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Nadodi Pattukkaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thenpandi Cheemai

From Nadodi Pattukkaran · 1992

Lyricist
Parinaman
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nadodi Pattukkaran
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
26 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Then paandi cheema
Thamil kodutha thaaiyae
Themmangu raagam
Kalanthu koduthaayae..
Thaalattu paattil
Thaai onna paarthen
Ezhezhu jenmam eduppen hoo
En thaaiyai kandu rasipen
Then paandi cheema
Thamil kodutha thaaiyae
Themmangu raagam
Kalanthu koduthaayae..
Kannupadum pillaikendrae
Kalladiyil manneduppaal
Kaal mulaithae odi vitaal
Kann vizhithae thaai thudipaal
Pallikku pogaatha paaviaval
Ullathil nermaiyil yogiaval
Saamikkum kaanikkai pottu vaippaal
Than pillaikkae varam kettuvaipaal
Naan vaazhaththaanae
Thaan vaazhntha pedhai
Aanaalum medhai aval thaano
Anbaana annai ival thaan
Then paandi cheema
Thamil kodutha thaaiyae
Themmangu raagam
Kalanthu koduthaayae..
En mugathil than mugathai
Yekkathudan paarthirupaal
Pillaikkoru thunbam vandhaal
Ull manasil verththirupaal
Vairaththil mookuththi kettadhillai
Maanathil thaai endrum ezhai illai
Maarmeedhum pillaikku yeni thandhaal
Vaanaththai naan thoda aasai pattaal
Paasaththukaaga
Rosaththai kooda
Paaratta maattaal annai thaan hoo
Naan paartha dheivam ival thaano
Then paandi cheema
Thamil kodutha thaaiyae
Themmangu raagam
Kalanthu koduthaayae..
Thaalattu paattil
Thaai onna paarthen
Ezhezhu jenmam eduppen hoo
En thaaiyai kandu rasipen
Then paandi cheema
Thamil kodutha thaaiyae
Themmangu raagam
Kalanthu koduthaayae..
From the southern land,
O mother who gave me Tamil...
Blended with a rustic folk melody,
you gave it to me...
In your lullaby,
mother, I saw you.
I will take birth for seven times seven lives,
oh, just to behold and cherish my mother!
From the southern land,
O mother who gave me Tamil...
Blended with a rustic folk melody,
you gave it to me...
Lest the evil eye fall on her child,
she would take dust from beneath my feet.
If I grew little feet and ran off,
she would stay awake, trembling with worry.
An uneducated soul who never went to school,
yet a saint in the purity of her heart.
She would offer coins to God,
asking blessings only for her child.
Just so that I could live well,
this innocent woman lived her life.
And yet, isn't she the wisest of all?
She is such a loving mother.
From the southern land,
O mother who gave me Tamil...
Blended with a rustic folk melody,
you gave it to me...
In my face, she would gaze with longing
to see her own reflection.
If any sorrow came upon her child,
her heart within would sweat with pain.
She never asked for a diamond nose stud;
in her dignity, a mother is never poor.
Making her chest a ladder for her child,
she longed for me to touch the sky.
For the sake of love,
she would never hold onto hurt or pride.
She is my mother; oh, is she not
the living God that I have seen?
From the southern land,
O mother who gave me Tamil...
Blended with a rustic folk melody,
you gave it to me...
In your lullaby,
mother, I saw you.
I will take birth for seven times seven lives,
oh, just to behold and cherish my mother!
From the southern land,
O mother who gave me Tamil...
Blended with a rustic folk melody,
you gave it to me...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional folk song from Nadodi Pattukkaran celebrates maternal love and devotion, framing the mother as the true embodiment of the Southern Pandya region's rich Tamil heritage and soul-stirring folk music. The singer praises his mother's endless sacrifices—her unlettered simplicity contrasting with her innate wisdom and saintly heart. Despite her humble life and lack of material wealth, her pride and love for her child remain boundless. The song highlights how a mother willingly disregards her own ego and comfort to serve as a stepping stone for her child's aspirations. Deeming her a living deity, the speaker expresses a yearning to be reborn across countless lifetimes just to witness and cherish her unconditional love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Then paandi cheema / Thamil kodutha thaaiyae”

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound across consecutive lines creating melodic continuity.

Paradox / Antithesis

“Pallikku pogaatha paaviaval / Ullathil nermaiyil yogiaval”

Contrasting her lack of formal education with her profound moral and spiritual wisdom.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Maarmeedhum pillaikku yeni thandhaal / Vaanaththai naan thoda aasai pattaal”

Comparing the mother's nurturing chest and guidance to a ladder for the child to reach the sky.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nadodi Pattukkaran (1992) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Parinaman. The song uses traditional 'Themmangu' folk rhythms, rooted in the rural culture of Southern Tamil Nadu (Pandya region).

Keep listening

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