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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaazhampoo Kaigalukku

From Idhaya Malar · 1976

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
P. Suseela, B. S. Sasirekha
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Idhaya Malar1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thaazhampoo kaigalukku thanga valaikaappammaaGolden bangle shower for the screwpine-flower-soft hands, dear mother.
Thangavalai osaiyilae thaalaattu kelammaaListen to the lullaby in the sound of the gold bangles, dear mother.
Vaazhaippoo kaigalukku vaira valaikaappammaaDiamond bangle shower for the plantain-flower-soft hands, dear mother.
Vairavalai osaiyilae vaazhththuppaa kelammaaListen to the felicitations in the sound of the diamond bangles, dear mother.
Female
Manjal mugaththilae kungumam pottuWearing vermilion on a turmeric-adorned face,
Konji sirikkuthadiShe smiles fondly, my friend.
Manjal mugaththilae kungumam pottuWearing vermilion on a turmeric-adorned face,
Konji sirikkuthadiShe smiles fondly, my friend.
Paththu maasam niranthathum aasthikkoruUpon completing ten months, for lineage and wealth,
Pillai vanthu pirakkuthadiA boy child will be born, my friend.
Female
Thanga mugathilae kungma pottuWearing vermilion on a golden face,
Nenjai mayakkuthadiShe mesmerizes the heart, my friend.
Intha thaayin manam konda aasaikkoruTo fulfill the desire residing in this mother's heart,
Ponnu vanthu pirakkumadiA girl child will be born, my friend.
Female
Thanga mugathilae kungma pottuWearing vermilion on a golden face,
Nenjai mayakkuthadiShe mesmerizes the heart, my friend.
Intha thaayin manam konda aasaikkoruTo fulfill the desire residing in this mother's heart,
Ponnu vanthu pirakkumadiA girl child will be born, my friend.
Female
Manjal mugaththilae kungumam pottuWearing vermilion on a turmeric-adorned face,
Konji sirikkuthadiShe smiles fondly, my friend.
Female
Kangal irandinil thevai edhuvenaIf asked which of the two eyes is required,
Ketkindra kelviyennaWhat kind of question is that?
Ingu pennaval endrum pillaigal endrumHere, in distinguishing between a girl child and a boy child,
Paarpathil laabamennaWhat is the benefit?
Female
Thondril pugazhodu thondruga enbathuIf you are born, be born with fame,
Valluvar sonnathadiIs what Valluvar said, my friend.
Avar solliya vannam entha kuzhanthaiyumLiving in the manner described by him,
Vaazhvathu nallathadiIs good for any child, my friend.
Female
Thondril pugazhodu thondruga enbathuIf you are born, be born with fame,
Valluvar sonnathadiIs what Valluvar said, my friend.
Avar solliya vannam entha kuzhanthaiyumLiving in the manner described by him,
Vaazhvathu nallathadiIs good for any child, my friend.
Female
Baharathi kanda pudhumai pengalThis is the era where the modern women envisioned by Bharathi,
Vaazhnthidum kalamadiLive and flourish, my friend.
Innum pazhaiya ninaippil vaazhvathinilaeBy continuing to live with old-fashioned thinking,
Yaarukku labamadiWho stands to gain, my friend?
Female
Aayiram kodi aandugalaagaFor thousands of crores of years,
Suriyan ullathadiThe sun has existed, my friend.
Antha sooriyan pazhamai enbathinaalaeJust because that sun is ancient,
Thaazhvathu illaiyadiIt does not lose its brilliance or diminish, my friend.
Female
Aayiram kodi aandugalaagaFor thousands of crores of years,
Suriyan ullathadiThe sun has existed, my friend.
Antha sooriyan pazhamai enbathinaalaeJust because that sun is ancient,
Thaazhvathu illaiyadiIt does not lose its brilliance or diminish, my friend.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic baby shower (Valaikaappu) song from Idhaya Malar (1976) depicts a joyful banter between women offering traditional blessings to an expectant mother. While one voice anticipates the birth of a male heir, another equally celebrates the wish for a female child, establishing that children of either gender are as precious and irreplaceable as a person's two eyes. The lyrics gracefully blend traditional festive celebrations with progressive social messages. Poet Pulamaipithan weaves references to Thiruvalluvar's moral teaching on living a life of distinction and Mahakavi Bharathiyar's vision of the empowered modern woman (Pudhumai Penn), emphasizing that timeless values shine bright like the eternal sun.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thaazhampoo kaigalukku thanga valaikaappammaa / Thangavalai osaiyilae thaalaattu kelammaa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across consecutive lines, such as 'Thaazhampoo' and 'Thangavalai' or 'Vaazhaippoo' and 'Vairavalai'.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

Thaazhampoo kaigalukku thanga valaikaappammaa

Comparing delicate human hands to soft screwpine blossoms (Thaazhampoo) and plantain blossoms (Vaazhaippoo). Also comparing male and female children to two eyes (Kangal irandinil).

Literary Allusion (Thirukkural Reference)

Thondril pugazhodu thondruga enbathu Valluvar sonnathadi

Direct quotation and adaptation of Thirukkural 236 ('Thondrin pugazhodu thondruga') by sage Thiruvalluvar, urging every child to live a life worthy of fame.

Literary Allusion (Bharathiyar Reference)

Baharathi kanda pudhumai pengal Vaazhnthidum kalamadi

Invoking Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi's vision of 'Pudhumai Penn' (the liberated modern woman) to advocate for gender equality.

Analogy / Cosmic Metaphor

Antha sooriyan pazhamai enbathinaalae Thaazhvathu illaiyadi

Comparing enduring traditional wisdom to the eternal sun, which never loses its glow or value despite its ancient age.

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Trivia

Composed by M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, this song remains one of Tamil cinema's most popular traditional Valaikaappu (bangle ceremony) melodies. It is memorable for embedding reformist gender-equality themes and classical literature (Thirukkural and Bharathiyar poetry) into a festive maternal celebration.

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