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Arumbugal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Cheri Kuzhanthaigal

From Arumbugal · 1979

Lyricist
Jupiter Chinnadurai
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Arumbugal
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
2 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Antha chinnajirusugal chiththira pinjigal
Siru olai kudilgalil koodi
Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal
Antha chinnajirusugal chiththira pinjigal
Siru olai kudilgalil koodi
Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal
Sola kanji kudikkindra kuyilgal
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Antha sorkka sirippugal sorna virippuggal
Settru sagathiyil thulli
Thanga meni karuththidum muyalgal
Thanga meni karuththidum muyalgal
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal
Antha sooriya dheepangal sundhara sirppangal
Saalai orangalil odum kizhisal
Sattai aninthitta maangal
Sattai aninthitta maangal
Antha sooriya dheepangal sundhara sirppangal
Saalai orangalil odum kizhisal
Sattai aninthitta maangal
Sattai aninthitta maangal
Antha solai pasumaigal soga padhumaigal
Veli nizhalgalil koodi
Pasunthogai virikkindra mayilgal
Pasunthogai virikkindra mayilgal
Antha sevvaazhai thandugal senthoora seppugal
Nadaipaadhaigalil valarum
Namathu naalaiya nambikkai payirkal
Cheri kuzhanthaigal sevvanthi arumbugal
Kovil kulangalil neenthi
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal….
Dhinam geetham isaikkindra meengal….
The settlement children are chrysanthemum buds,
Swimming in the temple ponds,
They are fish that make music every day.
The settlement children are chrysanthemum buds,
Swimming in the temple ponds,
They are fish that make music every day.
They are fish that make music every day.
Those tiny little ones, tender like works of art,
Gathering in little thatched huts,
They are cuckoos drinking corn porridge.
Those tiny little ones, tender like works of art,
Gathering in little thatched huts,
They are cuckoos drinking corn porridge.
They are cuckoos drinking corn porridge...
The settlement children are chrysanthemum buds,
Swimming in the temple ponds,
They are fish that make music every day.
Those heavenly smiles, like carpets of gold,
Leaping through the muddy mire,
They are rabbits whose golden bodies turn dark.
They are rabbits whose golden bodies turn dark....
The settlement children are chrysanthemum buds,
Swimming in the temple ponds,
They are fish that make music every day.
Those lamps of the sun, beautiful sculptures,
Running along the edges of the road,
They are deer wearing torn shirts.
They are deer wearing torn shirts......
Those lamps of the sun, beautiful sculptures,
Running along the edges of the road,
They are deer wearing torn shirts.
They are deer wearing torn shirts......
Fresh like a green grove, yet figures of sorrow,
Gathering in the shade of fences,
They are peacocks spreading their green feathers.
They are peacocks spreading their green feathers.
Tender like red banana stems and bright red boxes,
Growing on the footpaths,
They are our crops of hope for tomorrow.
The settlement children are chrysanthemum buds,
Swimming in the temple ponds,
They are fish that make music every day.
They are fish that make music every day.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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Ondre Ondru Ulagam1969
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Thai Masi Panguni1991
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Kadal Vazhum Meenai1980
Madhavi VanthalMelancholicDignity
Naetru Vitta Neeril2016
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Oh Mittai Mittayi1976
Mittai MummyChildhoodInnocence

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