Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Patham Pasali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vellai Manam Konda

From Patham Pasali · 1970

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Patham Pasali
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
7 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vellai manam konda pillai onnu
Vaedikkai kattudhu thokkaminnu
Vellai manam konda pillai onnu
Vaedikkai kattudhu thokkaminnu
Mullai saramae chella killiyae
Kanmoodi thoongamma kanmoodi thoongamma
Aararo aareeroo aareeroo aariraaro
Kaatradikudhu mazhaiyum kottudhu
Olai kudisaiyilae
Ingu kattilum illai methaiyum illai
Unakkum thookkam illai
Kaasum illai padippum illai
Anbukku panjam illai
Unnai kaalam ingae anuppi vecha
Kanakkum puriyavillai
Vellai manam konda pillai onnu
Vaedikkai kattudhu thokkaminnu
Mullai saramae chella killiyae
Kanmoodi thoongamma kanmoodi thoongamma
Thookku kayittrai thottil kayiraai
Maatra vandhaayo
Andha thookkathukku thadai vidhichi
Paarkka vandhaayoo
Thunbathilae sirikka solli
Rasikka vandhaayoo
Deivam onnu irukkudhinnu
Katta vandhaaiyoo
Aararo aareeroo aareeroo aariraaro
Vellai manam konda pillai onnu
Vaedikkai kattudhu thokkaminnu
Mullai saramae chella killiyae
Kanmoodi thoongamma kanmoodi thoongamma
Aararo aareeroo aareeroo aariraaro
A child with a pure and innocent heart
is playfully pretending to be asleep.
A child with a pure and innocent heart
is playfully pretending to be asleep.
O strand of jasmine, my darling little parrot,
close your eyes and sleep, darling, close your eyes and sleep.
Aararo aariro, aariro aariraro...
The wind blows and the rain pours down
inside this thatched hut.
There is no cot here, nor any mattress,
and you cannot find any sleep either.
There is no wealth, nor any education,
yet there is no shortage of love.
The reason why destiny sent you here
is beyond my understanding.
A child with a pure and innocent heart
is playfully pretending to be asleep.
O strand of jasmine, my darling little parrot,
close your eyes and sleep, darling, close your eyes and sleep.
Did you come to turn a hanging rope
into the rope of a cradle?
Did you come to forbid that final sleep
and watch over me instead?
Asking me to smile through my sorrows,
did you come to enjoy life with me?
To show that a God truly exists,
did you come into my world?
Aararo aariro, aariro aariraro...
A child with a pure and innocent heart
is playfully pretending to be asleep.
O strand of jasmine, my darling little parrot,
close your eyes and sleep, darling, close your eyes and sleep.
Aararo aariro, aariro aariraro...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Vellai Manam Konda Pillai Onnu' is a poignant lullaby from the 1970 film Patham Pasali, composed by V. Kumar and written by Aalangudi Somu. The song portrays a parent singing lovingly to a pure-hearted child inside a meager thatched hut while a storm blows outside. Though trapped in poverty with no material comforts, the parent finds profound love, hope, and spiritual renewal in the innocent child. The lyrics touchingly reflect how the arrival of the child transformed despair into hope, symbolically changing a 'hangman's noose into a cradle's rope.' The child serves as a divine reminder to smile through hardship and find joy despite life's overwhelming struggles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Thookku kayittrai thottil kayiraai”

Comparing the hanging rope (representing despair/suicide) with a cradle rope (representing life and hope).

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Kaasum illai padippum illai / Anbukku panjam illai”

'Kaasum' and 'Anbukku' follow second-letter consonant harmony pattern in Tamil poetic tradition.

Monaai (Alliteration)

“Kaatradikudhu mazhaiyum kottudhu”

Repetition of 'Ka' sound in 'Kaatradikudhu' and 'kottudhu'.

End Rhyme / Anaphora

“Ingu kattilum illai methaiyum illai”

Repetition of 'illai' at the end of consecutive line segments to emphasize poverty and lack of luxury.

Did you know?

Trivia

Patham Pasali (1970) features memorable music by V. Kumar, who was known as 'Mellisai Maamani'. Lyricist Aalangudi Somu's powerful contrast between a hangman's rope and a cradle rope ('Thookku kayittrai thottil kayiraai') remains one of the most celebrated philosophical lines in Tamil lullaby cinema songs.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Aiyirandu Thingalile1978
AnnapoorniMotherhoodTender
Inba Kanavodu1960
Pudhiya Pathai – 1960MotherhoodTender
Naan Paadum Paattile1967
BhavaniMotherhoodTender
Vaayaara Mutham1965
Kanni ThaaiMotherhoodTender
Vaai Pesa Theriyatha Kanne1984
SankariMotherhoodPoverty
Petredutha Ullam1972
Kanna NalamaMotherhoodFate

From the same album

More songs from Patham Pasali

View album
Pathampasali Mama1970
Patham PasaliPlayful
Poda Pazhakattum Jodi1970
Patham PasaliPlayful
Kalloori Penne Nilladi1970
Patham PasaliPlayful
Ammadi Emputtu Thooram1970
Patham PasaliMelancholic
Anna Endroru Nallavaram1970
Patham PasaliMournful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.