Cheri Kuzhanthaigal
From Arumbugal · 1979
- Lyricist
- Jupiter Chinnadurai
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Arumbugal1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal | Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds |
| Kovil kulangalil neenthi | Swimming in temple ponds |
| Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal | Fish that make music daily |
| Female | |
| Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal | Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds |
| Kovil kulangalil neenthi | Swimming in temple ponds |
| Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal | Fish that make music daily |
| Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal | Fish that make music daily |
| Female | |
| Antha chinnajirusugal chiththira pinjigal | Those little young ones, artistic tender saplings |
| Siru olai kudilgalil koodi | Gathering in tiny thatched huts |
| Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal | Cuckoos that drink corn porridge |
| Female | |
| Antha chinnajirusugal chiththira pinjigal | Those little young ones, artistic tender saplings |
| Siru olai kudilgalil koodi | Gathering in tiny thatched huts |
| Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal | Cuckoos that drink corn porridge |
| Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal | Cuckoos that drink corn porridge |
| Female | |
| Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal | Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds |
| Kovil kulangalil neenthi | Swimming in temple ponds |
| Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal | Fish that make music daily |
| Female | |
| Antha sorkka sirippugal sorna virippuggal | Those heavenly smiles, golden spreads |
| Settru sagathiyil thulli | Leaping in mud and mire |
| Thanga meni karuththidum muyalgal | Rabbits whose golden bodies darken |
| Thanga meni karuththidum muyalgal | Rabbits whose golden bodies darken |
| Female | |
| Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal | Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds |
| Kovil kulangalil neenthi | Swimming in temple ponds |
| Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal | Fish that make music daily |
| Male | |
| Antha sooriya dheepangal sundhara sirppangal | Those solar lamps, beautiful sculptures |
| Saalai orangalil odum kizhisal | Running along the roadsides |
| Sattai aninthitta maangal | Deer wearing torn shirts |
| Sattai aninthitta maangal | Deer wearing torn shirts |
| Male | |
| Antha sooriya dheepangal sundhara sirppangal | Those solar lamps, beautiful sculptures |
| Saalai orangalil odum kizhisal | Running along the roadsides |
| Sattai aninthitta maangal | Deer wearing torn shirts |
| Sattai aninthitta maangal | Deer wearing torn shirts |
| Male | |
| Antha solai pasumaigal soga padhumaigal | Those lush green groves, sorrowful statues |
| Veli nizhalgalil koodi | Gathering under the shadow of fences |
| Pasunthogai virikkindra mayilgal | Peacocks spreading their green plumage |
| Pasunthogai virikkindra mayilgal | Peacocks spreading their green plumage |
| Male | |
| Antha sevvaazhai thandugal senthoora seppugal | Those red banana stems, vermilion caskets |
| Nadaipaadhaigalil valarum | Growing on the footpaths |
| Namathu naalaiya nambikkai payirkal | Our crops of hope for tomorrow |
| Female | |
| Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal | Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds |
| Kovil kulangalil neenthi | Swimming in temple ponds |
| Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal…. | Fish that make music daily.... |
| Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal…. | Fish that make music daily.... |
சேரிக் குழந்தைகள் செவ்வந்தி அரும்புகள்
கோவில் குளங்களில் நீந்தி
தினம் கீதம் இசைக்கின்ற மீன்கள்
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Swimming in temple ponds
Fish that make music daily
சேரிக் குழந்தைகள் செவ்வந்தி அரும்புகள்
கோவில் குளங்களில் நீந்தி
தினம் கீதம் இசைக்கின்ற மீன்கள்
தினம் கீதம் இசைக்கின்ற மீன்கள்
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Swimming in temple ponds
Fish that make music daily
Fish that make music daily
அந்த சின்னஞ்சிறுசுகள் சித்திர பிஞ்சுகள்
சிறு ஓலைக் குடில்களில் கூடி
சோளக் கஞ்சிக் குடிக்கின்ற குயில்கள்
Those little young ones, artistic tender saplings
Gathering in tiny thatched huts
Cuckoos that drink corn porridge
அந்த சின்னஞ்சிறுசுகள் சித்திர பிஞ்சுகள்
சிறு ஓலைக் குடில்களில் கூடி
சோளக் கஞ்சிக் குடிக்கின்ற குயில்கள்
சோளக் கஞ்சிக் குடிக்கின்ற குயில்கள்...
Those little young ones, artistic tender saplings
Gathering in tiny thatched huts
Cuckoos that drink corn porridge
Cuckoos that drink corn porridge
சேரிக் குழந்தைகள் செவ்வந்தி அரும்புகள்
கோவில் குளங்களில் நீந்தி
தினம் கீதம் இசைக்கின்ற மீன்கள்
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Swimming in temple ponds
Fish that make music daily
அந்த சொர்க்கச் சிரிப்புகள் சொர்ண விரிப்புகள்
சேற்று சகதியில் துள்ளி
தங்க மேனிக் கறுத்திடும் முயல்கள்
தங்க மேனிக் கறுத்திடும் முயல்கள்....
Those heavenly smiles, golden spreads
Leaping in mud and mire
Rabbits whose golden bodies darken
Rabbits whose golden bodies darken
சேரிக் குழந்தைகள் செவ்வந்தி அரும்புகள்
கோவில் குளங்களில் நீந்தி
தினம் கீதம் இசைக்கின்ற மீன்கள்
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Swimming in temple ponds
Fish that make music daily
அந்த சூரிய தீபங்கள் சுந்தர சிற்பங்கள்
சாலை ஓரங்களில் ஓடும் கிழிசல்
சட்டை அணிந்திட்ட மான்கள்
சட்டை அணிந்திட்ட மான்கள்......
