Chithira Poove
From Parisam Pottachu · 1987
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Manoj Gyan Varma
- Details
- Parisam Pottachu1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro…. | Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro... |
| Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro…. | Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro... |
| Female | |
| Chiththira poove chinna nilavae thaalaelo | O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you. |
| Chella kiliyae pillai kaniyae thaalaelo | O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you. |
| Pengalin ullam thaaimaiyin illam aagaatho | Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood? |
| Ennidam unthan annaiyai kaana koodaatho | Can't you see your mother in me? |
| Female | |
| Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro… | Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro... |
| Female | |
| Nee pesinal isai mazhai thoovumae | If you speak, a rain of music will shower. |
| Vellai pasum madi paaloorumae | The milk will overflow from the udder of the white cow. |
| Moondraam pirai unthan uravaagumae | The third-day crescent moon will become your relative. |
| Poonthendralum vanthu uravaadumae | The gentle breeze will come and play with you. |
| Female | |
| Kaigalil chella pillai | In my hands is a beloved child, |
| Kadavulum thanthaan illai | Even God did not grant this easily. |
| Varam thara vanthaaladaa kuzhanthaiyai thanthaaladaa | He came to offer a boon and granted this child! |
| En dheivamae ingu ival thaanadaa | My divine deity right here is her alone! |
| Female | |
| Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan | Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan |
| Female | |
| Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro….. | Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro... |
| Female | |
| Chiththira poove chinna nilavae thaalaelo | O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you. |
| Chella kiliyae pillai kaniyae thaalaelo | O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you. |
| Female | |
| Pengalin ullam thaaimaiyin illam aagaatho | Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood? |
| Ennidam unthan annaiyai kaana koodaatho | Can't you see your mother in me? |
| Female | |
| Aattukkutti oru puli kettathaam | A little kid goat asked for a tiger, they say. |
| Aanakkutti adha pudichchaanthathaam | A baby elephant caught it, they say. |
| Vaaththu kutti oru arai vittathaam | A duckling slapped it once, they say. |
| Aaththaadiyo puli uyir vittathaam | Oh my, the tiger lost its life, they say! |
| Female | |
| Kadal oru pulla peththu karaiyilae vachchathadaa | The ocean gave birth to a child and placed it on the shore. |
| Alaiyilae veedu katti alaiyithu vellakkatti | Building a house in the waves, the jaggery sweet wanders. |
| Puriyaathadaa kadhai nee keladaa | Listen to this incomprehensible story, my dear! |
| Female | |
| Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan | Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan |
| Female | |
| Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro….. | Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro... |
| Female | |
| Chiththira poove chinna nilavae thaalaelo | O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you. |
| Chella kiliyae pillai kaniyae thaalaelo | O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you. |
| Pengalin ullam thaaimaiyin illam aagaatho | Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood? |
| Ennidam unthan annaiyai kaana koodaatho…. | Can't you see your mother in me... |
ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ
ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
சித்திரப் பூவே சின்ன நிலவே தாலேலோ
செல்லக் கிளியே பிள்ளைக் கனியே தாலேலோ
பெண்களின் உள்ளம் தாய்மையின் இல்லம் ஆகாதோ
என்னிடம் உந்தன் அன்னையைக் காண கூடாதோ
O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you.
O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you.
Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood?
Can't you see your mother in me?
ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
நீ பேசினால் இசை மழை தூவுமே
வெள்ளைப் பசும் மடிப் பாலூறுமே
மூன்றாம் பிறை உந்தன் உறவாகுமே
பூந்தென்றலும் வந்து உறவாடுமே
If you speak, a rain of music will shower.
The milk will overflow from the udder of the white cow.
The third-day crescent moon will become your relative.
The gentle breeze will come and play with you.
கைகளில் செல்லப் பிள்ளை
கடவுளும் தந்தான் இல்லை
வரம் தர வந்தாளடா குழந்தையை தந்தாளடா
என் தெய்வமே இங்கு இவள் தானடா
In my hands is a beloved child,
Even God did not grant this easily.
He came to offer a boon and granted this child!
My divine deity right here is her alone!
டன்டடடன் டன் டன் டன் டன்டடடன்
Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan
ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
சித்திரப் பூவே சின்ன நிலவே தாலேலோ
செல்லக் கிளியே பிள்ளைக் கனியே தாலேலோ
O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you.
O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you.
பெண்களின் உள்ளம் தாய்மையின் இல்லம் ஆகாதோ
என்னிடம் உந்தன் அன்னையைக் காண கூடாதோ
Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood?
Can't you see your mother in me?
ஆட்டுக்குட்டி ஒரு புலி கேட்டதாம்
ஆனக் குட்டி அத புடிச்சாந்ததாம்
வாத்து குட்டி ஒரு அறை விட்டதாம்
ஆத்தாடியோ புலி உயிர் விட்டதாம்
A little kid goat asked for a tiger, they say.
A baby elephant caught it, they say.
A duckling slapped it once, they say.
Oh my, the tiger lost its life, they say!
