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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Appappa Naan

From Galatta Kalyanam · 1968

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Galatta Kalyanam1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ulululaai aayi aayiLullaby vocalizations
Aariraaro hoo..Aariraaro hoo..
Ulululaai aayi aayiLullaby vocalizations
Aariraaro ululaaiAariraaro lullaby sounds
Male
Appappaa naan appan alladaaOh boy, I am not your father, my child!
Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaaBy mistake, I am not your mother either!
Engae evano petha pillaiyoIs this a child born to someone somewhere?
Ingae vandha thathu pillaiyooHas it come here as an adopted child?
Aariraaro ohh..ohh..Aariraaro ohh..ohh..
Aariraariraaroo..Aariraariraaroo..
Male
Appappaa naan appan alladaaOh boy, I am not your father, my child!
Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaaBy mistake, I am not your mother either!
Engae evano petha pillaiyoIs this a child born to someone somewhere?
Ingae vandha thathu pillaiyooHas it come here as an adopted child?
Aariraaro ohh..ohh..Aariraaro ohh..ohh..
Aariraariraaroo..Aariraariraaroo..
Male
Ulululaai aayi aayiLullaby vocalizations
Aariraaro ululaaiAariraaro lullaby sounds
Male
Kalyaanam innum aagadha vaelaiAt a time when I am not even married yet,
Kai meedhu pillai theeraadha thollaiHaving a child in my arms is an endless trouble!
Kalyaanam innum aagadha vaelaiAt a time when I am not even married yet,
Kai meedhu pillai theeraadha thollaiHaving a child in my arms is an endless trouble!
Thaalaatta sonnaal paattondru solvenIf asked to sing a lullaby, I can sing a song,
Thaalaatta sonnaal paattondru solvenIf asked to sing a lullaby, I can sing a song,
Paalootta sonnaal naan engu povenBut if asked to feed milk, where will I go?
Male
Appappaa naan appan alladaaOh boy, I am not your father, my child!
Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaaBy mistake, I am not your mother either!
Engae evano petha pillaiyoIs this a child born to someone somewhere?
Ingae vandha thathu pillaiyooHas it come here as an adopted child?
Aariraaro ohh..ohh..Aariraaro ohh..ohh..
Aariraariraaroo..Aariraariraaroo..
Male
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaaiLullaby vocalizations
UlululaaiLullaby vocalization
Male
Kanakkaaga pillai perugindra thittamThe family planning scheme to have children systematically,
Enakkaaga thaano yerpatta sattamWas that law created specifically for me?
Kanakkaaga pillai perugindra thittamThe family planning scheme to have children systematically,
Enakkaaga thaano yerpatta sattamWas that law created specifically for me?
Kadankaaran vandhaal nadungaadha nenjamMy heart doesn't tremble even when a lender comes,
Kadankaaran vandhaal nadungaadha nenjamMy heart doesn't tremble even when a lender comes,
Adangaadha pillai azhudhaalae anjumYet it fears when an unruly child begins to cry!
Male
Appappaa naan appan alladaaOh boy, I am not your father, my child!
Thappappaa naan thaayum alladaaBy mistake, I am not your mother either!
Engae evano petha pillaiyoIs this a child born to someone somewhere?
Ingae vandha thathu pillaiyooHas it come here as an adopted child?
Aariraaro ohh..ohh..Aariraaro ohh..ohh..
Aariraariraaroo..Aariraariraaroo..
Male
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaaiLullaby vocalizations
Ulululaai ulululaai ulululaaiLullaby vocalizations
Ulululaai ulululaaiLullaby vocalizations

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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