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Lyrics & meaning

Sorgathil Kattappatta Thottil

From Mannavan Vanthaanadi · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Mannavan Vanthaanadi1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sorgathil kattappatta thottilA cradle tied in heaven
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Sorgathil kattappatta thottilA cradle tied in heaven
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Maaligai mandram kanda mannanThe king who once ruled palaces and courts
Indru maamara oonjal kondaan ingaeHas today found a swing on a mango tree here
Maaligai mandram kanda mannanThe king who once ruled palaces and courts
Indru maamara oonjal kondaan ingaeHas today found a swing on a mango tree here
Male
Sorgathil kattappatta thottilA cradle tied in heaven
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Male
Pallakkil kattu katti parisugal eduthuCarrying gifts packed upon palanquins
Pachai pavalam muthu maanikkam thoduthuStrung with emeralds, corals, pearls, and rubies
Sella kilikku varum maamanin virudhuThe maternal uncle's honor is coming for the darling child
Aiyaa sindhai kalangaadhae naalaikku varudhuOh dear one, do not lose heart, it will arrive tomorrow
Male
Sorgathil kattappatta thottilA cradle tied in heaven
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs swaying here in sorrow
Male
Kannathil kaalam itta kanneerin koduThe line of tears etched on the cheek by time
Pillaikku dheivam thandha vairathin thoduIs like a diamond earring gifted by God to the child
Annaikku veedu indru sinnanchiru kooduToday, the mother's home is just a tiny nest
Male
Annaikku veedu indru sinnanchiru kooduToday, the mother's home is just a tiny nest
Maaman aranmanai katti vaippaan naalai anboduTomorrow, the uncle will lovingly build a palace
Male
Sorgathil kattappatta thottilA cradle tied in heaven
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Male
Ullathil paasam undu oomaikku theriyumAffection lives in the heart, as known to the silent one
Oomaiyin baashai ingu yaarukku puriyumBut who here can understand the language of the mute?
Kaalathil dheivam vandhu sondhathai inaikkumIn due time, God will come and reunite the family
Kaalathil dheivam vandhu sondhathai inaikkumIn due time, God will come and reunite the family
En kaananin vaazhvirkoru sorgamum thirakkumAnd open up a paradise for my dear child's life
Male
Sorgathil kattappatta thottilA cradle tied in heaven
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Maaligai mandram kanda mannanThe king who once ruled palaces and courts
Indru maamara oonjal kondaan ingaeHas today found a swing on a mango tree here
Male
Sorgathil kattappatta thottilA cradle tied in heaven
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Ezhmai thunbathil aadudhadaa ingaeIs now swaying here in the sorrow of poverty
Aareero raariraari raaro aareero raariraari raaroLullaby refrain: Aareero raariraari raaro aareero raariraari raaro
Aareero raariraari raaro…Lullaby refrain: Aareero raariraari raaro…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional lullaby from Mannavan Vanthaanadi expresses a mother's deep affection for her child while coping with severe hardship and poverty. The song contrasts the child's noble lineage and divine origin with their current humble reality, where a former prince rests on a simple mango tree branch instead of a royal cradle.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast (Muran)

Maaligai mandram kanda mannan / Indru maamara oonjal kondaan ingae

Contrasts the high nobility of a heavenly cradle/palace with the harsh reality of poverty and a simple mango tree swing.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Pillaikku dheivam thandha vairathin thodu

The track of tears on the child's cheek is metaphorically described as a diamond earring gifted by God.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Annaikku veedu indru sinnanchiru koodu

Matching end sounds across consecutive lines ('kodu', 'thodu', 'koodu', 'anbodu').

Alliteration (Moona)

Pachai pavalam muthu maanikkam thoduthu

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound across multiple words in the line ('Pachai', 'pavalam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by poet Kannadasan, this lullaby uses traditional imagery of maternal love and hope to soothe a child during hard times. The film Mannavan Vanthaanadi (1975) featured music by K. V. Mahadevan and starred Sivaji Ganesan.

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