Mother’s melodious magical mesmerizing Music in Tamil
Compiled and translated by
P.R.Ramachander
A lullaby in English is known as Thalattu In Tamizh. It is a song sung by
mothers of little babiies rocking them in a cradle or on their laps or on their
shoulders with a desire to make them sleep .Most of the known Thalattu songs
are folk songs weaved in magic. Their composer is the mother, Raga is affection
and Tala is love and the connoisseurs are babies who do not know how to talk
.No one can adequately describe their magic for the babies prefer them over
songs sung by recognized queens of melody .Read a few of them translated in to
English. One of them is a learned Thalattu addressed to God Rama and yet
another is a film song. Enjoy reading them.
I.AAraro Aariraro
Refrain (to be repeated after every two lines)
1.AAraaro Aariraro,
AAriraro , AAraaro
Aaradichu nee azhthaai,
Kan Maniye Kan urangu
1. AAraaro Aariraro,
AAriraro , AAraaro
Beat by whom did you cry,
Oh darling , you please sleep
2,Kannai adichavar aar,
Karpagathai Thotta varaar
2, Who beat the darling ,
Who touched Karpagam (difficult to get darling)
3,Adicharai Cholli azhu,
Aakkinaikal cheithu vaippom,
3.Please cry after telling who beat you,
WE would then order to them.
4.Maman adichano ,
Malli poo chendaale
4.Did the uncle beat you ,
Did he beat you with jasmine bouquet ?
5.Annan adithani ,
AAvaram kombale
5.Did your elder brother n beat you,
Using branch of the AAvaram plant
6,Patti adithalo ,
Paal vadiyum kambaale
6.Did your grand mother beat you ,
With the stick dripping with milk
II.Masll Ayodhiyil
1.Masil Ayodhiyil Mannan Dasarathan,
Maa thavathaal vantha mainthane Thalelo ,
Kousiganai thodarnthu kodiyavalai azhithu,
Yagam thanai katha dheerane Thalelo
1,Oh son who came due to the great penance ,
Of Dasaratha the stainless king of Ayodhya , please sleep,
Oh courageous lad who followed sage Viswamithra,
Destroyed the evil lady and protected the Yaga, Please sleep
2.Pathayile oru kal uruvai nindra ,
Pavaikku arul cheitha balane Thalelo,
Sithai manam kulira sodhanayil vendra ,
Sridharane, Raghu Ramane THalelo.
2,Oh Boy who blessed the lady,
Who stood on your path as stone, please sleep,
Oh Raghurama , Oh Sridhara ,
Who won in the test making Sita happy , please sleep.
3,THanthai chol kakkave thambiyum tharavum ,
Thodara , vanam chendra thanayane THaalelo,
Sundariyai pirinthu anthi pagal alainthu,
Sinthai kalangiya Ayyane Thalelo
3.Oh Son who went to the forest along,
With younger brother and wife to protect words of your father, Please sleep,
Oh Lord who got confused in mind,
Due to parting with your wife and wandering day and night , Please sleep
4.Vanara padayudan sendru Lankesanai,
Vendravane , Jaya Ramane THalelo
Anbar manam kulira arasu mudi tharithu,
AAnda RAmane THalelo.
4.Oh Victorious Rama who went with monkey army ,
And defeated the king of Lanka , please sleep,
Oh Rama who ruled after crowning yourself ,
So that all your friends are pleased, please sleep.
III. Kanna Navamaniye
1.Kanne Nava maniye , karpakame , Mukkaniye,
Pootha Pudhu malare , pokkishame kanmaniye Kan valarai,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
1.Oh my daling , Oh new gem , Oh wish giving tree , Oh Three types of fruits
Oh freshly opened new flower, Oh treasure , Oh darling please sleep,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
.
2,Yaar adithaa nee azhuthai , azhutha kannil neer thadunbha,
Per uraithaal naaan peruvilangu poottiduven,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
2.Due to whose beating you are crying, so that tears are ebbing out of your
eyes,
If you tell me the name I would put a ghuge hand cuff on him,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
3.Athai adithalo unakku amudhootum Kayyale .
