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Lyrics & meaning

Malligai Pooppottu Kannanukku

From Thalattu – 1969 Film · 1969

Lyricist
Mayavanathan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
M. L. Srikanth
Details
Thalattu – 1969 Film1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Malligai poopottuAdorn with a bindi of jasmine flower
Kannanukku mangala neerattuGive an auspicious bath to Little Krishna
Male :Sembaga poopottuMale: Adorn with a bindi of champak flower
Paadu oru senthamizh thaalattuSing a sweet lullaby in pure Tamil
Female
Malligai poopottuAdorn with a bindi of jasmine flower
Kannanukku mangala neerattuGive an auspicious bath to Little Krishna
Male :Sembaga poopottuMale: Adorn with a bindi of champak flower
Paadu oru senthamizh thaalattuSing a sweet lullaby in pure Tamil
Senthamizh thaalattuA sweet lullaby in pure Tamil
Female
Aayar kudiyinil oodhu kuzhaloduIn the cowherd hamlet, accompanied by the flute
Kannan vilayattuIt is Krishna's playful antics
Andha devi yasodharai maarbilUpon the lap of Goddess Yashoda
Avanukku eppavum thaalattuThere is always a lullaby for him
Female
Aayar kudiyinil oodhu kuzhaloduIn the cowherd hamlet, accompanied by the flute
Kannan vilayattuIt is Krishna's playful antics
Andha devi yasodharai maarbilUpon the lap of Goddess Yashoda
Avanukku eppavum thaalattuThere is always a lullaby for him
Male
Thaavi urithanil yeri irukkiraLeaping and climbing onto the hanging rope-pot
Vennai thirudi vittuAfter stealing the butter
Thaavi urithanil yeri irukkiraLeaping and climbing onto the hanging rope-pot
Vennai thirudi vittuAfter stealing the butter
Avan thathi nadakkira paadhathilOn his feet that toddle with uncertain steps
Konjidum muthu sathangai kattuTie the sweet-sounding pearl anklets
Avan thathi nadakkira paadhathilOn his feet that toddle with uncertain steps
Konjidum muthu sathangai kattuTie the sweet-sounding pearl anklets
Male
Malligai poopottuAdorn with a bindi of jasmine flower
Kannanukku mangala neerattuGive an auspicious bath to Little Krishna
Female :Sembaga poopottuFemale: Adorn with a bindi of champak flower
Paadu oru senthamizh thaalattuSing a sweet lullaby in pure Tamil
Senthamizh thaalattuA sweet lullaby in pure Tamil
Female
Vaanvelidhanil poovirundhaalIf there were flowers in the celestial sky
Adhai thedi parikkatumaShall I go search and pluck them?
Vaanvelidhanil poovirundhaalIf there were flowers in the celestial sky
Adhai thedi parikkatumaShall I go search and pluck them?
Indha gyaana maganukku korththuWreathing them together for this divine child
Koduthathai soodi kalikattumaaShall I adorn him and rejoice?
Indha gyaana maganukku korththuWreathing them together for this divine child
Koduthathai soodi kalikattumaaShall I adorn him and rejoice?
Male
Devaraasukku thoodhanuppi avarSending a messenger to the King of Devas (Indra)
Thaeraiyum ketkkattumaShall I request his celestial chariot?
Devaraasukku thoodhanuppi avarSending a messenger to the King of Devas (Indra)
Thaeraiyum ketkkattumaShall I request his celestial chariot?
Magan oorvalam pogindra kaalthilaeAt the time when my son goes on a royal procession
Nindru paarthu rasikkattumaaShall I stand, watch, and delight in it?
Magan oorvalam pogindra kaalthilaeAt the time when my son goes on a royal procession
Nindru paarthu rasikkattumaaShall I stand, watch, and delight in it?
Male
Haaa…..aaa…Haaa.....aaa...
Female :Haa….aa….Female: Haa....aa....
Both :Hmm mm mm …hmm mm mmBoth: Hmm mm mm …hmm mm mm

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil lullaby from the film Thalattu (1969) expresses the deep love and adoration of parents for their child by comparing the baby to Lord Krishna. The song describes bathing the newborn child with auspicious ritual care, adorning the baby with flower marks, and fastening pearl anklets on the child's toddling feet as he learns to walk.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Rupakam)

Kannanukku mangala neerattu

The child is tenderly metaphorized as Lord Krishna ('Kannan'), elevating maternal affection to divine devotion.

Rhyme / Monai & Edhukai

Malligai poopottu / Sembaga poopottu

Rhyming initial and second consonant sounds across lines ('Malligai poopottu' and 'Sembaga poopottu').

Hyperbole (Athisayokthi)

Vaanvelidhanil poovirundhaal adhai thedi parikkatuma

Exaggeration used by the mother imagining plucking celestial flowers from space and borrowing Indra's divine chariot for her child's procession.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. L. Srikanth with lyrics by Mayavanathan, 'Thalattu' features a duet lullaby rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, a rare vocal pairing for lullabies in 1960s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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