- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Nilave Nee Saatchi
- Movie release year
- 1970
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Nov 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This beautiful song from 'Nilave Nee Saatchi' (1970) blends the affection of a mother's lullaby with deep emotional devotion. The speaker addresses a beloved child (or endearing loved one), comparing them to the precious red sugarcane gifted during the auspicious harvest festival of Pongal in the month of Thai. The lyrics express sheer joy in watching the child's playful gaze and affectionate dependency, framing their mutual bond as a divine gift bestowed by God. As the song progresses, the lyricist Kannadasan reflects on fate, maternal sacrifice, and destiny. The speaker notes how surrounding eyes gaze upon this cherished child like a honey-filled lotus and affirms that maternal selflessness is a transformation rooted in destiny. The song concludes with a philosophical thought on how no one can alter what the Goddess of Time has preordained, wrapped in comforting lullaby refrains.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Thallaadi vaadi thangam polae”
Compares the gentle, toddling steps of the child to shiny pure gold ('thangam polae').
Metaphor (Uvagam)
“Thaai thantha sengarumbae”
Compares the child to fresh, sweet sugarcane ('sengarumbu') gifted during the festival of Pongal.
Ethukai (Second-letter Assonance)
“Maiyaadum poo vizhiyil / Maanaadum naadagathai”
The second consonant sound 'i'/'n' matches across adjacent lines ('Maiyaadum' and 'Maanaadum').
Personification
“Kaalamagal ezhudhiyadhai”
Personifies time as a goddess ('Kaalamagal') who writes human destiny.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary poet Kannadasan, 'Nilave Nee Saatchi' (1970) features emotional melodies centered on family relationships and destiny. The song uses traditional Tamil cultural motifs, specifically the Thai Pongal sugarcane ('sengarumbu'), as a sweet metaphor for a child, connecting harvest abundance with domestic happiness.
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