Thenkizhakku
From Vaazhai · 2024
- Lyricist
- Yugabharathi
- Singer
- Dhee
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Details
- Vaazhai2024
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thenkizhakku thaen chittu | A sunbird from the southeast |
| Sembaruthi poo mottu | A hibiscus flower bud |
| Chellam konjuthe thaalaatta | Cuddles affectionately to sing a lullaby |
| Female | |
| Ethanaiyo kaalam vaaratha vaanavil | Like a rainbow that has not appeared in ages |
| Vanthathu pol nee pesa | When you speak as if it has arrived |
| Uchiyila neenthum aagasa meenena | Like a sky fish swimming at the zenith |
| Thulliduthae un aasa | Your desire leaps with joy |
| Female | |
| Mazhai adikkum un sirippil | In your laughter that showers like rain |
| Sedi molaikkun naan poovaaga | A plant sprouts, with me blooming as a flower |
| Veyil adikkum naal varaikkum | Until the day the scorching heat strikes |
| Koda pudippen un thaayaaga | I will hold an umbrella like a mother to you |
| Female | |
| Nee nee sollum kadha | The story you keep telling |
| Naan naan kekkum vara | Until I keep listening to it |
| Naam aavom maya paraivagale | We shall become magical birds |
| Female | |
| Thenkizhakku thaen chittu | A sunbird from the southeast |
| Sembaruthi poo mottu | A hibiscus flower bud |
| Chellam konjuthe thaalaatta | Cuddles affectionately to sing a lullaby |
| Female | |
| Othaiyila pogum vettaveli megam | The solitary cloud floating in the open sky |
| Metteduthu paadaatho rekka virichu | Won't it compose a tune and sing with wings spread? |
| Sitherumbu podum natchathira kolam | The tiny ant creating a starry rangoli pattern |
| Solleduthu veesatho unna rasichu | Won't it weave words admiring you? |
| Female | |
| Therinje nee seiyum settai | The mischief you do knowingly |
| Thelivaaga unna kaatta | Reveals your true innocent self clearly |
| Adhil kodi raagam | A crore melodies reside in that |
| Naanum meetta | Which I play as well |
| Female | |
| Theruvenggum thaera otta | To drive chariots all over the street |
| Maramellam oonjal aatta | To swing all the trees like hammocks |
| Perugaatho kaalam vegam kootta | Won't time multiply and gather speed? |
| Female | |
| Panagkarukkum paal surakkum | Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk |
| Atha nenache nee kondaadu | Think of that and celebrate |
| Pasi marakkum naal pirakkum | A day will dawn that forgets hunger |
| Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu | Forget the pain and dance with joy |
| Male | |
| Humming…. | Humming…. |
| Female | |
| Panagkarukkum paal surakkum | Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk |
| Adha nenache nee kondaadu | Think of that and celebrate |
| Pasi marakkum naal pirakkum | A day will dawn that forgets hunger |
| Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu | Forget the pain and dance with joy |
| Female | |
| Panagkarukkum | Even the tender palmyra spathe |
| (Nee nee sollum katha) | (The story you keep telling) |
| Paal surakkum | Yields sweet milk |
| (Naan naan kekkum vara) | (Until I keep listening to it) |
| Adha nenache nee kondaadu | Think of that and celebrate |
| (Naam aavom maya paraivagale) | (We shall become magical birds) |
| Pasi marakkum | Hunger will be forgotten |
| (Nee nee sollum katha) | (The story you keep telling) |
| Naal pirakkum | A new day will dawn |
| (Naan naan kekkum vara) | (Until I keep listening to it) |
| Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu | Forget the pain and dance with joy |
| (Naam aavom maya paraivagale) | (We shall become magical birds) |
| Female | |
| Panagkarukkum paal surakkum | Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk |
| Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu | Forget the pain and dance with joy |
தென் கிழக்கு தேன் சிட்டு
செம்பருத்தி பூ மொட்டு
செல்ல கொஞ்சுதே தாலாட்ட
A sunbird from the southeast
A hibiscus flower bud
Cuddles affectionately to sing a lullaby
விசில் :
...........
