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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pillai Thoonga Thaalattu

From Pattikattu Thambi · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
P. Susheela, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Pattikattu Thambi
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
16 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pillai thoonga thaalaattu
Kannan thoonga en paattu
Endhan thookam engo
Thoongi ponathoo oo oo oo
Pillai thoonga thaalaattu
Kaadhal kolla mannanum illai
Kangal thoongumaa
Kaaval kolla annanum illai
Amaidhi thondrumaa
Uthirnthu pona uravugal ingae
Ondru koodumaa
Udaindhu pona mann kudam meendum
Ondru serumaa
Karaigal rendum illamal
Nadhiyum nagaruma
Kallaana deivangal bathilai sollumaa
Pillai thoonga thaalaattu
Thangai thoonga en paattu
Kaalam koodum pennae
Kangal thoongumaa oo oo oo
Pillai thoonga thaalaattu
Iravu maarum pagal vandhu serum
Iyarkai sonnadhu
Inbam thunbam rendukkum endrum
Mudivu ulladhu
Alli thaettra aal illai endru
Yaar sonnadhu
Anaithu kollum uravugal ellam
Arugil ulladhu
Imaiyai moodi kollamal vizhiyum azhudhadhu
Naanaaga naan maara naalum vandhadhu
Pillai thoonga thaalaattu
Thangai thoonga en paattu
Kaalam koodum pennae
Kangal thoongumaa oo oo oo
Pillai thoonga thaalaattu
Pillai thoonga thaalaattu
A lullaby for the child to sleep,
My song for little Kannan to sleep.
Has my own sleep
drifted off to sleep somewhere far away? Oh...
A lullaby for the child to sleep.
There is no beloved to give me love,
will these eyes ever find sleep?
There is no brother to protect me,
will peace of mind ever come?
Can the family bonds that fell apart
ever come together again?
Can a broken clay pot
ever be made whole again?
Without banks on either side,
can a river even flow?
Will these stone gods ever give an answer?
A lullaby for the child to sleep,
My song for my sister to sleep.
Better days will arrive, my sister,
won't your eyes sleep now? Oh...
A lullaby for the child to sleep.
Night will fade and day will arrive,
just as nature has promised.
Both joy and sorrow
will always have an end.
That there is no one to hold and comfort you,
who told you that?
The loving family to embrace you
is right here beside you.
Without closing their lids, your eyes have wept,
but the day has come for me to be your strength.
A lullaby for the child to sleep,
My song for my sister to sleep.
Better days will arrive, my sister,
won't your eyes sleep now? Oh...
A lullaby for the child to sleep.
A lullaby for the child to sleep.
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a poignant, emotional dialogue structured as a lullaby between a sorrowful woman and a comforting brotherly figure. The woman laments her isolation, wondering if broken family ties can ever be repaired, metaphorically comparing her life to a broken clay pot and a bankless river, while questioning if stone idols will ever respond to her suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Udaindhu pona mann kudam meendum ondru serumaa”

Compares fractured human relationships to an irreplaceable broken earthen pot ('mann kudam') and a bankless river ('karaigal rendum illamal nadhi').

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

“Kallaana deivangal bathilai sollumaa”

Uses a series of unanswerable questions to emphasize deep helplessness and sorrow.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kaadhal kolla mannanum illai / Kaaval kolla annanum illai”

The second consonant sound 'dha' matches across lines (Kaadhal / Kaaval).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Chandrabose with lyrics by Vairamuthu, this song beautifully blends the melancholy of a woman in distress with the soothing warmth of a brother's consolation, featuring vocals by K. J. Yesudas and P. Susheela.

Keep listening

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Kalamithu Kalamithu1966
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Thazham Poove Kannurangu1983
Indru Nee Nalai NaanMotherhoodLonging
Enna Paravai Female1965
Karthigai DeepamSolitudeMotherhood

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