiyaam
The bosom that nursed him will tell,
The eyes that watched over him will tell,
Those who do not understand the meaning of love
Have spoken cruel words and fled,
They spoke their words and fled.
They say you are not his mother,
They say he is not your child.
They say you are not his mother,
They say he is not your child.
In the law,
In their written law,
They say your bond does not exist.
They say you are not his mother,
They say he is not your child.
Even a cow, they call a mother
In the lessons that they teach,
Yet the woman who raised him with her own milk,
They claim is not his mother!
Even a cow, they call a mother
In the lessons that they teach,
Yet the woman who raised him with her own milk,
They claim is not his mother!
While the child wails like a helpless calf,
They drag him away and carry him off,
And tell you to look at your son only in your thoughts,
And speak to him only in your mind.
They say you are not his mother,
They say he is not your child.
When you lost your flowers and bindi,
On that fateful day of sorrow,
The child who gave you the strength to endure
Was growing inside your womb.
When you lost your flowers and bindi,
On that fateful day of sorrow,
The child who gave you the strength to endure
Was growing inside your womb.
When you opened your eyes and looked,
He was cradled in your arms.
Now, like a dream seen in the night,
He has vanished from your sight.
They say you are not his mother,
They say he is not your child.
Heartless people who know no love
Made you dance to their tune,
And while you were dancing, they stepped on stage
And broke your legs.
Heartless people who know no love
Made you dance to their tune,
And while you were dancing, they stepped on stage
And broke your legs.
When you were blind with darkness,
They gave you eyes to see,
And just when you began to look at the world,
They snatched your eyes away!
They say you are not his mother,
They say he is not your child.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional song from 'Anbu Magan' (1961) expresses the grief and injustice experienced by a mother who is forcefully separated from her child due to cold legal technicalities and cruel social circumstances. Kannadasan highlights the hypocrisy of a society that reveres cows as sacred mothers while stripping away maternal rights from a woman who nurtured her child with her own milk. Through poignant imagery, the song reflects on how unfeeling people offer temporary hope only to snatch away happiness, leaving the mother to mourn the loss of her child who is declared legally unrelated to her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Pillai kandru pola kadharum podhu”

Compares the crying child to a helpless calf calling for its mother.

Irony / Contrast

“Pasuvai kooda annai endru... Than paal koduthu valarthaval thaaiyillai engiraar”

Contrasts the societal lesson of treating cows as mothers with denying a human mother her own son.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Nee kaanum varai paarthirunthu kannai parithaar”

Uses the metaphor of granting sight only to snatch it away to portray cruelty and false hope.

Alliteration (Edhukai / Monai)

“Nee poovilandhu pottilandhu / Pona naalilae”

Rhythmic repetition of initial sound patterns across word pairs.

Did you know?

Trivia

Anbu Magan (1961) featured musical composition by T. Chalapathi Rao and emotive lyrics by Kannadasan. Sung brilliantly by P. Leela, the song captures the heartbreaking theme of maternal separation.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Mani Vilakkal Amma1980
Doorathu Idi MuzhakkamGriefLoss
Maalaiyittu Poo1973
Thalai PrasavamGriefMournful
Oomai Penn Oru1963
VanambadiGriefLoneliness
Kaanakathai Thedi Indru1966
KodimalarGriefMournful
Unavu Sellavillai Sagiye (Sad)1989
Samsarame SaranamGriefHeartbreak
Kadhal Tholvi1960
Raja BakthiLossGrief

From the same album

More songs from Anbu Magan

View album
My Dear Lady Pothunga1961
Anbu MaganHumorous
Malar Gum Gum Manam1961
Anbu MaganCelebratory
Chal Chalonnu Savari1961
Anbu MaganPlayful
Oh Mappillai Machchan1961
Anbu MaganPlayful
Kaalamellam Payaname1961
Anbu MaganContemplative
Annam Pole Unnai Sad1961
Anbu MaganMournful

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