Thelli Tharum
From Gomathiyin Kaadhalan · 1955
- Lyricist
- Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Gomathiyin Kaadhalan1955
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thelli tharum thinaimaa | Finely sifted foxtail millet flour, |
| Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen | Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains, |
| Thelli tharum thinaimaa | Finely sifted foxtail millet flour, |
| Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen | Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains, |
| Male | |
| Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum | Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance, |
| Anbu thamizhaamo… | Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil? |
| Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum | Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance, |
| Anbu thamizhaamo… | Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil? |
| Male | |
| Thelli tharum thinaimaa | Finely sifted foxtail millet flour, |
| Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen | Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains, |
| Male | |
| Sollinir keeran endrum | Saying poet Nakkeeran was unmatched in words, |
| Muththammaa villinir seran endrum | Oh Muththamma, saying the Chera king was unmatched in archery, |
| Sollinir keeran endrum | Saying poet Nakkeeran was unmatched in words, |
| Muththammaa villinir seran endrum | Oh Muththamma, saying the Chera king was unmatched in archery, |
| Male | |
| Solli thirivathallaal muththammaa | Apart from wandering around boasting of these, oh Muththamma, |
| Thondenna seithomadi | What real service have we done for Tamil? |
| Solli thirivathallaal muththammaa | Apart from wandering around boasting of these, oh Muththamma, |
| Thondenna seithomadi | What real service have we done for Tamil? |
| Male | |
| Thelli tharum thinaimaa | Finely sifted foxtail millet flour, |
| Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen | Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains, |
| Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum | Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance, |
| Anbu thamizhaamo… | Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil? |
| Male | |
| Mutheduththa tamizhar | The Tamils who retrieved ocean pearls, |
| Muththammaa moodarkalaavaaro | Oh Muththamma, will they ever become fools? |
| Mutheduththa tamizhar | The Tamils who retrieved ocean pearls, |
| Muththammaa moodarkalaavaaro | Oh Muththamma, will they ever become fools? |
| Male | |
| Muththaliththa kadalai | The sea that bestowed precious pearls, |
| Pagaivar muttrugai seiyyalaamo | Can enemies ever lay siege to it? |
| Muththaliththa kadalai | The sea that bestowed precious pearls, |
| Pagaivar muttrugai seiyyalaamo | Can enemies ever lay siege to it? |
| Male | |
| Thelli tharum thinaimaa | Finely sifted foxtail millet flour, |
| Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen | Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains, |
| Thelli tharum thinaimaa | Finely sifted foxtail millet flour, |
| Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen | Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains, |
| Male | |
| Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum | Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance, |
| Anbu tamizhaamo | Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil? |
| Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum | Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance, |
| Anbu tamizhaamo | Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil? |
தெள்ளித் தரும் தினைமா
முத்தம்மா தித்திக்கும் நன்மலைத்தேன்
தெள்ளித் தரும் தினைமா
முத்தம்மா தித்திக்கும் நன்மலைத்தேன்
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
அள்ளித் தரும் சர்க்கரை கற்கண்டும்
அன்புத் தமிழாமோ.....
அள்ளித் தரும் சர்க்கரை கற்கண்டும்
அன்புத் தமிழாமோ.....
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
தெள்ளித் தரும் தினைமா
முத்தம்மா தித்திக்கும் நன்மலைத்தேன்
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
சொல்லினிற் கீரன் என்றும்
முத்தம்மா வில்லினிற் சேரன் என்றும்
சொல்லினிற் கீரன் என்றும்
முத்தம்மா வில்லினிற் சேரன் என்றும்
Saying poet Nakkeeran was unmatched in words,
Oh Muththamma, saying the Chera king was unmatched in archery,
Saying poet Nakkeeran was unmatched in words,
Oh Muththamma, saying the Chera king was unmatched in archery,
சொல்லித் திரிவதல்லால் முத்தம்மா
தொண்டென்ன செய்தோமடி...
சொல்லித் திரிவதல்லால் முத்தம்மா
தொண்டென்ன செய்தோமடி...
Apart from wandering around boasting of these, oh Muththamma,
What real service have we done for Tamil?
Apart from wandering around boasting of these, oh Muththamma,
What real service have we done for Tamil?
தெள்ளித் தரும் தினைமா
முத்தம்மா தித்திக்கும் நன்மலைத்தேன்
அள்ளித் தரும் சர்க்கரை கற்கண்டும்
அன்புத் தமிழாமோ.....
