Telugu Thalli
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Telugu Thalli, which literally means Mother Telugu, is portrayed as symbol of the Telugu people.
She holds the harvest in her left hand portraying that the Telugu land is always filled with greenery (prosperity and happiness). In the right hand she holds the kalasam which signifies that she brings all good to the people's lives. The goddess is dressed in the traditional Telugu style. Since language is considered as one of the most necessary skills to the mankind and our Telugu Thalli has provided us with that, she is given utmost priority in our lives.
Maa Telugu Thalliki (Telugu: మా తెలుగు తల్లికి) is the official song of the state Andhra Pradesh, India. It was written by Sankarambadi Sundaraachari for the Telugu film Deena Bandhu (1942) which starred Chittor V. Nagaiah. The song gained popularity and was ultimately made the official song of Andhra Pradesh.
Maa Telugu Thalliki is a composition in which the greatness of Telugu culture is depicted. For the various versions on the etymology of Telugu, see Telugu language. The image of the mother is used as a metaphor for all the prosperity and culture of the region. She is the one who has bestowed us with fertile lands; she is the one whose compassion protects the people; she is the one whose praise is sung time and time again. She is the embodiment of various aspects of cultural legacy like the beautiful architecture of Amaravati; the classical music immortalised by Tyagaraja; the lyrical beauties of Tikkana, who rendered the Mahabharata into Telugu; the physical bravery of Rani Rudrama Devi of the 13th century Kakatiya dynasty; the 'devotion to husband' of Mallamma; the sharp intelligence of Timmarusu, who was the Prime Minister of Krishna Deva Raya; or the fame of Krishna Deva Raya. She is our mother, and will forever reside in our hearts. It may be seen that while invoking the cultural legacy of the Telugus, the song covers all the three important regions: Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra and Telangana.
Original song lyrics
Telugu:
మా తెలుగు తల్లికి మల్లెపూదండ
మా కన్నతల్లికి మంగళారతులు,
కడుపులో బంగారు కనుచూపులో కరుణ,
చిరునవ్వులో సిరులు దొరలించు మాతల్లి.
గలగలా గోదారి కదలిపోతుంటేను
బిరాబిరాక్రిష్ణమ్మ పరుగులిడుతుంటేను
బంగారు పంటలే పండుతాయీ
మురిపాల ముత్యాలు దొరులుతాయి.
అమరావతినగర అపురూప శిల్పాలు
త్యాగయ్య గొంతులో తారాడు నాదాలు
తిక్కయ్య కలములొ తియ్యందనాలు
నిత్యమై నిఖిలమై నిలచి వుండేదాకా
రుద్రమ్మ భుజశక్తి మల్లమ్మ పతిభక్తి
తిమ్మరసు ధీయుక్తి, కృష్ణరాయల కీర్తి
మా చెవులు రింగుమని మారుమ్రోగేదాక
నీపాటలే పాడుతాం, నీ ఆటలే ఆడుతాం
జై తెలుగు తల్లి, జై తెలుగు తల్లి ...
Romanization:
Mā Telugu Thalliki Mallepūdanḍa,
Mā kannathalliki mangaḷāratulu
Kaḍupulo baṃgāru kanuchūpulō karuṇa,
Chirunavvulō sirilu dorlinchu mā thalli.
Galagalā godāri kadilipōtunṭēnu
Birabirā krishnamma paruguliḍutunṭēnu
Bangāru panṭalē panḍutāi
Muripāla mutyālu doralutāi.
Amarāvati nagara apurūpa śilpālu
Tyāgayya gontulō tārādu nādālu
Tikkayya kalamulō tiyyandanālu
Nityamai nikhilamai nilachi vunḍēdāka
Rudramma bhujaśhakti mallamma pati bhakti
Timmarasu dhīyukti krishnarāyala kīrti
Mā chevulu ringumani mārumrōgēdāka
Nī āṭalē āḍutām, nī pāṭalē pāḍutām
Jai telugu thalli, jai telugu thalli...
English translation:
Jasmin garland for our "Telugu" (synonym of "Telugu" people in classical Telugu) Telugu thalli
aarati or haarati to our mother land
there is gold in her belly,
and kindness in her eyes
pearls in her laughter, has my mother
river godavari flows here
river krishna runs through this blessed land
golden crops grow here
and pearls flow in this land
the precious sculptures of Amaravati,
and the songs tuned by 'tyagayya'
the sweetness of 'tikkanna's writing
as they stay forever immortalized
The courage of 'rudramma', the devotion of 'mallamma' towards her husband,
the brains of 'timmarusu', the fame of 'krishnadevaraya'
until the sound resonates in every ear
we play your tunes - we sing your song
jai telugu thalli, jai telugu thalli...
Popular culture
A remix of the original song was used in the 2010 film Leader, composed by Mickey J. Meyer.[1]