Irul Neengumo Babu
From Bala Nagamma · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kambadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Paamarthi
- Details
- Bala Nagamma1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Irul neengumo babu | Will the darkness vanish, my child? |
| Irul neengumo babu | Will the darkness vanish, my child? |
| Enoodaadiyae enai amma endru | Playing with me and calling me 'Mother', |
| Vandhu konji nee magizhndhaduvaayoo | Will you come, cuddle, and rejoice with me? |
| Irul neengumo babu | Will the darkness vanish, my child? |
| Female | |
| Inimai kol mozhiyum | Your sweet, delightful speech |
| Ilanadai oliyum | And the sound of your tender, gentle steps |
| Undae kali kondae | Holding onto them and finding joy |
| Inimai kol mozhiyum | Your sweet, delightful speech |
| Ilanadai oliyum | And the sound of your tender, gentle steps |
| Undae kali kondae | Holding onto them and finding joy |
| Aagayam badhil nilaa katti | Pointing to the moon in the sky instead |
| Aagayam badhil nilaa katti | Pointing to the moon in the sky instead |
| Arugae nindru naan kaanathenginen | I longingly wished to stand nearby and watch |
| Thuyar soozhndhadhae pirindhenae babu | Sorrow has engulfed me as I got separated from you, my child |
| Irul neengumo babu | Will the darkness vanish, my child? |
| Female | |
| Koriya thavanai oru sila naalil | The stipulated deadline within a few days |
| Theernthu poguthada | Is drawing to a close, my dear child |
| Koriya thavanai oru sila naalil | The stipulated deadline within a few days |
| Theernthu poguthada | Is drawing to a close, my dear child |
| Maadhu ennaaasai ini veenaa | Oh dear one, are my cherished desires in vain now? |
| Maadhu ennaaasai ini veenaa | Oh dear one, are my cherished desires in vain now? |
| Nee vandhae thuyar maaithiduvaai endrae | Hoping that you will come and destroy this sorrow |
| Vazhi thedi manam thaan yengum babu | My heart longingly searches for a way, my child |
| Female | |
| Irul neengumo babu | Will the darkness vanish, my child? |
| Irul neengumo babu | Will the darkness vanish, my child? |
| Enoodaadiyae enai amma endru | Playing with me and calling me 'Mother', |
| Vandhu konji nee magizhndhaduvaayoo | Will you come, cuddle, and rejoice with me? |
| Irul neengumo babu | Will the darkness vanish, my child? |
இருள் நீங்குமோ பாபு
இருள் நீங்குமோ பாபு
என்னோடாடியே எனை அம்மா என்று
வந்து கொஞ்சி நீ மகிழ்ந்தாடுவாயோ
இருள் நீங்குமோ பாபு
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Playing with me and calling me 'Mother',
Will you come, cuddle, and rejoice with me?
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
இனிமை கொள் மொழியும்
இளநடை ஒலியும்
உண்டே களிக் கொண்டே
இனிமை கொள் மொழியும்
இளநடை ஒலியும்
உண்டே களிக் கொண்டே
ஆகாயம்பதில் நிலா காட்டி
ஆகாயம்பதில் நிலா காட்டி
அருகே நின்று நான் காணாதேங்கினேன்
துயர் சூழ்ந்ததே பிரிந்தேனே பாபு..
இருள் நீங்குமோ பாபு
Your sweet, delightful speech
And the sound of your tender, gentle steps
Holding onto them and finding joy
Your sweet, delightful speech
And the sound of your tender, gentle steps
Holding onto them and finding joy
Pointing to the moon in the sky instead
Pointing to the moon in the sky instead
I longingly wished to stand nearby and watch
Sorrow has engulfed me as I got separated from you, my child
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
கோரிய தவணை ஒரு சில நாளில்
தீர்ந்து போகுதடா
கோரிய தவணை ஒரு சில நாளில்
தீர்ந்து போகுதடா
மாது என்னாசை இனி வீணா நீ
மாது என்னாசை இனி வீணா நீ
வந்தே துயர் மாய்த்திடுவாய் என்றே
வழி தேடி மனம்தான் ஏங்கும் பாபு
The stipulated deadline within a few days
Is drawing to a close, my dear child
The stipulated deadline within a few days
Is drawing to a close, my dear child
Oh dear one, are my cherished desires in vain now?
