Thathi Sellum Muthu
From Thanga Pathakkam · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, Saibaba
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Thanga Pathakkam1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thaththi chellum | Toddling along, |
| Muththu kannan siripu | The smile of pearl-like Krishna, |
| Thaththi chellum | Toddling along, |
| Muththu kannan siripu | The smile of pearl-like Krishna, |
| Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu | Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep. |
| Vilayatu pillai konda thudippu | The vitality possessed by a playful child, |
| Engal varunkaalam avan kanda poruppu | Our future is the responsibility envisioned by him. |
| Female | |
| Thaththi chellum | Toddling along, |
| Muththu kannan siripu | The smile of pearl-like Krishna, |
| Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu | Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep. |
| Female | |
| Kaval thalaivan | The guardian chief, |
| Gnyana thamzihan | The wise Tamilian, |
| Engal thunaivan inba kumaran | Our companion, a joyful young prince. |
| Kaval thalaivan gnyana thamzihan | The guardian chief, the wise Tamilian, |
| Engal thunaivan inba kumaran | Our companion, a joyful young prince. |
| Female | |
| Aasai thilagam alli anindhaan | He gathered and adorned the mark of desire, |
| Anbu thilagam thulli vizhundhaan | He bounded and landed as the mark of love. |
| Female | |
| Thaththi chellum | Toddling along, |
| Muththu kannan siripu | The smile of pearl-like Krishna, |
| Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu | Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep. |
| Male | |
| Twinkle little star | Twinkle, twinkle, little star, |
| How i wonder what u r | How I wonder what you are, |
| Up above the world so high | Up above the world so high, |
| Like a diamond in the sky | Like a diamond in the sky. |
| Female | |
| Thanga maganai petraval endru | As the mother who gave birth to a golden son, |
| Ennai ulagam solli magizhum | The world will praise me with joy. |
| Thanga maganai petraval endru | As the mother who gave birth to a golden son, |
| Ennai ulagam solli magizhum | The world will praise me with joy. |
| Female | |
| Valluvan sollai sollum en pillai | My child recites the moral words of Thiruvalluvar, |
| Anbukuu ellai aanandha mullai | The very boundary of love, a joyful jasmine bloom. |
| Female | |
| Thaththi chellum | Toddling along, |
| Muththu kannan siripu | The smile of pearl-like Krishna, |
| Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu | Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep. |
| Female | |
| Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam | The mother's form is like a sacred pedestal lamp, |
| Muththu vilakku pillai paruvam | The child's phase of life is like a precious pearl lamp, |
| Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam | The mother's form is like a sacred pedestal lamp, |
| Muththu vilakku pillai paruvam | The child's phase of life is like a precious pearl lamp, |
| Paththu vilakku thandhai uruvam | The father's form shines bright like ten lamps, |
| Endru vilakkum engal kudumbam | Thus brightly illuminated is our family. |
| Female | |
| Thaththi chellum | Toddling along, |
| Muththu kannan siripu | The smile of pearl-like Krishna, |
| Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu | Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep. |
| Vilayatu pillai konda thudippu | The vitality possessed by a playful child, |
| Engal varunkaalam avan kanda poruppu | Our future is the responsibility envisioned by him. |
| Female | |
| Thaththi chellum | Toddling along, |
| Muththu kannan siripu | The smile of pearl-like Krishna, |
| Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu | Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep. |
தத்தி செல்லும்
முத்து கண்ணன் சிரிப்பு
தத்தி செல்லும் முத்து
கண்ணன் சிரிப்பு அள்ளி
தாலாட்டும் அன்னை
பெற்ற மதிப்பு விளையாட்டு
பிள்ளை கொண்ட துடிப்பு
எங்கள் வருங்காலம் அவன்
கண்ட பொறுப்பு
Toddling along,
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Toddling along,
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
The vitality possessed by a playful child,
Our future is the responsibility envisioned by him.
தத்தி செல்லும்
முத்து கண்ணன் சிரிப்பு
அள்ளி தாலாட்டும்
அன்னை பெற்ற மதிப்பு
Toddling along,
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
காவல் தலைவன்
ஞான தமிழன் எங்கள்
துணைவன் இன்ப குமரன்
காவல் தலைவன் ஞான
தமிழன் எங்கள் துணைவன்
இன்ப குமரன்
The guardian chief,
The wise Tamilian,
Our companion, a joyful young prince.
The guardian chief, the wise Tamilian,
Our companion, a joyful young prince.
ஆசை திலகம்
அள்ளி அணிந்தான்
அன்பு திலகம் துள்ளி
விழுந்தான்
He gathered and adorned the mark of desire,
He bounded and landed as the mark of love.
தத்தி செல்லும்
முத்து கண்ணன் சிரிப்பு
அள்ளி தாலாட்டும்
அன்னை பெற்ற மதிப்பு
Toddling along,
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
டிவிங்கில் லிட்டில்
ஸ்டார் ஹவ் ஐ ஒன்டர்
வாட் யூ ஆர் அப் அபவ்
தி வேர்ல்ட் சோ ஹை
லைக் எ டைமண்ட்
இன் தி ஸ்கை
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
தங்க மகனை
பெற்றவள் என்று என்னை
உலகம் சொல்லி மகிழும்
தங்க மகனை பெற்றவள்
என்று என்னை உலகம்
சொல்லி மகிழும்
As the mother who gave birth to a golden son,
The world will praise me with joy.
