Pillai Selvame
From Pesum Dheivam · 1967
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Pesum Dheivam1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae | O treasure of a child, O living deity! |
| Vellai ullamae vanna vanna poovae | O pure heart, O colorful flower! |
| Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa | Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one! |
| Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa | Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa |
| Female | |
| Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae | O treasure of a child, O living deity! |
| Vellai ullamae vanna vanna poovae | O pure heart, O colorful flower! |
| Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa | Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one! |
| Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa | Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa |
| Female | |
| Thanga thattu thaan un kannam enbadho | Is your cheek a golden plate? |
| Sinna chittu thaan un vannam enbadho | Is your hue that of a little bird? |
| Minnal vettu thaan un kannil vandhadho | Has a flash of lightning entered your eyes? |
| Mullai mottu thaan en pillai enbadho | Is my child a tender jasmine bud? |
| Female | |
| Thanga thattu thaan un kannam enbadho | Is your cheek a golden plate? |
| Sinna chittu thaan un vannam enbadho | Is your hue that of a little bird? |
| Minnal vettu thaan un kannil vandhadho | Has a flash of lightning entered your eyes? |
| Mullai mottu thaan en pillai enbadho | Is my child a tender jasmine bud? |
| Thaayin nenjamae thottil manjamae | A mother's heart is a soft cradle bed |
| Thaayin nenjamae thottil manjamae | A mother's heart is a soft cradle bed |
| Pachai pasungiliyae paadal sollavaa nee | O green parrot, shall I sing a song for you? |
| Female | |
| Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae | O treasure of a child, O living deity! |
| Vellai ullamae vanna vanna poovae | O pure heart, O colorful flower! |
| Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa | Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one! |
| Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa | Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa |
| Female | |
| Buthan pirandhaan en mannan vadivil | Buddha was born in the form of my little king |
| Thathi thavazhndhaan than annai madiyil | He toddled and crawled upon his mother's lap |
| Mullum malarum mai konjum vizhiyil | Thorns turn into flowers before his kohl-lined eyes |
| Kallum kaniyum avan sollum mozhiyil | Even hard stones turn into sweet fruits by the words he speaks |
| Female | |
| Buthan pirandhaan en mannan vadivil | Buddha was born in the form of my little king |
| Thathi thavazhndhaan than annai madiyil | He toddled and crawled upon his mother's lap |
| Mullum malarum mai konjum vizhiyil | Thorns turn into flowers before his kohl-lined eyes |
| Kallum kaniyum avan sollum mozhiyil | Even hard stones turn into sweet fruits by the words he speaks |
| Thaavi thazhuvum solai thendralae | O garden breeze that leaps and embraces gently |
| Thaavi thazhuvum solai thendralae | O garden breeze that leaps and embraces gently |
| Muthuchara vilakkae mutham sindha vaa nee | O lamp of pearl garlands, come to shower kisses! |
| Female | |
| Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae | O treasure of a child, O living deity! |
| Vellai ullamae vanna vanna poovae | O pure heart, O colorful flower! |
| Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa | Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one! |
| Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa | Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa |
பிள்ளைச் செல்வமே பேசும் தெய்வமே
வெள்ளை உள்ளமே வண்ண வண்ண பூவே
தொட்டு தொட்டு தேன் முத்தம் தா ஒன்று தா
ஓஒ ஓஒ ஓ ஹா ஹா ஹா ஆஅ
O treasure of a child, O living deity!
O pure heart, O colorful flower!
Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one!
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
பிள்ளைச் செல்வமே பேசும் தெய்வமே
வெள்ளை உள்ளமே வண்ண வண்ண பூவே
தொட்டு தொட்டு தேன் முத்தம் தா ஒன்று தா
ஓஒ ஓஒ ஓ ஹா ஹா ஹா ஆஅ
O treasure of a child, O living deity!
O pure heart, O colorful flower!
Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one!
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
தங்கத் தட்டுத்தான் உன் கன்னம் என்பதோ
சின்னச் சிட்டுத்தான் உன் வண்ணம் என்பதோ
மின்னல் வெட்டுத்தான் உன் கண்ணில் வந்ததோ
முல்லை மொட்டுத்தான் என் பிள்ளை என்பதோ
Is your cheek a golden plate?
Is your hue that of a little bird?
Has a flash of lightning entered your eyes?
Is my child a tender jasmine bud?
தங்கத் தட்டுத்தான் உன் கன்னம் என்பதோ
சின்னச் சிட்டுத்தான் உன் வண்ணம் என்பதோ
மின்னல் வெட்டுத்தான் உன் கண்ணில் வந்ததோ
முல்லை மொட்டுத்தான் என் பிள்ளை என்பதோ
தாயின் நெஞ்சமே தொட்டில் மஞ்சமே
தாயின் நெஞ்சமே தொட்டில் மஞ்சமே
பச்சை பசுங்கிளியே பாடல் சொல்லவா நீ
Is your cheek a golden plate?
Is your hue that of a little bird?
Has a flash of lightning entered your eyes?
Is my child a tender jasmine bud?
A mother's heart is a soft cradle bed
A mother's heart is a soft cradle bed
O green parrot, shall I sing a song for you?
பிள்ளைச் செல்வமே பேசும் தெய்வமே
வெள்ளை உள்ளமே வண்ண வண்ண பூவே
தொட்டு தொட்டு தேன் முத்தம் தா ஒன்று தா
ஓஒ ஓஒ ஓ ஹா ஹா ஹா ஆஅ
O treasure of a child, O living deity!
O pure heart, O colorful flower!
Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one!