Oh dear one, are my cherished desires in vain now?
Hoping that you will come and destroy this sorrow
My heart longingly searches for a way, my child
இருள் நீங்குமோ பாபு
இருள் நீங்குமோ பாபு
என்னோடாடியே எனை அம்மா என்று
வந்து கொஞ்சி நீ மகிழ்ந்தாடுவாயோ
இருள் நீங்குமோ பாபு
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Playing with me and calling me 'Mother',
Will you come, cuddle, and rejoice with me?
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Irul neengumo babu
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Irul neengumo babu
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Enoodaadiyae enai amma endru
Playing with me and calling me 'Mother',
Vandhu konji nee magizhndhaduvaayoo
Will you come, cuddle, and rejoice with me?
Irul neengumo babu
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Inimai kol mozhiyum
Your sweet, delightful speech
Ilanadai oliyum
And the sound of your tender, gentle steps
Undae kali kondae
Holding onto them and finding joy
Inimai kol mozhiyum
Your sweet, delightful speech
Ilanadai oliyum
And the sound of your tender, gentle steps
Undae kali kondae
Holding onto them and finding joy
Aagayam badhil nilaa katti
Pointing to the moon in the sky instead
Aagayam badhil nilaa katti
Pointing to the moon in the sky instead
Arugae nindru naan kaanathenginen
I longingly wished to stand nearby and watch
Thuyar soozhndhadhae pirindhenae babu
Sorrow has engulfed me as I got separated from you, my child
Irul neengumo babu
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Koriya thavanai oru sila naalil
The stipulated deadline within a few days
Theernthu poguthada
Is drawing to a close, my dear child
Koriya thavanai oru sila naalil
The stipulated deadline within a few days
Theernthu poguthada
Is drawing to a close, my dear child
Maadhu ennaaasai ini veenaa
Oh dear one, are my cherished desires in vain now?
Maadhu ennaaasai ini veenaa
Oh dear one, are my cherished desires in vain now?
Nee vandhae thuyar maaithiduvaai endrae
Hoping that you will come and destroy this sorrow
Vazhi thedi manam thaan yengum babu
My heart longingly searches for a way, my child
Irul neengumo babu
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Irul neengumo babu
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Enoodaadiyae enai amma endru
Playing with me and calling me 'Mother',
Vandhu konji nee magizhndhaduvaayoo
Will you come, cuddle, and rejoice with me?
Irul neengumo babu
Will the darkness vanish, my child?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This heart-wrenching song from 'Bala Nagamma' (1960) expresses a mother's deep anguish and sorrow as she is separated from her beloved child (affectionately addressed as 'babu'). She questions whether the dark cloud of despair enveloping her life will ever clear away so she can be reunited with her child. She fondly reminisces about her child's innocent chatter, baby steps, and playing games together under the night sky. As time runs out and her distress deepens, she wonders if her maternal hopes will end in vain. Yet, amid her tears, she holds on to the desperate hope that her child will return and banish all her suffering. P. Susheela's emotive vocals combined with Kambadasan's poignant lyricism capture maternal longing in its purest, most vulnerable form.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Irul neengumo babu”
Darkness ('Irul') is used as a metaphor for sorrow, despair, and separation from her child.
Monae (Initial Alliteration)
“Inimai kol mozhiyum”
Matching initial vowel sound 'I' across consecutive lines (Inimai / Ilanadai) creates a soothing, rhythmic cadence.
Rhetorical Question
“Maadhu ennaaasai ini veenaa”
The singer asks repeated questions expressing her helplessness, distress, and uncertainty about the future.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Bala Nagamma' (1960) was based on the popular folklore tale of the same name, which has been adapted multiple times across South Indian languages. This song, composed by Paamarthi with lyrics by the legendary poet Kambadasan and sung by P. Susheela, stands out for its deep emotional impact depicting maternal affection and grief.
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