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Kakkum Karangal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Alli Thandu Kaal

From Kakkum Karangal · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kakkum Karangal
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
3 Sept 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Alli thandu kaal eduthu
Adi mel adi eduthu
Chinna kannan nadakkaiyilae
Chithirangal enna seiyum
Alli thandu kaal eduthu
Adi mel adi eduthu
Chinna kannan nadakkaiyilae
Chithirangal enna seiyum
Alli thandu kaal eduthu
Adi mel adi eduthu
Chinna kannan nadakkaiyilae
Chithirangal enna seiyum
Polladha sirippum pon maeni sivappum
Solladha kavidhaigal sollum
Solladha kavidhaigal sollum
Polladha sirippum pon maeni sivappum
Solladha kavidhaigal sollum
Solladha kavidhaigal sollum
Muthu navarathinangalai
Avan mogana punnagai vellum
Muthu navarathinangalai
Avan mogana punnagai vellum
Alli thandu kaal eduthu
Adi mel adi eduthu
Chinna kannan nadakkaiyilae
Chithirangal enna seiyum
Neerodai polae nee odum vaelai
Ooraarin kann padalamoo
Ooraarin kann padalamoo
Neerodai polae nee odum vaelai
Ooraarin kann padalamoo
Ooraarin kann padalamoo
Alli alli edukaiyilae
En athaanai maranthirupaeno
Alli alli edukaiyilae
En athaanai maranthirupaeno
Alli thandu kaal eduthu
Adi mel adi eduthu
Chinna kannan nadakkaiyilae
Chithirangal enna seiyum
With legs like tender lily stalks,
taking step after gentle step,
when little Kannan walks,
how could any painting compare?
With legs like tender lily stalks,
taking step after gentle step,
when little Kannan walks,
how could any painting compare?
With legs like tender lily stalks,
taking step after gentle step,
when little Kannan walks,
how could any painting compare?
His mischievous smile and glowing golden skin
express poetry never spoken before.
They express poetry never spoken before.
His mischievous smile and glowing golden skin
express poetry never spoken before.
They express poetry never spoken before.
Pearls and precious gems,
his charming smile outshines them all.
Pearls and precious gems,
his charming smile outshines them all.
With legs like tender lily stalks,
taking step after gentle step,
when little Kannan walks,
how could any painting compare?
When you run about like a flowing stream,
could the town's evil eye fall upon you?
Could the town's evil eye fall upon you?
When you run about like a flowing stream,
could the town's evil eye fall upon you?
Could the town's evil eye fall upon you?
As I scoop him up in my arms,
would I ever forget my beloved?
As I scoop him up in my arms,
would I ever forget my beloved?
With legs like tender lily stalks,
taking step after gentle step,
when little Kannan walks,
how could any painting compare?
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic lullaby-style romantic melody from Kakkum Karangal celebrates the innocence, grace, and beauty of a toddler likened to Lord Krishna (Chinna Kannan). The lyrics playfully admire the child's tender steps, mischievous smile, and rosy golden skin, deeming them far superior to any still painting or precious gem.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Alli thandu kaal eduthu”

Compares the child's soft, tender legs directly to 'Alli thandu' (lily stems).

Uwamai (Simile)

“Neerodai polae nee odum vaelai”

Uses 'polae' (like/as) to compare the child's running to a freely flowing water stream.

Monai (Alliteration)

“Polladha sirippum pon maeni sivappum”

Repetition of initial consonants 'Po' in 'Polladha' and 'pon', creating rhythmic harmony.

Ethir / Anaphora

“Solladha kavidhaigal sollum”

Rhythmic repetition of phrases like 'Solladha kavidhaigal sollum' heightens musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kakkum Karangal' (1965) marked the silver screen debut of veteran actor Sivakumar, who played a supporting role alongside S. S. Rajendran and C. R. Vijayakumari.

Keep listening

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Kulunga Kulunga Sirikkum1964
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Amudhame En1959
Ulagam SirikirathuTenderChildhood
Pillai Selvame1967
Pesum DheivamDevotionTender
Singara Chittu Thaan1981
KalthoonChildhoodAdmiration
Mullai Poovena1982
ThyagiDevotionTender
Thaai Paadum Paattuthaane1977
Naam Pirandha MannDevotionTender

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Thirunaal Vandhadhu1965
Kakkum KarangalMelancholic

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