Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Petretuthu Peyarumittu

From Manapanthal · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. S. Bagavathi
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Manapanthal1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kann moodi kadhai mudithaaiClosing your eyes, you completed your story.
Kanalodu uravu kondaaiYou made a bond with the burning fire.
Kariya pugai thaer yeriRiding upon a chariot of dark smoke,
Kaatrodu kalandhu vittaaiYou merged away into the wind.
Megangal aanaai vinmeenaai maari vittaaiYou turned into clouds and transformed into stars.
Raagangal polae oliyirukka uruvizhanthaaiLike melodies that exist as sound, you lost your physical form.
Female
Pettreduthu perum ittuGiving birth to us and giving us names,
Vaazha vaithaaiyaeYou enabled us to live.
Pirinthirukkum emmai vittuLeaving us behind in separation,
Maraindhu sendraaiyaeYou disappeared into the unknown.
Female
Pettreduthu perum ittuGiving birth to us and giving us names,
Vaazha vaithaaiyaeYou enabled us to live.
Pirinthirukkum emmai vittuLeaving us behind in separation,
Maraindhu sendraaiyaeYou disappeared into the unknown.
Female
Pottu vaithu poo mudithuAdorning a bindi and wearing flowers,
AnaithiruppaayaeYou used to embrace us.
Pottu vaithu poo mudithuAdorning a bindi and wearing flowers,
AnaithiruppaayaeYou used to embrace us.
Un pon udalai theeyinilae anaithu vittayaeNow you embraced your golden body into the fire.
Female
Pettreduthu perum ittuGiving birth to us and giving us names,
Vaazha vaithaaiyaeYou enabled us to live.
Pirinthirukkum emmai vittuLeaving us behind in separation,
Maraindhu sendraaiyaeYou disappeared into the unknown.
Female
Thanai maranthu pillaigalaiForgetting yourself, you constantly watched over
PaarthirunthaayaeYour children.
Vazhi thavarum podhu veliyittuWhen we lost our way, you shed light
KaathirunthaayaeAnd protected us.
Pudhu magalai marumagalai kondu vandhaayaeYou brought home a new daughter as a daughter-in-law.
Nee poru magalae kaalam varum endru sonnaayaeYou advised her, 'Be patient, daughter, better times will come.'
Aae…ae…ae…Ah... ah... ah...
Poru magalae kaalam varum endru sonnaayaeYou advised her, 'Be patient, daughter, better times will come.'
Female
Kaalam varum velayilaeJust as the time for joy arrived,
Kaalan vanthaanaeThe God of Death came knocking.
Ullam kaniyum munnae paavi avanBefore our hearts could ripen into joy, that sinner
Kaai parithaanaePlucked the unripe fruit.
Female
Pettreduthu perum ittuGiving birth to us and giving us names,
Vaazha vaithaaiyaeYou enabled us to live.
Pirinthirukkum emmai vittuLeaving us behind in separation,
Maraindhu sendraaiyaeYou disappeared into the unknown.
Female
Ezhai magal engu selvenWhere shall this poor daughter go?
Yaaridam solvenTo whom shall I express my grief?
Enaiarindha orr uyirai izhandhu vittenaeI have lost the one soul who truly understood me.
Engalin thaayae nee engu sendraayooOh our mother, where have you gone?
Ingu ondrum angu ondrum endru serumooWill one here and one there ever unite again?
Vaazhkai enna aagumoo…aa….What will become of this life... ah...
Enna aagumooWhat will become of it?
Female
Pettreduthu perum ittuGiving birth to us and giving us names,
Vaazha vaithaaiyaeYou enabled us to live.
Pirinthirukkum emmai vittuLeaving us behind in separation,
Maraindhu sendraaiyaeYou disappeared into the unknown.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film Manapanthal (1961) is a deeply emotional dirge mourning the loss of a devoted mother. The lyrics reflect on the immense sacrifices the mother made throughout her life—giving birth, nurturing, guiding her children when they strayed, and welcoming a new daughter-in-law into the family with hope for better times. The grief peaks in describing the cruelty of fate and Death (Kaalan) taking her away just when life was about to blossom with happiness. The bereaved children express complete helplessness and disorientation, wondering how they will carry on without the sole anchor and understanding soul in their lives.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai) & Ethereal Metaphor

Raagangal polae oliyirukka uruvizhanthaai

Compares the mother's soul after cremation to 'ragas' (melodies)—something that retains a beautiful, harmonious presence/sound but lacks a physical body.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Ullam kaniyum munnae paavi avan Kaai parithaanae

Death taking away a life before happiness was fulfilled is poetically described as plucking an unripe fruit ('kaai') before it ripens ('kani').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kann moodi kadhai mudithaai / Kanalodu uravu kondaai

Matching initial consonant sounds 'K' across words in the line for musical cadence.

Contrast / Irony

Un pon udalai theeyinilae anaithu vittayae

Contrasts the mother's gentle habit of hugging her children with flowers and bindi against her body being consumed/embraced by cremation flames.

Did you know?

Trivia

Manapanthal (1961) was directed by V. N. Reddy and written by Kannadasan himself. The movie was a remake of the Telugu film 'Laila Majnu' / contemporary family dramas of the era. The musical score for this iconic film was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with lyrics written by Kannadasan showcasing his mastery in crafting tragic philosophical laments.

Keep listening

More from Manapanthal