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Lyrics & meaning

Oru Thuli Thannerukku

From Kalyana Kanavugal · 1984

Lyricist
Shanmugaseelan
Singers
G. Krishna, Banu Roopini
Music director
G. E. Raja
Details
Kalyana Kanavugal1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oru thuli thanneerukku iru thuli kanneer thaaraenFor one drop of water, I will give two drops of tears,
Oorellaam mazhai neerai odi vaa chella kannaeRun and come as rainwater all over the town, my dear child!
Veragugal kedachchirukku vega vaikka yaedhumillaWe have found firewood, but there is nothing to cook,
Pasanam irunthaathaanae pattini theerum kannaeOnly if there is food/crop yield will our hunger end, my dear.
Female
Vaanaththula nee irunthu vanthu vidu en kannaeCome down from the sky, my dear child,
Vaadugira payirukellaam vaattangal poyidumaeThen all the wilting crops will lose their distress.
Nee thulli vilaiyaadidalaam pulveliyil odidalaamYou can leap and play around, you can run across grassy lawns,
Kettu nontha uyirkalodu reengaaram paadidalaamYou can hum along with all the souls that have suffered and broken.
Female
Oru thuli thanneerukku iru thuli kanneer thaaraenFor one drop of water, I will give two drops of tears,
Oorellaam mazhai neerai odi vaa chella kannaeRun and come as rainwater all over the town, my dear child!
Male
Yaelaeelaelae yaelaeelaelae…ae…ae….ae….aa….aa….Yaelaeelaelae yaelaeelaelae…ae…ae….ae….aa….aa….
Female
Intha aappanooru makkalellaam paakkuromAll the people of this Aappanoor village are waiting and watching,
Nee neraththodu vanthuvidu nimmathiyaayiduvomCome on time so that we can finally be at peace.
Paadupadum yaezhaikellaam needhaan chellapullaTo all the hardworking poor people, you are the darling child,
En paattu saththam kettathum vanthaa needhaan nalla pullaIf you arrive upon hearing my song, you are indeed a good child.
Female
Oru thuli thanneerukku iru thuli kanneer thaaraenFor one drop of water, I will give two drops of tears,
Oorellaam mazhai neerai odi vaa chella kannaeRun and come as rainwater all over the town, my dear child!
Veragugal kedachchirukku vega vaikka yaedhumillaWe have found firewood, but there is nothing to cook,
Pasanam irunthaathaanae pattini theerum kannaeOnly if there is food/crop yield will our hunger end, my dear.
Female
Thanthaanaanae thanthanaanaeThanthaanaanae thanthanaanae
Thanthanaanae thanthaanaanaeThanthanaanae thanthaanaanae
Thanthaanaanae thanthanaanaeThanthaanaanae thanthanaanae
Thanthanaanae thanthaanaanaeThanthanaanae thanthaanaanae
Thanthana naanae naanaa naanaa thaananae…Thanthana naanae naanaa naanaa thaananae…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a poignant rain-invoking folk hymn from the movie 'Kalyana Kanavugal' (1984), written by lyricist Shanmugaseelan. Set in a drought-stricken village called Aappanoor, the singer personifies rain as a beloved child ('chella kannae') and tenderly begs it to fall from the sky. The villagers express their dire situation—having firewood to cook with, but no food crops left to boil—emphasizing that only rain can relieve their severe starvation and bring life back to the wilting crops.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Oorellaam mazhai neerai odi vaa chella kannae

Rain is personified as a beloved young child who is coaxed to run, play, and respond to songs.

Contrast / Hyperbole

Oru thuli thanneerukku iru thuli kanneer thaaraen

Contrasts one drop of water with two drops of tears to dramatically highlight the villagers' desperation.

Ethugai (Second-letter Assonance)

Oru thuli... / iru thuli...

The second letters 'ru' in 'Oru' and 'Iru' match, creating a traditional Tamil rhyming pattern.

Refrain / Folk Chorus

Thanthaanaanae thanthanaanae...

Use of traditional Tamil folk rhythm vocables (Thanthanana) to maintain tempo and evocative mood.

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Trivia

Written by Shanmugaseelan for the 1984 Tamil film 'Kalyana Kanavugal', this song draws upon traditional rural rain-invocation traditions ('Mazhai Paattu') where villagers sing emotionally to the heavens during severe droughts.

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