Ada Vaada Kannu
From Sankarlal · 1982
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Sankarlal1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum | Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child' |
| Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum | The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother |
| Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum | Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child' |
| Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum | The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother |
| Male | |
| Malar thottil ingae podum | It sets up a cradle of flowers here |
| Mana kannil indrae | Today in my mind's eye |
| Thaai paadum thaalaattai naan ketkkiraen | I hear the lullaby sung by my mother |
| Male | |
| Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum | Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child' |
| Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum | The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother |
| Male | |
| Chiththiraiyil pooththaval intha poovai | This flower-like maiden bloomed in the month of Chithirai |
| Shenbaga poo kangalil enna paarvai | What a captivating gaze in those champak flower eyes! |
| Aththai magal kannamo anthi vaanam | Is my cousin's cheek like the evening sky? |
| Yaar varavai kandathaal intha naanam | Whose arrival has brought forth this shyness? |
| Male | |
| Seedhana kaattrum senthamizh paattum | The cool gentle breeze and pure Tamil song |
| Ondrinil ondru sangamam indru | Merge into one another today |
| Eththanaiyo karpanai ingu naam kaanalaam | We can witness so many imaginations here |
| Male | |
| Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum | Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child' |
| Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum | The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother |
| Male | |
| …………….. | [Music / Interlude] |
| Male | |
| Saaralilae poonguyil raagam paadum | In the drizzle, the sweet cuckoo sings a melody |
| Neeraruvi mellavae thaalam podum | The waterfall gently sets the rhythm |
| Chorus | |
| …………….. | [Music / Interlude] |
| Male :…………….. | Male: [Music / Interlude] |
| Male | |
| Thaen mazhalai pillaigal aadi paadum | Children with sweet babbling voices dance and sing |
| Senthamizho ennaiyum pillai aakkum | Pure Tamil transforms me into a child as well |
| Male | |
| Sooriyan ingae suduvathum illai | Even the sun does not burn here |
| Koodiya kaigal viduvathum illai | Joined hands never part ways |
| Vaa magalae vanthu paar sorkkam ingillaiyo | Come, my daughter, see if heaven isn't right here |
| Male | |
| Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum | Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child' |
| Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum | The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother |
| Malar thottil ingae podum | It sets up a cradle of flowers here |
| Mana kannil indrae | Today in my mind's eye |
| Thaai paadum thaalaattai naan ketkkiraen | I hear the lullaby sung by my mother |
| Male | |
| Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum | Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child' |
| Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum | The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother |
| Chorus | |
| …………….. | [Music / Interlude] |
| Male :…………….. | Male: [Music / Interlude] |
அட வாடா கண்ணு ராஜா என்று பாடும்
மழை மேகம் எந்தன் தாய் போல் வந்து தேடும்
அட வாடா கண்ணு ராஜா என்று பாடும்
மழை மேகம் எந்தன் தாய் போல் வந்து தேடும்
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
மலர் தொட்டில் இங்கே போடும்
மனக் கண்ணில் இன்றே
தாய் பாடும் தாலாட்டை நான் கேட்கிறேன்
It sets up a cradle of flowers here
Today in my mind's eye
I hear the lullaby sung by my mother
அட வாடா கண்ணு ராஜா என்று பாடும்
மழை மேகம் எந்தன் தாய் போல் வந்து தேடும்
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
சித்திரையில் பூத்தவள் இந்த பூவை
செண்பகப் பூ கண்களில் என்ன பார்வை
அத்தை மகள் கன்னமோ அந்தி வானம்
யார் வரவை கண்டதால் இந்த நாணம்
This flower-like maiden bloomed in the month of Chithirai
What a captivating gaze in those champak flower eyes!
Is my cousin's cheek like the evening sky?
Whose arrival has brought forth this shyness?
சீதனக் காற்றும் செந்தமிழ் பாட்டும்
ஒன்றினில் ஒன்று சங்கமம் இன்று
எத்தனையோ கற்பனை இங்கு நாம் காணலாம்
The cool gentle breeze and pure Tamil song
Merge into one another today
We can witness so many imaginations here
அட வாடா கண்ணு ராஜா என்று பாடும்
மழை மேகம் எந்தன் தாய் போல் வந்து தேடும்
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
......................
[Music / Interlude]
சாரலிலே பூங்குயில் ராகம் பாடும்
நீரருவி மெல்லவே தாளம் போடும்
In the drizzle, the sweet cuckoo sings a melody
The waterfall gently sets the rhythm
...........................
........................