கடல் ஒரு புள்ளப் பெத்து கரையிலே வச்சதடா
அலையிலே வீடு கட்டி அலையிது வெல்லக்கட்டி
புரியாதடா கதை நீ கேளடா
The ocean gave birth to a child and placed it on the shore.
Building a house in the waves, the jaggery sweet wanders.
Listen to this incomprehensible story, my dear!
டன்டடடன் டன் டன் டன் டன்டடடன்
Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan
ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ ஓஒ ஆரிராரிராரோ
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
சித்திரப் பூவே சின்ன நிலவே தாலேலோ
செல்லக் கிளியே பிள்ளைக் கனியே தாலேலோ
பெண்களின் உள்ளம் தாய்மையின் இல்லம் ஆகாதோ
என்னிடம் உந்தன் அன்னையைக் காண கூடாதோ....
O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you.
O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you.
Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood?
Can't you see your mother in me...
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro….
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro….
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
Chiththira poove chinna nilavae thaalaelo
O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you.
Chella kiliyae pillai kaniyae thaalaelo
O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you.
Pengalin ullam thaaimaiyin illam aagaatho
Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood?
Ennidam unthan annaiyai kaana koodaatho
Can't you see your mother in me?
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro…
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
Nee pesinal isai mazhai thoovumae
If you speak, a rain of music will shower.
Vellai pasum madi paaloorumae
The milk will overflow from the udder of the white cow.
Moondraam pirai unthan uravaagumae
The third-day crescent moon will become your relative.
Poonthendralum vanthu uravaadumae
The gentle breeze will come and play with you.
Kaigalil chella pillai
In my hands is a beloved child,
Kadavulum thanthaan illai
Even God did not grant this easily.
Varam thara vanthaaladaa kuzhanthaiyai thanthaaladaa
He came to offer a boon and granted this child!
En dheivamae ingu ival thaanadaa
My divine deity right here is her alone!
Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan
Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro…..
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
Chiththira poove chinna nilavae thaalaelo
O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you.
Chella kiliyae pillai kaniyae thaalaelo
O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you.
Pengalin ullam thaaimaiyin illam aagaatho
Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood?
Ennidam unthan annaiyai kaana koodaatho
Can't you see your mother in me?
Aattukkutti oru puli kettathaam
A little kid goat asked for a tiger, they say.
Aanakkutti adha pudichchaanthathaam
A baby elephant caught it, they say.
Vaaththu kutti oru arai vittathaam
A duckling slapped it once, they say.
Aaththaadiyo puli uyir vittathaam
Oh my, the tiger lost its life, they say!
Kadal oru pulla peththu karaiyilae vachchathadaa
The ocean gave birth to a child and placed it on the shore.
Alaiyilae veedu katti alaiyithu vellakkatti
Building a house in the waves, the jaggery sweet wanders.
Puriyaathadaa kadhai nee keladaa
Listen to this incomprehensible story, my dear!
Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan
Dandadadadan dan dan dan dandadadan
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro…..
Ooo aariraariraaro ooo aariraariraaro...
Chiththira poove chinna nilavae thaalaelo
O picturesque flower, O little moon, lullaby to you.
Chella kiliyae pillai kaniyae thaalaelo
O darling parrot, O sweet fruit of a child, lullaby to you.
Pengalin ullam thaaimaiyin illam aagaatho
Won't a woman's heart become the home of motherhood?
Ennidam unthan annaiyai kaana koodaatho….
Can't you see your mother in me...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This gentle lullaby from Parisam Pottachu (1987) celebrates the pure, unconditional nature of maternal love. The singer pours out affection for a child, using poetic endearments such as a painted flower, a tender moon, and a sweet parrot. The lyrics emphasize that motherhood is not merely a biological state but an emotional sanctuary found within a woman's heart. In the second stanza, playful and imaginative folk riddles about a tiger defeated by tiny animals are woven in, capturing the charming, fantastical style of traditional Tamil lullabies designed to coax a child to sleep.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamaithipukkal)
“Chiththira poove chinna nilavae thaalaelo”
The child is metaphorically compared to a picturesque flower ('Chiththira poove'), a crescent moon ('Chinna nilavae'), and sweet fruit ('Pillai kaniyae').
Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Chella kiliyae pillai kaniyae thaalaelo”
The second consonant sound 'lla' matches in 'Chella' and 'Pillai', creating melodic harmony.
Folk Hyperbole / Nonsensical Imagery (Anandhakali / Sirumaruthu Imagery)
“Vaaththu kutti oru arai vittathaam”
Whimsical storytelling involving a duckling slapping a tiger is used to create absurd, humorous imagery common in traditional lullabies.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the famed modern Tamil poet Mu. Metha, the song encapsulates traditional Tamil lullaby rhythms ('Aariraro') combined with lighthearted, child-friendly folklore stories to express maternal affection.
Keep listening
More from Parisam Pottachu
Parisam Pottachu
Parisam Pottachu
Parisam Pottachu
Parisam Pottachu