Babu Mani
From Pillai Selvam · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Sakthi Kumar
- Details
- Pillai Selvam1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Humming…. | Humming... |
| Oh babu mani babu | Oh Babu, precious Babu |
| Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo | Are you not a child gifted by God? |
| En kulankatha vallalalavo | Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage? |
| Manika thottil vairathil kattil | A ruby cradle and a diamond bed |
| Unakethanai muthukal | How many pearls are there for you? |
| Babu mani babu | Babu, precious Babu |
| Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo | Are you not a child gifted by God? |
| En kulankatha vallalalavo | Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage? |
| Female | |
| Nee illa perumai enna athu nimathi aagumo | What pride is there without you? Will that bring peace? |
| Amma ena peyar sollatha antha piravi ennavo | What kind of birth is it that does not call one 'Mother'? |
| Nee illa perumai enna athu nimathi aagumo | What pride is there without you? Will that bring peace? |
| Amma ena peyar sollatha antha piravi ennavo | What kind of birth is it that does not call one 'Mother'? |
| Thanthaiyo manam thudika thayaro thavamiruka | With the father's heart aching and the mother performing penance |
| Thanthaiyo manam thudika thayaro thavamiruka | With the father's heart aching and the mother performing penance |
| Karunai vanthatha siru kanna | Did mercy descend upon you, my little Krishna? |
| Unnai murugan enbatha | Should I call you Lord Murugan? |
| Babu mani babu | Babu, precious Babu |
| Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo | Are you not a child gifted by God? |
| En kulankatha vallalalavo | Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage? |
| Female | |
| Gowsalya idaiyile ramanallavo | Are you not Lord Rama resting at Kausalya's waist? |
| Yasothamma madiyile krishnanallavo | Are you not Lord Krishna in Mother Yasoda's lap? |
| Gowsalya idaiyile ramanallavo | Are you not Lord Rama resting at Kausalya's waist? |
| Yasothamma madiyile krishnanallavo | Are you not Lord Krishna in Mother Yasoda's lap? |
| Andavanin paadalile naan partha selvangalai | The divine treasures I witnessed in the songs of the Almighty |
| Andavanin paadalile naan partha selvangalai | The divine treasures I witnessed in the songs of the Almighty |
| Enni parthathal siru kanna | Thinking about them, my little Krishna |
| Unnai eppadi konjuven | How can I fondle and cherish you enough? |
| Babu mani babu | Babu, precious Babu |
| Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo | Are you not a child gifted by God? |
| En kulankatha vallalalavo | Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage? |
| Female | |
| Mayangathe mugathil maatram aagathuda | Do not feel faint, let there be no change in your face, my child |
| Jagamellam amma madiyallada | The whole world is not equivalent to a mother's lap, my child |
| Mayangathe mugathil maatram aagathuda | Do not feel faint, let there be no change in your face, my child |
| Jagamellam amma madiyallada | The whole world is not equivalent to a mother's lap, my child |
| Kanna un kangalil kanneerum pongutha | Krishna, are tears welling up in your eyes? |
| Kanna un kangalil kanneerum pongutha | Krishna, are tears welling up in your eyes? |
| Kalakamenna punnagaiyai kattada | Why be distressed? Show me your smile, my child |
| Kalam unathada | Time is yours to own |
| Babu mani babu | Babu, precious Babu |
| Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo | Are you not a child gifted by God? |
| En kulankatha vallalalavo | Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage? |
முனகல்
ஓ.....பாபு.......மணி பாபு.......
நீ தெய்வம் தந்த பிள்ளை அல்லவோ
என் குலங்காத்த வள்ளலல்லவோ
மாணிக்கத் தொட்டில் வைரத்தில் கட்டில்
உனக்கெத்தனை முத்துக்கள்
பாபு.......மணி பாபு.......
நீ தெய்வம் தந்த பிள்ளை அல்லவோ
என் குலங்காத்த வள்ளலல்லவோ
Humming...
Oh Babu, precious Babu
Are you not a child gifted by God?
