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Lyrics & meaning

Thandhai Yaaro Thaayum Yaaro

From Yaar Paiyyan · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. Dakshinamurthi
Details
Yaar Paiyyan1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thandhai yaaro thaayum yaaroWho is your father? Who is your mother?
Neeyum endha ooroAnd which town do you belong to?
Thandhai yaaro thaayum yaaroWho is your father? Who is your mother?
Neeyum endha ooroAnd which town do you belong to?
Jaalakkaaraa thoongadaa…Oh trickster, go to sleep...
Aa… aa…aaa….aa….aa…Aa… aa…aaa….aa….aa…
Jaalakkaaraa…. thoongadaaOh trickster... go to sleep
Jaalakkaaraa thoongadaaOh trickster, go to sleep
Aaraaro naan yaaro nee yaaroLullaby... who am I, and who are you?
Female
Thandhai yaaro thaayum yaaroWho is your father? Who is your mother?
Neeyum endha ooroAnd which town do you belong to?
Female
Manam purindhu arasum vaembumGetting married and around the sacred Peepal and Neem trees...
Manam purindhu arasum vaembumGetting married and around the sacred Peepal and Neem trees...
Valam varaadha podhilum naanEven though I did not perform those sacred circumambulations...
Valam varaadha podhilumEven though I did not perform those sacred circumambulations...
Mazhalaiyaaga veedu thaediAs a young child, seeking my house...
Vandhadhenna vindhaiyoWhat a wonder it is that you arrived!
Female
Thandhai yaaro thaayum yaaroWho is your father? Who is your mother?
Neeyum endha ooroAnd which town do you belong to?
Female
Maalai soodi laali paadiWearing a garland and singing a lullaby...
Ooo ooo ooo ooo oo oooOoo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo
Maalai soodi laali paadiWearing a garland and singing a lullaby...
Manaiviyaaga kollum munnaeBefore taking me as a wife...
Ezhu vayasu pillaiyaagaAs a seven-year-old child...
Enakku thandhaar unnaiyaeHe gave you to me!
Female
Vaalai summaa surutti konduJust roll up your tail of mischief...
Thoongadaa nee thoonguSleep, oh sleep!
Thoongadaa nee thoonguSleep, oh sleep!
Vambu seidhaal undhan kannamIf you make trouble, your cheek...
Endhan kaiyaal veengumWill swell up from my hand!
Vambu seidhaal undhan kannamIf you make trouble, your cheek...
Endhan kaiyaal veengumWill swell up from my hand!
Female
Thandhai yaaro thaayum yaaroWho is your father? Who is your mother?
Neeyum endha ooro…And which town do you belong to...
Thandhai yaaro…Who is your father...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thandhai Yaaro Thaayum Yaaro is a playful lullaby from the 1957 Tamil film Yaar Paiyyan. Sung to a young child of unknown origin who unexpectedly enters the protagonist's life, the song blends affectionate humor with maternal warmth. The female protagonist wonders about the child's roots and marvels at how he arrived at her doorstep like a miracle, even before she was married or performed traditional marital rituals for children. Throughout the song, she teasingly calls the boy a trickster and tells him to curl up his 'tail of mischief' and go to sleep. She humorously threatens to slap his cheeks if he creates trouble, creating a sweet and comedic dynamic between the caregiver and the mysteriously arrived child.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Thandhai yaaro thaayum yaaro

Repetition of the initial 'Th' consonant sound in 'Thandhai' and 'Thaayum' creates melodic rhythm.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Maalai soodi laali paadi ... Manaiviyaaga kollum munnae

Repetition of the initial 'M' consonant sound across 'Maalai' and 'Manaiviyaaga'.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Manam purindhu arasum vaembum ... Valam varaadha podhilum naan

Matching of second consonants 'na' and 'la' in 'Manam' and 'Valam'.

Idiomatic Metaphor

Vaalai summaa surutti kondu

The phrase 'Vaalai summaa surutti kondu' (curl up your tail) is a colloquial Tamil idiom used metaphorically to tell someone to pack up their mischief and behave.

Did you know?

Trivia

Yaar Paiyyan (1957) is a romantic comedy film starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, directed by T. R. Raghunath. The music for the film was composed by S. Dakshinamurthi, and the lyrics for this track were penned by A. Maruthakasi. The song captures a pivotal comedic moment in the narrative where a young boy's unknown identity drives the central plot.

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Thandhai Yaaro Thaayum Yaaro Lyrics | English Translation | Meaning | Isaimozhi