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Ranga Raattinam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thanga Thottil Pattu Methai

From Ranga Raattinam · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Ranga Raattinam
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
30 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanga thottil pattu methai thaai veettilae
Paasam mattum undu endhan thaalaattilae
Thanga thottil pattu methai thaai veettilae
Paasam mattum undu endhan thaalaattilae
Thannai thaanae marandhirundhaal
Unnai eendra annai
Thannai thaanae marandhirundhaal
Unnai eendra annai
Thirumbi vandha ninaivirundhum
Marandhadhenna ennai
Thirumbi vandha ninaivirundhum
Marandhadhenna ennai
Imaiyai vizhi thaan marappadhundo
Kaatchi vandha pinnae
Imaiyai vizhi thaan marappadhundo
Kaatchi vandha pinnae
Enadhu nilaiyai eduthu cholla
Thoodhu po yen kannae
Enadhu nilaiyai eduthu cholla
Thoodhu po en kannae
Thanga thottil pattu methai thaai veettilae
Paasam mattum undu endhan thaalaattilae
Kannan vandhaan nanbanukku
Thaer otta andru
Kannan vandhaan nanbanukku
Thaer otta andru
Thandhai vandhaan pillaikkaaga
Car otta indru
Thandhai vandhaan pillaikkaaga
Car otta indru
Vaanil ulla dhaevan
Indha vindhai kandu sirippaan
Vaanil ulla dhaevan
Indha vindhai kandu sirippaan
Vaazhndhu paarkka vaelai vandhaal
Nammai ondru saerppaan
Vaazhndhu paarkka vaelai vandhaal
Nammai ondru saerppaan
Thanga thottil pattu methai thaai veettilae
Paasam mattum undu endhan thaalaattilae
Thaalaattilae mm mm mm mm
A golden cradle and a silk bed await in your mother's home,
but in my lullaby, there is only love.
A golden cradle and a silk bed await in your mother's home,
but in my lullaby, there is only love.
She had forgotten her very self,
the mother who gave birth to you.
She had forgotten her very self,
the mother who gave birth to you.
Though her memory returned,
why did she forget me?
Though her memory returned,
why did she forget me?
Does the eye ever forget the eyelid,
once sight is restored?
Does the eye ever forget the eyelid,
once sight is restored?
To explain my helpless state,
go as my messenger, my darling child.
To explain my helpless state,
go as my messenger, my darling child.
A golden cradle and a silk bed await in your mother's home,
but in my lullaby, there is only love.
Krishna came in those ancient days
to steer the chariot for his friend.
Krishna came in those ancient days
to steer the chariot for his friend.
Today, a father has come
to drive a car for his child.
Today, a father has come
to drive a car for his child.
The God up in the heavens
will smile at this wondrous sight.
The God up in the heavens
will smile at this wondrous sight.
When the time comes for us to live happily,
he will bring us together.
When the time comes for us to live happily,
he will bring us together.
A golden cradle and a silk bed await in your mother's home,
but in my lullaby, there is only love.
In my lullaby... mm... mm... mm... mm...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant lullaby is sung by a loving father to his young child. The father reflects on the child's mother who suffered from memory loss. Even though her memory has returned, she remains separated from them. Through the lullaby, the father gently urges his child to act as a messenger of his love and longing to bring her back. To comfort the child and himself, the father draws parallels between mythological events—such as Lord Krishna driving Arjuna's chariot—and his humble duty of driving a car for his child. He maintains faith in God, believing that divine providence will resolve their struggles and unite the family once again.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Analogy / Metaphor

“Imaiyai vizhi thaan marappadhundo”

Compares the inseparable bond between mother and child to an eye and its eyelid.

Allusion

“Kannan vandhaan nanbanukku Thaer otta andru”

Refers to the epic Mahabharata, where Lord Krishna acted as a charioteer (chariot driver) for his friend Arjuna.

Eybukai / End Rhyme

“Thanga thottil pattu methai thaai veettilae / Paasam mattum undu endhan thaalaattilae”

End-rhyme pairing '-veettilae' and '-thaalaattilae' across consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legend Kannadasan, the song beautifully blends classical Tamil poetic imagery (comparing an eyelid to sight) with modern elements (contrasting ancient chariots with contemporary cars).

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