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Galatta Kalyanam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Appappa Naan

From Galatta Kalyanam · 1968

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Galatta Kalyanam
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
19 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ulululaai aayi aayi
Aariraaro hoo..
Ulululaai aayi aayi
Aariraaro ululaai
Appappaa naan appan alladaa
Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaa
Engae evano petha pillaiyo
Ingae vandha thathu pillaiyoo
Aariraaro ohh..ohh..
Aariraariraaroo..
Appappaa naan appan alladaa
Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaa
Engae evano petha pillaiyo
Ingae vandha thathu pillaiyoo
Aariraaro ohh..ohh..
Aariraariraaroo..
Ulululaai aayi aayi
Aariraaro ululaai
Kalyaanam innum aagadha vaelai
Kai meedhu pillai theeraadha thollai
Kalyaanam innum aagadha vaelai
Kai meedhu pillai theeraadha thollai
Thaalaatta sonnaal paattondru solven
Thaalaatta sonnaal paattondru solven
Paalootta sonnaal naan engu poven
Appappaa naan appan alladaa
Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaa
Engae evano petha pillaiyo
Ingae vandha thathu pillaiyoo
Aariraaro ohh..ohh..
Aariraariraaroo..
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaai
Ulululaai
Kanakkaaga pillai perugindra thittam
Enakkaaga thaano yerpatta sattam
Kanakkaaga pillai perugindra thittam
Enakkaaga thaano yerpatta sattam
Kadankaaran vandhaal nadungaadha nenjam
Kadankaaran vandhaal nadungaadha nenjam
Adangaadha pillai azhudhaalae anjum
Appappaa naan appan alladaa
Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaa
Engae evano petha pillaiyo
Ingae vandha thathu pillaiyoo
Aariraaro ohh..ohh..
Aariraariraaroo..
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaai
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaai
Ulululaai ulululaai
Ulululaai aayi aayi
Aareeraaro ho...
Ulululaai aayi aayi
Aareeraaro ululaai
Oh goodness, I am not your father!
You've got it wrong, I am not a mother either!
Some stranger's baby born who knows where,
Did you end up here as an adopted child?
Aareeraaro oh... oh...
Aareeraareeraaro...
Oh goodness, I am not your father!
You've got it wrong, I am not a mother either!
Some stranger's baby born who knows where,
Did you end up here as an adopted child?
Aareeraaro oh... oh...
Aareeraareeraaro...
Ulululaai aayi aayi
Aareeraaro ululaai
At a time when I'm not even married yet,
A baby in my arms is an endless headache!
At a time when I'm not even married yet,
A baby in my arms is an endless headache!
If you ask for a lullaby, I can sing a song,
If you ask for a lullaby, I can sing a song,
But if you ask to be fed milk, where can I go?
Oh goodness, I am not your father!
You've got it wrong, I am not a mother either!
Some stranger's baby born who knows where,
Did you end up here as an adopted child?
Aareeraaro oh... oh...
Aareeraareeraaro...
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaai
Ulululaai
The family planning scheme to limit children,
Was that rule made just for me?
The family planning scheme to limit children,
Was that rule made just for me?
This heart that never trembles when the moneylender comes,
This heart that never trembles when the moneylender comes,
Panics in fear the moment this stubborn baby cries!
Oh goodness, I am not your father!
You've got it wrong, I am not a mother either!
Some stranger's baby born who knows where,
Did you end up here as an adopted child?
Aareeraaro oh... oh...
Aareeraareeraaro...
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaai
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaai
Ulululaai ulululaai
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This humorous song from the classic Tamil comedy film 'Galatta Kalyanam' is a comic lullaby sung by a bachelor who finds himself stuck taking care of a baby. He lamentingly sings to the infant that he is neither its father nor mother, wondering whose child it could be and how he got dragged into this chaos before even getting married. The protagonist humorously contrasts his bravery against angry creditors with his sheer panic when faced with an unruly, crying baby.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Appappaa naan appan alladaa / Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaa

Matching second consonants in consecutive lines (Appappaa / Thappappaa, Engae / Ingae).

Iyaibu (End rhyme)

Kanakkaaga pillai perugindra thittam / Enakkaaga thaano yerpatta sattam

Rhyming words at the end of adjacent lines (thittam / sattam, nenjam / anjum).

Humorous Irony / Parody

Thaalaatta sonnaal paattondru solven / Paalootta sonnaal naan engu poven

Subverting the traditional tender lullaby genre into a humorous complaint about bachelorhood and helplessness.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Galatta Kalyanam' (1968) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa, directed by C. V. Rajendran with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics by Vaali. This song, sung by T. M. Soundararajan, showcases Sivaji Ganesan's impeccable comic timing in a comical situation involving baby care.

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