Thamizhe Pillai Thamizhe
From Appa Tata · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Appa Tata1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thamizhae pillai thamizhae | O Tamil, child-like Tamil |
| Thavazhum thanga simizhae | A crawling golden casket of beauty |
| Kuralae kandrin kuralae | A sweet voice like that of a calf |
| Engal kudumbam kaakkum nizhalae | The protective shadow of our family |
| Female | |
| Thamizhae pillai thamizhae | O Tamil, child-like Tamil |
| Female | |
| Kannam thattum kaigal | Hands that lovingly pat my cheeks |
| Aasai kaantham sinthu kangal | Eyes that emit magnetic charm and desire |
| Salangai aadum kaalgal | Feet adorned with jingling ankle bells |
| Salangai aadum kaalgal | Feet adorned with jingling ankle bells |
| Ava thamizhai kaakkum noolgal | They are sacred texts that protect the Tamil tongue |
| Female | |
| Thamizhae pillai thamizhae | O Tamil, child-like Tamil |
| Female | |
| Oru vaai soru oottumpothu | When I feed you a mouthful of rice |
| Kuruvaayoor kandaen | I behold the holy shrine of Guruvayur |
| Odi aadi nadakkum pothu | When you run around playing and walking |
| Brinthaavanam kandaen | I behold the divine Brindavan |
| Female | |
| Oru vaai soru oottumpothu | When I feed you a mouthful of rice |
| Kuruvaayoor kandaen | I behold the holy shrine of Guruvayur |
| Odi aadi nadakkum pothu | When you run around playing and walking |
| Brinthaavanam kandaen | I behold the divine Brindavan |
| Female | |
| Utchi mugarnthu konjum pothu | When I kiss the top of your head and cuddle you |
| Yasothai vadivaanaen | I embody the form of Mother Yashoda |
| Uyrae nilavae unnidam | O my life, my moon, from you |
| Geedhai upathesam kettaen | I heard the divine teachings of the Gita |
| Female | |
| Thamizhae pillai thamizhae | O Tamil, child-like Tamil |
| Female | |
| Sollum manthiram thanthaikendraal | When you whisper a mantra to your father |
| Swami malai kandaen | I behold the sacred Swamimalai |
| Tholil aadum maniyae | O precious gem resting on my shoulders |
| Naanum kundram kudi kondaen | I too feel as if I reside on the holy hill |
| Female | |
| Sollum manthiram thanthaikendraal | When you whisper a mantra to your father |
| Swami malai kandaen | I behold the sacred Swamimalai |
| Tholil aadum maniyae | O precious gem resting on my shoulders |
| Naanum kundram kudi kondaen | I too feel as if I reside on the holy hill |
| Female | |
| Kobam kondu odumpothu | When you run away in playful anger |
| Pazhani malai kandaen | I behold the holy Palani Hill |
| Kovil paarkka neram illai | There is no need or time to visit temples |
| Unnaiththaan kandaen | For I have seen divinity in you alone |
| Female | |
| Thamizhae pillai thamizhae | O Tamil, child-like Tamil |
| Thavazhum thanga simizhae | A crawling golden casket of beauty |
| Kuralae kandrin kuralae | A sweet voice like that of a calf |
| Engal kudumbam kaakkum nizhalae | The protective shadow of our family |
| Female | |
| Thamizhae pillai thamizhae | O Tamil, child-like Tamil |
தமிழே பிள்ளைத் தமிழே
தவழும் தங்கச் சிமிழே
குரலே கன்றின் குரலே
எங்கள் குடும்பம் காக்கும் நிழலே
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
A crawling golden casket of beauty
A sweet voice like that of a calf
The protective shadow of our family
தமிழே பிள்ளைத் தமிழே
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
கன்னம் தட்டும் கைகள்
ஆசை காந்தம் சிந்தும் கண்கள்
சலங்கை ஆடும் கால்கள்
சலங்கை ஆடும் கால்கள்
அவை தமிழைக் காக்கும் நூல்கள்
Hands that lovingly pat my cheeks
Eyes that emit magnetic charm and desire
Feet adorned with jingling ankle bells
Feet adorned with jingling ankle bells
They are sacred texts that protect the Tamil tongue
தமிழே பிள்ளைத் தமிழே
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
ஒரு வாய் சோறு ஊட்டும் போது
குருவாயூர் கண்டேன்
ஓடி ஆடி நடக்கும் போது
பிருந்தாவனம் கண்டேன்
When I feed you a mouthful of rice
I behold the holy shrine of Guruvayur
When you run around playing and walking
I behold the divine Brindavan
ஒரு வாய் சோறு ஊட்டும் போது
குருவாயூர் கண்டேன்
ஓடி ஆடி நடக்கும் போது
பிருந்தாவனம் கண்டேன்
When I feed you a mouthful of rice
I behold the holy shrine of Guruvayur
