Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaayin Madiyil Thalai Vaithirundhaal

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
Ethanai selvangal vandhaalumaeNo matter how much wealth comes,
Ethanai inbangal thandhaalumaeNo matter how many pleasures it gives,
Athanaiyum oru thaayaagumaaCan all of that ever equal a mother?
Ammaa… ammaa… ammaa…Mother… mother… mother…
Enakkadhu neeyaagumaa…Will any of that ever become you to me?
Male
Thaayin madiyil thalai vaithirundhaalIf one rests their head on a mother's lap,
Thuyaram therivadhillaiSorrow is never felt.
Thaayin madiyil thalai vaithirundhaalIf one rests their head on a mother's lap,
Thuyaram therivadhillaiSorrow is never felt.
Thuyaram therivadhillaiSorrow is never felt.
Thaayin vadivil dheivathai kandaalIf one beholds God in the form of a mother,
Vaeroru dheivamillaiThere is no other God.
Vaeroru dheivamillaiThere is no other God.
Male
Thaayin madiyil thalai vaithirundhaalIf one rests their head on a mother's lap,
Thuyaram therivadhillaiSorrow is never felt.
Male
Pathu maadham porumai valarthaeCultivating immense patience over ten months,
Boomiyai minjiduvaalShe surpasses even Mother Earth in tolerance.
Boomiyai minjiduvaalShe surpasses even Mother Earth in tolerance.
Vellai manadhai thottilaakkiMaking her pure heart into a gentle cradle,
Vellai manadhai thottilaakkiMaking her pure heart into a gentle cradle,
Pillaiyai konjiduvaal…aaa…aaa…She fondles and dotes on her child…
Pillaiyai konjiduvaalShe fondles and dotes on her child.
Male
Thaayin madiyil thalai vaithirundhaalIf one rests their head on a mother's lap,
Thuyaram therivadhillaiSorrow is never felt.
Male
Anbil malarum arpudhamellaamAll the miracles that blossom out of love
Annaiyin vilaiyaattuAre merely the play of a mother.
Alaiyum manadhai amaidhiyil vaippadhuThat which calms a restless, wandering mind into peace
Annaiyin thaalaattuIs a mother's gentle lullaby.
Male
Ennai paartha annai mugathaiThe mother's loving face that looked upon me,
Ezhai paarthadhillaiThis unfortunate, poor soul has not seen.
Ennai paartha annai mugathaiThe mother's loving face that looked upon me,
Ezhai paarthadhillaiThis unfortunate, poor soul has not seen.
Kannae kannae kannae endruCalling out affectionately, 'My dear, my darling, my eye',
Konjiya vaarthai kaadhil kettadhillaiThose cherished words have never been heard by my ears.
Kaadhil kettadhillai…Have never been heard by my ears…
Kaadhil kettadhillai…Have never been heard by my ears…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotionally charged song expresses the irreplaceable divine status of a mother and the profound grief of an orphaned or separated child. The speaker reflects on how no earthly riches or comforts can substitute for a mother's embrace, as resting on a mother's lap instantly dispels all sorrow and suffering. A mother's patience over nine to ten months of pregnancy surpasses even the forbearance of the Earth itself, and her pure-hearted affection cradles the child in comfort.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora (எதுகை / Monai)

Ethanai selvangal vandhaalumae / Ethanai inbangal thandhaalumae

Repetition of initial patterns such as 'Ethanai selvangal' and 'Ethanai inbangal' creating a rhythmic lyrical opening.

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Vellai manadhai thottilaakki

Comparing the mother's pure mind/heart directly to a cradle ('Vellai manadhai thottilaakki').

Hyperbole (உயர்வு நவிற்சி அணி)

Boomiyai minjiduvaal

Exaggerating the mother's patience as surpassing even Mother Earth ('Boomiyai minjiduvaal').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from 'Thaikku Thalaimagan' (1967), starring M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics written by Kannadasan, capturing the signature emotional tone associated with maternal themes in 1960s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Thaikku Thalaimagan