Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Marudhani album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thottil Kili Thoongadi

From Marudhani · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Marudhani
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
5 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thottil kili thoongadi
Chinna poongkodi uravae aaraaro
Appan ingae yaaradi
Vanthu keladi azhagae aaraaro
Oomaikiliyo oppivittathu
Appan kiliyo thappivittathu
Ho ho….ho…oo….
Thottil kili thoongadi
Chinna poongkodi uravae aaraaro
Appan ingae yaaradi
Vanthu keladi azhagae aaraaro
Pombalainga ellaam thalaiyaattaththaan
Aambalaikku ellaam velaiyaattuththaan
Paththu maatha santhaiyila
Paavi unna vaangi vanthaen
Karpaththukku noguminnu
Paiya paiya moochchu vittaen
Thaai manam thaangala thanthaiya kaangala
Enna seiya yaezhai
Thottil kili thoongadi
Chinna poongkodi uravae aaraaro
Appan ingae yaaradi
Vanthu keladi azhagae aaraaro
Katti vachcha thaali athu poliyaa
Bedha ponnu naanaa idhu keliyaa
Maanam kettu ponavarae
Vanthayila kettu vachchen
Aandavanum ketkkal
Un kaathileyum pottu vachchen
Kalamae marumae kaayamae aarumae
Kanneer enna maanae….
Thottil kili thoongadi
Chinna poongkodi uravae aaraaro
Appan ingae yaaradi
Vanthu keladi azhagae aaraaro
Oomaikiliyo oppivittathu
Appan kiliyo thappivittathu
Ho ho….ho…oo….
Thottil kili thoongadi
Chinna poongkodi uravae aaraaro
Appan ingae yaaradi
Vanthu keladi azhagae aaraaro
Sleep, little parrot in the cradle,
My little flowering vine, my darling, Aararo (lullaby).
Who is your father here?
Come and ask, my beautiful one, Aararo (lullaby).
The silent mother parrot surrendered to her fate,
While the father parrot slipped away and fled.
Ho ho...... ho.... oh....
Sleep, little parrot in the cradle,
My little flowering vine, my darling, Aararo (lullaby).
Who is your father here?
Come and ask, my beautiful one, Aararo (lullaby).
Women are only meant to nod and agree,
While for men, everything is just a game.
In the ten-month marketplace of pregnancy,
Sinner that I am, I brought you into this world.
Fearing I might hurt the life growing inside my womb,
I took every breath so softly and carefully.
A mother's heart cannot bear this, yet no father can be seen,
What can this poor, helpless woman do?
Sleep, little parrot in the cradle,
My little flowering vine, my darling, Aararo (lullaby).
Who is your father here?
Come and ask, my beautiful one, Aararo (lullaby).
Was the thaali (sacred marriage thread) he tied on me just a fake?
Am I a foolish girl, or is this all a cruel joke?
Oh, shameless man...
I pleaded for justice before the village commons,
Even God did not listen to my cries,
And now I have poured out my sorrow into your little ears too.
Time will surely change, and these wounds will heal,
So why are you crying, my little fawn?
Sleep, little parrot in the cradle,
My little flowering vine, my darling, Aararo (lullaby).
Who is your father here?
Come and ask, my beautiful one, Aararo (lullaby).
The silent mother parrot surrendered to her fate,
While the father parrot slipped away and fled.
Ho ho...... ho.... oh....
Sleep, little parrot in the cradle,
My little flowering vine, my darling, Aararo (lullaby).
Who is your father here?
Come and ask, my beautiful one, Aararo (lullaby).
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional lullaby depicts a mother grieving her betrayal and abandonment by her husband while trying to put her infant child to sleep. She reflects on the societal plight of women who are forced to suffer in silence while men treat relationships recklessly. She laments how the father escaped his responsibilities, leaving her alone to raise their child amidst betrayal and shame. Despite the severe heartbreak and feeling abandoned even by God, she finds solace in her newborn. She reassures herself and her baby that time will eventually heal their deep emotional wounds and bring a change to their sorrowful life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Thottil kili thoongadi / Chinna poongkodi uravae aaraaro

The child is affectionately addressed using metaphors like 'Thottil kili' (parrot in a cradle) and 'Chinna poongkodi' (little flowering vine).

Contrast / Anthesis

Oomaikiliyo oppivittathu / Appan kiliyo thappivittathu

Contrasts the helpless mother ('Oomaikili' - mute parrot) who is left behind with the irresponsible father ('Appan kili' - father parrot) who escaped.

Rhyme (Ethirai / Iyaibu)

Pombalainga ellaam thalaiyaattaththaan / Aambalaikku ellaam velaiyaattuththaan

Use of matching second letters and rhyming end sounds like 'Pombalainga' / 'Aambalaikku' and 'oppivittathu' / 'thappivittathu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is a classic emotional lullaby from the movie Marudhani (1985) featuring lyrics penned by Vairamuthu that reflect social commentary on desertion and maternal resilience.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Marudhani

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.