Chathe manam poruthau Chandhirane kan valarai.
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
3.Did your paternal aunt beat you with that hands that feed you,
Just a bit pardon her and Oh moon, please sleep,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
4.Pattui adithalo , unakku paal vaarkkum Kayyaale ,
Koopittu naan ketpen , Pooncharame kan valarai,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
4.Did your grand mother beat you with hands that feel milk to you,
I would call and ask her about it, Oh Flower bouquet , please sleep,’
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
5.Mami adithaalo unnai mai theettum Kayyale ,
Sami Manam poruthu , shanmugane kan valarai ,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
5.Did your maternal aunt beat t you with hands that put Kajal,
Oh Lord, please excuse a bit , Oh Shanmuga , please do sleep,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
6.THamayan adithano unnai thayir ootum kayyale,
NImidam manam poruthu, nithirai chei komagane ,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
6.Did your elder brother beat you with hands that feed curd to you ,
For one minute bear it and Oh prince , please do sleep,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
7,Akkal adithalo, ammanmaar vaitharo ,
Vikkave thenguvathen , vithagane kan valarai,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
7.Did your elder sister beat you, Did your uncles find fault with you ,
Why are you sobbing and stammering , Oh magician, please do sleep,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
8.Prthor adithathundo , ariyaamal cheitharo,
Yengal aaramudhe Kan valarai
8,Have your parents beat you any time , dd they do it without knowing ,
Oh Our rare nectar , please do sleep.
9.Azhaathe, Azhaathe engal arase nee,,
THozhuvaar palar irukka , duraye nee kan valarai ,
Arase nee kan valarai ,
Aaramudhe nee kan valarai
9.Please don’t cry, don’t cry , Oh our king ,
When there are many people to salute you, Oh lord be pleased to sleep,
Oh King be pleased to sleep ,
Oh our f great nectar please skeep.
!V.AAraaro Aariraro Ambulikku ner ivaro
1.AAraro aariraro Ambulikku ner ivaro ,
Thayaana thai ivaro , Thanga Radha ther ivaro
1.Aaraaro Aaruraro , Is he comparable r to the mon ,
Is she mother of the mother , Is he a golden chariot.
2,Moochu patta nogumunnu moochadakki nuthamitten,
Nizhalu patta noguminnu nilavadanga muthamitten,
2.Thinking that my breath will pain him , I controlled my breath and kissed him
Thinking that if my shadow falls on him , it will pain , I hid the light and
kissed him.
3.Thhongaa mani vilakke , thoongama thoongu kanne ,
Aasai akal vilakke asayamal thoongu kanne .
3,Oh gem studded lamp which never sleeps , without sleeping , sleep my darling
,
Oh my very dear lamp, Without moving sleep my darling
4. AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
4. AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro, AAraaro, AAriraro,
V.Salai Vazhiyuranga
1.Salai vazhiyuranga, Samuthirathil meen uranga,
Nadellam thoonga , Nadu kazhani nel thoonga ,
Palil pazham thoonga , paadhi nilaa than thoonga ,
OOnurakkam nee kolla , uthamiyaal thal aatta ,
Por kodiyaal thaal aatta, Puthirane nithirai chei .
1,With roads sleeping with fishes sleeping in the sea ,
With all the world sleeping , With Country and fields sleeping ,
With fruits sleeping in milk , with half the moon sleeping,
When you are not feeding or sleeping , With your great mother singing lullaby ,
With a golden lady singing Lullaby , Oh son, please do sleep.
2.Mangayarkal thaal aatta , Maha Raja nithirai chei,
Kanne , yen kan maniye , karpagame nithirai chei,
Nithirayum povaayam Chithira poonthottile
2.With ladies singing lullaby , oh king please do sleep,
Oh my eye, Oh my darling , Oh wish giving tree , please do sleep,
You would now sleep in this very pretty flower decorated cradle.
