Chellakkiligalam Palliyiley
From Enga Mama · 1970
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Enga Mama1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Laalaala laalalaala laa | Laalaala laalalaala laa |
| Laalaala laalalaala laa | Laalaala laalalaala laa |
| Lala laalalalaa… laa laalalalaa… | Lala laalalalaa… laa laalalalaa… |
| Male | |
| Chella kiligalaam palliyilae | Darling parrots in the schoolroom, |
| Sevvandhi pookkalaam thottililae | Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle, |
| En pon manigal yen thoongavillai | Why haven't my golden gems slept yet? |
| En pon manigal yen thoongavillai | Why haven't my golden gems slept yet? |
| Male | |
| {Kandrin kuralum kanni thamizhum | The calf's call and the pristine Tamil language, |
| Sollum vaarthai ammaa ammaa | Both speak the word 'Mother, Mother'. |
| Karunai thaedi alaiyum uyirgal | Lives wandering in search of compassion, |
| Urugum vaarthai ammaa ammaa} (2) | Melt emotionally at the word 'Mother, Mother'. |
| Male | |
| Endha manadhil paasam undo | Whichever heart possesses love and affection, |
| Andha manamae ammaa ammaa | That heart itself is a true mother. |
| Inba kanavai alli tharavae | To shower sweet joyful dreams upon you, |
| Iraivan ennai thandhaanammaa | God has granted me to you, dear ones. |
| En pon manigal yen thoongavillai | Why haven't my golden gems slept yet? |
| Male | |
| Chella kiligalaam palliyilae | Darling parrots in the schoolroom, |
| Sevvandhi pookkalaam thottililae | Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle, |
| En pon manigal yen thoongavillai | Why haven't my golden gems slept yet? |
| En pon manigal yen thoongavillai | Why haven't my golden gems slept yet? |
| Male | |
| Thandhai oruvan andha iraivan | The Almighty God is the sole father, |
| Avanum annai illaadhavan | And he too is one who has no mother. |
| Thannai thaedi yengum pillai | The child who longs and searches for him, |
| Kannil urakkam kolvaanavan | Will find peaceful sleep in their eyes. |
| Male | |
| Poovum ponnum porundhi vaazhum | Living where flowers and gold unite, |
| Mazhalai ketten thandhaanavan | I asked for innocent children, and he bestowed them. |
| Naalai ulagil neeyum naanum | In tomorrow's world, for you and me, |
| Vaazhum vazhigal seivaanavan | He will carve out the paths for us to live. |
| En pon manigal yen thoongavillai | Why haven't my golden gems slept yet? |
| Male | |
| Chella kiligalaam palliyilae | Darling parrots in the schoolroom, |
| Sevvandhi pookkalaam thottililae | Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle, |
| En pon manigal yen thoongavillai | Why haven't my golden gems slept yet? |
| En pon manigal yen thoongavillai | Why haven't my golden gems slept yet? |
லாலால லாலலால லா
லாலால லாலலால லா
லல லாலாலலா....லா லாலாலலா
Laalaala laalalaala laa
Laalaala laalalaala laa
Lala laalalalaa… laa laalalalaa…
செல்லக்கிளிகளாம் பள்ளியிலே
செவ்வந்திப் பூக்களாம் தொட்டிலிலே
என் பொன்மணிகள் ஏன் தூங்கவில்லை
என் பொன்மணிகள் ஏன் தூங்கவில்லை
Darling parrots in the schoolroom,
Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle,
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
விசில் :
.........................
The calf's call and the pristine Tamil language,
Both speak the word 'Mother, Mother'.
Lives wandering in search of compassion,
Melt emotionally at the word 'Mother, Mother'.
{கன்றின் குரலும் கன்னித் தமிழும்
சொல்லும் வார்த்தை அம்மா அம்மா
கருணைத் தேடி அலையும் உயிர்கள்
உருகும் வார்த்தை அம்மா அம்மா} (2)
Whichever heart possesses love and affection,
That heart itself is a true mother.
To shower sweet joyful dreams upon you,
God has granted me to you, dear ones.
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
எந்த மனதில் பாசம் உண்டோ
அந்த மனமே அம்மா அம்மா
இன்பக் கனவை அள்ளித் தரவே
இறைவன் என்னை தந்தானம்மா
என் பொன்மணிகள் ஏன் தூங்கவில்லை
Darling parrots in the schoolroom,
Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle,
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
செல்லக்கிளிகளாம் பள்ளியிலே
செவ்வந்திப் பூக்களாம் தொட்டிலிலே
என் பொன்மணிகள் ஏன் தூங்கவில்லை
என் பொன்மணிகள் ஏன் தூங்கவில்லை
The Almighty God is the sole father,
And he too is one who has no mother.
The child who longs and searches for him,
Will find peaceful sleep in their eyes.
தந்தை ஒருவன் அந்த இறைவன்
அவனும் அன்னை இல்லாதவன்
தன்னைத் தேடி ஏங்கும் பிள்ளை
கண்ணில் உறக்கம் கொள்வானவன்
Living where flowers and gold unite,
I asked for innocent children, and he bestowed them.
