Thalaattu Kekka Naanum
From Nandalala · 2009
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nandalala2009
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thaalattu ketkka naanum | To hear a lullaby, I too |
| Ethanai naal kaathirundhen | How many days have I waited! |
| Thaalattu ketkka naanum | To hear a lullaby, I too |
| Ethanai naal kaathirundhen | How many days have I waited! |
| Thaai unnai kaanathaanae | Just to see you, my mother, |
| Thavichu naan odi vandhen | I ran eagerly with a yearning heart. |
| Male | |
| Amma unna paatha | Looking at you, mother, |
| Vaartha valla melae | Words fail to come out anymore. |
| Ippo unna paatha | Now looking at you, |
| Pacha pulla polae | You seem like an innocent newborn child. |
| Thaalattu paada inga yaar aariraaroo….. | Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby... |
| Thaalattu ketkka naanum | To hear a lullaby, I too |
| Ethanai naal kaathirundhen | How many days have I waited! |
| Male | |
| Ennai oru baaram endraa | Did you feel I was a burden |
| Sumandhu nee kaathirundha | When you bore and waited for me? |
| Unakku naan baaram endru | Thinking I would be a burden to you, |
| Edhukku nee thalli vechae | Why did you push me away? |
| Male | |
| Sangiliyaal enna | There was a time when with chains |
| Katti vecha kaalam undu | They tied me up. |
| Sangiliyaal neeyae | If you tie yourself up with chains, |
| Katti kondaal nyayam than | It is only fair and justified. |
| Male | |
| Un melae enna kaayam | What kind of wound is on you? |
| En nenjil vali koodum | The pain increases in my heart. |
| Anbe oru thunbamaa…. | Is love itself a source of sorrow? |
| Male | |
| Thaalattu ketkka naanum | To hear a lullaby, I too |
| Ethanai naal kaathirundhen | How many days have I waited! |
| Amma unna paatha | Looking at you, mother, |
| Vaartha valla melae | Words fail to come out anymore. |
| Ippo unna paatha | Now looking at you, |
| Pacha pulla polae | You seem like an innocent newborn child. |
| Thaalattu paada inga yaar aariraaroo….. | Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby... |
| Male | |
| Thottililae thooli veikka | To put a cradle cloth in a crib, |
| Un vayasu thoodhu illa | Your age is no longer suitable. |
| Unna vittu odhungavum | Yet to leave you and walk away, |
| En manasu ketkavilla | My heart simply does not agree. |
| Male | |
| Pillai petha nova | Which child has ever relieved |
| Endha pulla theerthathundu | The pain a mother felt while giving birth? |
| Amma ennum poova | To shelter and protect the flower called mother, |
| Pothi kaakka naanum undu | I am here too. |
| Male | |
| Ammaa undhan amma | Mother, if your mother |
| Vandhaal inge amma | Were to come here now, mother, |
| Pillai endhan anbilae… | She would see a child in my love... |
| Male | |
| Thaalattu ketkka naanum | To hear a lullaby, I too |
| Ethanai naal kaathirundhen | How many days have I waited! |
| Thaai unnai kaanathaanae | Just to see you, my mother, |
| Thavichu naan odi vandhen | I ran eagerly with a yearning heart. |
| Male | |
| Amma unna paatha | Looking at you, mother, |
| Vaartha valla melae | Words fail to come out anymore. |
| Ippo unna paatha | Now looking at you, |
| Pacha pulla polae | You seem like an innocent newborn child. |
| Thaalattu paada inga yaar aariraaroo….. | Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby... |
| Male | |
| Thaalattu ketkka naanum | To hear a lullaby, I too |
| Ethanai naal kaathirundhen | How many days have I waited! |
| Thaai unnai kaanathaanae | Just to see you, my mother, |
| Thavichu naan odi vandhen | I ran eagerly with a yearning heart. |
தாலாட்டு கேட்க நானும்
எத்தனை நாள் காத்திருந்தேன்
தாலாட்டு கேட்க நானும்
எத்தனை நாள் காத்திருந்தேன்
தாய் உன்னை காணத்தானே
தவிச்சு நான் ஓடி வந்தேன்
To hear a lullaby, I too
How many days have I waited!
To hear a lullaby, I too
How many days have I waited!
