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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaarayo Vaarayo

From Engal Selvi · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Engal Selvi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
6 Dec 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
Kann uranga veesaayo
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
Kann uranga veesaayo
Vaanagamennum solaithanilae
Malarum thaaragai ellaam
Aananthamaaga kanavil thondri
Aadi paada en selvam
Kann uranga veesaayo…
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
Kann uranga veesaayo
Aa….aaa….aa….mmmm…mm….mm…
Pillaiyum thaayum seraa vannam
Piriththae vaattiya pothum
Ullaththil oorum unmai anbai
Pirikka sakthi yaedhu kann uranga veesaayo
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
Kann uranga veesaayo
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
Kann uranga veesaayo
Won't you come, won't you come?
Gentle breeze, won't you come,
And blow softly so my child can sleep?
Won't you come, won't you come?
Gentle breeze, won't you come,
And blow softly so my child can sleep?
In the garden of the sky,
May all the blossoming stars
Appear happily in dreams
To dance and sing, so my little treasure
Can fall asleep—won't you blow?
Won't you come, won't you come?
Gentle breeze, won't you come,
And blow softly so my child can sleep?
Aa... Aaa... Aa... Mmmm... Mm... Mm...
Even when mother and child are kept apart
And made to suffer in separation,
The true love that wells up in the heart—
What power can break it? Blow, so my child may sleep!
Won't you come, won't you come?
Gentle breeze, won't you come,
And blow softly so my child can sleep?
Won't you come, won't you come?
Gentle breeze, won't you come,
And blow softly so my child can sleep?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic lullaby from Engal Selvi (1960) is a tender maternal invocation to the southern breeze (thendral) to blow softly and carry her child into deep, peaceful sleep. The mother envisions the sky as a magical celestial garden filled with blooming stars that dance and sing inside her child's sweet dreams. Beyond its serene surface, the song reflects profound emotional resilience, asserting that even when fate or physical separation keeps a mother and child apart, no earthly power can break the true, enduring love that wells from deep within a mother's heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Vaanagamennum solaithanilae”

The sky is metaphorically compared to a garden ('Vaanagamennum solai') where stars blossom like flowers.

Personification

“Aananthamaaga kanavil thondri / Aadi paada en selvam”

The stars ('thaaragai') are personified as entities that appear in dreams to sing and dance for the sleeping child.

Apostrophe / Direct Address

“Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum / Kann uranga veesaayo”

The singer directly addresses the gentle breeze ('Thendral neeyae') as a personified companion asked to soothe the child.

Monai / Alliteration

“Pillaiyum thaayum seraa vannam / Piriththae vaattiya pothum”

Repetition of the initial sound 'P' ('Pillaiyum', 'Piriththae', 'Pirikka') to emphasize emotional pain and maternal bond.

Did you know?

Trivia

Engal Selvi (1960) is a Tamil drama film starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by A. Maruthakasi. P. Susheela's rendition of this lullaby is widely considered one of her iconic early classics in Tamil cinema, establishing her reputation as the definitive voice for maternal lullabies in South Indian film music.

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