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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thelli Tharum

From Gomathiyin Kaadhalan · 1955

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Gomathiyin Kaadhalan
Movie release year
1955
Lyrics added on
6 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Anbu thamizhaamo…
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Anbu thamizhaamo…
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Sollinir keeran endrum
Muththammaa villinir seran endrum
Sollinir keeran endrum
Muththammaa villinir seran endrum
Solli thirivathallaal muththammaa
Thondenna seithomadi
Solli thirivathallaal muththammaa
Thondenna seithomadi
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Anbu thamizhaamo…
Mutheduththa tamizhar
Muththammaa moodarkalaavaaro
Mutheduththa tamizhar
Muththammaa moodarkalaavaaro
Muththaliththa kadalai
Pagaivar muttrugai seiyyalaamo
Muththaliththa kadalai
Pagaivar muttrugai seiyyalaamo
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Thelli tharum thinaimaa
Muththammaa thiththikkum nanmalaiththaen
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Anbu tamizhaamo
Alli tharum sarkkarai karkandum
Anbu tamizhaamo
Finely sifted millet flour,
O Muthamma, or sweet mountain honey,
Finely sifted millet flour,
O Muthamma, or sweet mountain honey,
Generous handfuls of sugar and rock candy—
Can they ever match our beloved Tamil?
Generous handfuls of sugar and rock candy—
Can they ever match our beloved Tamil?
Finely sifted millet flour,
O Muthamma, or sweet mountain honey,
Boasting of poet Keeran's mastery of words,
O Muthamma, and the Chera king's mighty bow,
Boasting of poet Keeran's mastery of words,
O Muthamma, and the Chera king's mighty bow,
Apart from going around saying these words, O Muthamma,
What service have we truly done?
Apart from going around saying these words, O Muthamma,
What service have we truly done?
Finely sifted millet flour,
O Muthamma, or sweet mountain honey,
Generous handfuls of sugar and rock candy—
Can they ever match our beloved Tamil?
Will the Tamils who harvested pearls from the sea,
Ever turn into fools, O Muthamma?
Will the Tamils who harvested pearls from the sea,
Ever turn into fools, O Muthamma?
Can enemies ever lay siege
To the great sea that gave us pearls?
Can enemies ever lay siege
To the great sea that gave us pearls?
Finely sifted millet flour,
O Muthamma, or sweet mountain honey,
Finely sifted millet flour,
O Muthamma, or sweet mountain honey,
Generous handfuls of sugar and rock candy—
Can they ever match our beloved Tamil?
Generous handfuls of sugar and rock candy—
Can they ever match our beloved Tamil?
Male
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Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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