Just to see you, my mother,
I ran eagerly with a yearning heart.
அம்மா உன்ன பாத்தா
வார்த்த வல்ல மேலே
இப்போ உன்ன பாத்தா
பச்சப் புள்ளப் போலே
தாலாட்டுப் பாட இங்கே யார் ஆரிராரோ.....
தாலாட்டு கேட்க நானும்
எத்தனை நாள் காத்திருந்தேன்
Looking at you, mother,
Words fail to come out anymore.
Now looking at you,
You seem like an innocent newborn child.
Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby...
To hear a lullaby, I too
How many days have I waited!
என்னை ஒரு பாரமென்றா
சுமந்து நீ காத்திருந்த
உனக்கு நான் பாரமென்று
எதுக்கு நீ தள்ளி வச்சே
Did you feel I was a burden
When you bore and waited for me?
Thinking I would be a burden to you,
Why did you push me away?
சங்கிலியால் என்னக்
கட்டி வச்ச காலம் உண்டு
சங்கிலியால் நீயே
கட்டிக் கொண்டால் நியாயம்தான்
There was a time when with chains
They tied me up.
If you tie yourself up with chains,
It is only fair and justified.
உன் மேலே என்ன காயம்
என் நெஞ்சில் வலி கூடும்
அன்பே ஒரு துன்பமா....
What kind of wound is on you?
The pain increases in my heart.
Is love itself a source of sorrow?
தாலாட்டு கேட்க நானும்
எத்தனை நாள் காத்திருந்தேன்
அம்மா உன்ன பாத்தா
வார்த்த வல்ல மேலே
இப்போ உன்ன பாத்தா
பச்சப் புள்ளப் போலே
தாலாட்டுப் பாட இங்கே யார் ஆரிராரோ.....
To hear a lullaby, I too
How many days have I waited!
Looking at you, mother,
Words fail to come out anymore.
Now looking at you,
You seem like an innocent newborn child.
Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby...
தொட்டிலிலே தூளி வைக்க
உன் வயசு தோது இல்ல
உன்ன விட்டு ஒதுங்கவும்
என் மனசு கேட்கவில்ல
To put a cradle cloth in a crib,
Your age is no longer suitable.
Yet to leave you and walk away,
My heart simply does not agree.
பிள்ளைப் பெத்த நோவ
எந்த புள்ள தீர்த்ததுண்டு
அம்மா என்னும் பூவ
பொத்திக் காக்க நானும் உண்டு
Which child has ever relieved
The pain a mother felt while giving birth?
To shelter and protect the flower called mother,
I am here too.
அம்மா உந்தன் அம்மா
வந்தாள் இங்கே அம்மா
பிள்ளை எந்தன் அன்பிலே...
Mother, if your mother
Were to come here now, mother,
She would see a child in my love...
தாலாட்டு கேட்க நானும்
எத்தனை நாள் காத்திருந்தேன்
தாய் உன்னை காணத்தானே
தவிச்சு நான் ஓடி வந்தேன்
To hear a lullaby, I too
How many days have I waited!
Just to see you, my mother,
I ran eagerly with a yearning heart.
அம்மா உன்ன பாத்தா
வார்த்த வல்ல மேலே
இப்போ உன்ன பாத்தா
பச்சப் புள்ளப் போலே
தாலாட்டுப் பாட இங்கே யார் ஆரிராரோ.....
Looking at you, mother,
Words fail to come out anymore.
Now looking at you,
You seem like an innocent newborn child.
Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby...
தாலாட்டு கேட்க நானும்
எத்தனை நாள் காத்திருந்தேன்
தாய் உன்னை காணத்தானே
தவிச்சு நான் ஓடி வந்தேன்..
To hear a lullaby, I too
How many days have I waited!
Just to see you, my mother,
I ran eagerly with a yearning heart.
Thaalattu ketkka naanum
To hear a lullaby, I too
Ethanai naal kaathirundhen
How many days have I waited!
Thaalattu ketkka naanum
To hear a lullaby, I too
Ethanai naal kaathirundhen
How many days have I waited!
Thaai unnai kaanathaanae
Just to see you, my mother,
Thavichu naan odi vandhen
I ran eagerly with a yearning heart.
