Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Cheenikkallu

From Bison : Kaalamaadan · 2025

Lyricist
Mari Selvaraj
Singers
Chinmayi Sripada, Vijay Yesudas
Music director
Nivas K. Prasanna
Details
Bison : Kaalamaadan2025

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chinna chinna cheeni kalluLittle sugar candy,
Sirichu kattu sithiramaeShow me your smile, my precious picture,
Vanna vanna vaanavilluColorful rainbow,
Varanju kattu pathiramaePaint yourself carefully, my dear picture.
Female
Chinna chinna cheeni kalluLittle sugar candy,
Sirichu kattu sithiramaeShow me your smile, my precious picture,
Vanna vanna vaanavilluColorful rainbow,
Varanju kattu pathiramaePaint yourself carefully...
Female
Uchi panaiyilaHooo ...ho ho ooo
Ninnu paadum kuyilu neeOn the running path,
Motta paraiyilaWhen thorns prick,
Vandhu aadum mayilu neeYou are the comforting sound made by clicking the tongue,
Andha aagasathil aagasathilYou are the blood dripping from the foot.
Alaiyadikkum nelavu neeIn the gathering clouds,
Female
Chinna chinna cheeni kalluIn the thunder-striking lightning,
Sirichu kattu sithiramaeYou are the rain drumming on the rocks,
Vanna vanna vaanavilluYou are the green foliage dancing on the crops.
Varanju kattu pathiramae..aeOn the tiled roof,
Male
Hooo …ho ho oooYou are the majestic tower built by a tiny bird,
Odum paadhaiyilaOn the home porch,
Mullu kuthum velaiyilaYou are the soothing shade where a soul slumbers.
Uchi kottum sathamum neeIn the rib cage of the heart,
Paadham sottum rathamum neeYou are the overwhelming thought that tightens,
Male
Koodum megathulaAt the mother's breast that gave birth,
Idi vettum minnalulaYou are the milk brimming to the child's eyes.
Para thattum mazhaiyum neeLullaby lullaby...
Payir aadum pachaiyum neeLullaby lullaby...
Male
Ottu kooraiyilaLullaby...
Kuruvi kattum gopuram neeFragrance of jasmine inside the heart,
Veettu thinnaiyilaMy dear child, sleep now.
Usir urangum nizhalum neeFragrance of sandalwood inside the cradle,
Male
NenjaangootulaMy little king, sleep now.
Neri kattum nenappu neeLittle sugar candy,
Petha maarbulaShow me your smile, my precious picture,
Kannu muttum paalu neeColorful rainbow,
Aaraaroo aaroo aarirarooPaint yourself carefully, my dear picture.
Aaraaroo aaroo aarirarooAtop the palm tree,
Aaraaroo hoo ooo hoo ooYou are the cuckoo bird that stands and sings,
Male
Malliga vaasam manasukullaOn the barren rock,
Kannae nee thoonghuYou are the peacock that comes and dances.
Sandhana vaasam thottilukullaIn that sky, in that sky,
Raasa nee thoonghuYou are the moon waving gently.
Male
Chinna chinna cheeni kalluSleep, sleep, my dear,
Sirichu kattu sithiramaeSleep, sleep, my dear,
Vanna vanna vaanavilluMy son, sleep now,
Varanju kattu pathiramaeMy son... sleep now,
Male
Uchi panaiyilaMy son, sleep now,
Ninnu paadum kuyilu neeSleep, sleep, my dear,
Motta paraiyilaMy son, sleep now.
Vandhu aadum mayilu nee(Overlapping vocals)
Andha aagasathil aagasathilFemale Chorus: Buying a small toy horse, your father is coming,
Alaiyadikkum nelavu neeYou are my king, sleep now.
Male
Kann uranghu kann uranghuBuying an elephant, your father is coming,
Kann uranghu kann uranghuYou are my king, sleep now.
En mavanae kann uranghuTo hear the sound of your anklets, he is coming,
En mavanae… kann uranghuYou are my king, sleep now.
En mavanae kann uranghuTo apply kohl to your eyes, he is coming,
Kann uranghu kann uranghuYou are my king, sleep now.
En mavanae kann uranghuYour father is coming, sleep now,
(Over lappingYour father is coming, sleep now,
Female Chorus :Kutty kudhura vaangi appan varaanThat grandmother is also coming, sleep now,
Raasa needhaan kann uranghuThe little horse is coming, sleep now.
Aana vaangi appan varaan
Raasa needhaan kann uranghu
Un salanga satham ketkka varaan
Raasa needhaan kann uranghu
Un kannu maiyaa theetta varaan
Raasa needhaan kann uranghu
Un appan varaan kann uranghu
Un thagappan varaan kann uranghu
Andha aayaiyum varudhu kann uranghu
Kutty kudhura varudhu kann uranghu)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful lullaby from the movie Bison expresses a parent's intense love, warmth, and protective affection for their child. Through rural and natural imagery—such as cuckoo birds on palm trees, rain drumming on rocks, and jasmine sweetening the air—the lyrics paint the child as a source of endless comfort and light in times of pain and hardship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Chinna chinna cheeni kallu

Repetition of the 'Ch' sound at the beginning of words creates a soothing, rhythmic lullaby cadence.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Motta paraiyila / Vandhu aadum mayilu nee

Matching of the second consonant 'tt' across consecutive lines creates structural harmony.

Metaphor (Uvaman / Uvameyam)

Andha aagasathil aagasathil / Alaiyadikkum nelavu nee

Directly equating the child to the swaying moon in the vast sky, heightening the emotional and visual warmth.

Anaphora / Reduplication (Irattai Kilavi)

Vanna vanna vaanavillu

Doubling of descriptive words enhances emotional tenderness and rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by acclaimed film director Mari Selvaraj, the song carries his signature deeply rooted rural imagery and emotional vulnerability. Composed by Nivas K Prasanna, the track brings together veteran vocalists Chinmayi Sripada and Vijay Yesudas for a poignant musical lullaby.

Keep listening

More from Bison : Kaalamaadan