Chellamma
From Joker · 2016
- Lyricist
- Ramesh Vaidya
- Singers
- K. Perumal, Sean Roldan, M. Lalitha Sudha
- Music director
- Sean Roldan
- Details
- Joker2016
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aalelamma lelo | Aalelamma lelo (Folk refrain) |
| Toofaano mein phoolka | What will be the condition of a flower in a storm? |
| Aalelamma lelo | Aalelamma lelo |
| Haal kya hoga | What will its condition be? |
| Aalelamma lelo | Aalelamma lelo |
| Chotti chotti sii | Tiny little... |
| Aalelamma lelo | Aalelamma lelo |
| Koyaliyaaa.. | Little cuckoo bird... |
| Aalelamma lelo | Aalelamma lelo |
| Aalelummae aalelummae.. | Aalelummae aalelummae.. |
| Male | |
| Amma kathadigala | Oh mother, the paper kites... |
| Aalelummae | Aalelummae |
| Ayyo amma kadhadigala | Oh mother, the paper kites... |
| Aalelummae | Aalelummae |
| Female | |
| Chinnathu mannae | Oh small earth doll... |
| En ponnae | My golden girl... |
| Seravaattu kaasa en rosa | Like hard-saved money, my rose... |
| Selavaagi pogaathae | Do not get spent away... |
| Chellammaa.. chellammaa | My darling child... my darling child... |
| Selavaagi pogaathae | Do not get spent away... |
| Chellammaa… chellammaa | My darling child... my darling child... |
| Female | |
| Chellammaa… en chellammaa | My darling child... oh my darling child... |
| Chellammaa… en chellammaa | My darling child... oh my darling child... |
| Male | |
| Toofaano mein phoolka | What will be the condition of a flower in a storm? |
| Haal kya hoga | What will its condition be? |
| Haal kya hoga | What will its condition be? |
| Toofaano mein | In a storm... |
| Mitwaaa.. oohhhoo | My friend... oh... |
| Mere mitwaa..oohooo.. | My beloved friend... oh... |
| Female | |
| Natta nadu veyillula | In the scorching mid-day heat... |
| Thutta muni pottalula | In the open barren land guarded by Thutta Muni... |
| Kutti idum aatta kanda | Seeing a goat giving birth to a kid... |
| Un nenappu…. | Brings the memory of you... |
| Female | |
| Velli thala thookkayila | As Venus (the morning star) rises... |
| Netta pana saththathula | In the rustling sound of tall palmyra trees... |
| Thulli vandhu theendudhadi | Leaping up, it comes and touches me... |
| Un sirippu…. | Your sweet laughter... |
| Female | |
| Panja nila neduvaanam | In the vast sky, the soft full moon... |
| Megama nerayuthu | Fills up with dark clouds... |
| Un mugatha sedhaiyama | Flawlessly drawing your face... |
| Vegama varayuthu | Rapidly painting it across... |
| Female | |
| Chellamaa… en chellamaa | My darling child... oh my darling child... |
| Chellamma…. en chellamaa | My darling child... oh my darling child... |
| Male | |
| Kannaaaaaaaaa… | My beloved... |
| Kannaaaaaaaa… | My beloved... |
| Male | |
| Toofaano mein phoolka | What will be the condition of a flower in a storm? |
| Haal kya hoga | What will its condition be? |
| Haal kya hoga | What will its condition be? |
| Toofaano mein | In a storm... |
| Female | |
| Neela mala kaattukkulla | Inside the blue mountain forest... |
| Neeyum naanu paathu vacha | The eggs that you and I kept watch over... |
| Muttaiyella patchigala parakkuthae | Have all hatched into birds and flown away... |
| Female | |
| Sodi sentha kandedutha | Found together as a pair... |
| Pattu puzhu koodu ellam | All the silkworm cocoons... |
| Ammanukku pattaagi kedakkuthae | Lie transformed into silk offerings for the Goddess... |