Amma unna paatha
Looking at you, mother,
Vaartha valla melae
Words fail to come out anymore.
Ippo unna paatha
Now looking at you,
Pacha pulla polae
You seem like an innocent newborn child.
Thaalattu paada inga yaar aariraaroo…..
Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby...
Thaalattu ketkka naanum
To hear a lullaby, I too
Ethanai naal kaathirundhen
How many days have I waited!
Ennai oru baaram endraa
Did you feel I was a burden
Sumandhu nee kaathirundha
When you bore and waited for me?
Unakku naan baaram endru
Thinking I would be a burden to you,
Edhukku nee thalli vechae
Why did you push me away?
Sangiliyaal enna
There was a time when with chains
Katti vecha kaalam undu
They tied me up.
Sangiliyaal neeyae
If you tie yourself up with chains,
Katti kondaal nyayam than
It is only fair and justified.
Un melae enna kaayam
What kind of wound is on you?
En nenjil vali koodum
The pain increases in my heart.
Anbe oru thunbamaa….
Is love itself a source of sorrow?
Thaalattu ketkka naanum
To hear a lullaby, I too
Ethanai naal kaathirundhen
How many days have I waited!
Amma unna paatha
Looking at you, mother,
Vaartha valla melae
Words fail to come out anymore.
Ippo unna paatha
Now looking at you,
Pacha pulla polae
You seem like an innocent newborn child.
Thaalattu paada inga yaar aariraaroo…..
Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby...
Thottililae thooli veikka
To put a cradle cloth in a crib,
Un vayasu thoodhu illa
Your age is no longer suitable.
Unna vittu odhungavum
Yet to leave you and walk away,
En manasu ketkavilla
My heart simply does not agree.
Pillai petha nova
Which child has ever relieved
Endha pulla theerthathundu
The pain a mother felt while giving birth?
Amma ennum poova
To shelter and protect the flower called mother,
Pothi kaakka naanum undu
I am here too.
Ammaa undhan amma
Mother, if your mother
Vandhaal inge amma
Were to come here now, mother,
Pillai endhan anbilae…
She would see a child in my love...
Thaalattu ketkka naanum
To hear a lullaby, I too
Ethanai naal kaathirundhen
How many days have I waited!
Thaai unnai kaanathaanae
Just to see you, my mother,
Thavichu naan odi vandhen
I ran eagerly with a yearning heart.
Amma unna paatha
Looking at you, mother,
Vaartha valla melae
Words fail to come out anymore.
Ippo unna paatha
Now looking at you,
Pacha pulla polae
You seem like an innocent newborn child.
Thaalattu paada inga yaar aariraaroo…..
Who is here to sing a lullaby? Lullaby...
Thaalattu ketkka naanum
To hear a lullaby, I too
Ethanai naal kaathirundhen
How many days have I waited!
Thaai unnai kaanathaanae
Just to see you, my mother,
Thavichu naan odi vandhen
I ran eagerly with a yearning heart.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Thaalattu ketkka naanum' from the film Nandalala portrays a deeply emotional and poignant search for maternal love and reconciliation. The protagonist longs to hear a mother's lullaby after years of yearning and separation. Upon meeting his mother, he is struck by her vulnerability and realizes that she now resembles a helpless child herself, reversing the roles of caregiver and dependent.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Thaalattu ketkka naanum / Ethanai naal kaathirundhen”
Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive lines, such as 'Thaalattu' and 'Ethanai' (the 'tha'/'tha' sound structure) or 'Sangiliyaal' / 'Sangiliyaal'.
Simile (Upamai)
“Ippo unna paatha / Pacha pulla polae”
Comparing the mother's current vulnerable state to an innocent newborn baby ('Pacha pulla polae').
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Amma ennum poova / Pothi kaakka naanum undu”
Directly referring to the mother as a delicate flower that needs to be protected ('Amma ennum poova').
Rhetorical Question
“Anbe oru thunbamaa….”
Asking questions to emphasize emotional distress, such as whether love itself brings agony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Nandalala was written, directed by, and starred Mysskin, inspired by the Japanese film 'Kikujiro'. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja, who also penned and sang this emotional track. The song serves as the central emotional anchor of the film, capturing the essence of filial longing and empathy.
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