Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Devan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thaalaattum Kaatre Duet

From Devan · 2002

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Sujatha, Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Devan
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
6 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Lalalaa lalalaa laa… lalalaa
Hoo oo ooo
Thaalaattum kaatrae thaai sonna paattae
Thaalaattum kaatrae
Thaai sonna paattae
En vaanil chandhiranum sooriyanum neeyae
Kunguma poovae kulir manjal nilavae
Nenjukkul aadi varum thangamani thaerae
Thaalaattum kaatrae thaai sonna paattae
Vaanavil
Vannathai konjam kuzhaitthu
Un oviyathil nee ennai vaithaai
Nenjilae
Konjidum anbai eduthu
Un sangeethathil
Nee ennai vaithaai
En kangalil
Oru dheepam vaithaai
Vin meengalai
En pakkam vaithaai
Nee sollum vaarthai
Neengaadha vedham
Vedhangal paadum dhevanae
Thaalaattum kaatrae thaai sonna paattae
En vaanil chandhiranum sooriyanum neeyae
Thaalaattum kaatrae thaai sonna paattae
En vaanil chandhiranum sooriyanum neeyae
Boomikkul
Ver polae indha sondhangal
Nee vittu ponaal
Uyir pattu pogum
Poovukkul
Vaasathai pola naesangal
Un naesam ponaal
En swaasam pogum
Anbu ennum nam raajjiyathil
Aala vandha en chella raani
Paasathin selvam kuraiyaadhu ingae
Anbil naam ezhai illaiyae
Thaalaattum kaatrae thaai sonna paattae
Female :En vaanil chandhiranum sooriyanum neeyae
Kunguma poovae kulir manjal nilavae
Nenjukkul aadi varum thangamani thaerae
Thaalaattum kaatrae thaai sonna paattae
Thaalaattum kaatrae thaai sonna paattae
Lalalaalaa laalaalaa…
Hoo ooo ooo oooo
La la la, la la la la... la la la
Ho oh oh...
O breeze that lulls me, O song sung by a mother!
O lullabying breeze,
O song sung by a mother!
In my sky, you are both the moon and the sun!
O saffron blossom, O cool golden moon!
O golden chariot dancing softly in my heart!
O lullabying breeze, O song sung by a mother!
The rainbow's
colors you softly blended,
and painted me into your picture.
From your heart,
gathering tender, sweet love,
into your music,
you placed me.
In my eyes,
you lit a shining lamp.
The stars of the sky,
you brought to my side.
Every word you speak
is an everlasting sacred verse.
O my lord whom sacred verses praise!
O lullabying breeze, O song sung by a mother!
In my sky, you are both the moon and the sun!
O lullabying breeze, O song sung by a mother!
In my sky, you are both the moon and the sun!
Deep inside the earth,
like roots, is this bond of ours.
If you ever leave me,
my life will wither away.
Inside a flower,
like its sweet scent, is our love.
If your love fades away,
my very breath will stop.
In this kingdom of ours called love,
you have come to rule, my dear queen!
The wealth of affection will never run out here;
in love, we can never be poor!
O lullabying breeze, O song sung by a mother!
In my sky, you are both the moon and the sun!
O saffron blossom, O cool golden moon!
O golden chariot dancing softly in my heart!
O lullabying breeze, O song sung by a mother!
O lullabying breeze, O song sung by a mother!
La la la la, la la la...
Ho oh oh oh oh...
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Thaalaattum Kaatrae' is a soulful romantic duet expressing deep emotional bonding and devotion between two lovers. The lyrics draw rich parallels from nature and maternal warmth, comparing the beloved's presence to a soothing breeze, a mother's lullaby, and the guiding lights of the sun and moon. The lovers acknowledge how their connection colors their world, bringing light like a lamp in the eyes and warmth akin to stars brought down to earth. In the latter half, the song emphasizes the irreplaceable nature of their bond. Relationships are depicted as deep-seated roots, and love as fragrance locked within a blossom—indispensable to life itself. Within their personal 'kingdom of love,' material wealth holds no weight, for their emotional wealth and mutual affection render them infinitely rich.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En vaanil chandhiranum sooriyanum neeyae

Compares the beloved to the soothing breeze, a mother's lullaby, and the celestial moon and sun illuminating the singer's world.

Simile (Upamai)

Ver polae indha sondhangal

Compares bonds of affection to roots deep within the earth ('Ver polae') and love to fragrance within a flower ('Vaasathai pola').

Anaaprasa / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Thaalaattum kaatrae thaai sonna paattae

Repetition of the 'Th' consonant sound across words in the line for rhythmic melody.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 2002 Tamil film 'Devan', directed by Arun Pandian. The song is widely admired for its soothing acoustic arrangement and poetic depth penned by Pazhani Bharathi, capturing classical Tamil metaphors of nature and devotion.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Devan

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.