Ozhakku Nelave
From Kangaroo · 2015
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Bibin Tutuu
- Music director
- Srinivas
- Details
- Kangaroo2015
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aararirarooo aarariro | Aararirarooo aarariro |
| Aararirarooo raaroo | Aararirarooo raaroo |
| Male | |
| Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro | O small moon, lullaby to you |
| Onakku naanae thaayaaro | Am I not a mother figure to you? |
| Azhukku thangamae aaraaro | My precious unrefined gold, lullaby to you |
| Enakku nee thaan thaayaaro | To me, you are like a mother too |
| Female | |
| Aararirarooo raaroo | Aararirarooo raaroo |
| Male | |
| Ettu vecha nelavae kannurangu | O moon within reach, close your eyes and sleep |
| Kotti vecha natchathiram kannurangu | O heap of scattered stars, close your eyes and sleep |
| Ellaamae tholanjaalum en sothu nee thaanae | Even if everything is lost, you are my true wealth |
| Saamikku piragu nee thaanae uravu | Next to God, you are my only living kin |
| Naan saagum podhum kooda iru aathaa aathaa | Be by my side even when I pass away, my dear sister |
| Male | |
| Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro | O small moon, lullaby to you |
| Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro | O small moon, lullaby to you |
| Onakku naanae thaayaaro | Am I not a mother figure to you? |
| Male | |
| Adi ezha veettu vaazha poovae | Oh banana flower of a humble home |
| Innum enna acham | What fear is left now? |
| On punnagai mattum | Just your single smile alone |
| Pogum pathu latcham | Is worth ten lakhs |
| On kannaadi kannu melae | Above your crystal-clear eyes |
| Kaanum chinna macham | The tiny mole that appears |
| Adhu kadavul vecha | Is the ultimate mark against evil eye |
| Dhrishti pottin ucham | Placed by God Himself |
| Male | |
| Nee machakkaari | You are the lucky girl |
| Pugazh uchakkaari | Standing at the peak of fame |
| Naan pichakkaaran oo oo… | While I am just a beggar, oh oh... |
| Ae dharma thaayae | Oh mother of charity |
| Nee thanga katti | You are a bar of solid gold |
| Naan thagara petti oo oo…oo oo | And I am a plain tin box, oh oh... |
| Ullangai malaiyae usurulla silaiyae | A mountain in my palm, a statue with a soul |
| Un thandhai thaayaaga vandhen | I came to be both your father and mother |
| Naanaaga vaa | Come to me as my own child |
| Male | |
| Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro | O small moon, lullaby to you |
| Aaraaro | Lullaby... |
| Onakku naanae thaayaaro | Am I not a mother figure to you? |
| Thaayaaro | Mother figure... |
| Male | |
| Naan pothi pothi nattu vecha | The tender banana sapling I planted and nurtured with care |
| Poo vaazha kannu | Has sprouted its very first bud |
| Mudhal mottu vittu | And stands fully in bloom |
| Poothu pochu ninnu | Ah, the whole town stands and gazes in awe |
| Male | |
| Ada uthu uthu paakkudhaiyaa | People of the village gather and watch |
| Ooru sanam ninnu | As if a statue from the Amman temple |
| Oru amman koyil | Has suddenly gone missing |
| Sirpam kaanominnu | Oh sweet maiden honey |
| Male | |
| Ae kanni thaenae | Just to be your protector |
| Un kaakka thaanae | Ah, I have arrived... |
| Ada naan vandhenae…ae… | You are my love |
| En anbum neeyae | You are my life's duration |
| En aayul neeyae | You are my death as well, ho... |
| En saavum neeyae ho… | A wild elephant that escaped the hunter's trap |
| Male | |
| Vaettaikku thappicha | That wild elephant is me |
| Kaattaanai naan thaanae | To control a wild elephant in rut |
| Madha yaanaikkaetha | Who else but you can be the goad? |
| Angusam yaaru nee thaanae | O small moon, lullaby to you |
| Male | |
| Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro | Lullaby... |
| Aaraaro | Am I not a mother figure to you? |
| Onakku naanae thaayaaro | Mother figure... |
| Thaayaaro | Aararirarooo raaroo |
| Female | |
| Aararirarooo raaroo | |
ஆராரிராரோ ஆராரிராரோ
ஆராரிராரோ ராரோ
Aararirarooo aarariro
Aararirarooo raaroo
ஒழுக்கு நிலவே ஆராரோ
உனக்கு நானே தாயாரோ
அழுக்கு தங்கமே ஆராரோ
எனக்கு நீதான் தாயாரோ
O small moon, lullaby to you
Am I not a mother figure to you?
