Kalakaatha Sandhana Meram

Karikaalan 24 May
"Our lives revolve around these mountains (Western Ghats) and the trees in them".  - The Irulas


An Irula Folk Performance

The following is my English translation of a folk song sung by the Irula Tribes of the Western Ghats. The song is sung to keep babies engaged while feeding them. The original song is in the Irula language, which is a primitive spoken language that is largely made up of Tamil words which are pronounced differently from the usual Tamil way. Notably, the song was popularized by the Malayalam movie "Aiyappanum Koshiyum".

The Song and the Translation:

Kalakkaatha sandhanameraa veguvoka poothirikku
Poo parikkaa pokilaamo, vimenaathe pakkilaamo…

The Sandalwood in the East has plentifully blossomed
Shall we go to pluck flowers and sky-gaze at the planes?

Kalakkaatha sandhanameraa veguvoka poothirikku
Poo parikkaa pokilaamo, vimenaathe pakkilaamo…
La La Le La Le La Le Laa La Le
La La Le La Le La Le Laa La Le

The Sandalwood in the East has plentifully blossomed
Shall we go to pluck flowers and sky-gaze at the planes?
La La Le La Le La Le Laa La Le
La La Le La Le La Le Laa La Le

Thekkaatha sandhanameraam veguvoka poothirikku
pooparikkaa pokilaamo, vimenaathe pakkilaamo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo

The Sandalwood in the South has plentifully blossomed
Shall we go to pluck flowers and sky-gaze at the planes?
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo

Vadakkaatha Punka Meraam…
Pooparikkaa pokilaamo...
Vadakkaatha Punka Meraam veguvika poothirikkum
pooparikkaa pokilaamo vimenaathe pakkilaamo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo

The Fern in the North...
To pluck flowers, shall we…? 
The Fern in the North has plentifully blossomed
Shall we go to pluck flowers and sky-gaze at the planes?
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo

Mekkaatha Nerra Meraam veguvoka poothirikkum
Poo parikkaa pokilaamo vimenaathe pakkilaamo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo

The Redwood in the West has plentifully blossomed. 
Shall we go to pluck flowers and sky-gaze at the planes?
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo
Thille Le Le Le Le Le
Le Le Le Le Lo

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