Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Chellakutty album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chellakutty Chinnakutty

From Chellakutty · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
K. S. Chitra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Chellakutty
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
30 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda
Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Thambikku udhavi senja
Yaanai mugaththu saamithaan
Enakkum udhavi seiyya
Ingae ippo vanthirukkaan
Ramasamy thoothanaana aanjaneyar samithaan
Naan pogum vazhiyellaam
Thunaiyiruppaan eppavumthaan
Annan thambi polavaethaan
Onnaaga saernthirukkom
Annan thambi polavaethaan
Onnaaga saernthirukkom
Engalai unga pillaiyai pola
Yaeththukka venum neengathaan
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda
Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum
: Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Odi odi uzhaikkanum
Oorukellaam kodukkanum
Aadi paadi pizhaikkanumnu
Namma vaaththiyaaru sonnaaru
Vaaththiyaaru sonnatha pola
Ozhaichchu pozhaikka vanthomunga
Vaari vaari neenga koduththaa
Vaaththiyaara pol nallavanga
Naanga rompa chinnavanga
Nalla gunam ullavanga
Naanga rompa chinnavanga
Nalla gunam ullavanga
Yaechchu pozhaichchu pazhakkamilla
Amma appa nallavanga
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Kutty karanam kurangu kutty poda
Naan solli solli paattu paaduraen
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
Aandavan koduththa puththi undu
Aadida paadida sakthi undu
Kayil iruppathai alli kodukkanum
Chellakkutty chinnakutty yaanai
Mella mella aattam poduthu
Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa….
Laalaalaalaa laalaa laallaa….
The sweet darling baby elephant
dances slowly, step by step.
As the little monkey does somersaults,
I guide along and sing my song.
We have the wits that God gave us,
and the energy to dance and sing!
We have the wits that God gave us,
and the energy to dance and sing!
You must give generously whatever you have in your hands!
The sweet darling baby elephant
dances slowly, step by step....
The elephant-faced God
who helped his younger brother,
to help me out as well,
has come right here now!
And Lord Anjaneya (Hanuman), the messenger of Lord Rama,
along every path I walk,
will always stand beside me!
Just like brothers,
we have come together as one.
Just like brothers,
we have come together as one.
Like your very own children,
you must accept us and take us in!
The sweet darling baby elephant
dances slowly, step by step.
As the little monkey does somersaults,
I guide along and sing my song.
We have the wits that God gave us,
and the energy to dance and sing!
We have the wits that God gave us,
and the energy to dance and sing!
You must give generously whatever you have in your hands!
The sweet darling baby elephant
dances slowly, step by step....
We must work hard on our feet,
share what we have with the whole town,
and make a living by singing and dancing—
that is what our master taught us!
Just as our master told us,
we have come to work and earn our living.
If you give generously with open hands,
you are as good-hearted as our master!
We are just little ones,
with pure and good hearts.
We are just little ones,
with pure and good hearts.
We do not know how to cheat and survive,
for our mother and father are good people!
The sweet darling baby elephant
dances slowly, step by step.
As the little monkey does somersaults,
I guide along and sing my song.
We have the wits that God gave us,
and the energy to dance and sing!
We have the wits that God gave us,
and the energy to dance and sing!
You must give generously whatever you have in your hands!
The sweet darling baby elephant
dances slowly, step by step....
La la la la, la la laa laa.....
La la la la, la la laa laa.....
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Chellakutty

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.