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Kulama Gunama album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pillai Kali Theera

From Kulama Gunama · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kulama Gunama
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
18 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Muthae maragadhamae
Mukkaniyae sakkaraiyae
Kothu marukkozhundhae
Kodai palaa pazhamae
Thathum kiliyae
Thadaagathu thaamaraiyae
Sandhana cholaiyae
Saamandhi poo kaadae
Vadakku pani malaiyae
Pani malaiyin kulir kaattrae
Kulir kaattril salasalakkum
Odai ilam thanneerae
Pillai kali theera
En pillai kali theera
Un annai vandhu serndhaal
Un annai kurai theera
Nee pinnae vandhu serndhaai
Pillai kali theera
Un annai vandhu serndhaal
Un annai kurai theera
Nee pinnae vandhu serndhaai
Aariraari raaro aaraariraari raaro
Nenjukku thaan theriyum
Adhu ninaithirundha neram
Kannukku thaan theriyum
Adhu kaathirundha kaalam
Nenjukku thaan theriyum
Adhu ninaithirundha neram
Kannukku thaan theriyum
Adhu kaathirundha kaalam
Pennukku thaan theriyum
Unnai sumandhirundha kolam
Pennukku thaan theriyum
Unnai sumandhirundha kolam
Pillaikku thaan theriyum
Annai manadhil ulla paasam
Pillai kali theera
En pillai kali theera
Un annai vandhu serndhaal
Un annai kurai theera
Nee pinnae vandhu serndhaai
Vaazhndha naalum ondru
Nee valarndha naalum ondru
Sumandha naalum ondru
Paal surandha naalum ondru
Vaazhndha naalum ondru
Nee valarndha naalum ondru
Sumandha naalum ondru
Paal surandha naalum ondru
Yaar eduthaal enna
Un thaayin manam menmai
Yaar eduthaal enna
Un thaayin manam menmai
Yaar koduthaal enna
Kannae paalin niram venmai
Sippi thandha muthu
Idhu dheivam thandha sothu
Unnai petreduthaal annai
Naan thatheduthaen unnai
My pearl, my emerald gem,
My trio of sweet fruits, or are you pure sugar?
Cluster of fragrant marjoram,
Sweet jackfruit of the summer,
Playful, hopping little parrot,
Lotus blooming in the pond,
Grove of fragrant sandalwood,
Field of golden chrysanthemums,
Snow-capped mountain of the north,
Cool breeze blowing from the snowy peaks,
Murmuring softly in the gentle wind,
Fresh, clear water of a stream,
To end the sorrow of childlessness,
To take away my grief of having no child,
Your mother came into our home,
And to heal your mother's sorrow,
You followed closely behind her.
To end the sorrow of childlessness,
Your mother came into our home,
And to heal your mother's sorrow,
You followed closely behind her.
Aariro aaraariro, aaraari aaraariro...
Only the heart truly knows
The long time it spent yearning,
Only the eyes truly know
The endless days they spent waiting.
Only the heart truly knows
The long time it spent yearning,
Only the eyes truly know
The endless days they spent waiting.
Only a woman truly knows
What it felt like to carry you within,
Only a woman truly knows
What it felt like to carry you within,
And only a child truly knows
The boundless love inside a mother's heart.
To end the sorrow of childlessness,
To take away my grief of having no child,
Your mother came into our home,
And to heal your mother's sorrow,
You followed closely behind her.
The life we lived together is one,
The days of your growing up are one,
The days of carrying you are one,
The days of nursing you are one.
The life we lived together is one,
The days of your growing up are one,
The days of carrying you are one,
The days of nursing you are one.
What does it matter who holds you in her arms?
Your mother's heart is always tender.
What does it matter who holds you in her arms?
Your mother's heart is always tender.
What does it matter who feeds you?
My darling, milk is always pure white.
You are a pearl given by an oyster,
A priceless treasure given by God.
One mother gave birth to you,
And I have adopted you as my own.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This touching Tamil song from 'Kulama Gunama' (1971) is a soulful lullaby expressing maternal love, devotion, and the joy of welcoming a child into a home. The lyrics begin with an array of affectionate metaphors comparing the infant to precious gems, sweet fruits, fragrant flowers, and pristine nature, highlighting how beloved and cherished the child is.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvakamm)

“Muthae maragadhamae / Mukkaniyae sakkaraiyae”

The opening lines shower the child with vivid metaphors, equating the infant to pearls, emeralds, jackfruits, and lotus flowers to express pure affection.

Anaphora (Eyalbu Thodarchiyani)

“Nenjukku thaan theriyum... Kannukku thaan theriyum... Pennukku thaan theriyum”

Repetition of sentence structures ending with '-ukku thaan theriyum' creates a rhythmic cadence emphasizing inner emotions of heart, eyes, and mother.

Imagery (Katchiyani)

“Pani malaiyin kulir kaattrae / Kulir kaattril salasalakkum / Odai ilam thanneerae”

Evokes rich sensory descriptions of nature, such as cool mountain breezes, rustling streams, and blooming sandalwood groves.

Rhyme / Parallelism (Edhurai & Iyaibu)

“Vaazhndha naalum ondru / Nee valarndha naalum ondru”

Rhythmic end-rhyming and parallel phrasing in 'naalum ondru' lines build a musical, soothing lullaby rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the 1971 Tamil film 'Kulama Gunama', this track features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered beautifully by P. Susheela. It remains one of the classic examples of maternal affection and lullabies in Tamil cinema history.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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