Vi.Theno, thellamutho
Refrain
Rararo Rarirero,
Rarirero Rararo
1.Theno thiraviyami ,
Thevittatha thellamudho
1.Are you honey, are you wealth,
Are you the pre nectar which is never sufficient
2.Katti karumbo,
Karkando, chakkarayo
2.Are you the dense sugarcane ,
Are you sugar candy or are you sugar
3.Maasi vaduvo,
Vaikasi mampazhamo
3.Are you the unripe early mango of February-march
Are you the mango fruit of of may-june month
4.Kodai pala chulayo ,
Kulai cherntha maankaniyo
4.Are you the jack fruit of summer ,
Are you the bunch of mangoes.
5.Konja vantha ranjithamo,
Kurayillaa chithiramo
5.Are you the pretty girl who came to fondle you ,
Are you a painting without fault
VII.Kanne urangurangu
1.Kanne urangurangu , yen kanmaniye nee urangu ,
Ponne urangurangu , yen pon kiliye nee urangu ,
1.Oh darling sleep, sleep , Oh my darling , you please sleep,
Oh gold sleep, sleep , Oh my golden bird , you please sleep.
2.Ponnai adithaar yaar , yen pon kiliyai thottar yaar ,
AAradithu kanneer aarai pergiyathu
2. Who beat my gold , Who touched my golden bird,
By whose beating does your tears are flowing like a river.
3.Yevar aditha kanneer kulamai thengit yathu,
Maman adithaano malar konda chendaale ,
Mami adithalo malar thalir karathaale ,
Patti adithalo paal pugattum sankhale ,
Chithi adithaalo chinnam chiru viralaale
3.By whose beating has your tears collected like a pond ,
Did your maternal uncle beat you with a ball made of flower ,
Did your uncle’s wife beat you with her hands as soft as flower,
Did granma beat you with conch used to give milk to you,
Did your mother’s sister beat you with her very small fingers.
VIII.Kanne Kamalpoo
1Kanne Kamalapoo Kathu irandum Vellari poo,
Minnidum un pon meni Chempaga poo, chempaga poo,
Kanne kamalapoo , Kathirandum Vellari poo ,
Minnidum un pon meni Chempaga poo , Chempaga poo
1.Your eyes are lotus flowers , both your ears are cucumber flowers ,
Your shining gold body is the champa flowers, champa flowers,
Your eyes are lotus flowers , both your ears are cucumber flowers ,
Your shining gold body is the champa flowers, champa flowers.
2.Mullai poo kattidamaam, mugappellam uthiramaam,
Mugappai thiranthu vittaal mullai poovin vaasanayaam,
.Mullai poo kattidamaam, mugappellam uthiramaam,
Mugappai thiranthu vittaal mullai poovin vaasanayaam
Chinnai vaai Mankkuthadaa singaara kannu,
Chithirame por kodiye seekkiram unnu,
Kanne kamalapoo , Kathirandum Vellari poo ,
Minnidum un pon meni Chempaga poo , Chempaga poo
2.The building is made of jasmine flowers , The façade is full of rafters,
And when we open the façade, the place is filled with scent of jasmine
.The building is made of jasmine flowers , The façade is full of rafters,
And when we open the façade, the place is filled with scent of jasmine
Oh my pretty darling your great mouth is sweet smelling,
Oh painting, Oh golden climbing plant, please eat with speed,
Your eyes are lotus flowers , both your ears are cucumber flowers ,
Your shining gold body is the champa flowers, champa flowers.
3,Maar niraya chandanamum madi niraya vetrilayum,
Then niraintha kali Pakkum seer koduppan un Maaman,
Maar niraya chandanamum madi niraya vetrilayum,
Then niraintha kali Pakkum seer koduppan un Maaman,
Mannil thvazhadhe singara kanna yen,
Madi mele nee irundhu seekiram unnu,
Kanne kamalapoo , Kathirandum Vellari poo ,
Minnidum un pon meni Chempaga poo , Chempaga poo
3. A chest full of sandal paste , A lap full of betel leaves,
The betel nuts of full of honey would be given as present by your uncle,
A chest full of sandal paste , A lap full of betel leaves,
The betel nuts of full of honey would be given as present by your uncle,
Please do not amble in the mud my beauty ,
Please sit on my lap and take your food,
Your eyes are lotus flowers , both your ears are cucumber flowers ,
Your shining gold body is the champa flowers, champa flowers
