(Translation on request for AG)
A hauntingly melodious song from Thottappan which starts out as playful and takes a deeper turn at the end.

To listen to the song, click play:

Praanthan kandalin keezhe vechalle pandu numma kandathu?
Pookandalinte molil aarunnu njaan, thaazhe nee ninnu mullanu!
[Isn’t it under the praanthan* mangrove tree, we first saw each other?
I was on top of the flowery mangrove, and there you were peeing under it!]

Praanthan kandalin keezhe vechalle pandu numma kandathu?
Pookandalinte molil aarunnu njaan, thaazhe nee ninnu mullanu!
[Isn’t it under the praanthan* mangrove tree, we first saw each other?
I was on top of the flowery mangrove, and there you were peeing under it!]

“Poda chulli kandale**!”-nnu njaan chinungumba nee chirikkanu
“Poda chulli kandale**!”-nnu njaan chinungumba nee chirikkanu
[“Scram, you useless boy!” – I whimpered (embarrassed) and you laughed at that]
Chinungi chinungi chirichu chakkara kandal embaadu pookanu
Chinungi chinungi chirichu chakkara kandal embaadu pookanu
[Shaking and laughing like that, the sweet mangrove flowered a lot]

Valli kandalu panthal itta thottil othu thozhanjille?
Valli kandalu panthal itta thottil othu thozhanjille?
[In the stream which is shaded by the viny mangrove, didn’t we row together? ]
Veerppu vellathil uppu kandalu verppil otti kidannille?
Veerppu vellathil uppu kandalu verppil otti kidannille?
[In the salty backed up waters under mangroves, didn’t we lie close together in sweat?]
Karanju karanju kavinja kaattile mazhayellam numma kondille?
Nananju kuvunnu, thalarnnu, sangada chathuppil enthoram alanjille?
[In the (mangrove) forest which wept and flooded, didn’t we get wet in that rain?
Soaking wet and tired, in that sad swamp, didn’t we wander endlessly?]

Mukilu mullanathu aanedi mazha, thorumbam numma onnalle?
Muthuku pollanathu aaneda veyil, chaayumbam numma chaavoolle?
[The cloud peeing is the rain, when it ends, won’t we be one?
Burning our back is the sunlight, when it goes down, wont we die?]

*Pranathan kandal is a type of mangrove tree found in Kerala backwaters where it is close to the sea. Mangroves thrive in salty waters and support ecosystems for natural fish nurseries. (Kerala Trees)
** Chulli kandal literally means dry mangrove branch. Here it is used to scold the boy because he was peeping from above the mangrove tree.

+Image copyright to the original uploader.