Chellakutty Chinnakutty
From Chellakutty · 1987
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Chellakutty1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai | Darling small baby elephant |
| Mella mella aattam poduthu | Is dancing gently, step by step |
| Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda | As the little monkey flips a somersault |
| Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen | I sing songs repeatedly as told |
| Female | |
| Aandavan koduththa puththi undu | We possess the intellect given by God |
| Aadida paadida sakthi undu | We possess the strength to dance and sing |
| Aandavan koduththa puththi undu | We possess the intellect given by God |
| Aadida paadida sakthi undu | We possess the strength to dance and sing |
| Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum | We must generously give whatever is in our hand |
| Female | |
| Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai | Darling small baby elephant |
| Mella mella aattam poduthu | Is dancing gently, step by step |
| Female | |
| Thambikku udhavi senja | Because I helped my younger brother |
| Yaanai mugaththu saamithaan | The elephant-faced Lord Ganesha himself |
| Enakkum udhavi seiyya | To help me out as well |
| Ingae ippo vanthirukkaan | Has arrived here right now |
| Female | |
| Ramasamy thoothanaana aanjaneyar samithaan | It is Lord Hanuman, the messenger of Rama |
| Naan pogum vazhiyellaam | Along all the paths I walk |
| Thunaiyiruppaan eppavumthaan | He will always stand by as my companion |
| Female | |
| Annan thambi polavaethaan | Just like brothers born together |
| Onnaaga saernthirukkom | We have united as one |
| Annan thambi polavaethaan | Just like brothers born together |
| Onnaaga saernthirukkom | We have united as one |
| Engalai unga pillaiyai pola | Treating us like your own children |
| Yaeththukka venum neengathaan | You are the ones who must accept us |
| Female | |
| Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai | Darling small baby elephant |
| Mella mella aattam poduthu | Is dancing gently, step by step |
| Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda | As the little monkey flips a somersault |
| Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen | I sing songs repeatedly as told |
| Female | |
| Aandavan koduththa puththi undu | We possess the intellect given by God |
| Aadida paadida sakthi undu | We possess the strength to dance and sing |
| Aandavan koduththa puththi undu | We possess the intellect given by God |
| Aadida paadida sakthi undu | We possess the strength to dance and sing |
| Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum | We must generously give whatever is in our hand |
| Female | |
| : Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai | Darling small baby elephant |
| Mella mella aattam poduthu | Is dancing gently, step by step |
| Female | |
| Odi odi uzhaikkanum | We must run around and work hard |
| Oorukellaam kodukkanum | We must give generously to the entire town |
| Aadi paadi pizhaikkanumnu | Earn a living by dancing and singing |
| Namma vaaththiyaaru sonnaaru | That is what our master told us |
| Female | |
| Vaaththiyaaru sonnatha pola | Just like what the master said |
| Ozhaichchu pozhaikka vanthomunga | We have come to work hard and earn our living |
| Vaari vaari neenga koduththaa | If you give to us generously |
| Vaaththiyaara pol nallavanga | You are good-hearted people like the master |
| Female | |
| Naanga rompa chinnavanga | We are very simple young children |
| Nalla gunam ullavanga | Possessing good qualities |
| Naanga rompa chinnavanga | We are very simple young children |
| Nalla gunam ullavanga | Possessing good qualities |
| Yaechchu pozhaichchu pazhakkamilla | We do not have the habit of cheating to survive |
| Amma appa nallavanga | Our mother and father are good people |
| Female | |
| Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai | Darling small baby elephant |
| Mella mella aattam poduthu | Is dancing gently, step by step |
| Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda | As the little monkey flips a somersault |
| Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen | I sing songs repeatedly as told |
| Female | |
| Aandavan koduththa puththi undu | We possess the intellect given by God |
| Aadida paadida sakthi undu | We possess the strength to dance and sing |
| Aandavan koduththa puththi undu | We possess the intellect given by God |
| Aadida paadida sakthi undu | We possess the strength to dance and sing |
| Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum | We must generously give whatever is in our hand |
| Female | |
| Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai | Darling small baby elephant |
| Mella mella aattam poduthu | Is dancing gently, step by step |
| Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa…. | Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa.... |
| Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa…. | Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa.... |
செல்லக்குட்டி சின்னக் குட்டி யானை
மெல்ல மெல்ல ஆட்டம் போடுது
குட்டிகர்ணம் குரங்கு குட்டி போட
நான் சொல்லி சொல்லி பாட்டு பாடுறேன்
Darling small baby elephant
Is dancing gently, step by step
As the little monkey flips a somersault
I sing songs repeatedly as told
ஆண்டவன் கொடுத்த புத்தி உண்டு
ஆடிட பாடிட சக்தி உண்டு
ஆண்டவன் கொடுத்த புத்தி உண்டு
ஆடிட பாடிட சக்தி உண்டு
கையில் இருப்பதை அள்ளிக் கொடுக்கணும்
We possess the intellect given by God
We possess the strength to dance and sing
We possess the intellect given by God
We possess the strength to dance and sing
We must generously give whatever is in our hand
செல்லக்குட்டி சின்னக் குட்டி யானை
மெல்ல மெல்ல ஆட்டம் போடுது....
