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Iru Sagodharigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thaaye Un Seyal

From Iru Sagodharigal · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
T. V. Rathinam, M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Movie name
Iru Sagodharigal
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
24 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaayae un seiyalallavo
Tamil thaayae un seyallalavo
Inba thaalaatti arivendra paaloottum
Senthamizh thaayae un seyallallavo
Inba thaalaatti arivendra paaloottum
Senthamizh thaayae un seyallallavo
Neeyae en kalai vaanilae
Aa…aaa….aa….
Neeyae en kalai vaanilae
Minnum nithiyaana mathiyallavo
Neeyae en kalai vaanilae
Minnum nithiyaana mathiyallavo
Kavi ninaivodu vilaiyaadum
Thiruvae unai maravaen ini senthamizh
Thaayae un seiyalallavo
Iyal isai muraiyodu
Ezhil mevum rani
Ilakkiya suvaiyodu
Inainthaadum vaani
Uyirudan meiyyodu ongaaramae…ae
Uyirudan meiyyodu ongaaramae
Un mozhiyil ulavum reengaarame
Uyirudan meiyyodu ongaaramae
Un mozhiyil ulavum reengaarame
Ulagam pottrum amuthavaari
Un thirumalar paathamae maravaen
Ini senthamizh thaayae un seiyalallavo
Thaayae un seiyalallavo
Thaayae un seiyalallavo
Thaayae un seiyalallavo
Thaayae un seiyalallavo
Thaayae un seiyalallavo
O Mother, isn't this all your doing?
O Mother Tamil, isn't this all your doing?
Singing sweet lullabies and feeding the milk of wisdom,
O Mother of pure Tamil, isn't this all your doing?
Singing sweet lullabies and feeding the milk of wisdom,
O Mother of pure Tamil, isn't this all your doing?
In the sky of my art,
Ah... aa... aa...
In the sky of my art,
Aren't you the glowing moon, a priceless treasure?
In the sky of my art,
Aren't you the glowing moon, a priceless treasure?
Playing gently with poetic thoughts,
O embodiment of grace, I will never forget you, O pure Tamil...
Mother, isn't this all your doing?
Steeped in the harmony of prose and music,
You are a queen crowned with beauty,
Filled with the sweet richness of literature,
You are the goddess of the arts dancing with delight,
Embodying both soul and form, you are the sacred sound of Om...
Embodying both soul and form, you are the sacred sound of Om,
A vibrant melody humming through your words,
Embodying both soul and form, you are the sacred sound of Om,
A vibrant melody humming through your words,
An ocean of nectar praised by the whole world,
I will never forget your sacred flower-like feet,
From now on, O Mother of pure Tamil, isn't this all your doing?
O Mother, isn't this all your doing?
O Mother, isn't this all your doing?
O Mother, isn't this all your doing?
O Mother, isn't this all your doing?
O Mother, isn't this all your doing?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song is a deeply devotional tribute praising Mother Tamil (Tamil Thai) as the divine catalyst for all wisdom, artistic talent, and creative thought. The speaker attributes all musical and literary accomplishments to Mother Tamil, who lulls her devotees with blissful music and feeds them the milk of intelligence. She is poetically envisioned as the eternal moon illuminating the sky of fine arts and as the supreme queen embodying prose, music, and literature. Furthermore, lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass creatively weaves Tamil grammatical terms—'Uyir' (vowels/soul) and 'Meiy' (consonants/body)—into a profound spiritual metaphor, illustrating how Tamil forms the divine vibration (Ongaaram) that fills the universe. The singers offer complete gratitude and surrender, vowing to never forget her sacred lotus feet.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Inba thaalaatti arivendra paaloottum”

Compares wisdom directly to milk ('arivendra paal'), representing how knowledge nurtures the mind like mother's milk.

Visual Imagery & Metaphor

“Neeyae en kalai vaanilae / Minnum nithiyaana mathiyallavo”

Compares Mother Tamil to an eternal moon ('nithiyaana mathi') shining in the sky of creative arts ('kalai vaan').

Siledai / Double Entendre (Grammatical & Spiritual Metaphor)

“Uyirudan meiyyodu ongaaramae”

Plays on the dual meanings of 'Uyir' (Soul/Vowel) and 'Meiy' (Body/Consonant), equating Tamil language structure with cosmic creation and divine sound.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Iyal isai muraiyodu / Ezhil mevum rani”

Features the second-letter rhyming pattern typical of classical Tamil poetry ('Iyal' / 'Ezhil' and 'Ilakkiya' / 'Inainthaadum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by S. Rajeswara Rao for the 1957 movie 'Iru Sagodharigal', this classical piece stands out as a rare duet between two titans of Carnatic music and Tamil playback singing: T. V. Rathinam and M. L. Vasanthakumari. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass ingeniously integrated Tamil linguistic grammatical terms (Uyir and Meiy) into a devotional song praising Mother Tamil.

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