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Anbai Thedi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sippiyile Muthu

From Anbai Thedi · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Anbai Thedi
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
25 Oct 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sippiyilae muththu
Adhu sippikkenna sontham
Sippiyilae muththu
Adhu sippikkenna sontham
Thennaiyilae ilaneer
Adhu thennaikkenna sontham
Thennaiyilae ilaneer
Adhu thennaikkenna sontham
Oongi varum mullai
Adhu oru kodiyin pillai
Oongi varum mullai
Adhu oru kodiyin pillai
Eduththu kondu ponaal
Adhu kodikku sonthamillai
Eduththu kondu ponaal
Adhu kodikku sonthamillai
Sippiyilae muththu
Adhu sippikkenna sontham
Thennaiyilae ilaneer
Adhu thennaikkenna sontham
Janagan magan illaiyadi vedhavathi seedhai
Vedan magan illaiyadi valli ennum kodhai
Janagan magan illaiyadi vedhavathi seedhai
Vedan magan illaiyadi valli ennum kodhai
Iruvarumae pona kadhai irandu vazhippaadhai
Iruvarumae pona kadhai irandu vazhippaadhai
Ezhuthiyavan ezhuthivittaan enakku enna vaadhai
Sippiyilae muththu
Adhu sippikkenna sontham
Thennaiyilae ilaneer
Adhu thennaikkenna sontham
Karnan enum vallalukkum
Annai sonthamillai
Kannan enum dheivamkooda
Irandu veettu pillai
Karnan enum vallalukkum
Annai sonthamillai
Kannan enum dheivamkooda
Irandu veettu pillai
Annaiyenna annai
Idhil thanthaiyenna thanthai
Annaiyenna annai
Idhil thanthaiyenna thanthai
Aanaiyidum thalaivanukku
Eedu inaiyillai
Sippiyilae muththu
Adhu sippikkenna sontham
Thennaiyilae ilaneer
Adhu thennaikkenna sontham
Oongi varum mullai
Adhu oru kodiyin pillai
Eduththu kondu ponaal
Adhu kodikku sonthamillai
Adhu kodikku sonthamillai
A pearl inside an oyster shell,
does it truly belong to the shell?
A pearl inside an oyster shell,
does it truly belong to the shell?
Sweet water inside a coconut,
does it truly belong to the palm tree?
Sweet water inside a coconut,
does it truly belong to the palm tree?
The flourishing jasmine flower
is a child born of the vine.
The flourishing jasmine flower
is a child born of the vine.
Once someone plucks and takes it away,
it no longer belongs to the vine.
Once someone plucks and takes it away,
it no longer belongs to the vine.
A pearl inside an oyster shell,
does it truly belong to the shell?
Sweet water inside a coconut,
does it truly belong to the palm tree?
Sita, born as Vedavati, was not King Janaka's own child;
The maiden named Valli was not a hunter's own daughter.
Sita, born as Vedavati, was not King Janaka's own child;
The maiden named Valli was not a hunter's own daughter.
The stories of both their lives went down two different paths.
The stories of both their lives went down two different paths.
The Creator has written what is written, so why should I suffer this pain?
A pearl inside an oyster shell,
does it truly belong to the shell?
Sweet water inside a coconut,
does it truly belong to the palm tree?
Even for the generous giver Karna,
his mother was not his to claim.
Even the divine Lord Krishna
was a child belonging to two homes.
Even for the generous giver Karna,
his mother was not his to claim.
Even the divine Lord Krishna
was a child belonging to two homes.
What does a mother mean,
and what does a father mean in all this?
What does a mother mean,
and what does a father mean in all this?
To the Supreme Lord who commands our fate,
there is no equal anywhere.
A pearl inside an oyster shell,
does it truly belong to the shell?
Sweet water inside a coconut,
does it truly belong to the palm tree?
The flourishing jasmine flower
is a child born of the vine.
Once someone plucks and takes it away,
it no longer belongs to the vine.
It no longer belongs to the vine.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic philosophical song from 'Anbai Thedi' ponders the temporal nature of human relationships, parenting, and biological bonds. Through eloquent analogies from nature, lyricist Kannadasan argues that just as a pearl does not truly belong to the oyster or coconut water to the tree, children and loved ones are not the permanent possessions of those who bear or raise them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Eduthukkaattu Uvamai (Illustrative Metaphor)

Sippiyilae muththu / Adhu sippikkenna sontham

Compares human relationships and foster parenting to pearls in oysters, coconut water in trees, and flowers separated from vines.

Puraana Uvamaigal (Mythological Allusions)

Janagan magan illaiyadi vedhavathi seedhai

References mythological figures like Sita, Valli, Karna, and Krishna to demonstrate that foster care and destiny often supersede biological lineage.

Ethirai (Second-Letter Rhyme)

Karnan enum vallalukkum / Kannan enum dheivamkooda

Rhyming of the second letter across parallel lines (e.g., 'Janagan' / 'Vedan', 'Karnan' / 'Kannan').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Anbai Thedi' (1974) features Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa, directed by C. V. Sridhar with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song present his signature philosophical outlook on fate and divine order.

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