Darling small baby elephant
Is dancing gently, step by step
தம்பிக்கு உதவி செஞ்ச
யானை முகத்து சாமிதான்
எனக்கும் உதவி செய்ய
இங்கே இப்போ வந்திருக்கான்
Because I helped my younger brother
The elephant-faced Lord Ganesha himself
To help me out as well
Has arrived here right now
ராமசாமி தூதனான ஆஞ்சநேயர் சாமிதான்
நான் போகும் வழியெல்லாம்
துணையிருப்பான் எப்பவும்தான்
It is Lord Hanuman, the messenger of Rama
Along all the paths I walk
He will always stand by as my companion
அண்ணன் தம்பி போலவேதான்
ஒண்ணாக சேர்ந்திருக்கோம்
அண்ணன் தம்பி போலவேதான்
ஒண்ணாக சேர்ந்திருக்கோம்
எங்களை உங்க பிள்ளையப் போல
ஏத்துக்க வேணும் நீங்கதான்
Just like brothers born together
We have united as one
Just like brothers born together
We have united as one
Treating us like your own children
You are the ones who must accept us
செல்லக்குட்டி சின்னக் குட்டி யானை
மெல்ல மெல்ல ஆட்டம் போடுது
குட்டிகர்ணம் குரங்கு குட்டி போட
நான் சொல்லி சொல்லி பாட்டு பாடுறேன்
Darling small baby elephant
Is dancing gently, step by step
As the little monkey flips a somersault
I sing songs repeatedly as told
ஆண்டவன் கொடுத்த புத்தி உண்டு
ஆடிட பாடிட சக்தி உண்டு
ஆண்டவன் கொடுத்த புத்தி உண்டு
ஆடிட பாடிட சக்தி உண்டு
கையில் இருப்பதை அள்ளிக் கொடுக்கணும்
We possess the intellect given by God
We possess the strength to dance and sing
We possess the intellect given by God
We possess the strength to dance and sing
We must generously give whatever is in our hand
செல்லக்குட்டி சின்னக் குட்டி யானை
மெல்ல மெல்ல ஆட்டம் போடுது....
Darling small baby elephant
Is dancing gently, step by step
ஓடி ஓடி உழைக்கணும்
ஊருக்கெல்லாம் கொடுக்கணும்
ஆடிப் பாடி பிழைக்கணும்னு
நம்ம வாத்தியாரு சொன்னாரு
We must run around and work hard
We must give generously to the entire town
Earn a living by dancing and singing
That is what our master told us
வாத்தியாரு சொன்னதப் போல
ஒழைச்சு பொழைக்க வந்தோமுங்க
வாரி வாரி நீங்க கொடுத்தா
வாத்தியாரப் போல் நல்லவங்க
Just like what the master said
We have come to work hard and earn our living
If you give to us generously
You are good-hearted people like the master
நாங்க ரொம்ப சின்னவங்க
நல்ல குணம் உள்ளவங்க
நாங்க ரொம்ப சின்னவங்க
நல்ல குணம் உள்ளவங்க
ஏச்சு பொழைச்சு பழக்கமில்ல
அம்மா அப்பா நல்லவங்க
We are very simple young children
Possessing good qualities
We are very simple young children
Possessing good qualities
We do not have the habit of cheating to survive
Our mother and father are good people
செல்லக்குட்டி சின்னக் குட்டி யானை
மெல்ல மெல்ல ஆட்டம் போடுது
குட்டிகர்ணம் குரங்கு குட்டி போட
நான் சொல்லி சொல்லி பாட்டு பாடுறேன்
Darling small baby elephant
Is dancing gently, step by step
As the little monkey flips a somersault
I sing songs repeatedly as told
ஆண்டவன் கொடுத்த புத்தி உண்டு
ஆடிட பாடிட சக்தி உண்டு
ஆண்டவன் கொடுத்த புத்தி உண்டு
ஆடிட பாடிட சக்தி உண்டு
கையில் இருப்பதை அள்ளிக் கொடுக்கணும்
We possess the intellect given by God
We possess the strength to dance and sing
We possess the intellect given by God
We possess the strength to dance and sing
We must generously give whatever is in our hand
செல்லக்குட்டி சின்னக் குட்டி யானை
மெல்ல மெல்ல ஆட்டம் போடுது....