My precious unrefined gold, lullaby to you
To me, you are like a mother too
ஆராரிராரோ ராரோ
Aararirarooo raaroo
எட்டு வச்ச நிலவே கண்ணுறங்கு
கொட்டி வச்ச நட்சத்திரம் கண்ணுறங்கு
எல்லாமே தொலைஞ்சாலும்
என் சொத்து நீதானே
சாமிக்கு பிறகு நீதானே உறவு
நான் சாகும் போது கூட இரு ஆத்தா ஆத்தா
O moon within reach, close your eyes and sleep
O heap of scattered stars, close your eyes and sleep
Even if everything is lost, you are my true wealth
Next to God, you are my only living kin
Be by my side even when I pass away, my dear sister
ஒழுக்கு நிலவே ஆராரோ
ஒழுக்கு நிலவே ஆராரோ
உனக்கு நானே தாயாரோ
O small moon, lullaby to you
O small moon, lullaby to you
Am I not a mother figure to you?
அடி ஏழை வீட்டு வாழப்பூவே
இன்னும் என்ன அச்சம்
உன் புன்னகை மட்டும்
போகும் பத்து லட்சம்
உன் கண்ணாடி கண்ணு மேலே
காணும் சின்ன மச்சம்
அது கடவுள் வச்ச
திருஷ்டி பொட்டின் உச்சம்
Oh banana flower of a humble home
What fear is left now?
Just your single smile alone
Is worth ten lakhs
Above your crystal-clear eyes
The tiny mole that appears
Is the ultimate mark against evil eye
Placed by God Himself
நீ மச்சக்காரி
புகழ் உச்சக்காரி
நான் பிச்சைக்காரன் ஓ ஓ.....
ஏ தர்மத் தாயே
நீ தங்கக்கட்டி
நான் தகரப்பெட்டி ஓ ஓ....ஓ ஓ
உள்ளங்கை மலையே உசுருள்ள சிலையே
உன் தந்தை தாயாக வந்தேன்
நானாக வா
You are the lucky girl
Standing at the peak of fame
While I am just a beggar, oh oh...
Oh mother of charity
You are a bar of solid gold
And I am a plain tin box, oh oh...
A mountain in my palm, a statue with a soul
I came to be both your father and mother
Come to me as my own child
ஒழுக்கு நிலவே ஆராரோ
ஆராரோ
உனக்கு நானே தாயாரோ
தாயாரோ
O small moon, lullaby to you
Lullaby...
Am I not a mother figure to you?
Mother figure...
நான் பொத்தி பொத்தி வச்ச
பூவாழக்கன்னு
முதல் மொட்டு விட்டு
பூத்துப்போச்சு நின்னு
The tender banana sapling I planted and nurtured with care
Has sprouted its very first bud
And stands fully in bloom
Ah, the whole town stands and gazes in awe
அட உத்து உத்து பாக்குதய்யா
ஊரு சனம் நின்னு
ஒரு அம்மன் கோயில்
சிற்பம் காணோமின்னு
People of the village gather and watch
As if a statue from the Amman temple
Has suddenly gone missing
Oh sweet maiden honey
ஏ கன்னித்தேனே
உனை காக்கத்தானே
அட நான் வந்தேனே...ஏ....
என் அன்பும் நீயே
என் ஆயுள் நீயே
என் சாவும் நீயே ஹோ.....
Just to be your protector
Ah, I have arrived...
You are my love
You are my life's duration
You are my death as well, ho...
A wild elephant that escaped the hunter's trap
வேட்டைக்கு தப்பிச்ச
காட்டானை நான் தானே
மதயானைக்கேத்த
அங்குசம் யாரு நீதானே
That wild elephant is me
To control a wild elephant in rut
Who else but you can be the goad?
O small moon, lullaby to you
ஒழுக்கு நிலவே ஆராரோ
ஆராரோ
உனக்கு நானே தாயாரோ
தாயாரோ
Lullaby...
Am I not a mother figure to you?
Mother figure...
Aararirarooo raaroo
ஆராரிராரோ ராரோ
Aararirarooo aarariro
Aararirarooo aarariro
Aararirarooo raaroo
Aararirarooo raaroo
Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro
O small moon, lullaby to you
Onakku naanae thaayaaro
Am I not a mother figure to you?