Those solar lamps, beautiful sculptures
Running along the roadsides
Deer wearing torn shirts
Deer wearing torn shirts
அந்த சூரிய தீபங்கள் சுந்தர சிற்பங்கள்
சாலை ஓரங்களில் ஓடும் கிழிசல்
சட்டை அணிந்திட்ட மான்கள்
சட்டை அணிந்திட்ட மான்கள்......
Those solar lamps, beautiful sculptures
Running along the roadsides
Deer wearing torn shirts
Deer wearing torn shirts
அந்த சோலை பசுமைகள் சோக பதுமைகள்
வேலி நிழல்களில் கூடி
பசுந்தோகை விரிக்கின்ற மயில்கள்
பசுந்தோகை விரிக்கின்ற மயில்கள்
Those lush green groves, sorrowful statues
Gathering under the shadow of fences
Peacocks spreading their green plumage
Peacocks spreading their green plumage
அந்த செவ்வாழை தண்டுகள் செந்தூர செப்புகள்
நடைபாதைகளில் வளரும்
நமது நாளைய நம்பிக்கை பயிர்கள்
Those red banana stems, vermilion caskets
Growing on the footpaths
Our crops of hope for tomorrow
சேரிக் குழந்தைகள் செவ்வந்தி அரும்புகள்
கோவில் குளங்களில் நீந்தி
தினம் கீதம் இசைக்கின்ற மீன்கள்
தினம் கீதம் இசைக்கின்ற மீன்கள்
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Swimming in temple ponds
Fish that make music daily....
Fish that make music daily....
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Swimming in temple ponds
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Fish that make music daily
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Swimming in temple ponds
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Fish that make music daily
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Fish that make music daily
Antha chinnajirusugal chiththira pinjigal
Those little young ones, artistic tender saplings
Siru olai kudilgalil koodi
Gathering in tiny thatched huts
Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal
Cuckoos that drink corn porridge
Antha chinnajirusugal chiththira pinjigal
Those little young ones, artistic tender saplings
Siru olai kudilgalil koodi
Gathering in tiny thatched huts
Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal
Cuckoos that drink corn porridge
Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal
Cuckoos that drink corn porridge
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Swimming in temple ponds
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Fish that make music daily
Antha sorkka sirippugal sorna virippuggal
Those heavenly smiles, golden spreads
Settru sagathiyil thulli
Leaping in mud and mire
Thanga meni karuththidum muyalgal
Rabbits whose golden bodies darken
Thanga meni karuththidum muyalgal
Rabbits whose golden bodies darken
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Swimming in temple ponds
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Fish that make music daily
Antha sooriya dheepangal sundhara sirppangal
Those solar lamps, beautiful sculptures
Saalai orangalil odum kizhisal
Running along the roadsides
Sattai aninthitta maangal
Deer wearing torn shirts
Sattai aninthitta maangal
Deer wearing torn shirts
Antha sooriya dheepangal sundhara sirppangal
Those solar lamps, beautiful sculptures
Saalai orangalil odum kizhisal
Running along the roadsides
Sattai aninthitta maangal
Deer wearing torn shirts
Sattai aninthitta maangal
Deer wearing torn shirts
Antha solai pasumaigal soga padhumaigal
Those lush green groves, sorrowful statues
Veli nizhalgalil koodi
Gathering under the shadow of fences
Pasunthogai virikkindra mayilgal
Peacocks spreading their green plumage
Pasunthogai virikkindra mayilgal
Peacocks spreading their green plumage
Antha sevvaazhai thandugal senthoora seppugal
Those red banana stems, vermilion caskets
Nadaipaadhaigalil valarum
Growing on the footpaths
Namathu naalaiya nambikkai payirkal
Our crops of hope for tomorrow
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Slum children are red chrysanthemum buds
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Swimming in temple ponds
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal….
Fish that make music daily....
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal….
Fish that make music daily....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Cheri kuzhanthaigal' is a poignant and empathetic portrait of underprivileged children living in slums. Through rich lyrical imagery, Jupiter Chinnadurai highlights their inherent beauty, innocence, and potential despite their harsh living conditions. The children are metaphorically depicted as red chrysanthemum buds, playful fish in temple ponds, cuckoos consuming humble corn porridge in thatched huts, and golden rabbits playing in the mud. Even in their torn clothes running along dusty roadsides, they shine like solar lamps and fine sculptures. Ultimately, the song frames these marginalized children not as victims of poverty to be overlooked, but as the precious 'crops of hope' for our collective future.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagathani)
“Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal”
Extensive use of metaphors comparing slum children directly to natural elements such as flower buds ('sevvanthi arumbugal'), singing fish ('meengal'), cuckoos ('kuyilgal'), and future crops ('nambikkai payirkal').
Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Antha sooriya dheepangal sundhara sirppangal”
Repetition of the 'Sa' / 'Su' consonant sound across consecutive words ('sooriya', 'sundhara', 'sirppangal').
Imagery & Contrast
“Settru sagathiyil thulli Thanga meni karuththidum muyalgal”
Juxtaposes high value and beauty ('golden body', 'heavenly smiles') with harsh poverty ('mud and mire', 'torn shirts').
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist Jupiter Chinnadurai was known for writing deeply social-conscious and progressive lyrics in Tamil cinema during the late 1970s. This song from 'Arumbugal' (1979) remains a prominent example of social realism in Tamil film music.
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