Thaenum vayambum

(Translation on request for MS)
A very popular evergreen song from the movie with the same name.

To listen to the song, click play:

Thaenum vayambum*, naavil thoovum, vaanampaadi
Thaenum vayambum, naavil thoovum, vaanampaadi
[Honey and sweet flag, dripping from your tongue, hey songbird]
Raagam…sree raagam…paadu…nee veendum, veendum, veendum, veendum
[Raaga…the sree raaga…you please sing…again and again]
Thaenum vayambum naavil thoovum vaanampaadi
[Honey and sweet flag, dripping from your tongue, hey songbird]

Maanathe sinkaara thopil
oru njaalipoovan pazha thottam
[In the lovely garden in the sky
There is a njalipoovan** banana orchard]
Maanathe sinkaara thopil
oru njaalipoovan pazha thottam
[In the lovely garden in the sky
There is a njalipoovan banana orchard]
Kaalathum, vaikittum, koombaala thaenunnan
aa vaazha thottathil neeyum porunno?
[In the morning and in the evening, to drink the banana blossom nectar
in that banana orchard, will you come (with me) too?]

Thaenum vayambum naavil thoovum vaanampaadi
[Honey and sweet flag, dripping from your tongue, hey songbird]

Neelakoduveli poothu
doore, neelagiri kunnin mele
[The blue koduveli flowers have bloomed
Afar, on top of Nilgiri mountain]
Manjin poovelikkal koodi
kochu vannathi pullukal paadi
[Near the flowery fences in fog
little magpie robins sang]
Thaalam pidikkunna vaalaatti pakshikku
thaali kettu innalle, neeyum koodunno?
[The wagtail bird, who is keeping the beat (of the song of magpies)
is tying the knot today, will you also join (for the wedding)?]

Thaenum vayambum*, naavil thoovum, vaanampaadi
Thaenum vayambum, naavil thoovum, vaanampaadi
[Honey and sweet flag, dripping from your tongue, hey songbird]
Raagam…sree raagam…paadu…nee veendum, veendum, veendum, veendum
[Raaga…the sree raaga…you please sing… again and again]
Thaenum vayambum naavil thoovum vaanampaadi
[Honey and sweet flag, dripping from your tongue, hey songbird]

*Thaenum Vayambum – ‘Thaenum vayambum’ has a cultural significance for Malayalis. Honey, sweet flag (a plant) and a bit of gold powder are grated together and a really tiny bit of it is placed on a newborn’s tongue. The belief is that their words will be sweet as honey when (s)he grows up. The mixture of honey and sweet flag is supposed to have medicinal properties to treat colic in infants.
**Njalipoovan is a species of small banana which is very popular in Kerala.

+Image copyright to the original uploader.

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