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Ellame En Rasathan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Santhana Kaattukullae Male

From Ellame En Rasathan · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ellame En Rasathan
Movie release year
1995
Lyrics added on
5 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru sandhana kaattukkullae
Muzhu chandhiran kaayayilae
Siru singaara koottukkullae
Malai thendralum veesayilae
Kuyilu kunju thoongattumae…
Raathiri velaiyilae
Kan muzhichu naan iruppen
Kannae un pakkathilae
Solai poovae aareeroo
Pasum sokka ponnae aareero
Oru sandhana kaattukkullae
Muzhu chandhiran kaayayilae
Vaangi vandha malligai poo soodi kolla
Anbu thaaram illae thaaram illae
Pogaiyilae en idathil solli kolla kooda
Neram illae neram illae
Naan petra selvamae sondham endru
Unnai vittaal yaarum illai
Naal thorum ammaadi kanneer sindha
Kannil innum eeram illai
Kaayangal kaalam muzhukka aaraadho
Naan seidha paava kanakkum theeraadho
Magizham poovae endhan mani muthae
Kuzhalai polae dhinam mazhalai pesum
Ilam poongothae poongothae
Oru sandhana kaattukkullae
Muzhu chandhiran kaayayilae
Siru singaara koottukkullae
Malai thendralum veesayilae
Kuyilu kunju thoongattumae…
Raathiri velaiyilae
Kan muzhichu naan iruppen
Kannae un pakkathilae
Solai poovae aareeroo
Pasum sokka ponnae aareero
Oru sandhana kaattukkullae
Muzhu chandhiran kaayayilae
Siru singaara koottukkullae
Malai thendralum veesayilae
Deep inside a sandalwood forest,
As the full moon shines bright,
Inside this lovely little nest,
As the mountain breeze gently blows,
Let my little cuckoo sleep
Through the quiet of the night.
I will stay wide awake,
Right beside you, my dear child.
Lullaby, my little garden flower,
Lullaby, my pure golden darling.
Deep inside a sandalwood forest,
As the full moon shines bright,
To wear the jasmine flowers I bought,
My loving wife is no longer here, no longer here...
When she left, even to say goodbye to me,
There was no time, no time at all.
My precious treasure, to call my own,
I have no one in this world except you.
To weep every single day, my little girl,
There are no tears left in my eyes.
Will these deep wounds never heal in my lifetime?
Will the heavy debt of my sins never end?
My sweet Magizham flower, my precious pearl,
Babbling sweet baby words like the melody of a flute,
My tender bunch of flowers, my bunch of flowers...
Deep inside a sandalwood forest,
As the full moon shines bright,
Inside this lovely little nest,
As the mountain breeze gently blows,
Let my little cuckoo sleep
Through the quiet of the night.
I will stay wide awake,
Right beside you, my dear child.
Lullaby, my little garden flower,
Lullaby, my pure golden darling.
Deep inside a sandalwood forest,
As the full moon shines bright,
Inside this lovely little nest,
As the mountain breeze gently blows.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This heartbreaking lullaby captures a grieving father comforting his newborn child under the moonlit sky. Set amidst nature's serenity, the gentle breeze and forest atmosphere contrast sharply with the emotional anguish in the father's heart. He mourns the sudden and untimely loss of his beloved wife, who departed so abruptly that she could not even say goodbye, leaving behind jasmine flowers meant for her hair.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Oru sandhana kaattukkullae / Muzhu chandhiran kaayayilae

The line endings 'kaattukkullae', 'kaayayilae', 'koottukkullae', and 'veesayilae' share matching rhythm and vowel endings, creating a soothing lullaby melody.

Simile (Upamai)

Kuzhalai polae dhinam mazhalai pesum

The child's sweet babbling ('mazhalai') is explicitly compared using 'polae' to the sweet sound of a flute ('kuzhal').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Magizham poovae endhan mani muthae

The child is affectionately addressed directly as a fragrant Magizham flower and a precious pearl without using explicit comparison words.

Monai (First-Letter Alliteration)

Kaayangal kaalam muzhukka aaraadho

The repetition of the 'Ka' sound in 'Kaayangal' and 'kaalam' adds a poetic cadence to the grief expressed.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for the film 'Ellame En Rasathan' (1995) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, who also sang this touching lullaby. The lyrics were penned by veteran lyricist Vaali, showcasing his remarkable ability to blend tender parental affection with deep philosophical grief.

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