| Female | |
| Kathirundhu kadha pesum | Waiting and conversing over stories... |
| Kaalamu mudiyala | The time never seems to end... |
| Sendhurunthu pera paatha | Ever since looking at the name written in vermilion... |
| Raathiri vidiyala | The night refuses to turn into dawn... |
| Female | |
| Chellama… yen chellamaa | My darling child... oh my darling child... |
| Chellama… yen chellamma | My darling child... oh my darling child... |
| Female | |
| Chinnathu mannae | Oh small earth doll... |
| En ponnae… | My golden girl... |
| Male :Aalelamma lelo… | Male: Aalelamma lelo… |
| Seravaattu kaasa en rosa… | Like hard-saved money, my rose... |
| Male :Aalelamma lelo… | Male: Aalelamma lelo… |
| Female | |
| Selavaagi pogaathae | Do not get spent away... |
| Chellammaa… chellammaa | My darling child... my darling child... |
| Selavaagi pogaathae | Do not get spent away... |
| Chellammaa… chellammaa | My darling child... my darling child... |
| Female | |
| Chellammaa…. en chellammaa | My darling child... oh my darling child... |
| Chellammaa…. en chellammaa | My darling child... oh my darling child... |
| Male | |
| Aalelamma lelo… | Aalelamma lelo… |
| Aalelamma lelo…. | Aalelamma lelo…. |
| Aalelamma lelo… | Aalelamma lelo… |
| Aalelamma lelo…. | Aalelamma lelo…. |
ஆலேலம்மா
லேலோ டூபானோ
மெய்ன் ஃபூலுகா
ஆலேலம்மா லேலோ
ஹால் க்யா ஹோகா
ஆலேலம்மா லேலோ
சோட்டி சோட்டி சி
ஆலேலம்மா லேலோ
கோயலியா ஆலேலம்மா
லேலோ ஆலேலும்மே
ஆலேலும்மே
Aalelamma lelo (Folk refrain)
What will be the condition of a flower in a storm?
Aalelamma lelo
What will its condition be?
Aalelamma lelo
Tiny little...
Aalelamma lelo
Little cuckoo bird...
Aalelamma lelo
Aalelummae aalelummae..
அம்மா கதடிகளா
ஆலேலும்மே ஐயோ
அம்மா கதடிகளா
ஆலேலும்மே
Oh mother, the paper kites...
Aalelummae
Oh mother, the paper kites...
Aalelummae
சின்னாத்து
மண்ணே என் பொன்னே
செரவாட்டு காசா என்
ரோசா செலவாகி
போகாதே செல்லம்மா
செல்லம்மா செலவாகி
போகாதே செல்லம்மா
செல்லம்மா
Oh small earth doll...
My golden girl...
Like hard-saved money, my rose...
Do not get spent away...
My darling child... my darling child...
Do not get spent away...
My darling child... my darling child...
செல்லம்மா
யே செல்லம்மா
செல்லம்மா
யே செல்லம்மா
My darling child... oh my darling child...
My darling child... oh my darling child...
டூபானோ
மெய்ன் ஃபூலுகா
ஹால் க்யா ஹோகா
ஹால் க்யா ஹோகா
டூபானோ மெய்ன்
மிட்வா ஓஹோ மேரே
மிட்வா ஓஹோ
What will be the condition of a flower in a storm?
What will its condition be?
What will its condition be?
In a storm...
My friend... oh...
My beloved friend... oh...
நட்ட நடு
வெயிலுல துட்ட
முனி பொட்டலுல
குட்டி இடும் ஆட்ட
கண்டா உன் நினைப்பு
In the scorching mid-day heat...
In the open barren land guarded by Thutta Muni...
Seeing a goat giving birth to a kid...
Brings the memory of you...
வெள்ளி
தலை தூக்கையில
நெட்ட பனை சத்தத்துல
துள்ளி வந்து தீண்டுதடி
உன் சிரிப்பு
As Venus (the morning star) rises...
In the rustling sound of tall palmyra trees...
Leaping up, it comes and touches me...
Your sweet laughter...
பஞ்ச நில
நெடுவானம் மேகமா
நிறையுது உன் முகத்த
சிதையாம வேகமா
வரையுது
In the vast sky, the soft full moon...
Fills up with dark clouds...
Flawlessly drawing your face...
Rapidly painting it across...
செல்லம்மா
யே செல்லம்மா
செல்லம்மா
யே செல்லம்மா
My darling child... oh my darling child...
My darling child... oh my darling child...
கண்ணா
கண்ணா
My beloved...
My beloved...
