In an earlier post, I had written about how vernacular language lyrics when translated into Hindi loose their meaning completely.
This post is about how lyrics translated between two vernacular languages still retains it’s meaning beautifully.
The song which I am currently listening in a loop is “Kaara attakkaaraa” from the Tamil movie “O Kadhal Kanmani“. The movie has been dubbed into Telugu as “OK Bangaram” and the song as “Raara aatagaada“. One of the reasons for this song to be translated so beautifully, with the same meaning, into the other language can be probably because the lyricist – Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam – is the same with Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry helping out a bit with translation. It of course sound the same as well song by the same singers – Aaryan Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Darshana, Shashaa Tirupati – in both the languages.
Here’s the translation. I picked up these from other sites. The Telugu one, I corrected a little. The Tamil one, I left it as is. The underlined words are just used as rhythm / tune, they mostly don’t convey anything.
| Tamil | English Translation | Telugu | English Translation |
| Kaaraa aattakaara kaathirukkeney (2x) o o hoooo aattakaara kaathirukkeney |
hey boy, play boy I’m waiting for you.(2x) Hey playboy, I am waiting for you |
Raaraa aatagaada veychi unnaara (2x) veychi unnaara veychi unnaara |
Come, come playboy, I’m waiting for you(2x) I’m waiting, I’m waiting! |
| nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoi hoi(2x) nama nama nama thandhiramaana killaadi naan naan hoi hoi |
nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoi hoi(2x) nama nama nama I’m a cunning hooligan, hoi, hoi |
Nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoy hoy (2x) Nama nama nama kiri kiri pette khillaadi ne hoy hoy |
Nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoy hoy (2x) Hey, I’m a cunning fellow |
| ini enna, thindadi, munnadi, pinnadi, veratti naan unna meratti valai veesi pidikka nenaikkuren yemaattram unakka!! nama nama |
you’re struggling, following, chasing me. threatening me. thinking to catch me throwing a net. but what a disappointment for you!! nama nama |
Tharamakura chindhara vandhara Thondhara petti mundhuku netti Vala vesi dhorakamanakura Adhi maathram kudharadhu nama nama |
Don’t chase me by creating disorder/confusion (By)hastening me, pushing me forwardDon’t expect me to fall in your trap That would never happen |
| nama nama nama vilayaadithaan velluven naan hoi hoi nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoi hoi(3x) |
I’ll win the game by playing well. hoi hoi. nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoi hoi(3x) |
Nama nama nama ninnaadisthu odinchestha hoy hoy Nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoy hoy(3x) |
By playing you, I can easily defeat you Nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoy hoy(3x) |
| nama nama nama thandhiramaana killaadi naan naan hoi hoi Thoratha nenaikira parunga. odadhe vettai aadunga. My aayaa pole illaingo muttaadhe modhaadhe odhungungo |
nama nama nama I’m a cunning hooligan, I am, I am hoi, hoi She is thinking to chase me. Do not run its a hunting Goat. Not like my grandma.Don’t slide and crash just give way |
Nama nama nama kiri kiri pette khilladi ne hoy hoy Nilabadi atu itu choododdhu Thega Dheemaaga thala yetthoddhu Naa satthaa yentho adagoddhu Nee penki thanaminka thagginchuko |
I’m a cunning fellow Don’t keep looking pointlessly Don’t raise your head with confidence Don’t ask me what I’m capable of You better reduce your arrogance |
| I Like a game of own va va odungo ena paathu veruppaango velakkaathe odungo (2x) |
I Like a game of own come on, give a way. Is it disgusting seeing me? Don’t need a reason, go away.(2x) |
I make a game of own va va va anukuntu Na venuke parigetthu kitukedho kanipettu (2x) |
I make my own game Chase me and come discover the trick (2x) |
| Kaaraa aattakaara kaathirukkeney (2x) o o hoooo aattakaara kaathirukkeney |
hey boy, play boy I’m waiting for you.(2x) Hey playboy, I am waiting for you |
Raaraa aatagaada veychi unnaara (2x) veychi unnaara veychi unnaara |
Come, come playboy, I’m waiting for you(2x) I’m waiting, I’m waiting! |
| nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoi hoi(2x) nama nama nama thandhiramaana killaadi naan naan hoi hoi |
nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoi hoi(2x) nama nama nama I’m a cunning hooligan, hoi, hoi |
Nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoy hoy (2x) Nama nama nama kiri kiri pette khillaadi ne hoy hoy |
Nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoy hoy (2x) Hey, I’m a cunning fellow |
| Thakka tharikida thaga thaga thakka thadumaara miralaadhae viyangaadhae nadungaadhae (2x) puli da!! |
Thakka tharikida thaga thaga thakka don’t stumble, don’t be afraid,don’t tremble (2x), I am a Tigress!! |
Thaka tharikita thaga thaga thak thak Thadabaduthu gadabidaga Yegabadithe padagodathaa (2x) Puli ra!! |
Without confidence staggeringly, If you jump (on me), I would defeat you I’m a Tigress! |
| Play play I am a gamer Mo mo mo mo more ride check in panna checkout-eh pannamaata |
Play play I am a gamer Mo mo mo mo more ride once checked-in he never checkouts |
Play play I am a gamer Mo mo mo mo more ride Check in aithe check out ye kaavanthe! |
Play play I am a gamer Mo mo mo mo more ride If you checkin, you would never checkout |
| Kaaraa aattakaara kaathirukkeney (2x) o o hoooo aattakaara kaathirukkeney |
hey boy, play boy I’m waiting for you.(2x) Hey playboy, I am waiting for you |
Raaraa aatagaada veychi unnaara (2x) veychi unnaara veychi unnaara |
Come, come playboy, I’m waiting for you(2x) I’m waiting, I’m waiting! |
| nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoi hoi(2x) nama nama nama thandhiramaana killaadi naan naan hoi hoi |
nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoi hoi(2x) nama nama nama I’m a cunning hooligan, I am, I am hoi, hoi |
Nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoy hoy (2x) Nama nama nama kiri kiri pette khillaadi ne hoy hoy |
Nama nama nama ney na na ney na na hoy hoy (2x) Hey, I’m a cunning fellow |
| Kowaaya mumbaiya (2x) Yama haan yama haan yama haan |
Kowaaya mumbaiya (2x) Yama haan yama haan yama haan |
Kowaaya mumbaiya (2x) Yama haan yama haan yama haan |
Kowaaya mumbaiya (2x) Yama haan yama haan yama haan |
| Yama say yama play yama too much I would say (3x) | Yama say yama play yama too much I would say (3x) | Yama say yama play yama too much I would say (3x) | Yama say yama play yama too much I would say (3x) |
| en peru kate, katyaani meow!! |
My name (is) Kate Katyayini Meow! |
Naa peru Kate Katyayini Meow! |
My name (is) Kate Katyayini Meow! |
| Kaaraa aattakaara …( x) | hey boy, play boy …( x) | Raaraa aatagaada…( x) | Raaraa aatagaada…( x) |
| Idhu mudivalla thodarum | Idi antham kaadhu sashesham | This is not the end,(it’s) pending |
You can watch the songs here – Tamil (Kaara Aattakkaara) and Telugu (Raara aatagaada).
