- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singers
- M. S. Rajeswari, Chorus
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Kadamai Nenjam
- Movie release year
- 1979
- Lyrics added on
- 11 Oct 2023
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………..
Thulli thulli sellum
Enga chella paappaavaam
Thottil katti podaavittaal
Thookkam varaathaam
Thulli thulli sellum
Enga chella paappaavaam
Thottil katti podaavittaal
Thookkam varaathaam
Pattu sokkaa thachchu vanthu
Potu vaipomaa
Chorus :Pattu sokkaa thachchu vanthu
Potu vaipomaa
Antha pappavukku pirantha naalil
Vaazhththi solvomaa
Daddy birth today daddy birth today
Daddy birth today daddy birth today
Happy birth day to you
Happy birth day to you
Happy birth day to you
Happy birth day to you
Thulli thulli sellum
Enga chella paappaavaam
Thottil katti podaavittaal
Thookkam varaathaam
……………
Naattukellaam thaathaavaaga
Gandhi vanthaanga
Chorus :Naattukellaam thaathaavaaga
Gandhi vanthaanga
Nalla pillaiyaaga nammaoi
Vaazha sonnaanga
Chorus :Nalla pillaiyaaga nammaoi
Vaazha sonnaanga
Pappa paattu bharathiyaar
Paadi thanthaanga
Chorus :Pappa paattu bharathiyaar
Paadi thanthaanga
Antha paattu paadi aada solli
Teacher sonnaanga
Chorus :Antha paattu paadi aada solli
Teacher sonnaanga
Thulli thulli sellum
Enga chella paappaavaam
Thottil katti podaavittaal
Thookkam varaathaam
Pattu sokkaa thachchu vanthu
Pottu vaippomaa
Female :Antha pappavukku pirantha naalil
Vaazhththu solvomaa
Daddy birth today daddy birth today
Daddy birth today daddy birth today
Happy birth day to you
Happy birth day to you
Harae rama harae krishna
Harae rama harae krishna
Harae rama harae krishna
Harae rama harae krishna
Appa engal deivamunnu
Ammaa sonnanga
Chorus :Appa engal deivamunnu
Ammaa sonnanga
Amma sollae vedhamunnu
Appa sonnaanga
Chorus :Amma sollae vedhamunnu
Appa sonnaanga
Amma appa deivamunnu
Avvai sonnaanga
Chorus :Amma appa deivamunnu
Avvai sonnaanga
Antha avvai sollae vedhamunnu
Teacher sonnanga
Chorus :Antha avvai sollae vedhamunnu
Teacher sonnanga
Thulli thulli sellum
Enga chella paappaavaam
Thottil katti podaavittaal
Thookkam varaathaam
Pattu sokkaa thachchu vanthu
Pottu vaippomaa
Female :Antha pappavukku pirantha naalil
Vaazhththu solvomaa
……………
...
Skipping and hopping along,
this is our darling little baby!
If we do not tie a cloth cradle and put them in,
they say sleep will not come!
Skipping and hopping along,
this is our darling little baby!
If we do not tie a cloth cradle and put them in,
they say sleep will not come!
Shall we get a silk shirt tailored
and dress them up?
Chorus: Shall we get a silk shirt tailored
and dress them up?
For that sweet baby on this birthday,
shall we sing our wishes?
Daddy's birthday today, Daddy's birthday today!
Daddy's birthday today, Daddy's birthday today!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Skipping and hopping along,
this is our darling little baby!
If we do not tie a cloth cradle and put them in,
they say sleep will not come!
...
As a grandfather to the whole nation,
Gandhi came to us.
Chorus: As a grandfather to the whole nation,
Gandhi came to us.
To live our lives as good children,
he guided us all.
Chorus: To live our lives as good children,
he guided us all.
Songs for children, poet Bharathiyar
sang and gave to us.
Chorus: Songs for children, poet Bharathiyar
sang and gave to us.
To sing that song and dance along,
our teacher told us!
Chorus: To sing that song and dance along,
our teacher told us!
Skipping and hopping along,
this is our darling little baby!
If we do not tie a cloth cradle and put them in,
they say sleep will not come!
Shall we get a silk shirt tailored
and dress them up?
Female: For that sweet baby on this birthday,
shall we sing our wishes?
Daddy's birthday today, Daddy's birthday today!
Daddy's birthday today, Daddy's birthday today!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Hare Rama, Hare Krishna!
Hare Rama, Hare Krishna!
Hare Rama, Hare Krishna!
Hare Rama, Hare Krishna!
"Father is our living god,"
Mother told us.
Chorus: "Father is our living god,"
Mother told us.
"Mother's word is sacred truth,"
Father told us.
Chorus: "Mother's word is sacred truth,"
Father told us.
"Both mother and father are god,"
Avvai (ancient Tamil poetess) told us.
Chorus: "Both mother and father are god,"
Avvai (ancient Tamil poetess) told us.
"That word of Avvai is sacred truth,"
our teacher told us!
Chorus: "That word of Avvai is sacred truth,"
our teacher told us!
Skipping and hopping along,
this is our darling little baby!
If we do not tie a cloth cradle and put them in,
they say sleep will not come!
Shall we get a silk shirt tailored
and dress them up?
Female: For that sweet baby on this birthday,
shall we sing our wishes?
...
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Thulli Thulli Sellum is a joyful children's song from the 1979 film Kadamai Nenjam, composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and penned by lyricist Aalangudi Somu. Sung predominantly in a child-like vocal style by M. S. Rajeswari along with a chorus, the song celebrates a birthday with playful innocence while invoking warmth and family affection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukku Thodar (Repetition / Reduplication)
“Thulli thulli sellum”
The word 'Thulli' is repeated consecutively to depict the bouncing, joyful movement of a child.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Pattu sokkaa thachchu vanthu”
The repetition of initial sounds 'Pa' in 'Pattu' and 'Potu' creates a rhythmic cadence suitable for a nursery rhyme.
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Thottil katti podaavittaal”
The agreement of second letters ('tt' in Thottil and Thookkam) maintains Tamil traditional poetic meter.
Did you know?
Trivia
Playback singer M. S. Rajeswari was renowned across South Indian cinema for her distinct ability to render songs in a child's voice, making her the primary choice for kid-centric songs from the late 1940s through the 1980s. Lyricist Aalangudi Somu famously integrated traditional moral instruction and historical cultural figures like Bharathiyar and Avvaiyar into simple lyrics for young audiences.
Keep listening
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Varungala Thoongale1987
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