டூபானோ
மெய்ன் ஃபூலுகா
ஹால் க்யா ஹோகா
ஹால் க்யா ஹோகா
டூபானோ மெய்ன்
What will be the condition of a flower in a storm?
What will its condition be?
What will its condition be?
In a storm...
நீ
ல மலைக்
காட்டுக்குள்ள நீயும்
நானும் பாத்துவச்ச
முட்டை எல்லாம்
பட்சிகளா பறக்குதே
Inside the blue mountain forest...
The eggs that you and I kept watch over...
Have all hatched into birds and flown away...
ஜோடி சேர்ந்து
கண்டெடுத்த பட்டுப்புழு
கூடு எல்லாம் அம்மனுக்கு
பட்டாகி கிடக்குதே
Found together as a pair...
All the silkworm cocoons...
Lie transformed into silk offerings for the Goddess...
காத்திருந்து
கதை பேசும் காலமும்
முடியல சேர்ந்திருந்து
பிறை பாத்த ராத்திரி
விடியல
Waiting and conversing over stories...
The time never seems to end...
Ever since looking at the name written in vermilion...
The night refuses to turn into dawn...
செல்லம்மா
யே செல்லம்மா
செல்லம்மா
யே செல்லம்மா
My darling child... oh my darling child...
My darling child... oh my darling child...
சின்னாத்து
மண்ணே என் பொன்னே
ஆலேலம்மா
லேலோ செரவாட்டு
காசா என் ரோசா
ஆலேலம்மா
லேலோ
Oh small earth doll...
My golden girl...
Male: Aalelamma lelo…
Like hard-saved money, my rose...
Male: Aalelamma lelo…
செலவாகி
போகாதே செல்லம்மா
செல்லம்மா செலவாகி
போகாதே செல்லம்மா
செல்லம்மா
Do not get spent away...
My darling child... my darling child...
Do not get spent away...
My darling child... my darling child...
செல்லம்மா
யே செல்லம்மா
செல்லம்மா
யே செல்லம்மா
My darling child... oh my darling child...
My darling child... oh my darling child...
ஆலேலம்மா
லேலோ ஆலேலம்மா
லேலோ ஆலேலம்மா
லேலோ ஆலேலம்மா
லேலோ
Aalelamma lelo…
Aalelamma lelo….
Aalelamma lelo…
Aalelamma lelo….
Aalelamma lelo
Aalelamma lelo (Folk refrain)
Toofaano mein phoolka
What will be the condition of a flower in a storm?
Aalelamma lelo
Aalelamma lelo
Haal kya hoga
What will its condition be?
Aalelamma lelo
Aalelamma lelo
Chotti chotti sii
Tiny little...
Aalelamma lelo
Aalelamma lelo
Koyaliyaaa..
Little cuckoo bird...
Aalelamma lelo
Aalelamma lelo
Aalelummae aalelummae..
Aalelummae aalelummae..
Amma kathadigala
Oh mother, the paper kites...
Aalelummae
Aalelummae
Ayyo amma kadhadigala
Oh mother, the paper kites...
Aalelummae
Aalelummae
Chinnathu mannae
Oh small earth doll...
En ponnae
My golden girl...
Seravaattu kaasa en rosa
Like hard-saved money, my rose...
Selavaagi pogaathae
Do not get spent away...
Chellammaa.. chellammaa
My darling child... my darling child...
Selavaagi pogaathae
Do not get spent away...
Chellammaa… chellammaa
My darling child... my darling child...
Chellammaa… en chellammaa
My darling child... oh my darling child...
Chellammaa… en chellammaa
My darling child... oh my darling child...
Toofaano mein phoolka
What will be the condition of a flower in a storm?
Haal kya hoga
What will its condition be?
Haal kya hoga
What will its condition be?
Toofaano mein
In a storm...
Mitwaaa.. oohhhoo
My friend... oh...
Mere mitwaa..oohooo..
My beloved friend... oh...
Natta nadu veyillula
In the scorching mid-day heat...
Thutta muni pottalula
In the open barren land guarded by Thutta Muni...
Kutti idum aatta kanda
Seeing a goat giving birth to a kid...
Un nenappu….
Brings the memory of you...
Velli thala thookkayila
As Venus (the morning star) rises...
Netta pana saththathula
In the rustling sound of tall palmyra trees...
