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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanthaikku Oru Piravi

From Samarpanam · 1974

Lyricist
Senthurai Marudha Muthu
Singers
Dhanasekar, Mallika
Music director
N. S. Thiyagarajan
Movie name
Samarpanam
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
21 Mar 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanthaikku oru piravi
Thaayaarukko iru piravi
Thanthaikku oru piravi
Thaayaarukko iru piravi
Piranthaen muthal piravi kannaa
Piranthaen muthal piravi
Unnai petrduthaen marupiravi
Petreduththal annai kadan
Mattrathellaam thanthai kadan
Petreduththal annai kadan
Mattrathellaam thanthai kadan
Kattrarintha aringar endru kannaa
Kattrarintha aringar endru
Nalla pereduththal pillai kadan
Kaaviyangal theettuvathil
Kavingarkal thalaivan
Gandhi kanda rajjiyaththil
Kaalamellaam thondan
Kaaviyangal theettuvathil
Kavingarkal thalaivan
Gandhi kanda rajjiyaththil
Kaalamellaam thondan
Vaanaththil paranthu sendru
Vallarasu naadu kandu
Vaanaththil paranthu sendru
Vallarasu naadu kandu
Varuvaan newton-ai pol endrum
Vazhvinil nee uyranthu
Petreduththal annai kadan
Mattrathellaam thanthai kadan
Male :Kattrarintha aringar endru kannaa
Nalla pereduththal pillai kadan
Bharatham un thaai naadu
Panbu konda nal veedu
Pagaivargal idari vittaal
Puli pola poraadu
Bharatham un thaai naadu
Panbu konda nal veedu
Pagaivargal idari vittaal
Puli pola poraadu
Thanthai vazhai nadappaai
Thaai sollai ketpaai
Thanthai vazhai nadappaai
Thaai sollai ketpaai
Thanthaikku oru piravi
Thaayaarukko iru piravi
Thanthaikku oru piravi
Thaayaarukko iru piravi
Female :Piranthaen muthal piravi kannaa
Unnai petrduthaen marupiravi
Piranthaen muthal piravi kannaa
Unnai petrduthaen marupiravi
A father has only one birth,
but a mother is born twice.
A father has only one birth,
but a mother is born twice.
Being born was my first birth, my child,
being born was my first birth,
and giving birth to you is my rebirth.
Giving birth is a mother's duty,
everything else is a father's duty.
Giving birth is a mother's duty,
everything else is a father's duty.
As a learned and wise scholar, my child,
as a learned and wise scholar,
earning a good name is a child's duty.
In composing great epics,
he will be a leader among poets;
in the nation envisioned by Gandhi,
he will be a devoted worker for life.
In composing great epics,
he will be a leader among poets;
in the nation envisioned by Gandhi,
he will be a devoted worker for life.
Flying across the skies,
visiting powerful nations of the world,
flying across the skies,
visiting powerful nations of the world,
he will return like Newton,
rising to great heights in life!
Giving birth is a mother's duty,
everything else is a father's duty.
Male: As a learned scholar, my child,
earning a good name is a child's duty.
Bharat is your motherland,
a noble home of good values.
If enemies ever bring trouble,
fight fiercely like a tiger!
Bharat is your motherland,
a noble home of good values.
If enemies ever bring trouble,
fight fiercely like a tiger!
Walk in your father's path,
listen to your mother's words.
Walk in your father's path,
listen to your mother's words.
A father has only one birth,
but a mother is born twice.
A father has only one birth,
but a mother is born twice.
Female: Being born was my first birth, my child,
and giving birth to you is my rebirth.
Being born was my first birth, my child,
and giving birth to you is my rebirth.
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic Tamil lyrical song from Samarpanam (1974) reflects on the duties and sacred bonds within a family. It expresses the poetic idea that a father experiences life in a single birth, whereas a mother experiences a second rebirth when bringing her child into the world. The song outlines parental duties, stating that while a mother's primary debt is bringing life into the world, the father bears the duty of raising and educating the child. In turn, the child's duty is to earn a great name through knowledge, humility, and moral integrity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Antithesis

“Thanthaikku oru piravi / Thaayaarukko iru piravi”

Contrasts the single birth of a father with the dual births of a mother, highlighting the unique physical and emotional experience of motherhood.

Simile (Upamai)

“Puli pola poraadu”

Compares the child's courage against enemies to that of a tiger.

Parallelism / Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Petreduththal annai kadan / Mattrathellaam thanthai kadan”

Uses parallel structural endings ('kadan') to balance the duties of mother, father, and child.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by N. S. Thiyagarajan with lyrics by Senthurai Marudha Muthu, this song echoes core themes from classical Tamil moral literature, specifically Tirukkural's couplets regarding parental duties and filial piety.

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