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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chellamey

From Poikkal Kuthirai · 2022

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singer
Shreya Ghoshal
Music director
D. Imman
Details
Poikkal Kuthirai2022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chellamey chellameyMy precious darling, my dear darling
Magizhvathellamae unnaalaeAll my happiness is solely because of you
Chellamey chellameyMy precious darling, my dear darling
Anaikka yaarundu un polaeWho is there to embrace me like you do?
Sirippathu un kannilIt is through your eyes that I smile
En inbam naan kaanathaanJust for me to see my own happiness
Azhuvathu un thozhilIt is upon your shoulder that I weep
Kan moodi naan saayathanClosing my eyes to lean back on you
Kadavul endren athai maruthaaiI called you God, but you denied it
Maruthidinum nee en maru thaaiEven if you denied it, you are my second mother
Female
Chellamey chellameyMy precious darling, my dear darling
Magizhvathellamae unnaaleAll my happiness is solely because of you
Chellamey chellameyMy precious darling, my dear darling
Anaikka yaarundu un polaeWho is there to embrace me like you do?
Female
Kattukadanga sinathilIn uncontrollable rage
Naaneriyum pothumEven when I am burning inside
Kattiyanaithae anaithidumHugging me tight to put out the fire
Kanivu pothumYour tenderness is more than enough
Naan thoongaFor me to fall asleep
Kanavu kadhaigal solvaaiYou tell me dreamy stories
Naan vaazhaFor me to live comfortably
Unadhu kanavai kolvaaiYou slay your own dreams
Female
Nan enna seidhaalum poruTolerate whatever I might do
Epodhum ennodu iruAlways stay here with me
Mazhalaiyin nagaramaaiAs the city of my toddler years
Sirumiyin nagaramaaiAs the city of my childhood years
Pathinmam naan adaikaiyilWhen I reach my teenage years
Enakku nee sigaramaai chellameyYou stand as a peak to me, my darling
Female
Chellamey chellameyMy precious darling, my dear darling
Magizhvathellamae unnaalaeAll my happiness is solely because of you
Chellamey chellameyMy precious darling, my dear darling
Anaikka yaarundu un polaeWho is there to embrace me like you do?
Sirippathu un kannilIt is through your eyes that I smile
En inbam naan kaanathaanJust for me to see my own happiness
Azhuvathu un thozhilIt is upon your shoulder that I weep
Kan moodi naan saayathanClosing my eyes to lean back on you
Kadavul endren athai maruthaaiI called you God, but you denied it
Maruthidinum nee en maru thaaiEven if you denied it, you are my second mother

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chellamey Chellamey is a tender, emotional song expressing unconditional love and gratitude towards a guardian or motherly figure. The speaker conveys how all life's joy stems from this beloved person, who acts as a sanctuary during emotional turmoil, sacrifices personal aspirations for the child's future, and serves as an unwavering beacon through childhood into youth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Yamakam / Wordplay

Maruthidinum nee en maru thaai

Madhan Karky uses clever phonetic wordplay between 'maruthaai' (you rejected/denied) and 'maru thaai' (second mother).

Metaphor

Enakku nee sigaramaai chellamey

The guardian figure is metaphorically compared to a mountain peak ('sigaram'), representing stature, guidance, and refuge.

Anaphora / Parallelism

Naan thoonga / Kanavu kadhaigal solvaai / Naan vaazha / Unadhu kanavai kolvaai

Repetition of sentence structures 'Naan thoonga...' and 'Naan vaazha...' to emphasize contrast between the child's needs and the caregiver's actions.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by D. Imman for the 2022 Tamil film Poikkal Kuthirai, starring Prabhu Deva. Sung by Shreya Ghoshal with lyrics by Madhan Karky, it highlights a deep emotional bond within the film's core narrative.

Keep listening

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