Thulli vandhu theendudhadi
Leaping up, it comes and touches me...
Un sirippu….
Your sweet laughter...
Panja nila neduvaanam
In the vast sky, the soft full moon...
Megama nerayuthu
Fills up with dark clouds...
Un mugatha sedhaiyama
Flawlessly drawing your face...
Vegama varayuthu
Rapidly painting it across...
Chellamaa… en chellamaa
My darling child... oh my darling child...
Chellamma…. en chellamaa
My darling child... oh my darling child...
Kannaaaaaaaaa…
My beloved...
Kannaaaaaaaa…
My beloved...
Toofaano mein phoolka
What will be the condition of a flower in a storm?
Haal kya hoga
What will its condition be?
Haal kya hoga
What will its condition be?
Toofaano mein
In a storm...
Neela mala kaattukkulla
Inside the blue mountain forest...
Neeyum naanu paathu vacha
The eggs that you and I kept watch over...
Muttaiyella patchigala parakkuthae
Have all hatched into birds and flown away...
Sodi sentha kandedutha
Found together as a pair...
Pattu puzhu koodu ellam
All the silkworm cocoons...
Ammanukku pattaagi kedakkuthae
Lie transformed into silk offerings for the Goddess...
Kathirundhu kadha pesum
Waiting and conversing over stories...
Kaalamu mudiyala
The time never seems to end...
Sendhurunthu pera paatha
Ever since looking at the name written in vermilion...
Raathiri vidiyala
The night refuses to turn into dawn...
Chellama… yen chellamaa
My darling child... oh my darling child...
Chellama… yen chellamma
My darling child... oh my darling child...
Chinnathu mannae
Oh small earth doll...
En ponnae…
My golden girl...
Male :Aalelamma lelo…
Male: Aalelamma lelo…
Seravaattu kaasa en rosa…
Like hard-saved money, my rose...
Male :Aalelamma lelo…
Male: Aalelamma lelo…
Selavaagi pogaathae
Do not get spent away...
Chellammaa… chellammaa
My darling child... my darling child...
Selavaagi pogaathae
Do not get spent away...
Chellammaa… chellammaa
My darling child... my darling child...
Chellammaa…. en chellammaa
My darling child... oh my darling child...
Chellammaa…. en chellammaa
My darling child... oh my darling child...
Aalelamma lelo…
Aalelamma lelo…
Aalelamma lelo….
Aalelamma lelo….
Aalelamma lelo…
Aalelamma lelo…
Aalelamma lelo….
Aalelamma lelo….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Chellamma from the film Joker (2016) is a deeply emotional Tamil folk-ballad and lament composed by Sean Roldan with lyrics by Ramesh Vaidya. The song interweaves a Hindi folk refrain regarding a delicate flower caught in a raging storm with tender Tamil verses. It serves as an aching plea from the protagonist to his critical/comatose wife, comparing her fragile life to carefully saved savings (Seravaattu kaasa) that must not be wasted or lost to tragedy. The lyrics capture pastoral rural life with raw authenticity—sunlit plains, rustic deities, rustling palmyra trees, and hatching birds. Through these earthy visual motifs, the protagonist recalls their shared past and expresses the unbearable agony of waiting for her recovery, where time stands still and nights feel endless without her presence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Seravaattu kaasa en rosa”
Compares the beloved wife to hard-earned saved money ('Seravaattu kaasa') and a fragile rose, emphasizing how precious and irrecoverable her life is.
Rural Pastoral Imagery (Kaatchi Uvamaani)
“Natta nadu veyillula Thutta muni pottalula Kutti idum aatta kanda Un nenappu….”
Paints a vivid picture of the arid landscape, village guardian deities (Thutta Muni), and the miracle of childbirth in nature to evoke memory and yearning.
Linguistic Contrast / Code-Mixing
“Toofaano mein phoolka Haal kya hoga”
Blends Hindi existential folk philosophy ('Toofaano mein phoolka haal kya hoga') representing helpless fate with affectionate Tamil terms endearment ('Chellamma').
Did you know?
Trivia
Joker (2016), directed by Raju Murugan, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. The soundtrack was composed by Sean Roldan, who utilized authentic folk instruments and non-professional rural folk performers to preserve the raw texture of Tamil Nadu's countryside culture.
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