As the mother who gave birth to a golden son,
The world will praise me with joy.
வள்ளுவன்
சொல்லை சொல்லும்
என் பிள்ளை அன்புக்கு
எல்லை ஆனந்த முல்லை
My child recites the moral words of Thiruvalluvar,
The very boundary of love, a joyful jasmine bloom.
தத்தி செல்லும்
முத்து கண்ணன் சிரிப்பு
அள்ளி தாலாட்டும்
அன்னை பெற்ற மதிப்பு
Toddling along,
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
குத்து விளக்கு
அன்னை வடிவம் முத்து
விளக்கு பிள்ளை பருவம்
குத்து விளக்கு அன்னை
வடிவம் முத்து விளக்கு
பிள்ளை பருவம் பத்து
விளக்கு தந்தை உருவம்
என்று விளக்கும் எங்கள்
குடும்பம்
The mother's form is like a sacred pedestal lamp,
The child's phase of life is like a precious pearl lamp,
The mother's form is like a sacred pedestal lamp,
The child's phase of life is like a precious pearl lamp,
The father's form shines bright like ten lamps,
Thus brightly illuminated is our family.
தத்தி செல்லும் முத்து
கண்ணன் சிரிப்பு அள்ளி
தாலாட்டும் அன்னை
பெற்ற மதிப்பு விளையாட்டு
பிள்ளை கொண்ட துடிப்பு
எங்கள் வருங்காலம் அவன்
கண்ட பொறுப்பு
Toddling along,
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
The vitality possessed by a playful child,
Our future is the responsibility envisioned by him.
தத்தி செல்லும்
முத்து கண்ணன் சிரிப்பு
அள்ளி தாலாட்டும்
அன்னை பெற்ற மதிப்பு
Toddling along,
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
பெண் & ஆண் :
{ டிவிங்கில்
லிட்டில் ஸ்டார் ஹவ் ஐ
ஒன்டர் வாட் யூ ஆர் அப்
அபவ் தி வேர்ல்ட் சோ
ஹை லைக் எ டைமண்ட்
இன் தி ஸ்கை } (2)
Thaththi chellum
Toddling along,
Muththu kannan siripu
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Thaththi chellum
Toddling along,
Muththu kannan siripu
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
Vilayatu pillai konda thudippu
The vitality possessed by a playful child,
Engal varunkaalam avan kanda poruppu
Our future is the responsibility envisioned by him.
Thaththi chellum
Toddling along,
Muththu kannan siripu
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
Kaval thalaivan
The guardian chief,
Gnyana thamzihan
The wise Tamilian,
Engal thunaivan inba kumaran
Our companion, a joyful young prince.
Kaval thalaivan gnyana thamzihan
The guardian chief, the wise Tamilian,
Engal thunaivan inba kumaran
Our companion, a joyful young prince.
Aasai thilagam alli anindhaan
He gathered and adorned the mark of desire,
Anbu thilagam thulli vizhundhaan
He bounded and landed as the mark of love.
Thaththi chellum
Toddling along,
Muththu kannan siripu
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
Twinkle little star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How i wonder what u r
How I wonder what you are,
Up above the world so high
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky
Like a diamond in the sky.
Thanga maganai petraval endru
As the mother who gave birth to a golden son,
Ennai ulagam solli magizhum
The world will praise me with joy.
Thanga maganai petraval endru
As the mother who gave birth to a golden son,
Ennai ulagam solli magizhum
The world will praise me with joy.
Valluvan sollai sollum en pillai
My child recites the moral words of Thiruvalluvar,
Anbukuu ellai aanandha mullai
The very boundary of love, a joyful jasmine bloom.
Thaththi chellum
Toddling along,
Muththu kannan siripu
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam
The mother's form is like a sacred pedestal lamp,
Muththu vilakku pillai paruvam
The child's phase of life is like a precious pearl lamp,
Kuthu vilakku annai vadivam
The mother's form is like a sacred pedestal lamp,
Muththu vilakku pillai paruvam
The child's phase of life is like a precious pearl lamp,
Paththu vilakku thandhai uruvam
The father's form shines bright like ten lamps,
Endru vilakkum engal kudumbam
Thus brightly illuminated is our family.
Thaththi chellum
Toddling along,
Muththu kannan siripu
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
Vilayatu pillai konda thudippu
The vitality possessed by a playful child,
Engal varunkaalam avan kanda poruppu
Our future is the responsibility envisioned by him.
Thaththi chellum
Toddling along,
Muththu kannan siripu
The smile of pearl-like Krishna,
Alli thaalatum annai petra madhippu
Is the prestige earned by the mother who embraces and lulls him to sleep.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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