Karpoora Bommai Ondru
From Keladi Kanmani · 1990
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Keladi Kanmani1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Hmmmm…hmmmm..hmmmmm | Humming sounds |
| Female | |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
| Female | |
| Kalanthaada kai korkkum neram | When they hold hands to mingle and dance |
| Kannoaram aanantha eeram | Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes |
| Muthae en muthaaramae | My pearl, my string of pearls |
| Sabhai yerum paadal | A song that reaches the assembly |
| Nee paadamma… nee paadamma…. | Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child... |
| Female | |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
| Female | |
| Kalanthaada kai korkkum neram | When they hold hands to mingle and dance |
| Kannoaram aanantha eeram | Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes |
| Muthae en muthaaramae | My pearl, my string of pearls |
| Sabhai yerum paadal | A song that reaches the assembly |
| Nee paadamma… nee paadamma…. | Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child... |
| Female | |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
| Female | |
| Poontherilae nee aadavae | For you to swing gently in the flower chariot |
| Undaana anbae oru raajaangam | The love born here is an empire |
| Rajaangamae aananthamae | An empire of pure joy |
| Nam veedu inghae oru sangeetham | Our house here is a sweet melody |
| Female | |
| Maanae un vaarthai reengaaram | My deer-like child, your words ring like a hum |
| Malarae en nenjil nindraadum | My flower-like child, dancing inside my heart |
| Muthae en muthaaramae | My pearl, my string of pearls |
| Sabhai yerum paadal | A song that reaches the assembly |
| Nee paadamma… nee paadamma…. | Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child... |
| Female | |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
| Female | |
| Thaayanbirkku eedaethamma | What can ever match a mother's love? |
| Aagaayam kooda athu pothaathu | Even the vast sky is not enough to equal it |
| Thaai pola yaar vanthaalumae | Whoever comes pretending to be a mother |
| Un thaayai polae athu aagaathu | They can never truly become like your real mother |
| Female | |
| En moochil vaazhum pullaanguzhal | The flute that lives in my breath |
| Un pechu naalum senthaen kuzhal | Your daily speech is a pipe of pure sweet honey |
| Muthae en muthaaramae | My pearl, my string of pearls |
| Sabhai yerum paadal | A song that reaches the assembly |
| Nee paadamma… nee paadamma…. | Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child... |
| Female | |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
| Female | |
| Kalanthaada kai korkkum neram | When they hold hands to mingle and dance |
| Kannoaram aanantha eeram | Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes |
| Muthae en muthaaramae | My pearl, my string of pearls |
| Sabhai yerum paadal | A song that reaches the assembly |
| Nee paadamma… nee paadamma…. | Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child... |
| Female | |
| Karpoora bommai ondru | A camphor doll |
| Kai veesum thendral ondru | A waving gentle breeze |
ஹ்ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம்ம்
Humming sounds
கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
கலந்தாட கை
கோர்க்கும் நேரம்
கண்ணோரம் ஆனந்த
ஈரம் முத்தே என்
முத்தாரமே சபை ஏறும்
பாடல் நீ பாடம்மா நீ
பாடம்மா
When they hold hands to mingle and dance
Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes
My pearl, my string of pearls
A song that reaches the assembly
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
கலந்தாட கை
கோர்க்கும் நேரம்
கண்ணோரம் ஆனந்த
ஈரம் முத்தே என்
முத்தாரமே சபை ஏறும்
பாடல் நீ பாடம்மா நீ
பாடம்மா
When they hold hands to mingle and dance
Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes
My pearl, my string of pearls
A song that reaches the assembly
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
பூந்தேரிலே நீ
ஆடவே உண்டான
அன்பே ஒரு ராஜாங்கம்
ராஜாங்கமே ஆனந்தமே
நம் வீடு இங்கே ஒரு சங்கீதம்
For you to swing gently in the flower chariot
The love born here is an empire
An empire of pure joy
Our house here is a sweet melody
மானே உன்
வார்த்தை ரீங்காரம்
மலரே என் நெஞ்சில்
நின்றாடும் முத்தே என்
முத்தாரமே சபை ஏறும்
பாடல் நீ பாடம்மா நீ
பாடம்மா
My deer-like child, your words ring like a hum
My flower-like child, dancing inside my heart
My pearl, my string of pearls
A song that reaches the assembly
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
தாய் அன்பிற்கு
ஈடேதம்மா ஆகாயம்
கூட அது போதாது
தாய் போல் யார்
வந்தாலுமே உன் தாயை
போலே அது ஆகாது
What can ever match a mother's love?