லாலாலாலா லாலா லால்லா.....
லாலாலாலா லாலா லால்லா.....
Darling small baby elephant
Is dancing gently, step by step
Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa....
Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa....
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Darling small baby elephant
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Is dancing gently, step by step
Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda
As the little monkey flips a somersault
Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen
I sing songs repeatedly as told
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
We possess the intellect given by God
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
We possess the strength to dance and sing
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
We possess the intellect given by God
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
We possess the strength to dance and sing
Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum
We must generously give whatever is in our hand
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Darling small baby elephant
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Is dancing gently, step by step
Thambikku udhavi senja
Because I helped my younger brother
Yaanai mugaththu saamithaan
The elephant-faced Lord Ganesha himself
Enakkum udhavi seiyya
To help me out as well
Ingae ippo vanthirukkaan
Has arrived here right now
Ramasamy thoothanaana aanjaneyar samithaan
It is Lord Hanuman, the messenger of Rama
Naan pogum vazhiyellaam
Along all the paths I walk
Thunaiyiruppaan eppavumthaan
He will always stand by as my companion
Annan thambi polavaethaan
Just like brothers born together
Onnaaga saernthirukkom
We have united as one
Annan thambi polavaethaan
Just like brothers born together
Onnaaga saernthirukkom
We have united as one
Engalai unga pillaiyai pola
Treating us like your own children
Yaeththukka venum neengathaan
You are the ones who must accept us
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Darling small baby elephant
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Is dancing gently, step by step
Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda
As the little monkey flips a somersault
Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen
I sing songs repeatedly as told
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
We possess the intellect given by God
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
We possess the strength to dance and sing
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
We possess the intellect given by God
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
We possess the strength to dance and sing
Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum
We must generously give whatever is in our hand
: Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Darling small baby elephant
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Is dancing gently, step by step
Odi odi uzhaikkanum
We must run around and work hard
Oorukellaam kodukkanum
We must give generously to the entire town
Aadi paadi pizhaikkanumnu
Earn a living by dancing and singing
Namma vaaththiyaaru sonnaaru
That is what our master told us
Vaaththiyaaru sonnatha pola
Just like what the master said
Ozhaichchu pozhaikka vanthomunga
We have come to work hard and earn our living
Vaari vaari neenga koduththaa
If you give to us generously
Vaaththiyaara pol nallavanga
You are good-hearted people like the master
Naanga rompa chinnavanga
We are very simple young children
Nalla gunam ullavanga
Possessing good qualities
Naanga rompa chinnavanga
We are very simple young children
Nalla gunam ullavanga
Possessing good qualities
Yaechchu pozhaichchu pazhakkamilla
We do not have the habit of cheating to survive
Amma appa nallavanga
Our mother and father are good people
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Darling small baby elephant
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Is dancing gently, step by step
Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda
As the little monkey flips a somersault
Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen
I sing songs repeatedly as told
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
We possess the intellect given by God
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
We possess the strength to dance and sing
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
We possess the intellect given by God
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
We possess the strength to dance and sing
Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum
We must generously give whatever is in our hand
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Darling small baby elephant
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Is dancing gently, step by step
Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa….
Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa....
Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa….
Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Chellakutty' is a lively folk-style street performance song centered on performers who dance and showcase trained animals like a baby elephant and a monkey. The performers celebrate their God-given talents and energy, expressing that they rely on honest hard work rather than deceit to earn their daily bread. The lyrics emphasize values of unity, helping others, generosity, and faith in divine protection. The song also pays homage to the ideal of 'Vaaththiyaaru' (a cultural nod to MGR's screen persona and moral teachings), urging people to work hard and share their earnings with those in need. It serves as a humble appeal from young performers seeking the warmth, approval, and generosity of the audience.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukku Thodar (Reduplication)
“Mella mella aattam poduthu”
Repetition of words for rhythmic emphasis and visual vividness, typical in Tamil folk lyrics.
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai”
Repetition of the initial sound ('Ch') across adjacent words in a line.
Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Odi odi uzhaikkanum / Oorukellaam kodukkanum”
End-rhyming words creating a catchy cadence for street performance.
Did you know?
Trivia
The reference to 'Vaaththiyaaru' in Gangai Amaran's lyrics pays tribute to the popular Tamil cinema trope established by M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), whose songs frequently emphasized honest work, respect for parents, and helping the poor.
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