[Music / Interlude]
Male: [Music / Interlude]
தேன் மழலைப் பிள்ளைகள் ஆடிப் பாடும்
செந்தமிழோ என்னையும் பிள்ளை ஆக்கும்
Children with sweet babbling voices dance and sing
Pure Tamil transforms me into a child as well
சூரியன் இங்கே சுடுவதும் இல்லை
கூடிய கைகள் விடுவதும் இல்லை
வா மகளே வந்து பார் சொர்க்கம் இங்கில்லையோ
Even the sun does not burn here
Joined hands never part ways
Come, my daughter, see if heaven isn't right here
அட வாடா கண்ணு ராஜா என்று பாடும்
மழை மேகம் எந்தன் தாய் போல் வந்து தேடும்
மலர் தொட்டில் இங்கே போடும்
மனக் கண்ணில் இன்றே
தாய் பாடும் தாலாட்டை நான் கேட்கிறேன்
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
It sets up a cradle of flowers here
Today in my mind's eye
I hear the lullaby sung by my mother
அட வாடா கண்ணு ராஜா என்று பாடும்
மழை மேகம் எந்தன் தாய் போல் வந்து தேடும்
அட வாடா கண்ணு ராஜா என்று பாடும்
மழை மேகம் எந்தன் தாய் போல் வந்து தேடும்....
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
........................
...........................
[Music / Interlude]
Male: [Music / Interlude]
Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
Malar thottil ingae podum
It sets up a cradle of flowers here
Mana kannil indrae
Today in my mind's eye
Thaai paadum thaalaattai naan ketkkiraen
I hear the lullaby sung by my mother
Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
Chiththiraiyil pooththaval intha poovai
This flower-like maiden bloomed in the month of Chithirai
Shenbaga poo kangalil enna paarvai
What a captivating gaze in those champak flower eyes!
Aththai magal kannamo anthi vaanam
Is my cousin's cheek like the evening sky?
Yaar varavai kandathaal intha naanam
Whose arrival has brought forth this shyness?
Seedhana kaattrum senthamizh paattum
The cool gentle breeze and pure Tamil song
Ondrinil ondru sangamam indru
Merge into one another today
Eththanaiyo karpanai ingu naam kaanalaam
We can witness so many imaginations here
Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
……………..
[Music / Interlude]
Saaralilae poonguyil raagam paadum
In the drizzle, the sweet cuckoo sings a melody
Neeraruvi mellavae thaalam podum
The waterfall gently sets the rhythm
……………..
[Music / Interlude]
Male :……………..
Male: [Music / Interlude]
Thaen mazhalai pillaigal aadi paadum
Children with sweet babbling voices dance and sing
Senthamizho ennaiyum pillai aakkum
Pure Tamil transforms me into a child as well
Sooriyan ingae suduvathum illai
Even the sun does not burn here
Koodiya kaigal viduvathum illai
Joined hands never part ways
Vaa magalae vanthu paar sorkkam ingillaiyo
Come, my daughter, see if heaven isn't right here
Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
Malar thottil ingae podum
It sets up a cradle of flowers here
Mana kannil indrae
Today in my mind's eye
Thaai paadum thaalaattai naan ketkkiraen
I hear the lullaby sung by my mother
Ada vaada kannu raja endru paadum
Singing, 'Oh come, my dear child'
Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum
The rain cloud comes searching for me like my mother
……………..
[Music / Interlude]
Male :……………..
Male: [Music / Interlude]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ada Vaada Kannu Raja is a tender and evocative song from the 1982 Tamil film Sankarlal, celebrating maternal affection, idyllic nature, and innocent joy. The singer compares rain clouds to a mother calling out affectionately and singing lullabies. Nature itself creates a cradle of flowers, while the gentle breeze, pure Tamil poetry, singing cuckoos, and trickling waterfalls merge into a harmonious paradise. As children babble and dance, even the speaker feels rejuvenated into a child by the sweetness of the Tamil language. It paints an enchanting vision of a paradise on earth where the sun never scorches, loved ones never part, and heaven resides in the embrace of peaceful nature.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Mazhai megam enthan thaai pol vanthu thedum”
Compares rain clouds coming to comfort the speaker to a mother searching for her child using 'pol' (like).
Personification
“Neeraruvi mellavae thaalam podum”
Attributes human musical actions to nature—cuckoo birds singing melodies and waterfalls beating the rhythm.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Seedhana kaattrum senthamizh paattum”
Repetition of the initial 'S' sound ('Seedhana' and 'senthamizh') creating a soothing melodic flow.
Metaphor
“Aththai magal kannamo anthi vaanam”
Compares the blush on the cousin's cheek directly to the colors of the evening sky.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sankarlal (1982) starred Kamal Haasan in a dual role. The musical score was a rare joint effort involving both Ilaiyaraaja and Gangai Amaran, who stepped in to complete tracks when Ilaiyaraaja faced intense scheduling pressures. The song remains celebrated for S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's emotional vocal rendition and Pulamaipithan's rich imagery.
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