- Lyricist
- Ramalingam Pillai
- Singer
- P. Bhanumathi
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Malaikkallan
- Movie release year
- 1954
- Lyrics added on
- 28 Aug 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a celebratory tribute to womanhood and the foundational role women play in sustaining family and society. Penned by the legendary Gandhian poet Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam Pillai, the lyric highlights how a woman brings lasting joy, honor, and harmony into the world. It describes her ability to uplift her household, guide her husband with kindness and tact, ensure the family's growth across generations, and maintain a bright, smiling countenance even when faced with monumental hardships.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Malai pola thunbam nerntha pothum”
Compares the overwhelming magnitude of life's grief or hardships to a massive mountain ('Malai pola thunbam').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thanmalar mugam kaatti malarnthida seivaal”
Metaphorically describes the woman's face as a blooming lotus/flower ('Thanmalar mugam').
Alliteration (Monai)
“Kallaa mooda kanavanum vaazha”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words ('Kallaa mooda kanavanum').
Refrain / Anaphora
“Pengalaalae ulagilae”
The line 'Pengalaalae ulagilae' is repeated as a central refrain to continuously reinforce the glory of women.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Malaikkallan' (1954) starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi was a blockbuster landmark in Tamil cinema, winning the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Tamil. The music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, and the song lyrics were penned by Namakkal Kavignar V. Ramalingam Pillai, the Poet Laureate of Tamil Nadu.
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