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Lyrics & meaning

Budhi Sigamani Petra Pillai

From Iruvar Ullam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Iruvar Ullam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Budhi sigaamani petra pillaiThe child born to the intelligent one,
Idhu punnagai seiyudhu chinna pillaiThis little child is smiling.
Budhi sigaamani petra pillaiThe child born to the intelligent one,
Idhu punnagai seiyudhu chinna pillaiThis little child is smiling.
Male :LololololaaiyeeMale: Lullaby sounds...
Female
Anjukku pinaalae vandha pillaiThe child born after five others,
Idhu aaraavadhaai vandha chella pillaiThis darling child came as the sixth.
Male :Aaraaroo ari aaraarooMale: Lullaby... hushaby...
Adi asattu payapulla aarraarooHushaby, you foolish little boy.
Female
Purushan manadhilaeIn my husband's heart,
PoothirundhenI bloomed like a flower.
Male :AamaamaaMale: Yes, indeed!
Female :Dhinam pozhudhum iravumaaiFemale: Every day and night,
VaazhndhirundhenI lived a full life.
Male :AamaamaaMale: Yes, indeed!
Female
Varusham oru pillai petreduthenI gave birth to a child every year,
Ippo vayasu irapathiyaaraachuNow my age has reached twenty-six.
Varusham oru pillai petreduthenI gave birth to a child every year,
Ippo vayasu irapathiyaaraachuNow my age has reached twenty-six.
Male
Aiyaiyoo aiyaiyoo aaraarooOh my, oh my, hushaby,
Unga amma kadhaiyai nee kelaiyooListen to your mother's story.
Aaraaroo ari aaraarooLullaby... hushaby...
Ada asattu payapulla aarraarooHushaby, you foolish little boy.
Male
Aaru pirandhadhu podhumDeciding that six children were enough,
Endru naanI went,
Aaru kulam ellaam mozhgi vandhenAnd took holy dips in six rivers and ponds.
Aaru pirandhadhu podhumDeciding that six children were enough,
Endru naanI went,
Aaru kulam ellaam mozhgi vandhenAnd took holy dips in six rivers and ponds.
Kaasi raameswaram sendru vandhenI visited Kasi and Rameswaram,
Paazhum kaadhalinaal thirumbi vandhenYet I returned because of wretched love.
Female
Pogaadhu aiyaa pogaadhuIt won't go away, sir, it won't go away,
Engu ponaalum aasai pogaadhuWherever one goes, desire never goes away.
Male :Aaraaroo ari aaraarooMale: Lullaby... hushaby...
Ada asattu payapulla aarraarooHushaby, you foolish little boy.
Female
Aasaikku pillaiThe number of children born out of love,
Aaraachu aaraachuHas become six now.
Male :Ini aduthu thadai seiyaMale: Now to prevent the next one,
Aaraaichi aaraaichiResearch must be conducted!
Female
Naama aasaiyudanIt has been days since we fondly,
Pesi naalaachuTalked with love.
Male :Aabathu angaedhaan uruvaachuMale: That is precisely where the danger arose!
Female :Aasaiyudan pesi naalaachuFemale: It has been days since we talked with love,
Male :Aabathu angaedhaan uruvaachuMale: That is precisely where the danger arose!
Female :Aanaalum thoonduthu un paattuFemale: Still, your song stirs my heart,
Male :Ini aduththadhu nee ennai thaalaattuMale: Now next, you sing a lullaby to me!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous lullaby duet from the movie 'Iruvar Ullam' (1963), written by lyricist Kannadasan, features a young couple singing to their newly born sixth child. The wife playfully complains about giving birth to six children by the age of twenty-six, one every year, despite visiting holy shrines like Kasi and Rameswaram and bathing in sacred rivers to seek divine intervention to stop having more children. The husband responds jokingly about needing scientific research on family planning to stop having more kids, while admitting that their romantic bond always overcomes their plans. The song concludes on a lighthearted note with the couple exchanging playful banter about romance and asking each other for lullabies.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Wordplay (Yamakam)

Aaru pirandhadhu podhum ... Aaru kulam ellaam mozhgi vandhen

The word 'Aaru' is used with multiple meanings: the number six ('Aaraavadhaai', 'Aaru pirandhadhu'), a river ('Aaru kulam'), and peace/cooling down ('Aararoo').

Rhyme (Edhai / Monnai)

Aasaikku pillai Aaraachu aaraachu ... Ini aduthu thadai seiya Aaraaichi aaraaichi

Rhyming words like 'Aaraachu' and 'Aaraaichi' create a playful rhythm suitable for a comedic lullaby.

Irony / Humor

Unga amma kadhaiyai nee kelaiyoo ... Ada asattu payapulla aarraaroo

Singing a traditional soothing lullaby ('Aaraaroo') while singing about family planning and the burdens of having too many children creates comedic irony.

Did you know?

Trivia

This satirical lullaby composed by K. V. Mahadevan for the 1963 film 'Iruvar Ullam' features lyrics by Kannadasan that subtly highlight family planning awareness through humor, contrasting the joy of romance with the practical reality of raising many children.

Keep listening

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