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
A ruby cradle and a diamond bed
How many pearls are there for you?
Babu, precious Babu
Are you not a child gifted by God?
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
நீ இல்லா பெருமை என்ன
அது நிம்மதி ஆகுமோ
அம்மா எனப் பெயர் சொல்லாத
அந்த பிறவி என்னவோ
நீ இல்லா பெருமை என்ன
அது நிம்மதி ஆகுமோ
அம்மா எனப் பெயர் சொல்லாத
அந்த பிறவி என்னவோ
தந்தையோ மனம் துடிக்க
தாயாரோ தவமிருக்க
தந்தையோ மனம் துடிக்க
தாயாரோ தவமிருக்க
கருணை வந்ததா சிறு கண்ணா
உன்னை முருகன் என்பதா
பாபு.......மணி பாபு.......
நீ தெய்வம் தந்த பிள்ளை அல்லவோ
என் குலங்காத்த வள்ளலல்லவோ
What pride is there without you? Will that bring peace?
What kind of birth is it that does not call one 'Mother'?
What pride is there without you? Will that bring peace?
What kind of birth is it that does not call one 'Mother'?
With the father's heart aching and the mother performing penance
With the father's heart aching and the mother performing penance
Did mercy descend upon you, my little Krishna?
Should I call you Lord Murugan?
Babu, precious Babu
Are you not a child gifted by God?
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
கௌசல்யா இடையிலே ராமனல்லவோ
யசோதம்மா மடியிலே
கிருஷ்ணனல்லவோ
கௌசல்யா இடையிலே ராமனல்லவோ
யசோதம்மா மடியிலே
கிருஷ்ணனல்லவோ
ஆண்டவனின் பாடலிலே
நான் பார்த்த செல்வங்களை
ஆண்டவனின் பாடலிலே
நான் பார்த்த செல்வங்களை
எண்ணிப் பார்த்ததால் சிறு கண்ணா
உன்னை எப்படி கொஞ்சுவேன்
பாபு.......மணி பாபு.......
நீ தெய்வம் தந்த பிள்ளை அல்லவோ
என் குலங்காத்த வள்ளலல்லவோ
Are you not Lord Rama resting at Kausalya's waist?
Are you not Lord Krishna in Mother Yasoda's lap?
Are you not Lord Rama resting at Kausalya's waist?
Are you not Lord Krishna in Mother Yasoda's lap?
The divine treasures I witnessed in the songs of the Almighty
The divine treasures I witnessed in the songs of the Almighty
Thinking about them, my little Krishna
How can I fondle and cherish you enough?
Babu, precious Babu
Are you not a child gifted by God?
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
மயங்காதே முகத்தில் மாற்றம் ஆகாதுடா
ஜெகமெல்லாம் அம்மா மடியல்லடா
மயங்காதே முகத்தில் மாற்றம் ஆகாதுடா
ஜெகமெல்லாம் அம்மா மடியல்லடா
கண்ணா உன் கண்களில் கண்ணீரும் பொங்குதா
கண்ணா உன் கண்களில் கண்ணீரும் பொங்குதா
கலக்கமென்ன புன்னகையை காட்டடா
காலம் உனதடா
பாபு.......மணி பாபு.......
நீ தெய்வம் தந்த பிள்ளை அல்லவோ
என் குலங்காத்த வள்ளலல்லவோ
Do not feel faint, let there be no change in your face, my child
The whole world is not equivalent to a mother's lap, my child
Do not feel faint, let there be no change in your face, my child
The whole world is not equivalent to a mother's lap, my child
Krishna, are tears welling up in your eyes?
Krishna, are tears welling up in your eyes?
Why be distressed? Show me your smile, my child
Time is yours to own
Babu, precious Babu
Are you not a child gifted by God?
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
Humming….
Humming...
Oh babu mani babu
Oh Babu, precious Babu
Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo
Are you not a child gifted by God?
En kulankatha vallalalavo
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
Manika thottil vairathil kattil
A ruby cradle and a diamond bed
Unakethanai muthukal
How many pearls are there for you?
