- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- P. Suseela, B. S. Sasirekha
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Idhaya Malar
- Movie release year
- 1976
- Lyrics added on
- 30 Jul 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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.
Did you know?
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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