Vaarayo Vaarayo
From Engal Selvi · 1960
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Engal Selvi1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vaaraayo vaaraayo | Won't you come, won't you come? |
| Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum | As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow, |
| Kann uranga veesaayo | So that my child may sleep peacefully? |
| Female | |
| Vaaraayo vaaraayo | Won't you come, won't you come? |
| Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum | As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow, |
| Kann uranga veesaayo | So that my child may sleep peacefully? |
| Female | |
| Vaanagamennum solaithanilae | In the lush garden known as the vast sky, |
| Malarum thaaragai ellaam | All the stars that blossom like flowers, |
| Aananthamaaga kanavil thondri | Appearing joyfully within sweet dreams, |
| Aadi paada en selvam | To sing and dance so that my precious child, |
| Kann uranga veesaayo… | May sleep peacefully... won't you blow? |
| Female | |
| Vaaraayo vaaraayo | Won't you come, won't you come? |
| Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum | As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow, |
| Kann uranga veesaayo | So that my child may sleep peacefully? |
| Female | |
| Aa….aaa….aa….mmmm…mm….mm… | [Melodic humming and vocalizations] |
| Female | |
| Pillaiyum thaayum seraa vannam | Even when forced apart so mother and child cannot unite, |
| Piriththae vaattiya pothum | And even when circumstances torment through separation, |
| Ullaththil oorum unmai anbai | The pure love that wells up deep within the heart, |
| Pirikka sakthi yaedhu kann uranga veesaayo | What power exists to sever it? Won't you blow so my child can sleep? |
| Female | |
| Vaaraayo vaaraayo | Won't you come, won't you come? |
| Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum | As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow, |
| Kann uranga veesaayo | So that my child may sleep peacefully? |
| Female | |
| Vaaraayo vaaraayo | Won't you come, won't you come? |
| Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum | As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow, |
| Kann uranga veesaayo | So that my child may sleep peacefully? |
வாராயோ வாராயோ
தென்றல் நீயே வந்து எந்தன் சேயும்
கண் உறங்க வீசாயோ
Won't you come, won't you come?
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
வாராயோ வாராயோ
தென்றல் நீயே வந்து எந்தன் சேயும்
கண் உறங்க வீசாயோ
Won't you come, won't you come?
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
வானகமென்னும் சோலைதனிலே
மலரும் தாரகை எல்லாம்
ஆனந்தமாக கனவில் தோன்றி
ஆடிப் பாட என் செல்வம்
கண் உறங்க வீசாயோ.......
In the lush garden known as the vast sky,
All the stars that blossom like flowers,
Appearing joyfully within sweet dreams,
To sing and dance so that my precious child,
May sleep peacefully... won't you blow?
வாராயோ வாராயோ
தென்றல் நீயே வந்து எந்தன் சேயும்
கண் உறங்க வீசாயோ
Won't you come, won't you come?
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
ஆ.....ஆஅ...ஆ......ம்ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்.....ம்ம்.....
[Melodic humming and vocalizations]
பிள்ளையும் தாயும் சேரா வண்ணம்
பிரித்தே வாட்டிய போதும்
உள்ளத்தில் ஊறும் உண்மை அன்பை
பிரிக்க சக்தி ஏது கண் உறங்க வீசாயோ
Even when forced apart so mother and child cannot unite,
And even when circumstances torment through separation,
The pure love that wells up deep within the heart,
What power exists to sever it? Won't you blow so my child can sleep?
வாராயோ வாராயோ
தென்றல் நீயே வந்து எந்தன் சேயும்
கண் உறங்க வீசாயோ
Won't you come, won't you come?
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
வாராயோ வாராயோ
தென்றல் நீயே வந்து எந்தன் சேயும்
கண் உறங்க வீசாயோ
Won't you come, won't you come?
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Won't you come, won't you come?
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
Kann uranga veesaayo
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Won't you come, won't you come?
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
Kann uranga veesaayo
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
Vaanagamennum solaithanilae
In the lush garden known as the vast sky,
Malarum thaaragai ellaam
All the stars that blossom like flowers,
Aananthamaaga kanavil thondri
Appearing joyfully within sweet dreams,
Aadi paada en selvam
To sing and dance so that my precious child,
Kann uranga veesaayo…
May sleep peacefully... won't you blow?
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Won't you come, won't you come?
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
Kann uranga veesaayo
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
Aa….aaa….aa….mmmm…mm….mm…
[Melodic humming and vocalizations]
Pillaiyum thaayum seraa vannam
Even when forced apart so mother and child cannot unite,
Piriththae vaattiya pothum
And even when circumstances torment through separation,
Ullaththil oorum unmai anbai
The pure love that wells up deep within the heart,
Pirikka sakthi yaedhu kann uranga veesaayo
What power exists to sever it? Won't you blow so my child can sleep?
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Won't you come, won't you come?
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
Kann uranga veesaayo
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
Vaaraayo vaaraayo
Won't you come, won't you come?
Thendral neeyae vanthu enthan seayum
As the gentle breeze, won't you come and blow,
Kann uranga veesaayo
So that my child may sleep peacefully?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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