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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Aasai

From Roja · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Minmini
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Roja
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
19 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Chinna chinna aasai siragadikum aasai
Muthu muthu aasai mudinthuvaitha aasai
Vennilavu thottu muthamida aasai
Ennai indha boomi sutrivara aasai } (2)
Chinna chinna aasai siragadikum aasai
Malligai poovaai maarivida aasai
Thendralai kandu maalaiyida aasai
Megangalai ellam thottuvida aasai
Sogangalai ellam vittuvida aasai
Kaarkuzhalil uzhagai kattivida aasai
Chinna chinna aasai siragadikum aasai
Muthu muthu aasai mudinthuvaitha aasai
Vennilavu thottu muthamida aasai
Ennai indha boomi sutrivara aasai
Chinna chinna aasai siragadikum aasai
Muthu muthu aasai mudinthuvaitha aasai
……………………………
Setru vayalaadi naatru nada aasai
Meen pidithu meendum aatril vida aasai
Vaanavillai konjam uduthikolla aasai
Panithulikul naanum paduthukolla aasai
Chithirathu melae selai katta aasai
Chinna chinna aasai siragadikum aasai
Muthu muthu aasai mudinthuvaitha aasai
Vennilavu thottu muthamida aasai
Ennai indha boomi sutrivara aasai
Chinna chinna aasai siragadikum aasai
Muthu muthu aasai mudinthuvaitha aasai
Tiny little desires, desires fluttering with wings
Pearl-like little desires, desires tucked safely away
A desire to touch the bright white moon and kiss it
A desire for this world to revolve around me
Tiny little desires, desires fluttering with wings
A desire to turn into a jasmine flower
A desire to greet the gentle breeze and place a garland on it
A desire to reach out and touch all the clouds
A desire to leave all sorrows behind
A desire to tie the whole world up in my dark hair
Tiny little desires, desires fluttering with wings
Pearl-like little desires, desires tucked safely away
A desire to touch the bright white moon and kiss it
A desire for this world to revolve around me
Tiny little desires, desires fluttering with wings
Pearl-like little desires, desires tucked safely away
...
A desire to play in muddy fields and plant seedlings
A desire to catch fish and let them back into the river
A desire to drape a bit of the rainbow around myself
A desire to lie down inside a drop of dew
A desire to drape a sari over a painting
Tiny little desires, desires fluttering with wings
Pearl-like little desires, desires tucked safely away
A desire to touch the bright white moon and kiss it
A desire for this world to revolve around me
Tiny little desires, desires fluttering with wings
Pearl-like little desires, desires tucked safely away
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Chinna Chinna Aasai is an iconic track celebrating innocent joy, liberation, and a deep, childlike connection with nature. Sung from the perspective of a free-spirited village protagonist, the song articulates a series of whimsical and imaginative desires—from garlanding the wind and sleeping inside a dewdrop to wearing a rainbow as a garment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodaru (Reduplication)

“Chinna chinna aasai... / Muthu muthu aasai...”

Repetition of words like 'Chinna chinna' and 'Muthu muthu' to emphasize smallness, preciousness, and rhythmic sweetness.

Iyaibu (Epiphora / End Rhyme)

“Chinna chinna aasai siragadikum aasai”

The word 'aasai' (desire) repeats systematically at the end of every line, building a strong hypnotic refrain.

Metaphor & Personification

“Thendralai kandu maalaiyida aasai / Vaanavillai konjam uduthikolla aasai”

Abstract and natural phenomena are given human interactability, such as garlanding the breeze or wearing a rainbow as clothes.

Did you know?

Trivia

This legendary track marked the debut of A. R. Rahman in Tamil cinema. The song was sung by Minmini and bagged A. R. Rahman his first National Film Award for Best Music Direction.

Keep listening

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From the same album

More songs from Roja

View album
Rukkumani Rukkumani1992
RojaPlayful
Thamizha Thamizha1992
RojaHopeful
Pudhu Vellai Mazhai1992
RojaRomantic
Kaadhal Rojave1992
RojaMournful

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