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
முத்தெடுத்த தமிழர்
முத்தம்மா மூடர்களாவாரோ
முத்தெடுத்த தமிழர்
முத்தம்மா மூடர்களாவாரோ
The Tamils who retrieved ocean pearls,
Oh Muththamma, will they ever become fools?
The Tamils who retrieved ocean pearls,
Oh Muththamma, will they ever become fools?
முத்தளித்த கடலை
பகைவர் முற்றுகை செய்யலாமோ.....
முத்தளித்த கடலை
பகைவர் முற்றுகை செய்யலாமோ.....
The sea that bestowed precious pearls,
Can enemies ever lay siege to it?
The sea that bestowed precious pearls,
Can enemies ever lay siege to it?
தெள்ளித் தரும் தினைமா
முத்தம்மா தித்திக்கும் நன்மலைத்தேன்
தெள்ளித் தரும் தினைமா
முத்தம்மா தித்திக்கும் நன்மலைத்தேன்
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
அள்ளித் தரும் சர்க்கரை கற்கண்டும்
அன்புத் தமிழாமோ.....
அள்ளித் தரும் சர்க்கரை கற்கண்டும்
அன்புத் தமிழாமோ.....
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Anbu thamizhaamo…
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Anbu thamizhaamo…
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Sollinir keeran endrum
Saying poet Nakkeeran was unmatched in words,
Muththammaa villinir seran endrum
Oh Muththamma, saying the Chera king was unmatched in archery,
Sollinir keeran endrum
Saying poet Nakkeeran was unmatched in words,
Muththammaa villinir seran endrum
Oh Muththamma, saying the Chera king was unmatched in archery,
Solli thirivathallaal muththammaa
Apart from wandering around boasting of these, oh Muththamma,
Thondenna seithomadi
What real service have we done for Tamil?
Solli thirivathallaal muththammaa
Apart from wandering around boasting of these, oh Muththamma,
Thondenna seithomadi
What real service have we done for Tamil?
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Anbu thamizhaamo…
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
Mutheduththa tamizhar
The Tamils who retrieved ocean pearls,
Muththammaa moodarkalaavaaro
Oh Muththamma, will they ever become fools?
Mutheduththa tamizhar
The Tamils who retrieved ocean pearls,
Muththammaa moodarkalaavaaro
Oh Muththamma, will they ever become fools?
Muththaliththa kadalai
The sea that bestowed precious pearls,
Pagaivar muttrugai seiyyalaamo
Can enemies ever lay siege to it?
Muththaliththa kadalai
The sea that bestowed precious pearls,
Pagaivar muttrugai seiyyalaamo
Can enemies ever lay siege to it?
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Finely sifted foxtail millet flour,
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Oh Muththamma, sweet honey from the fine mountains,
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Anbu tamizhaamo
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Sugar and sugar candy offered in abundance,
Anbu tamizhaamo
Can any of these equal our beloved Tamil?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Gomathiyin Kaadhalan' (1955) is an evocative tribute to the sweetness, grandeur, and duty owed to the Tamil language and heritage. Addressing a companion named Muththamma, the singer contrasts Tamil with natural and crafted delicacies like millet flour, mountain honey, and sugar candy, proclaiming that the love of Tamil surpasses them all. Beyond sweet praise, the song shifts into a passionate call for self-reflection and pride. It questions whether Tamils are doing enough real service to their language beyond boasting about historical legends like poet Nakkeeran and the heroic Chera kings. Reminding listeners of the glorious maritime history of Tamil pearl-divers, the song urges unity and vigilance against external suppression.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)
“Thelli tharum thinaimaa / Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen”
Comparing the inherent sweetness of the Tamil language to mountain honey (malaiththaen), millet flour (thinaimaa), and sugar candy (karkandu).
Edhai (Second letter rhyming / Second consonant harmony)
“Thelli tharum thinaimaa / Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum”
The second consonant 'l' (ll) rhymes across consecutive structural lines 'Thelli' and 'Alli'.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)
“Thondenna seithomadi / Pagaivar muttrugai seiyyalaamo”
Asking challenging questions to provoke introspection on duty towards the mother tongue and protecting Tamil heritage.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by the legendary G. Ramanathan and sung with classical vigor by Seerkazhi Govindarajan. Lyricist Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam incorporated classical literary references (Nakkeeran, Chera dynasty, pearl harvesting) into film music during an era when Tamil language pride was a major cultural movement.
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