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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaai Paadum Paattuthaane

From Naam Pirandha Mann · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Naam Pirandha Mann1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thaai paadum paattuthaanae thaalaattu paattuIsn't the song sung by a mother the true lullaby?
Thangamae palli kollu en paattai kettuMy precious golden one, sleep listening to my song.
Thaai paadum paattuthaanae thaalaattu paattuIsn't the song sung by a mother the true lullaby?
Thangamae palli kollu en paattai kettuMy precious golden one, sleep listening to my song.
Female
Mheem mheem…..en paattai kettu…Mheem mheem... listening to my song...
Female
Aththai perum penthaanae unnodu koottuIsn't the aunt also a woman on your side?
Ammaadi palli kollu en paattai kettuLittle one, sleep listening to my song.
Female :Mheem mheem…..en paattai kettu…Female: Mheem mheem... listening to my song...
Female
Aththai perum penthaanae unnodu koottuIsn't the aunt also a woman on your side?
Ammaadi palli kollu en paattai kettuLittle one, sleep listening to my song.
Female
Palum koduththu seevi mudiththu paarkkumFeeding milk, combing hair, and looking after you,
Thaaithaanae mudhal sontham maganaeIsn't the mother the primary relative, my son?
Palum koduththu seevi mudiththu paarkkumFeeding milk, combing hair, and looking after you,
Thaaithaanae mudhal sontham maganaeIsn't the mother the primary relative, my son?
Female
Seerum koduththu pennum koduththaHaving given dowry and given a daughter in marriage,
Naan sondhamillaiyaa en marumaganeAm I not a relative, my son-in-law?
Seerum koduththu pennum koduththaHaving given dowry and given a daughter in marriage,
Naan sondhamillaiyaa en marumaganeAm I not a relative, my son-in-law?
Female
Thirumagal inthapakkam meenatchi angaeGoddess Lakshmi is on this side, Meenakshi is over there.
Thirumaal koorattum mudhal paasam engaeLet Lord Vishnu say where the first love lies.
Female
Thirumaal illaamal sridevi engaeWhere is Sridevi without Lord Vishnu?
Saernthae piranthaval meenatchi ingaeMeenakshi, born together with him, is right here.
Female :MheemmFemale: Mheemm
Female :MmmmFemale: Mmmm
Female
Thaai paadum paattuthaanae thaalaattu paattuIsn't the song sung by a mother the true lullaby?
Thangamae palli kollu en paattai kettuMy precious golden one, sleep listening to my song.
Female
Vaigai manakka thendral manakkumAs the Vaigai river spreads fragrance, the breeze wafts sweetly.
Madurai tamil sangam unakkaaga thirakkumThe Madurai Tamil Sangam will open for you.
Female
Devi mugathai maarbil aninthaAdorned with the face of the Goddess on his chest,
Thirumalai karpooram unakkaga jolikkumThe camphor light of King Thirumalai will shine for you.
Male
Azhagiya sokkalingam sila naalil varuvaanHandsome Sokkalingam will arrive in a few days.
Avan vantha pinnaalae pennondru tharuvaanAfter he comes, he will grant a bride for you.
Male
Avanoru pennodu unaithedi varuvaanHe will come seeking you with a maiden.
Angaeyum naanthaanae munnodi varauvaenEven there, I will be the pioneer leading the way.
Aayiram per munnae aarathi eduppaenIn front of a thousand people, I will perform the aarathi ritual.
Female
Aaraaro aariraaro aaraariraaroAaraaro aariraaro aaraariraaro.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil track from the film 'Naam Pirandha Mann' (1977) takes the form of a affectionate lullaby duet sung by a mother and a paternal aunt (aththai) to a young child. The lyricist Kannadasan intricately weaves themes of familial love, traditional relations, and maternal pride through a gentle back-and-forth between the two women as they claim their love for the child. The lyrics draw rich connections to Madurai culture and Tamil divinity, invoking Goddess Meenakshi, Lord Vishnu (Thirumaal), Goddess Lakshmi (Sridevi), and Lord Shiva (Sokkalingam). The song beautifully illustrates how deep human relationships mirror divine partnerships, wrapping maternal affection in rich cultural motifs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Thangamae palli kollu en paattai kettu

Addressing the child as 'Thangamae' (Golden one) compares the child's value directly to precious gold.

Allusion (Mythological and Cultural Reference)

Thirumagal inthapakkam meenatchi angae

References divine figures like Goddess Lakshmi (Thirumagal), Meenakshi, Lord Vishnu (Thirumaal), and Lord Shiva (Sokkalingam) to elevate human relationships to a divine scale.

Moonaip-porutham / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Palum koduththu seevi mudiththu paarkkum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Palum' and 'Paarkkum'.

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thirumagal inthapakkam meenatchi angae / Thirumaal koorattum mudhal paasam engae

Rhyming of the second letter 'r' in 'Thirumagal' and 'Thirumaal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan and performed by iconic playback singers P. Susheela and Vani Jairam. Kannadasan's lyrics seamlessly integrate Madurai's rich heritage—mentioning the Vaigai river, Thirumalai Nayakar's legacy, and the ancient Tamil Sangam—into a warm, everyday lullaby.

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