Even the vast sky is not enough to equal it
Whoever comes pretending to be a mother
They can never truly become like your real mother
என் மூச்சில்
வாழும் புல்லாங்குழல்
உன் பேச்சு நாளும்
செந்தேன் குழல் முத்தே
என் முத்தாரமே சபை ஏறும்
பாடல் நீ பாடம்மா நீ பாடம்மா
The flute that lives in my breath
Your daily speech is a pipe of pure sweet honey
My pearl, my string of pearls
A song that reaches the assembly
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
கலந்தாட கை
கோர்க்கும் நேரம்
கண்ணோரம் ஆனந்த
ஈரம் முத்தே என்
முத்தாரமே சபை ஏறும்
பாடல் நீ பாடம்மா நீ
பாடம்மா
When they hold hands to mingle and dance
Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes
My pearl, my string of pearls
A song that reaches the assembly
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
கற்பூர பொம்மை
ஒன்று கை வீசும் தென்றல்
ஒன்று
A camphor doll
A waving gentle breeze
Hmmmm…hmmmm..hmmmmm
Humming sounds
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Kalanthaada kai korkkum neram
When they hold hands to mingle and dance
Kannoaram aanantha eeram
Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes
Muthae en muthaaramae
My pearl, my string of pearls
Sabhai yerum paadal
A song that reaches the assembly
Nee paadamma… nee paadamma….
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Kalanthaada kai korkkum neram
When they hold hands to mingle and dance
Kannoaram aanantha eeram
Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes
Muthae en muthaaramae
My pearl, my string of pearls
Sabhai yerum paadal
A song that reaches the assembly
Nee paadamma… nee paadamma….
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Poontherilae nee aadavae
For you to swing gently in the flower chariot
Undaana anbae oru raajaangam
The love born here is an empire
Rajaangamae aananthamae
An empire of pure joy
Nam veedu inghae oru sangeetham
Our house here is a sweet melody
Maanae un vaarthai reengaaram
My deer-like child, your words ring like a hum
Malarae en nenjil nindraadum
My flower-like child, dancing inside my heart
Muthae en muthaaramae
My pearl, my string of pearls
Sabhai yerum paadal
A song that reaches the assembly
Nee paadamma… nee paadamma….
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Thaayanbirkku eedaethamma
What can ever match a mother's love?
Aagaayam kooda athu pothaathu
Even the vast sky is not enough to equal it
Thaai pola yaar vanthaalumae
Whoever comes pretending to be a mother
Un thaayai polae athu aagaathu
They can never truly become like your real mother
En moochil vaazhum pullaanguzhal
The flute that lives in my breath
Un pechu naalum senthaen kuzhal
Your daily speech is a pipe of pure sweet honey
Muthae en muthaaramae
My pearl, my string of pearls
Sabhai yerum paadal
A song that reaches the assembly
Nee paadamma… nee paadamma….
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Kalanthaada kai korkkum neram
When they hold hands to mingle and dance
Kannoaram aanantha eeram
Tears of joy in the corner of the eyes
Muthae en muthaaramae
My pearl, my string of pearls
Sabhai yerum paadal
A song that reaches the assembly
Nee paadamma… nee paadamma….
Sing, my dear child... sing, my dear child...
Karpoora bommai ondru
A camphor doll
Kai veesum thendral ondru
A waving gentle breeze
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Karpoora Bommai Ondru is an emotional and tender Tamil lullaby that celebrates parental love and the purity of a child. Through vivid imagery, the lyrics compare the child to a pure camphor doll, a gentle breeze, and a precious pearl necklace, emphasizing how the child's presence brings harmony and music into the home. The song also reflects on the unmatched sanctity of a mother's affection, asserting that nothing in the world can replace a mother's boundless warmth and love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvam (Metaphor)
“Karpoora bommai ondru”
Compares the innocent child to a delicate camphor doll ('Karpoora bommai') and a string of pearls ('muthaaramae').
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kalanthaada kai korkkum neram / Kannoaram aanantha eeram”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Ka' across lines for poetic rhythm.
Imagery & Personification
“Kai veesum thendral ondru”
Personifies the breeze as having hands that wave gently ('Kai veesum thendral').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and written by lyricist Mu. Metha for the 1990 film Keladi Kanmani, this legendary lullaby sung by P. Susheela remains one of the most cherished melodies in Tamil cinema history.
Keep listening
More from Keladi Kanmani
Keladi Kanmani
Keladi Kanmani
Keladi Kanmani
Keladi Kanmani
Keladi Kanmani
Keladi Kanmani