When you run around playing and walking
I behold the divine Brindavan
உச்சி முகர்ந்து கொஞ்சும் போது
யசோதை வடிவானேன்
உயிரே நிலவே உன்னிடம்
கீதை உபதேசம் கேட்டேன்
When I kiss the top of your head and cuddle you
I embody the form of Mother Yashoda
O my life, my moon, from you
I heard the divine teachings of the Gita
தமிழே பிள்ளைத் தமிழே
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
சொல்லும் மந்திரம் தந்தைகென்றால்
சுவாமி மலைக் கண்டேன்
தோளில் ஆடும் மணியே
நானும் குன்றம் குடி கொண்டேன்
When you whisper a mantra to your father
I behold the sacred Swamimalai
O precious gem resting on my shoulders
I too feel as if I reside on the holy hill
சொல்லும் மந்திரம் தந்தைகென்றால்
சுவாமி மலைக் கண்டேன்
தோளில் ஆடும் மணியே
நானும் குன்றம் குடி கொண்டேன்
When you whisper a mantra to your father
I behold the sacred Swamimalai
O precious gem resting on my shoulders
I too feel as if I reside on the holy hill
கோபம் கொண்டு ஓடும் போது
பழனி மலைக் கண்டேன்
கோவில் பார்க்க நேரம் இல்லை
உன்னைத்தான் கண்டேன்.......
When you run away in playful anger
I behold the holy Palani Hill
There is no need or time to visit temples
For I have seen divinity in you alone
தமிழே பிள்ளைத் தமிழே
தவழும் தங்கச் சிமிழே
குரலே கன்றின் குரலே
எங்கள் குடும்பம் காக்கும் நிழலே
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
A crawling golden casket of beauty
A sweet voice like that of a calf
The protective shadow of our family
தமிழே பிள்ளைத் தமிழே
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
Thamizhae pillai thamizhae
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
Thavazhum thanga simizhae
A crawling golden casket of beauty
Kuralae kandrin kuralae
A sweet voice like that of a calf
Engal kudumbam kaakkum nizhalae
The protective shadow of our family
Thamizhae pillai thamizhae
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
Kannam thattum kaigal
Hands that lovingly pat my cheeks
Aasai kaantham sinthu kangal
Eyes that emit magnetic charm and desire
Salangai aadum kaalgal
Feet adorned with jingling ankle bells
Salangai aadum kaalgal
Feet adorned with jingling ankle bells
Ava thamizhai kaakkum noolgal
They are sacred texts that protect the Tamil tongue
Thamizhae pillai thamizhae
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
Oru vaai soru oottumpothu
When I feed you a mouthful of rice
Kuruvaayoor kandaen
I behold the holy shrine of Guruvayur
Odi aadi nadakkum pothu
When you run around playing and walking
Brinthaavanam kandaen
I behold the divine Brindavan
Oru vaai soru oottumpothu
When I feed you a mouthful of rice
Kuruvaayoor kandaen
I behold the holy shrine of Guruvayur
Odi aadi nadakkum pothu
When you run around playing and walking
Brinthaavanam kandaen
I behold the divine Brindavan
Utchi mugarnthu konjum pothu
When I kiss the top of your head and cuddle you
Yasothai vadivaanaen
I embody the form of Mother Yashoda
Uyrae nilavae unnidam
O my life, my moon, from you
Geedhai upathesam kettaen
I heard the divine teachings of the Gita
Thamizhae pillai thamizhae
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
Sollum manthiram thanthaikendraal
When you whisper a mantra to your father
Swami malai kandaen
I behold the sacred Swamimalai
Tholil aadum maniyae
O precious gem resting on my shoulders
Naanum kundram kudi kondaen
I too feel as if I reside on the holy hill
Sollum manthiram thanthaikendraal
When you whisper a mantra to your father
Swami malai kandaen
I behold the sacred Swamimalai
Tholil aadum maniyae
O precious gem resting on my shoulders
Naanum kundram kudi kondaen
I too feel as if I reside on the holy hill
Kobam kondu odumpothu
When you run away in playful anger
Pazhani malai kandaen
I behold the holy Palani Hill
Kovil paarkka neram illai
There is no need or time to visit temples
Unnaiththaan kandaen
For I have seen divinity in you alone
Thamizhae pillai thamizhae
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
Thavazhum thanga simizhae
A crawling golden casket of beauty
Kuralae kandrin kuralae
A sweet voice like that of a calf
Engal kudumbam kaakkum nizhalae
The protective shadow of our family
Thamizhae pillai thamizhae
O Tamil, child-like Tamil
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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