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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Thamizhe Pillai Thamizhe

From Appa Tata · 1972

Lyricist: Kannadasan
Singer: P. Susheela
Music director: V. Kumar
Movie name: Appa Tata
Movie release year: 1972
Lyrics added on: 29 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Thamizhae pillai thamizhae

Thavazhum thanga simizhae

Kuralae kandrin kuralae

Engal kudumbam kaakkum nizhalae

Thamizhae pillai thamizhae

Kannam thattum kaigal

Aasai kaantham sinthu kangal

Salangai aadum kaalgal

Salangai aadum kaalgal

Ava thamizhai kaakkum noolgal

Thamizhae pillai thamizhae

Oru vaai soru oottumpothu

Kuruvaayoor kandaen

Odi aadi nadakkum pothu

Brinthaavanam kandaen

Oru vaai soru oottumpothu

Kuruvaayoor kandaen

Odi aadi nadakkum pothu

Brinthaavanam kandaen

Utchi mugarnthu konjum pothu

Yasothai vadivaanaen

Uyrae nilavae unnidam

Geedhai upathesam kettaen

Thamizhae pillai thamizhae

Sollum manthiram thanthaikendraal

Swami malai kandaen

Tholil aadum maniyae

Naanum kundram kudi kondaen

Sollum manthiram thanthaikendraal

Swami malai kandaen

Tholil aadum maniyae

Naanum kundram kudi kondaen

Kobam kondu odumpothu

Pazhani malai kandaen

Kovil paarkka neram illai

Unnaiththaan kandaen

Thamizhae pillai thamizhae

Thavazhum thanga simizhae

Kuralae kandrin kuralae

Engal kudumbam kaakkum nizhalae

Thamizhae pillai thamizhae

My sweet child, pure as Tamil poetry,

You crawling little casket of gold,

Your voice, gentle as a calf's call,

The sheltering shadow protecting our family,

My sweet child, pure as Tamil poetry,

Little hands that pat my cheeks,

Eyes that radiate magnetic affection,

Little feet where jingling bells dance,

Little feet where jingling bells dance,

They are living verses that keep Tamil alive,

My sweet child, pure as Tamil poetry,

When I feed you a mouthful of rice,

I saw Guruvayur (holy shrine of baby Krishna),

When you run and play and toddle around,

I saw Brindavan,

When I feed you a mouthful of rice,

I saw Guruvayur (holy shrine of baby Krishna),

When you run and play and toddle around,

I saw Brindavan,

When I kiss your head and cuddle you,

I became the very image of Mother Yashoda,

My life, my moon, from you,

I heard the sacred teachings of the Gita,

My sweet child, pure as Tamil poetry,

When you teach wisdom to your father,

I saw Swamimalai (shrine where child Murugan taught Shiva),

O precious jewel resting on my shoulder,

I too felt I had made my home on the holy hill,

When you teach wisdom to your father,

I saw Swamimalai (shrine where child Murugan taught Shiva),

O precious jewel resting on my shoulder,

I too felt I had made my home on the holy hill,

When you run away in little bursts of anger,

I saw the sacred hill of Palani,

I have no time to visit temples,

For I have seen everything in you...

My sweet child, pure as Tamil poetry,

You crawling little casket of gold,

Your voice, gentle as a calf's call,

The sheltering shadow protecting our family,

My sweet child, pure as Tamil poetry,

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant lullaby from the 1972 film 'Appa Tata' captures the divine essence of maternal affection. The mother equates her young child to the sweetness and purity of the Tamil language itself, invoking the classical literary motif of 'Pillaitthamizh'. To her, raising her child is a spiritual pilgrimage; every innocent gesture of the child brings forth visions of holy shrines and mythological events. Feeding the child reveals Guruvayur, watching the child play evokes Brindavan, and cuddling the child transforms the mother into Yashoda listening to Lord Krishna's Gita. When the child interacts with its father, she envisions Lord Murugan teaching Lord Shiva at Swamimalai, and when the child runs in anger, she sees Palani. Ultimately, the mother realizes she needs no physical temples, as true divinity resides entirely within her child.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Thamizhae pillai thamizhae”

Directly equating the child to Tamil language ('Thamizhae pillai thamizhae') and a golden container ('Thavazhum thanga simizhae').

Simile (Uvamai)

“Kuralae kandrin kuralae”

Comparing the innocence and tenderness of the child's voice to that of a young calf.

Allusion (Mythological & Religious Reference)

“Sollum manthiram thanthaikendraal / Swami malai kandaen”

Alludes to Lord Murugan expounding the Pranava Mantra to Lord Shiva at Swamimalai.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Odi aadi nadakkum pothu”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'd' across successive lines ('Odi' and 'Brinthaavanam' in structural context).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed in the genre of Tamil 'Pillaitthamizh', a traditional poetic form where a deity, king, or beloved entity is praised as a child. Lyricist Kannadasan masterfully weaves Hindu mythology—linking the child to both Lord Krishna (Guruvayur, Yashoda, Brindavan) and Lord Murugan (Swamimalai, Palani)—with maternal devotion. Music director V. Kumar's melodic composition combined with P. Susheela's soothing vocals made this one of the most enduring maternal lullabies in Tamil cinema.

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