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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thottilil Thodangidum

From Kanne Kaniyamudhe · 1986

Lyricist
Tha. Kannan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kanne Kaniyamudhe1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thottilil thodangidum thaalaattuA lullaby begins right in the cradle,
Naalvar thol tharum naeramo or paattuAnd even at the moment when four shoulders carry us, there is a song.
Thottilil thodangidum thaalaattuA lullaby begins right in the cradle,
Naalvar thol tharum naeramo or paattuAnd even at the moment when four shoulders carry us, there is a song.
Female
Eththanai sumaigal un manathil iruppinumNo matter how many burdens lie within your heart,
Irakki vaikkalaam isai kettuYou can lay them down simply by listening to music.
Eththanai sumaigal un manathil iruppinumNo matter how many burdens lie within your heart,
Irakki vaikkalaam isai kettuYou can lay them down simply by listening to music.
Female
Thanakkujanuthakida thagajam thariththajam[Rhythmic classical beats / Sollukattu]
Riththajam thajam jam[Rhythmic classical beats / Sollukattu]
Thimitharigida thuththuntharigida thagathathimthathaa[Rhythmic classical beats / Sollukattu]
Thanakku jonutha jonutha thanakkujam[Rhythmic classical beats / Sollukattu]
Thanatheemtha thanatheemtha thaa….[Rhythmic classical beats / Sollukattu]
Thatharathaani udharathaani thagathajam[Rhythmic classical beats / Sollukattu]
Thatheemtha thatheemtha thatheemtha thatheemtha theem[Rhythmic classical beats / Sollukattu]
Female
Thimitharigida thuththuntharigida paninisa[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Sarininisari nisapani thanujagida thanatha theemtheem[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Thimitharigida thuththuntharigida paninisa[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Sarininisari nisapani thanujagida thanatha theemtheem[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Female
Thanakku janakku ninipapa risari[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Thanatheemtha paninisarisaa[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Thaththarathanai Uththaraththaani thagathajam[Rhythmic classical beats / Sollukattu]
Parisa pasani manipa ripamari[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Thimitharigida thuththuntharigida paninisa[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Sarininisari nisapani thanujagida thanatha theemtheem[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Female
Thottilil thodangidum thaalaattuA lullaby begins right in the cradle,
Thottilil thodangidum thaalaattuA lullaby begins right in the cradle,
Naalvar thol tharum naeramo or paattuAnd even at the moment when four shoulders carry us, there is a song.
Female
Eththanai sumaigal un manathil iruppinumNo matter how many burdens lie within your heart,
Irakki vaikkalaam isai kettuYou can lay them down simply by listening to music.
Eththanai sumaigal un manathil iruppinumNo matter how many burdens lie within your heart,
Irakki vaikkalaam isai kettuYou can lay them down simply by listening to music.
Female
Thottilil thodangidum thaalaattu thaalaattuA lullaby begins right in the cradle, a lullaby...
Chorus
Aaaa aaaa aa….[Vocalizing melody]
Aariraariraari raariraaraaro[Lullaby refrain - Aariraaro]
Aariraariraari raariraaraaro[Lullaby refrain - Aariraaro]
Aariraariraari raariraaraaro[Lullaby refrain - Aariraaro]
Aariraariraari raariraaraaro[Lullaby refrain - Aariraaro]
Chorus
Aaa…..aa…..aaa…..[Vocalizing melody]
Aaa…..aa…..aaa…..[Vocalizing melody]
Aaa…..aa…..aaa…..[Vocalizing melody]
Female
Oosaigal illaamal vaazhkkai illaiThere is no life without sounds;
Tharam uyarnthaalum thaazhnthaalum isaithaanae ellaiWhether status rises or falls, music is the ultimate boundary.
Chorus :………………….[Chorus vocalizing]
Female
Oosaigal illaamal vaazhkkai illaiThere is no life without sounds;
Tharam uyarnthaalum thaazhnthaalum isaithaanae ellaiWhether status rises or falls, music is the ultimate boundary.
Paaloottum maarbukkul idhayaththin saththamInside the mother's breast that feeds milk lies the heartbeat,
Kuzhanthai kaadhukkul arankaerum thaalaththin muththamA kiss of rhythm performing right inside the baby's ears.
Chorus :Mmmm…mm…mm…[Chorus hums]
Mmmm…mm…mm…[Chorus hums]
Female
Vilaiyaadum kaalaththil kolusennum salangaiDuring childhood play, the anklet bells make sounds,
Adhil jadhi poda uruvaakkum naattiya arangaiCreating a dance stage for rhythmic patterns to unfold.
Thimitharigida thuththuntharigida paninisa[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Sarininisari nisapani thanujagida thanatha theemtheem[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Thimitharigida thuththuntharigida paninisa….aa…..[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Chorus
…………….[Interlude]
Female
Thanneerum jadhi paadi karaiyodum mothumEven water sings rhythmic patterns as it clashes against the bank,
Mannil thavalaigal raagaththai mazhaikaalam oodhumFrogs on the ground play raagas during the rainy season.
Reengaara vandugal ennenna viththaiHumming bees perform so many tricks,
Veesum kaattrukku maramaada thanthaayo swaraththaiDid you give notes to the wind so the trees could dance?
Chorus
……………[Interlude]
Female
Imai yaavum kanneeril mugamaedai nadanamAll eyelids dance on the stage of the face amidst tears,
En iraivaa un thirumaeni ezhunthaada varanumOh my God, Your divine form must rise and dance!
Thimitharigida thuththuntharigida paninisa….aa…..[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
arininisari nisapani thanujagida thanatha theemtheem[Rhythmic classical beats and swaras]
Female
Thottilil thodangidum thaalaattu thaalaattu…oo….A lullaby begins right in the cradle, a lullaby...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful composition reflects on the omnipresence of music and rhythm throughout human existence. It asserts that life begins with a lullaby in the cradle and ends with funeral songs, emphasizing that music acts as a universal balm capable of easing any inner burden. The lyrics weave classical rhythmic mnemonics (sollukattu) with poetic observations of nature, showing how music resides in a mother's heartbeat, a child's anklets, flowing rivers, croaking frogs, and wind blowing through trees.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Antithesis (Maranu)

Thottilil thodangidum thaalaattu / Naalvar thol tharum naeramo or paattu

Contrasts the beginning of life in a cradle with the end of life carried on shoulders.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Kuzhanthai kaadhukkul arankaerum thaalaththin muththam

Compares the mother's heartbeat near a nursing child's ears to a rhythm performing on stage.

Personification (Tharkiropaerani)

Thanneerum jadhi paadi karaiyodum mothum

Attributes the singing of rhythmic patterns (jadhi) to flowing water.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Tha. Kannan incorporates rhythmic 'Sollukattu' (vocal percussion syllables) extensively into the song structure, blending classical Carnatic rhythm with thematic reflections on life's journey from birth to death.

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