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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Pullaangkuzal

From Thaali Dhanam · 1987

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
P. Susheela, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thaali Dhanam1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oru pullaangkuzal ennai ammaa enumA flute will call me mother,
Oru pullaangkuzal ennai ammaa enumA flute will call me mother.
Idhu pillai thamizh solla vantha thangamThis precious gold has arrived to speak sweet baby Tamil,
Idhu illamalla thenmadhurai sangamThis is not just a home, but the sweet Madurai Tamil Sangam.
Idhu pillai thamizh solla vantha thangamThis precious gold has arrived to speak sweet baby Tamil,
Idhu illamalla thenmadhurai sangamThis is not just a home, but the sweet Madurai Tamil Sangam.
Oru pullaangkuzal ennai ammaa enumA flute will call me mother.
Female
Ennai annai endru solla padaithaenI was blessed to be called a mother,
Azaithaen .. thamizth thaen alithaenI called out and offered sweet Tamil like honey.
Ennai annai endru solla padaithaenI was blessed to be called a mother,
Azaithaen .. thamizth thaen alithaenI called out and offered sweet Tamil like honey.
Female
Pillai illai endra sollai azithaenI erased the words that said I had no child,
Pizhaithaen sezithaen thazaithaenI survived, I flourished, I prospered.
Pillai illai endra sollai azithaenI erased the words that said I had no child,
Pizhaithaen sezithaen thazaithaenI survived, I flourished, I prospered.
Female
Kangal rendum vaira thunduBoth eyes are sparkling pieces of diamond,
Kaigal rendum alli chenduBoth hands are like a fresh bouquet of flowers,
Adhil thaen eduthaen rusithaenFrom them, I gathered honey and tasted it.
Female
Pattam kattum mannan endruProclaiming him as a king to be crowned,
Kappam katta mutham ondru koduthaenI paid a kiss as my tribute,
Malar thaen kuvithaenAnd gathered the honey of flowers.
Female
Oru pullaangkuzal ennai ammaa enumA flute will call me mother,
Idhu pillai thamizh solla vantha thangamThis precious gold has arrived to speak sweet baby Tamil,
Idhu illamalla thenmadhurai sangamThis is not just a home, but the sweet Madurai Tamil Sangam.
Female
Idhu illamalla thenmadhurai sangamThis is not just a home, but the sweet Madurai Tamil Sangam.
Female
Muthu pillai unnai indru adainthaenMy precious pearl-like child, I attained you today,
Magiznthaen midhanthaen paranthaenI rejoiced, I floated, I soared in joy.
Muthu pillai unnai indru adainthaenMy precious pearl-like child, I attained you today,
Magiznthaen midhanthaen paranthaenI rejoiced, I floated, I soared in joy.
Female
Pathu thingal anbu thavam irunthaenFor ten months, I endured a penance of love,
Melinthaen nalinthaen thalarnthaenI grew thin, suffered, and withered away.
Pathu thingal anbu thavam irunthaenFor ten months, I endured a penance of love,
Melinthaen nalinthaen thalarnthaenI grew thin, suffered, and withered away.
Female
Pattu vaitha kannam renduTwo smooth cheeks soft as silk,
Thottu vaitha sinnam ondruA lovely beauty mark etched upon them,
Padhithaen adhil thaen kudithaenI imprinted my kiss and drank the honey from it.
Female
Panju methai nenjilittuPlacing the little parrot on my chest like a soft cotton bed,
Anjugathai konja vittuAnd pampering the innocent child,
Anaithaen rasithaen sirithaenI embraced, admired, and smiled.
Female
Oru pullaangkuzal ennai ammaa enumA flute will call me mother,
Idhu pillai thamizh solla vantha thangamThis precious gold has arrived to speak sweet baby Tamil,
Idhu illamalla thenmadhurai sangamThis is not just a home, but the sweet Madurai Tamil Sangam.
Idhu illamalla thenmadhurai sangamThis is not just a home, but the sweet Madurai Tamil Sangam.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful lullaby celebrates the profound joy and divine fulfillment of motherhood. The mother expresses her overwhelming bliss upon having a child, comparing the baby's gentle voice to a sweet flute calling her 'Amma' (mother). She reflects on overcoming the pain and social stigma of childlessness, equating her child's baby talk ('Pillai Tamil') to pure gold and sacred literature, turning her modest home into the revered literary assembly of ancient Madurai ('Thenmadhurai Sangam'). The song further details the physical and emotional penance ('thavam') of carrying a child for ten months. Upon finally holding her newborn, all her past pain vanishes, replaced by sheer ecstasy. Through vivid imagery of diamonds, flowers, honey, and silk-soft cheeks, the mother pours out her immense love, holding her baby close to her heart and bathing in the heavenly sweetness of motherly devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Oru pullaangkuzal ennai ammaa enum

The child's soft, sweet babbling voice calling 'mother' is metaphorically compared to the melodious sound of a flute ('pullaangkuzal').

Cultural Reference / Literary Allusion

Idhu pillai thamizh solla vantha thangam / Idhu illamalla thenmadhurai sangam

References 'Pillai Tamil' (a classical genre of Tamil literature written about a child's stages of growth) and 'Thenmadhurai Sangam' (the ancient Tamil academy), elevating the home's atmosphere to a holy literary space.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme & Internal Rhyme)

Pizhaithaen sezithaen thazaithaen

The repetition of matching end-syllables ('thae-n') creates a rhythmic cadence expressing progression and prosperity.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Melinthaen nalinthaen thalarnthaen

Uses matching rhyming suffixes ('-nthaen') to dramatically describe the physical toll and fatigue endured during ten months of pregnancy.

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Panju methai nenjilittu

The mother's loving chest is metaphorically described as a soft 'cotton mattress' ('panju methai') for the infant to sleep on.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the eminent poet Pulamaipithan for the 1987 film 'Thaali Dhanam', the song richly weaves traditional Tamil literary concepts like 'Pillai Tamil' and 'Madurai Sangam' into a commercial film song setting, showcasing his signature classical Tamil touch.

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