"Chanda Mama" around the world

A folk song from Chennai, India, performed by musicians from around the world.

In Krishna Vamsi's Bollywood movie "Chanda Mama"

As a children's lullaby from the Bollywood movie "Vachan" (1974)

Moon uncle will visit the moon in an air plane
Moon uncle will visit the moon in an air plane
Will play hide-and-seek with the stars
The play will satisfy my moon uncle
Happily my moon uncle will return home

Moon mother from far, will cook puye made of boor (sweets)
Moon mother from far, will cook puye made of boor
You will eat on a thali, moon uncle in a cup
You will eat on a thali, moon uncle in a cup
Moon mother from far....

The cup broke and mon uncle became angry
The cup broke and moon uncle became angry
Will bring a new cup by clapping
Will bring a new cup by clapping
We will please moon uncle with milk and malaayi
The moon from far ...
You will eat ....
The moon from far ...

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7 Comments

By Ronak M Soni on November 2, 2009 10:10 AM

Lovely, Ebert. I grew up on this. Really nice to see you post it. Thanks.

Ebert: Any corrections to that translation?

By lizvelrene on November 2, 2009 12:39 PM

I volunteer for the pledge drives at WGBH in Boston (the local PBS). They were running the "Playing for Change" special during my last pledge drive, and we got the most lovely calls. People in tears, people who had never phoned before, calling mostly to gush about how wonderful it was. I gushed back. It was a beautiful thing. (p.s. War was my favorite number, very poignant considering the locations, but hopeful too!)

Ebert: Those singers from all over the world are now, I believe, on a concert tour together.

By Arunan on November 3, 2009 1:28 AM

Mr. Ebert,
Couple of minor corrections, almost technicalities. While even the youtube page for this song says it's from Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, the song is in Telugu (language of the neighbouring state Andra Pradesh). However this song is a very popular folk song in India, in all the languages.
If I may, I'd suggest to changing it to "A folk song from India, performed by musicians from around the world." or alternatively you can say "Andra Pradesh, India".

Also, the second video's movie is not Bollywood, but Tollywood (lang:Telugu loc:Hyderabad, AndraPradesh). One of the three big movie industries in India, along with Bollywood (lang:Hindi loc:Mumbai, Maharashtra) and Kollywood (lang:Tamil loc:Chennai, Tamilnadu).

I can't help you with the song as I don't speak Telugu.

By Ronak M Soni on November 3, 2009 5:12 AM

The second video is from a Telugu movie, which actually makes it Tollywood, not Bollywood.

'malaayi' from your translation means 'cream'.
I'm not completely sure, but in the second stanza I remember it to be "Chanda Mama" which is still moon uncle, not moon mother (the video from Vachan agrees with me here).

My first reaction to the first video was that it wasn't as beautiful as any rendition sung by Tamilians (these guys have these voices, you know), but i was seriously touched by the amount of feeling these people put into it. Thanks for showing me such an excellent group.

By Siva on November 8, 2009 10:14 PM

"Chandamama" has always been a central point of innumerable songs in Indian film industry. There are songs from movies in 1950 which are still a part of life.

by the way, why did you search for Chandamama :-)

Ebert: I was admiring those Around the World videos and really liked that one.

By Glaeronius on December 8, 2009 7:28 PM

FYI, Bollywood merely refers to the Hindi film industry based in Mumbai and not Indian Cinema. And contemporary usage for any Indian film as an -ollywood flick has been rendered derogatory.

By vamsee on December 10, 2009 4:41 PM

Dear Ebert, my hero, that language is actually telugu. I think u may be sitting on a gold mine of great movies made in India. Just to guide you in that process, review of one great telugu movie