Like a rainbow that has not appeared in ages
When you speak as if it has arrived
Like a sky fish swimming at the zenith
Your desire leaps with joy
எத்தனையோ காலம் வராத வானவில்
வந்தது போல் நீ பேச
உச்சியிலே நீந்தும் ஆகாச மீனென
துள்ளிடுதே உன் ஆச
In your laughter that showers like rain
A plant sprouts, with me blooming as a flower
Until the day the scorching heat strikes
I will hold an umbrella like a mother to you
மழை அடிக்கும் உன் சிரிப்பில்
செடி முளைக்கும் நான் பூவாக
வெயில் அடிக்கும் நாள் வரைக்கும்
கொடி புடிப்பேன் உன் தாயாக
The story you keep telling
Until I keep listening to it
We shall become magical birds
நீ நீ சொல்லும் கதை
நான் நான் கேக்கும் வரை
நாம் ஆவோம் மாயப் பறவைகளே
A sunbird from the southeast
A hibiscus flower bud
Cuddles affectionately to sing a lullaby
தென் கிழக்கு தேன் சிட்டு
செம்பருத்தி பூ மொட்டு
செல்ல கொஞ்சுதே தாலாட்ட
The solitary cloud floating in the open sky
Won't it compose a tune and sing with wings spread?
The tiny ant creating a starry rangoli pattern
Won't it weave words admiring you?
விசில் :
...........
The mischief you do knowingly
Reveals your true innocent self clearly
A crore melodies reside in that
Which I play as well
ஒத்தையிலே போகும் வெட்டவெளி மேகம்
மீட்டெடுத்து பாடாதோ றெக்கைவிரிச்சு
சீட்டெறும்பு போடும் நதிச்சத்திர கோலம்
சொல்லெடுத்து வீசாதோ உன்ன ரசிச்சு
To drive chariots all over the street
To swing all the trees like hammocks
Won't time multiply and gather speed?
தெரிஞ்சே நீ செய்யும் சேட்டை
தெளிவாக உன்ன காட்ட
அதில் கோடி ராகம்
நானும் மீட்ட
Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk
Think of that and celebrate
A day will dawn that forgets hunger
Forget the pain and dance with joy
தெருவெங்கும் தேற ஓட்ட
மரமெல்லாம் ஊஞ்சல் ஆட்ட
பெருகாதோ காலம் வேகம் கூட்ட
Humming….
பனங்கருக்கும் பால் சுரக்கும்
அத நெனச்சே நீ கொண்டாடு
பசி மறக்கும் நாள் பிறக்கும்
வலி மறந்தே நீ கூத்தாடு
Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk
Think of that and celebrate
A day will dawn that forgets hunger
Forget the pain and dance with joy
முனங்கல் ....
Even the tender palmyra spathe
(The story you keep telling)
Yields sweet milk
(Until I keep listening to it)
Think of that and celebrate
(We shall become magical birds)
Hunger will be forgotten
(The story you keep telling)
A new day will dawn
(Until I keep listening to it)
Forget the pain and dance with joy
(We shall become magical birds)
பனங்கருக்கும் பால் சுரக்கும்
அத நெனச்சே நீ கொண்டாடு
பசி மறக்கும் நாள் பிறக்கும்
வலி மறந்தே நீ கூத்தாடு
Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk
Forget the pain and dance with joy
பனங்கருக்கும்
(நீ நீ சொல்லும் கதை)
பால் சுரக்கும்
(நான் நான் கேக்கும் வரை )
அத நெனச்சே நீ கொண்டாடு
(நாம் ஆவோம் மாயப் பறவைகளே)
பசி மறக்கும்
(நீ நீ சொல்லும் கதை)
நாள் பிறக்கும்
(நான் நான் கேக்கும் வரை )
வலி மறந்தே நீ கூத்தாடு
(நாம் ஆவோம் மாயப் பறவைகளே )
பனங்கருக்கும் பால் சுரக்கும்
வலி மறந்தே நீ கூத்தாடு
Thenkizhakku thaen chittu
A sunbird from the southeast
Sembaruthi poo mottu
A hibiscus flower bud
Chellam konjuthe thaalaatta
Cuddles affectionately to sing a lullaby
Ethanaiyo kaalam vaaratha vaanavil
Like a rainbow that has not appeared in ages
Vanthathu pol nee pesa
When you speak as if it has arrived
Uchiyila neenthum aagasa meenena
Like a sky fish swimming at the zenith
Thulliduthae un aasa
Your desire leaps with joy
Mazhai adikkum un sirippil
In your laughter that showers like rain
Sedi molaikkun naan poovaaga
A plant sprouts, with me blooming as a flower
Veyil adikkum naal varaikkum
Until the day the scorching heat strikes
Koda pudippen un thaayaaga
I will hold an umbrella like a mother to you
Nee nee sollum kadha
The story you keep telling
Naan naan kekkum vara
Until I keep listening to it
Naam aavom maya paraivagale
We shall become magical birds
Thenkizhakku thaen chittu
A sunbird from the southeast
Sembaruthi poo mottu
A hibiscus flower bud
Chellam konjuthe thaalaatta
Cuddles affectionately to sing a lullaby
Othaiyila pogum vettaveli megam
The solitary cloud floating in the open sky
Metteduthu paadaatho rekka virichu
Won't it compose a tune and sing with wings spread?
