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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaaikku Thalaimagan

From Thaikku Thalaimagan · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thaikku Thalaimagan1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaaikku thalaimaganThe eldest son to a mother,
Thaayai marandhaalumEven if he forgot his mother,
Thanippaasam kondirundhaThe mother who held a unique love,
Thaai avanai marakkavillaiDid not forget him.
Male
Thaaikku thalaimaganThe eldest son to a mother,
Thaan pirindhaan endravudanAs soon as he departed,
Thaayum pirindhu vittaalThe mother too departed,
Thani dheivamaagi vittaalShe became a supreme deity.
Male
Dheivamae engal thiruvilakkaeOh Deity, our holy lamp!
Kulathavarai kaatharulvaaiProtect and bless our entire lineage,
Thaayae kaatharulvaai thaayaeOh Mother, protect and bless us, Oh Mother!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song powerfully conveys the immortal and unconditional bond of a mother's love for her eldest son. Even if a child distance himself or forgets his mother, her selfless affection never fades. The grief of separation is depicted as so severe that upon the son's departure, the mother also passes away, transcending her earthly existence to become a revered guardian deity for the family. In the concluding lines, the family prays to her newly ascended divine spirit—referring to her as their sacred lamp—imploring her to forever safeguard and bless their whole lineage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thaaikku thalaimagan / Thaayai marandhaalum

The repetition of the initial sound 'Thaa' across lines establishes a strong melodic rhythm.

Sol-porul Pinvarunilai Ani (Anaphora / Polyptoton)

Thaaikku thalaimagan / Thaayai marandhaalum / Thaai avanai marakkavillai

The repeated use of the word 'Thaai' (Mother) reinforces the central theme of supreme maternal devotion throughout the verse.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Dheivamae engal thiruvilakkae

The mother-turned-deity is metaphorically equated to 'Thiruvilakku' (auspicious divine lamp) that illuminates and guides the clan.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thaikku Thalaimagan' is a 1967 Tamil drama film starring M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar under Devar Films. Although listed as unknown in some song metadata, the music for this film was composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by Kannadasan.

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