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
புத்தன் பிறந்தான் என் மன்னன் வடிவில்
தத்தி தவழ்ந்தான் தன் அன்னை மடியில்
முள்ளும் மலரும் கொஞ்சும் விழியில்
கல்லும் கனியும் அவன் சொல்லும் மொழியில்
Buddha was born in the form of my little king
He toddled and crawled upon his mother's lap
Thorns turn into flowers before his kohl-lined eyes
Even hard stones turn into sweet fruits by the words he speaks
புத்தன் பிறந்தான் என் மன்னன் வடிவில்
தத்தி தவழ்ந்தான் தன் அன்னை மடியில்
முள்ளும் மலரும் கொஞ்சும் விழியில்
கல்லும் கனியும் அவன் சொல்லும் மொழியில்
தாவி தழுவும் சோலைத் தென்றலே
தாவி தழுவும் சோலைத் தென்றலே
முத்துச் சர விளக்கே முத்தம் சிந்த வா நீ
Buddha was born in the form of my little king
He toddled and crawled upon his mother's lap
Thorns turn into flowers before his kohl-lined eyes
Even hard stones turn into sweet fruits by the words he speaks
O garden breeze that leaps and embraces gently
O garden breeze that leaps and embraces gently
O lamp of pearl garlands, come to shower kisses!
பிள்ளைச் செல்வமே பேசும் தெய்வமே
வெள்ளை உள்ளமே வண்ண வண்ண பூவே
தொட்டு தொட்டு தேன் முத்தம் தா ஒன்று தா
ஓஒ ஓஒ ஓ ஹா ஹா ஹா ஆஅ
O treasure of a child, O living deity!
O pure heart, O colorful flower!
Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one!
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae
O treasure of a child, O living deity!
Vellai ullamae vanna vanna poovae
O pure heart, O colorful flower!
Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa
Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one!
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae
O treasure of a child, O living deity!
Vellai ullamae vanna vanna poovae
O pure heart, O colorful flower!
Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa
Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one!
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Thanga thattu thaan un kannam enbadho
Is your cheek a golden plate?
Sinna chittu thaan un vannam enbadho
Is your hue that of a little bird?
Minnal vettu thaan un kannil vandhadho
Has a flash of lightning entered your eyes?
Mullai mottu thaan en pillai enbadho
Is my child a tender jasmine bud?
Thanga thattu thaan un kannam enbadho
Is your cheek a golden plate?
Sinna chittu thaan un vannam enbadho
Is your hue that of a little bird?
Minnal vettu thaan un kannil vandhadho
Has a flash of lightning entered your eyes?
Mullai mottu thaan en pillai enbadho
Is my child a tender jasmine bud?
Thaayin nenjamae thottil manjamae
A mother's heart is a soft cradle bed
Thaayin nenjamae thottil manjamae
A mother's heart is a soft cradle bed
Pachai pasungiliyae paadal sollavaa nee
O green parrot, shall I sing a song for you?
Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae
O treasure of a child, O living deity!
Vellai ullamae vanna vanna poovae
O pure heart, O colorful flower!
Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa
Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one!
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Buthan pirandhaan en mannan vadivil
Buddha was born in the form of my little king
Thathi thavazhndhaan than annai madiyil
He toddled and crawled upon his mother's lap
Mullum malarum mai konjum vizhiyil
Thorns turn into flowers before his kohl-lined eyes
Kallum kaniyum avan sollum mozhiyil
Even hard stones turn into sweet fruits by the words he speaks
Buthan pirandhaan en mannan vadivil
Buddha was born in the form of my little king
Thathi thavazhndhaan than annai madiyil
He toddled and crawled upon his mother's lap
Mullum malarum mai konjum vizhiyil
Thorns turn into flowers before his kohl-lined eyes
Kallum kaniyum avan sollum mozhiyil
Even hard stones turn into sweet fruits by the words he speaks
Thaavi thazhuvum solai thendralae
O garden breeze that leaps and embraces gently
Thaavi thazhuvum solai thendralae
O garden breeze that leaps and embraces gently
Muthuchara vilakkae mutham sindha vaa nee
O lamp of pearl garlands, come to shower kisses!
Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae
O treasure of a child, O living deity!
Vellai ullamae vanna vanna poovae
O pure heart, O colorful flower!
Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa
Touch me gently and give me a sweet honeyed kiss, give me one!
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Ooo ooo ooo haa haa haa aaaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic Tamil lullaby from the movie 'Pesum Dheivam' celebrates the divine innocence and joy that a newborn child brings into a home. The parents lovingly address their child as a 'speaking deity' (pesum dheivam) and a pure-hearted, colorful flower, expressing deep affection through metaphors comparing the baby's cheeks to gold plates, eyes to flashes of lightning, and soft skin to jasmine buds.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Rupakam)
“Pillai chelvamae pesum dheivamae”
Compares the child directly to a speaking god ('pesum dheivam'), a golden plate ('thanga thattu'), and Lord Buddha ('Buthan pirandhaan').
Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Thottu thottu thaen mutham thaa ondru thaa”
Words like 'Thottu thottu' and 'vanna vanna' repeat consecutively to emphasize rhythm and tenderness.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Thanga thattu thaan un kannam enbadho”
Rhyming line endings featuring '-enbadho' and '-vandhadho' create a gentle musical cadence typical of Tamil lullabies.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Kallum kaniyum avan sollum mozhiyil”
Poetically exaggerating that the baby's gentle voice can turn hard stones into sweet fruit.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pillai Chelvame Pesum Dheivame' is from the 1967 classic movie 'Pesum Dheivam', starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by Vaali and vocals performed by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.
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