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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thathi Sellum Muthu

From Thanga Pathakkam · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Vani Jairam, Saibaba
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thanga Pathakkam
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
26 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaththi chellum
Muththu kannan siripu
Thaththi chellum
Muththu kannan siripu
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Vilayatu pillai konda thudippu
Engal varunkaalam avan kanda poruppu
Thaththi chellum
Muththu kannan siripu
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Kaval thalaivan
Gnyana thamzihan
Engal thunaivan inba kumaran
Kaval thalaivan gnyana thamzihan
Engal thunaivan inba kumaran
Aasai thilagam alli anindhaan
Anbu thilagam thulli vizhundhaan
Thaththi chellum
Muththu kannan siripu
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Twinkle little star
How i wonder what u r
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Thanga maganai petraval endru
Ennai ulagam solli magizhum
Thanga maganai petraval endru
Ennai ulagam solli magizhum
Valluvan sollai sollum en pillai
Anbukuu ellai aanandha mullai
Thaththi chellum
Muththu kannan siripu
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam
Muththu vilakku pillai paruvam
Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam
Muththu vilakku pillai paruvam
Paththu vilakku thandhai uruvam
Endru vilakkum engal kudumbam
Thaththi chellum
Muththu kannan siripu
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Vilayatu pillai konda thudippu
Engal varunkaalam avan kanda poruppu
Thaththi chellum
Muththu kannan siripu
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Toddling along,
the smile of my pearl-like Kannan,
toddling along,
the smile of my pearl-like Kannan,
is the pride of the mother who cradles and lulls him to sleep.
The lively spirit of a playful child,
and our future is the responsibility he bears.
Toddling along,
the smile of my pearl-like Kannan,
is the pride of the mother who cradles and lulls him to sleep.
A protecting leader,
a wise Tamilian,
our companion, our joyful young prince.
A protecting leader, a wise Tamilian,
our companion, our joyful young prince.
Adorned with the forehead mark of our fondest wishes,
our precious little mark of love came leaping down in joy.
Toddling along,
the smile of my pearl-like Kannan,
is the pride of the mother who cradles and lulls him to sleep.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
As the woman blessed with a golden son,
the whole world will praise me with joy.
As the woman blessed with a golden son,
the whole world will praise me with joy.
My child will speak the wisdom of Valluvar (ancient Tamil poet-philosopher),
the very peak of pure love, a blossom of sheer joy.
Toddling along,
the smile of my pearl-like Kannan,
is the pride of the mother who cradles and lulls him to sleep.
The traditional tall lamp is the mother's form,
a shining pearl lamp is the child's tender age,
the traditional tall lamp is the mother's form,
a shining pearl lamp is the child's tender age,
the bright glow of ten lamps is the father's presence,
and in this glowing light, our family shines.
Toddling along,
the smile of my pearl-like Kannan,
is the pride of the mother who cradles and lulls him to sleep.
The lively spirit of a playful child,
and our future is the responsibility he bears.
Toddling along,
the smile of my pearl-like Kannan,
is the pride of the mother who cradles and lulls him to sleep.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thaththi Chellum is a heartwarming maternal lullaby from the classic 1974 Tamil film Thanga Pathakkam. The mother lovingly admires her young child, comparing his innocent smile to that of Lord Krishna and expressing her pride as a mother. She envisions a bright future for her child, seeing him grow into an honorable, wise individual who upholds cultural values and family pride. The song beautifully captures family harmony by metaphorically comparing each family member to illuminating lamps that bring light and togetherness into the home.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameya)

“Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam”

Compares the mother, child, and father to sacred lamps ('Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam', 'Muththu vilakku pillai paruvam', 'Paththu vilakku thandhai uruvam') symbolizing auspiciousness and illumination in the household.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam / Muththu vilakku pillai paruvam / Paththu vilakku thandhai uruvam”

Rhyming of the second letter 'th' across consecutive lines (Kuthu / Muththu / Paththu).

Epithet / Allusion

“Muththu kannan siripu”

Refers to the child using divine epithets such as 'Muththu kannan' (Pearl-like Krishna) and 'Gnyana thamzihan' (Wise Tamilian).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the blockbuster 1974 film 'Thanga Pathakkam', starring Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, the song uniquely blends traditional Tamil maternal poetry with the famous English nursery rhyme 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', illustrating the modern Western educational influence in urban South Indian households during the 1970s.

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