Sitherumbu podum natchathira kolam
The tiny ant creating a starry rangoli pattern
Solleduthu veesatho unna rasichu
Won't it weave words admiring you?
Therinje nee seiyum settai
The mischief you do knowingly
Thelivaaga unna kaatta
Reveals your true innocent self clearly
Adhil kodi raagam
A crore melodies reside in that
Naanum meetta
Which I play as well
Theruvenggum thaera otta
To drive chariots all over the street
Maramellam oonjal aatta
To swing all the trees like hammocks
Perugaatho kaalam vegam kootta
Won't time multiply and gather speed?
Panagkarukkum paal surakkum
Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk
Atha nenache nee kondaadu
Think of that and celebrate
Pasi marakkum naal pirakkum
A day will dawn that forgets hunger
Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu
Forget the pain and dance with joy
Humming….
Humming….
Panagkarukkum paal surakkum
Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk
Adha nenache nee kondaadu
Think of that and celebrate
Pasi marakkum naal pirakkum
A day will dawn that forgets hunger
Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu
Forget the pain and dance with joy
Panagkarukkum
Even the tender palmyra spathe
(Nee nee sollum katha)
(The story you keep telling)
Paal surakkum
Yields sweet milk
(Naan naan kekkum vara)
(Until I keep listening to it)
Adha nenache nee kondaadu
Think of that and celebrate
(Naam aavom maya paraivagale)
(We shall become magical birds)
Pasi marakkum
Hunger will be forgotten
(Nee nee sollum katha)
(The story you keep telling)
Naal pirakkum
A new day will dawn
(Naan naan kekkum vara)
(Until I keep listening to it)
Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu
Forget the pain and dance with joy
(Naam aavom maya paraivagale)
(We shall become magical birds)
Panagkarukkum paal surakkum
Even the tender palmyra spathe yields sweet milk
Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu
Forget the pain and dance with joy
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thenkizhakku Thaen Chittu from Mari Selvaraj's film Vaazhai (2024) is a deeply comforting lullaby filled with innocent joy, maternal affection, and hope. Sung from the tender perspective of an elder sibling or motherly figure to a young child, the lyrics paint pastoral landscapes using nature imagery—sunbirds, hibiscus buds, clouds, ants, and rainbows—to convey pure affection amidst life's struggles.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Ethanaiyo kaalam vaaratha vaanavil / Vanthathu pol nee pesa / Uchiyila neenthum aagasa meenena”
Compares the child's words to a rare rainbow ('vaanavil vanthathu pol') and their soaring desires to a fish swimming high in the sky ('aagasa meenena').
Personification (Uruvagim)
“Othaiyila pogum vettaveli megam / Metteduthu paadaatho rekka virichu / Sitherumbu podum natchathira kolam”
Gives human qualities to nature, describing clouds singing melodies with spread wings and tiny ants drawing star patterns out of admiration.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Panagkarukkum paal surakkum”
'Panagkarukkum paal surakkum' uses the image of a hard palmyra shoot yielding sweet milk as a metaphor for sweet hope and comfort emerging from harsh, dry realities.
Rhyme & Alliteration (Ethirai & Monai)
“Pasi marakkum naal pirakkum / Vali maranthe nee kooththaadu”
Syllabic harmony and rhythmic couplets like 'Thenkizhakku' / 'Sembaruthi' and 'Pasi marakkum' / 'Vali maranthe' create a soothing lullaby effect.
Did you know?
Trivia
Vaazhai (2024), directed by Mari Selvaraj, is an autobiographical drama rooted in his childhood experiences in banana plantations. Santhosh Narayanan composed the score, and singer Dhee's earthy, soulful rendition brings out the deep tenderness of rural sibling affection portrayed in the film.
Keep listening