Chanda Mama is a song from India about the moon. Different versions exist in the various languages of India. This one is in the Telugu language, a language mainly spoken in southern India.
Playing for Change made the Chanda Mama video with musicians around the world. Playing for Change creates music all over the world to make money to build music and art schools in communities that are in need of inspiration and hope. Music and art can have meaning across cultures and be appreciated by people of all economic classes and educational backgrounds. What better way to improve the world!
The lyrics to the Playing for Change version of Chanda Mama (in the video) are something like this…
Chanda maama chanda maama raavayyaa
nannu yettukoni muddulaadu kovayyaamaaraalu nenenni cesinaa gaaraalu nive cupinaa
maaraalu nenenni cesinaa gaaraalu nive cupinaaChanda maama chanda maama raavayyaa
nannu yettukoni muddulaadu kovayyaa
If anyone can help with the meaning of these lyrics (and/or if you can verify or correct the original lyrics), please let us know in the comments below.
We have another version of Chanda Mama which is a Telugu children’s rhyme, with an mp3. You can click the link to hear it and to read the lyrics in Telugu with an English translation.
Enjoy!
Mama Lisa
This article was posted on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Chanda Mama, Chandamaama, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Folk Songs, India, Indian Folk Songs, Indian Nursery Rhymes, Languages, Mama Lisa, Music, Nursery Rhymes, Playing for Change, Telugu, Traditional Music, YouTube. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
February 6th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
the telugu lyrics have following meaning
Chanda mama raavayya : Moon please come
Nannu yetthukoni muddhuladi povayya : Hold me and kiss me and go
Maraalu nenenni chesina : Thou I always sulked and made petty demands
Gaaralyu neeve chupina: YOu always returned your TLC (tender loving care) and pampered me
July 15th, 2011 at 6:58 pm
kuchh bhee kahega toh abhee nahee jayungee ho
If you say something, then I will not go
kahee nahee jayungee kabhee nahee jayungee ho
I will not go anywhere, I will never go
chanda mama se pyara meraa mama, o chanda mama se pyara meraa mama
My uncle is more lovely than the moon
meree aankho kaa tara meraa mama, meraa mama
My uncle is the star of my eyes
aao aaj banenge mil ke ham dono hamjolee
come let us be the playmates today
tum dhundho mai chhup chhup jaun khele aankh michaulee
You look , and I will hide, lets play hide and seek
kahana manega meraa mama, o chanda mama se……….
You will listen to me, my mama, o better than the moon….
naa toh maa kee milee hai mamata naa bapu kaa saya
Neither have I got the love of a mother, nor the shadow of my dad
teree godh me aa baithee hoon, dekh ke thandhi cchaya
I have come and sat in your lap, seeing the cool shade
meraa jivan sahara meraa mama
the support of my life is my mama
meraa mama, o chanda mama se………..
ek din dulhe raja ke sang kahar bulau
One day I will call the groom and the palanquin carriers
apne hathon se hee dolee me tujhe bithau
I will seat you in the palanquin with my hands
ek din mujhako chhod ke too aisee duneeya me jaye
One day you will leave me and go into such a life
har ek ladakee jahan se vapas laut ke phir naa aaye
from where no other girl comes back
rota rahega bechara teraa mama, o chanda mama se……….
Your poor mama will keep crying, ohh better than the moon…
July 8th, 2015 at 6:36 am
Thanks, Mama Lisa.
Papa Robert