Azhukku thangamae aaraaro
My precious unrefined gold, lullaby to you
Enakku nee thaan thaayaaro
To me, you are like a mother too
Aararirarooo raaroo
Aararirarooo raaroo
Ettu vecha nelavae kannurangu
O moon within reach, close your eyes and sleep
Kotti vecha natchathiram kannurangu
O heap of scattered stars, close your eyes and sleep
Ellaamae tholanjaalum en sothu nee thaanae
Even if everything is lost, you are my true wealth
Saamikku piragu nee thaanae uravu
Next to God, you are my only living kin
Naan saagum podhum kooda iru aathaa aathaa
Be by my side even when I pass away, my dear sister
Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro
O small moon, lullaby to you
Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro
O small moon, lullaby to you
Onakku naanae thaayaaro
Am I not a mother figure to you?
Adi ezha veettu vaazha poovae
Oh banana flower of a humble home
Innum enna acham
What fear is left now?
On punnagai mattum
Just your single smile alone
Pogum pathu latcham
Is worth ten lakhs
On kannaadi kannu melae
Above your crystal-clear eyes
Kaanum chinna macham
The tiny mole that appears
Adhu kadavul vecha
Is the ultimate mark against evil eye
Dhrishti pottin ucham
Placed by God Himself
Nee machakkaari
You are the lucky girl
Pugazh uchakkaari
Standing at the peak of fame
Naan pichakkaaran oo oo…
While I am just a beggar, oh oh...
Ae dharma thaayae
Oh mother of charity
Nee thanga katti
You are a bar of solid gold
Naan thagara petti oo oo…oo oo
And I am a plain tin box, oh oh...
Ullangai malaiyae usurulla silaiyae
A mountain in my palm, a statue with a soul
Un thandhai thaayaaga vandhen
I came to be both your father and mother
Naanaaga vaa
Come to me as my own child
Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro
O small moon, lullaby to you
Aaraaro
Lullaby...
Onakku naanae thaayaaro
Am I not a mother figure to you?
Thaayaaro
Mother figure...
Naan pothi pothi nattu vecha
The tender banana sapling I planted and nurtured with care
Poo vaazha kannu
Has sprouted its very first bud
Mudhal mottu vittu
And stands fully in bloom
Poothu pochu ninnu
Ah, the whole town stands and gazes in awe
Ada uthu uthu paakkudhaiyaa
People of the village gather and watch
Ooru sanam ninnu
As if a statue from the Amman temple
Oru amman koyil
Has suddenly gone missing
Sirpam kaanominnu
Oh sweet maiden honey
Ae kanni thaenae
Just to be your protector
Un kaakka thaanae
Ah, I have arrived...
Ada naan vandhenae…ae…
You are my love
En anbum neeyae
You are my life's duration
En aayul neeyae
You are my death as well, ho...
En saavum neeyae ho…
A wild elephant that escaped the hunter's trap
Vaettaikku thappicha
That wild elephant is me
Kaattaanai naan thaanae
To control a wild elephant in rut
Madha yaanaikkaetha
Who else but you can be the goad?
Angusam yaaru nee thaanae
O small moon, lullaby to you
Ozhakku nelavae aaraaro
Lullaby...
Aaraaro
Am I not a mother figure to you?
Onakku naanae thaayaaro
Mother figure...
Thaayaaro
Aararirarooo raaroo
Aararirarooo raaroo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ozhakku Nelavae from the 2015 Tamil film Kangaroo, penned by lyricist Vairamuthu, is an emotionally resonant lullaby depicting the profound bond of love and protection a brother feels for his sister. He assumes the dual roles of both father and mother, placing her happiness and safety above everything else in his life. He compares her to pure gold, a divine statue, and a blooming plant, viewing her as his sole wealth and purpose. Throughout the song, the speaker acknowledges his own rough, unpolished nature—describing himself as a wild elephant or a simple tin box—while elevating her as a noble, calming force that holds control over his life. Through rich rustic imagery and deeply affectionate folk expressions, the lyrics celebrate unconditional selflessness and sibling devotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Nee thanga katti / Naan thagara petti oo oo…”
Contrasting the sister to a bar of pure gold ('thanga katti') and the speaker to a humble tin box ('thagara petti') to highlight her worth.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“On punnagai mattum / Pogum pathu latcham”
Exaggerating the financial and emotional value of her single smile as being worth ten lakhs.
Extended Metaphor
“Madha yaanaikkaetha / Angusam yaaru nee thaanae”
Comparing the brother to an untamed wild elephant ('kaattaanai') and the sister to the elephant goad ('angusam') that keeps him grounded.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Naan pothi pothi nattu vecha / Poo vaazha kannu”
The second consonant 'th' matches across consecutive lines ('pothi', 'maktu', 'uthu'), creating rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
The music for the movie Kangaroo (2015) was composed by renowned playback singer Srinivas. Directed by Samy, the film's entire emotional core relies on the intense brother-sister bond showcased in this song.
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