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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathadi Chinna Ponnu

From Abhirami · 1992

Lyricist
Dilipkumar
Singers
Minmini, Chorus
Music director
Deva
Details
Abhirami1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaththaadi chinna ponnuOh my, the little girl,
Kanni ponnu aanathuHas become a young maiden!
Abhirami veettukkullae yogam onnu kooduthuGood fortune gathers inside Abhirami's house.
Neththu vitta naaththu nikkuthadi pooththuThe sapling planted yesterday stands blooming today!
Machcham kichcham paaththu manja thanni ooththuCheck for birthmarks and pour the turmeric water!
Chorus :Machcham kichcham paaththu manja thanni ooththuChorus: Check for birthmarks and pour the turmeric water!
Female
Aaththaadi chinna ponnuOh my, the little girl,
Kanni ponnu aanathuHas become a young maiden!
Abhirami veettukkullae yogam onnu kooduthuGood fortune gathers inside Abhirami's house.
Male
Aa….aa…aa….kalamagal vaazhgavendruAh... wishing the Goddess of Learning long life,
Kavi kondu paadinaenI sang with high poetry.
Thirumagal vaazhgavendruWishing the Goddess of Wealth long life,
Thedi vanthu vaazhththinaenI came seeking her to offer my blessings.
Female
Thaaivazhi seedhanamthaanMaternal family dowry is indeed,
Thangaiyindru kaanbathuWhat the younger sister receives today.
Thangam ondrum thevaiyillaiNo gold jewelry is needed at all,
Angam thangamaanathuFor her body itself has turned to pure gold!
Female
Vayasu vanthaachchu ammaadi vaalu ennaachchuShe has come of age, dear girl, what happened to your mischievous tail?
Ammaadi vaalu ennaachchuDear girl, what happened to your mischievous tail?
Neeyum saernthaachchu indrodu rendu moonaachchuYou too joined in, today two became three!
Aahaa rendu moonaachchuAha, two became three!
Female
Suttri nindru sontham ellaamStanding all around, all the relatives,
Vettri kolla vaazhththuthuWish her success and shower their blessings!
Chorus :Abhirami ponnu aalaagi ninnaaChorus: Abhirami's girl has come of age and stands tall,
Paaraamal ponaal adhu enna kannaaIf you don't look, what is that, my dear?
Female
Aaththaadi chinna ponnuOh my, the little girl,
Kanni ponnu aanathuHas become a young maiden!
Abhirami veettukkullae yogam onnu kooduthuGood fortune gathers inside Abhirami's house.
Female
Ilangandru vaazhagavendruLong live the young calf,
Annai ullam vaazhththuthuBlesses the mother's heart.
Irunthaalum paaram ondru enthan vaazhvil kooduthuYet a sense of responsibility increases in my life.
Male
Marumagal samanjirukkaa maappillaikku panjamaaThe niece has come of age, is there a shortage of grooms?
Maappillaikku meesaiyilla vayasu ippo anjummaaThe groom doesn't even have a mustache, his age is only five, dear!
Female :Vaanga sambanthu pillaikku kattil tharavenaamFemale: Come, in-law, no need to present a bed for the girl,
Aama kattil tharavenaamYes, no need to give a bed!
Female
Thoonga venaamaa kaiyodu thottil tharavenumDoesn't she need to sleep? You must give a cradle along with her!
Aamaam thottil tharavenumYes, a cradle must be given!
Aa…aa….maappillaikku thaagam vanthaaAh... if the groom gets thirsty,
Putti paalu ooththanumYou must feed him bottled milk!
Female
Rojappoo melae theliyunga panneerSprinkle rosewater upon the rose flower!
Abhirami kannil aanantha kanneerTears of pure joy in Abhirami's eyes!
Female
Aaththaadi chinna ponnuOh my, the little girl,
Kanni ponnu aanathuHas become a young maiden!
Abhirami veettukkullae yogam onnu kooduthuGood fortune gathers inside Abhirami's house.
Female
Neththu vitta naaththu nikkuthadi pooththuThe sapling planted yesterday stands blooming today!
Machcham kichcham paaththu manja thanni ooththuCheck for birthmarks and pour the turmeric water!
Machcham kichcham paaththu manja thanni ooththuCheck for birthmarks and pour the turmeric water!
Female
Aaththaadi chinna ponnuOh my, the little girl,
Kanni ponnu aanathuHas become a young maiden!
Abhirami veettukkullae yogam onnu kooduthuGood fortune gathers inside Abhirami's house.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This celebratory song from the movie Abhirami (1992) marks a traditional puberty and coming-of-age ceremony (Manjal Neeru Vizha) for a young girl in the family. The family and relatives gather in high spirits, singing joyfully about how the little girl has suddenly blossomed into a young maiden, metaphorically comparing her to a tender sapling that bloomed overnight.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Neththu vitta naaththu nikkuthadi pooththu

Compares the young girl maturing overnight to a plant sapling ('naaththu') blooming with flowers.

Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai)

Marumagal samanjirukkaa maappillaikku panjamaa

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' across words in the line.

Second Letter Rhyme (Edugai)

Thangaiyindru kaanbathu / Thangam ondrum thevaiyillai

Rhyming of the second consonant 'ng' (ங்) in 'Thangaiyindru' and 'Thangam'.

Humor / Folk Parody (Naiyaandi)

Maappillaikku meesaiyilla vayasu ippo anjummaa

Lighthearted folk humor teasing about a five-year-old child groom who still drinks bottle milk.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva, 'Aaththaadi chinna ponnu' is one of the iconic Tamil film songs explicitly centered around the 'Manjal Neeru Vizha' (turmeric water puberty ceremony), capturing authentic village customs, festive banter, and maternal emotion.

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