In tomorrow's world, for you and me,
He will carve out the paths for us to live.
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
தந்தை ஒருவன் அந்த இறைவன்
அவனும் அன்னை இல்லாதவன்
தன்னைத் தேடி ஏங்கும் பிள்ளை
கண்ணில் உறக்கம் கொள்வானவன்
Darling parrots in the schoolroom,
Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle,
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
பூவும் பொன்னும் பொருந்தி வாழும்
மழலைக் கேட்டேன் தந்தான் அவன்
நாளை உலகில் நீயும் நானும்
வாழும் வழிகள் செய்வான் அவன்
என் பொன்மணிகள் ஏன் தூங்கவில்லை
செல்லக்கிளிகளாம் பள்ளியிலே
செவ்வந்திப் பூக்களாம் தொட்டிலிலே
என் பொன்மணிகள் ஏன் தூங்கவில்லை
என் பொன்மணிகள் ஏன் தூங்கவில்லை
Laalaala laalalaala laa
Laalaala laalalaala laa
Laalaala laalalaala laa
Laalaala laalalaala laa
Lala laalalalaa… laa laalalalaa…
Lala laalalalaa… laa laalalalaa…
Chella kiligalaam palliyilae
Darling parrots in the schoolroom,
Sevvandhi pookkalaam thottililae
Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle,
En pon manigal yen thoongavillai
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
En pon manigal yen thoongavillai
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
{Kandrin kuralum kanni thamizhum
The calf's call and the pristine Tamil language,
Sollum vaarthai ammaa ammaa
Both speak the word 'Mother, Mother'.
Karunai thaedi alaiyum uyirgal
Lives wandering in search of compassion,
Urugum vaarthai ammaa ammaa} (2)
Melt emotionally at the word 'Mother, Mother'.
Endha manadhil paasam undo
Whichever heart possesses love and affection,
Andha manamae ammaa ammaa
That heart itself is a true mother.
Inba kanavai alli tharavae
To shower sweet joyful dreams upon you,
Iraivan ennai thandhaanammaa
God has granted me to you, dear ones.
En pon manigal yen thoongavillai
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
Chella kiligalaam palliyilae
Darling parrots in the schoolroom,
Sevvandhi pookkalaam thottililae
Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle,
En pon manigal yen thoongavillai
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
En pon manigal yen thoongavillai
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
Thandhai oruvan andha iraivan
The Almighty God is the sole father,
Avanum annai illaadhavan
And he too is one who has no mother.
Thannai thaedi yengum pillai
The child who longs and searches for him,
Kannil urakkam kolvaanavan
Will find peaceful sleep in their eyes.
Poovum ponnum porundhi vaazhum
Living where flowers and gold unite,
Mazhalai ketten thandhaanavan
I asked for innocent children, and he bestowed them.
Naalai ulagil neeyum naanum
In tomorrow's world, for you and me,
Vaazhum vazhigal seivaanavan
He will carve out the paths for us to live.
En pon manigal yen thoongavillai
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
Chella kiligalaam palliyilae
Darling parrots in the schoolroom,
Sevvandhi pookkalaam thottililae
Chrysanthemum flowers in the cradle,
En pon manigal yen thoongavillai
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
En pon manigal yen thoongavillai
Why haven't my golden gems slept yet?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant lullaby from the movie Enga Mama (1970) expresses profound affection and maternal care for young children. The song meditates on the universal essence of motherhood, emphasizing that motherhood is not merely a biological relationship, but defined by any heart filled with unconditional love and compassion. It draws sweet comparisons from nature—such as a calf calling out—and exalts Tamil itself for carrying the sacred word 'Amma'. In the latter half, the lyrics reflect deep spiritual devotion, acknowledging God as the ultimate parent who provides solace, grant children, and oversees their future. Through gentle soothing rhythms, the singer reassures the sleepless little ones of safety, divine care, and everlasting affection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Chella kiligalaam palliyilae / Sevvandhi pookkalaam thottililae”
Children are metaphorically addressed as 'Chella kiligal' (darling parrots) and 'Sevvandhi pookkal' (chrysanthemum flowers), highlighting their innocence and preciousness.
Alliteration (Moni / Edukai)
“Poovum ponnum porundhi vaazhum”
Use of matching phonetic sounds like 'Poovum' and 'Ponnum' enhances the musicality typical of Kannadasan's lyrics.
Refrain / Anaphora
“En pon manigal yen thoongavillai”
The line 'En pon manigal yen thoongavillai' is repeated as a comforting lullaby refrain throughout the song.
Personification / Spiritual Imagery
“Kandrin kuralum kanni thamizhum / Sollum vaarthai ammaa ammaa”
The call of a newborn calf and the Tamil language itself are personified as calling out 'Amma', exalting the word's universal sacredness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Enga Mama (1970) starring Sivaji Ganesan is the Tamil remake of the hit 1968 Hindi film Brahmachari. The music for the film was composed by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Kannadasan, and this iconic lullaby was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan.
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