- Lyricist
- Palladam Manickam
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- S. Dakshinamurthi
- Movie name
- Devi – 1968 Film
- Movie release year
- 1968
- Lyrics added on
- 27 Jun 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Thiththikkum Muthamizhae is an ode praising the Tamil language, celebrating its ancient roots, divine origins, and rich literary history. The lyrics invoke imagery of Tamil being nurtured by the Kaveri river and born in the Podhigai mountains, existing since time immemorial alongside the moon. It highlights Tamil's patronage under the Madurai Sangam and its expanse from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari. The song honors the three classic streams of Tamil art—Iyal (Literature), Isai (Music), and Naadagam (Drama)—depicting the language as a cherished dowry and the very soul of Tamil culture.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Imayamalai thottu kumari munai varai / Iru kaiyum veesi nadanthaai”
The Tamil language is personified as a child crawling in the hearts of kings and walking across India swinging its arms.
Metaphor
“Kavidhai seedhanam engal uyirae”
Tamil is metaphorically described as a poetry dowry ('kavidhai seedhanam') and the life force ('engal uyirae') of its speakers.
Refrain / Repetition
“Thiththikkum muthamizhae”
The opening line is repeated throughout the song to emphasize the sweet, triple nature of Tamil.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the 1968 Tamil film 'Devi', this classic duet sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela features music composed by S. Dakshinamurthy and lyrics written by Palladam Manickam. It remains one of the most famous film songs dedicated entirely to the glory of the Tamil language.
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