Babu mani babu
Babu, precious Babu
Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo
Are you not a child gifted by God?
En kulankatha vallalalavo
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
Nee illa perumai enna athu nimathi aagumo
What pride is there without you? Will that bring peace?
Amma ena peyar sollatha antha piravi ennavo
What kind of birth is it that does not call one 'Mother'?
Nee illa perumai enna athu nimathi aagumo
What pride is there without you? Will that bring peace?
Amma ena peyar sollatha antha piravi ennavo
What kind of birth is it that does not call one 'Mother'?
Thanthaiyo manam thudika thayaro thavamiruka
With the father's heart aching and the mother performing penance
Thanthaiyo manam thudika thayaro thavamiruka
With the father's heart aching and the mother performing penance
Karunai vanthatha siru kanna
Did mercy descend upon you, my little Krishna?
Unnai murugan enbatha
Should I call you Lord Murugan?
Babu mani babu
Babu, precious Babu
Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo
Are you not a child gifted by God?
En kulankatha vallalalavo
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
Gowsalya idaiyile ramanallavo
Are you not Lord Rama resting at Kausalya's waist?
Yasothamma madiyile krishnanallavo
Are you not Lord Krishna in Mother Yasoda's lap?
Gowsalya idaiyile ramanallavo
Are you not Lord Rama resting at Kausalya's waist?
Yasothamma madiyile krishnanallavo
Are you not Lord Krishna in Mother Yasoda's lap?
Andavanin paadalile naan partha selvangalai
The divine treasures I witnessed in the songs of the Almighty
Andavanin paadalile naan partha selvangalai
The divine treasures I witnessed in the songs of the Almighty
Enni parthathal siru kanna
Thinking about them, my little Krishna
Unnai eppadi konjuven
How can I fondle and cherish you enough?
Babu mani babu
Babu, precious Babu
Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo
Are you not a child gifted by God?
En kulankatha vallalalavo
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
Mayangathe mugathil maatram aagathuda
Do not feel faint, let there be no change in your face, my child
Jagamellam amma madiyallada
The whole world is not equivalent to a mother's lap, my child
Mayangathe mugathil maatram aagathuda
Do not feel faint, let there be no change in your face, my child
Jagamellam amma madiyallada
The whole world is not equivalent to a mother's lap, my child
Kanna un kangalil kanneerum pongutha
Krishna, are tears welling up in your eyes?
Kanna un kangalil kanneerum pongutha
Krishna, are tears welling up in your eyes?
Kalakamenna punnagaiyai kattada
Why be distressed? Show me your smile, my child
Kalam unathada
Time is yours to own
Babu mani babu
Babu, precious Babu
Nee deivam thantha pillai allavo
Are you not a child gifted by God?
En kulankatha vallalalavo
Are you not the generous benefactor who saved my lineage?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic lullaby expresses the intense emotional bond between a mother and her child. Sung by P. Susheela, the song portrays the child as a divine blessing born out of devotion and penance. The mother reflects on the emptiness of a life without motherhood and compares her child to divine figures like Rama, Krishna, and Murugan, seeing the child as her ultimate savior and precious treasure. In the latter verses, she reassures the child, urging him not to cry and offering comfort, reminding him that a mother's lap is greater than the entire world.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Thanthaiyo manam thudika thayaro thavamiruka”
In 'Thanthaiyo' and 'Karunai', the second consonants complement rhythmic structure in devotional Tamil poetry.
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Gowsalya idaiyile ramanallavo / Yasothamma madiyile krishnanallavo”
The child is metaphorically compared to mythological divine children like Rama, Krishna, and Murugan.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Kanna un kangalil kanneerum pongutha”
Repetition of initial consonants like 'K' in 'Kanna un kangalil kanneerum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pillai Selvam (1973) features soulful compositions by Sakthi Kumar with lyrics penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan. The lullaby rendered by P. Susheela remains an enduring favorite in Tamil cinema, celebrated for its poignant emotional depth and maternal affection.
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