Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Maanikka Thottil album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Rajathi Petreduthal Sad

From Maanikka Thottil · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Maanikka Thottil
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
18 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Rajaththi pettreduthaal rajakumari
En rajavukku aval oru selvakumari
Rajaththi pettreduthaal rajakumari
En rajavukku aval oru selvakumari
Thanga pappa intha veettil illayakumari
Pettra thaai veedae kadhi enavae vantha kumari
Rajaththi pettreduthaal rajakumari
En rajavukku aval oru selvakumari
Aayiram seervarisai
Alli vaippaal annaiyendru
Naanooru vandi katti
Nadanthu vanthaal selvamagal
Thaai veettu seedhanamo
Thaaliyindri yaaedhumillai
Thaaliyindri yaaedhumillai
Paai pottu kannuranga
Paavi kannil thookkamillai
Maanikka thottil kaana ninaiththu
Mangalam kondathadi
Mannanumindri makkalumindri
Vanthu vizhunthathadi
Rajaththi pettreduthaal rajakumari
En rajavukku aval oru selvakumari
Anju magal pettreduththaal
Arasargalum aandiyadi
Anjaththaan naanum pettraen
Aandavanai vendiyadi
Konjamaa aasai vaithaen
Kodaanu kodiyadi
Koththodu vanthathadi
Pettreduththa kiligaladi
Pettreduththa kiligaladi
Ennaththai solli ennaththai enni
Aaruthal kolvathadi
Koyilai kandu saamiyai kandu
Kumbittu kelungadi
Rajaththi pettreduthaal rajakumari
En rajavukku aval oru selvakumari
The queen gave birth to a princess,
and to my king, she is a treasured daughter.
The queen gave birth to a princess,
and to my king, she is a treasured daughter.
A golden baby, the youngest daughter in this house,
a girl who returned with only her mother’s home as her shelter.
The queen gave birth to a princess,
and to my king, she is a treasured daughter.
Hoping her mother would heap upon her
a thousand traditional wedding gifts,
as though four hundred carts were lined up,
my precious daughter walked all the way here.
Yet as dowry from her mother's home,
there is nothing left except her thali (sacred marriage thread),
there is nothing left except her thali.
Even if a mat is spread for her to rest,
there is no sleep in this wretched woman’s eyes.
Dreaming of seeing a ruby cradle,
she entered into married life,
yet without a husband and without children,
she has fallen back here in despair...
The queen gave birth to a princess,
and to my king, she is a treasured daughter.
If one gives birth to five daughters,
even kings will turn into beggars.
Fearing that very fate, I too gave birth to five,
constantly praying to God.
Were the hopes I cherished only a few?
No, they were millions and millions!
Like a whole flock arriving together,
they came—the sweet little birds I gave birth to,
the sweet little birds I gave birth to.
What can I say, and what can I dwell on
to find any solace?
Look at the temple, look at God,
and bow down in prayer to ask Him...
The queen gave birth to a princess,
and to my king, she is a treasured daughter.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Maanikka Thottil' expresses the deep grief and anguish of a mother reflecting on the plight of her daughter. The mother sings about how a daughter, once treated like a princess in her home, has returned to her maternal refuge stripped of her happiness, husband, and children, leaving her with nothing but her sacred wedding thread (thali).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Cultural Allusion

“Anju magal pettreduththaal / Arasargalum aandiyadi”

Incorporates the famous traditional Tamil adage 'Anju magal pettreduththaal arasargalum aandi' to reflect the economic and emotional hardship traditionally associated with raising multiple daughters.

Metaphor

“Pettreduththa kiligaladi”

Compares her daughters affectionately to tender 'parrots' (kiligal), emphasizing maternal love despite her sorrow.

Moanai (Initial Alliteration)

“Anju magal pettreduththaal / Arasargalum aandiyadi / Anjaththaan naanum pettraen / Aandavanai vendiyadi”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('A') across consecutive lines to establish rhythmic flow.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Mannanumindri makkalumindri”

Matching of the second consonant ('nn') across lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Maanikka Thottil' (1974) features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan. Singer P. Susheela's poignant rendition captures the melancholy tone of maternal heartbreak, making it one of the classic emotional melodies of 1970s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Sooriyane Kanna Thodaichikka2000
MaayiMotherhoodGrief
Kinnathil Theneduthu1972
Appa TataMotherhoodGrief
Maanicka Thottil1965
Panam PadaithavanMotherhoodGrief
Kannana Kanna Unnai Female1986
Neethaana Andha KuyilMotherhoodGrief
Chinnanchiru Kiliye2000
Kannukkul NilavuMotherhoodFamily
Kaadhal Kaadhal2003
JayamLongingGrief

From the same album

More songs from Maanikka Thottil

View album
Annam Inge1974
Maanikka ThottilSensual
Samathana Mappillai1974
Maanikka ThottilPlayful
Rajathi Petredupaal1974
Maanikka ThottilCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.