Chinna Chinna Bommai
From Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam · 1962
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna bommai | Cute little doll |
| Singara bommai | Beautiful doll |
| Munazhagum pinnazhagum paarunga | Look at its front beauty and back beauty |
| Idhil kannai veikkaa pervazhinga yaarunga | Who are the people who wouldn't cast an eye on this? |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna bommai | Cute little doll |
| Singara bommai | Beautiful doll |
| Female | |
| Andai veetukkri mel aasai vecha aalu | A fellow who coveted his neighbor's wife |
| Adhanala kaliyaachu munpallunaalu | Because of that, his four front teeth fell out |
| Andai veetukkri mel aasai vecha aalu | A fellow who coveted his neighbor's wife |
| Adhanala kaliyaachu munpallunaalu | Because of that, his four front teeth fell out |
| Iva kondavanai madhikkadha vaayadi sandi | She is a loud-mouthed shrew who disrespected her husband |
| Adhanaal kand palan kaalu onnu nondi | As a result, her leg became lame |
| Iva kondavanai madhikkadha vaayadi sandi | She is a loud-mouthed shrew who disrespected her husband |
| Adhanaal kand palan kaalu onnu nondi | As a result, her leg became lame |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna bommai | Cute little doll |
| Singara bommai | Beautiful doll |
| Female | |
| Uzhikkamal undu oodhi pona dhegam | A body bloated from eating without hard work |
| Ulagil idhippol ullavar anaegam | There are many people like this in the world |
| Uzhikkamal undu oodhi pona dhegam | A body bloated from eating without hard work |
| Ulagil idhippol ullavar anaegam | There are many people like this in the world |
| Pirar uyarvukku ennaalum yaeni maram aagum | Always acting like a wooden ladder for others' rise |
| Unmai thozhilaali bommai idhuvagum | This doll represents the true hard worker |
| Pirar uyarvukku ennaalum yaeni maram aagum | Always acting like a wooden ladder for others' rise |
| Unmai thozhilaali bommai idhuvagum | This doll represents the true hard worker |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna bommai | Cute little doll |
| Singara bommai | Beautiful doll |
| Female | |
| Venthaadi vaendharaana ivarthaan | He became a king with a white beard |
| Jaadhi veriyai viratta vandha periyaar | Periyar who came to eradicate caste hatred |
| Anbae uruvaana ivarthaan | He is the personification of love |
| Nam nenjilae niraindhirukkum gaandhiyaar | Gandhiji who fills our hearts |
| Ivar periyaar ivar gaandhiyaar | This is Periyar, this is Gandhiji |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna bommai | Cute little doll |
| Singara bommai | Beautiful doll |
| Female | |
| Thambhiyaare thangaiyaare vaanga | Come, younger brothers and sisters |
| Nam thalaivargal bommaigalai parunga | Look at the dolls of our leaders |
| Ivargal arivuraiyai manadhil kollunga | Take their advice to heart |
| Anaivarum nalla paadhaiyilae sellunga | May everyone walk on the good path |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna bommai | Cute little doll |
| Singara bommai | Beautiful doll |
| Munazhagum pinnazhagum paarunga | Look at its front beauty and back beauty |
| Idhil kannai veikkaa pervazhinga yaarunga | Who are the people who wouldn't cast an eye on this? |
சின்னச் சின்ன பொம்மை
சிங்கார பொம்மை
முன்னழகும் பின்னழகும் பாருங்க
இதில் கண்ணை வைக்காப் பேர்வழிங்க யாருங்க
Cute little doll
Beautiful doll
Look at its front beauty and back beauty
Who are the people who wouldn't cast an eye on this?
சின்னச் சின்ன பொம்மை
சிங்கார பொம்மை
Cute little doll
Beautiful doll
அண்டை வீட்டுக்காரி மேல் ஆசை வச்ச ஆளு
அதனால காலியாச்சு முன்பல்லு நாலு
அண்டை வீட்டுக்காரி மேல் ஆசை வச்ச ஆளு
அதனால காலியாச்சு முன்பல்லு நாலு
இவ கொண்டவனை மதிக்காத வாயாடி சண்டி
அதனால் கண்ட பலன் காலு ஒண்ணு நொண்டி
இவ கொண்டவனை மதிக்காத வாயாடி சண்டி
அதனால் கண்ட பலன் காலு ஒண்ணு நொண்டி
A fellow who coveted his neighbor's wife
Because of that, his four front teeth fell out
A fellow who coveted his neighbor's wife
Because of that, his four front teeth fell out
She is a loud-mouthed shrew who disrespected her husband
As a result, her leg became lame
She is a loud-mouthed shrew who disrespected her husband
As a result, her leg became lame
சின்னச் சின்ன பொம்மை
சிங்கார பொம்மை
Cute little doll
Beautiful doll
உழைக்காமல் உண்டு ஊதிப்போன தேகம்
உலகில் இதைப்போல் உள்ளவர் அநேகம்
உழைக்காமல் உண்டு ஊதிப்போன தேகம்
உலகில் இதைப்போல் உள்ளவர் அநேகம்
பிறர் உயர்வுக்கு எந்நாளும் ஏணி மரமாகும்
உண்மைத் தொழிலாளி பொம்மை இதுவாகும்
பிறர் உயர்வுக்கு எந்நாளும் ஏணி மரமாகும்
உண்மைத் தொழிலாளி பொம்மை இதுவாகும்
A body bloated from eating without hard work
There are many people like this in the world
A body bloated from eating without hard work
There are many people like this in the world
Always acting like a wooden ladder for others' rise
This doll represents the true hard worker
Always acting like a wooden ladder for others' rise
This doll represents the true hard worker
சின்னச் சின்ன பொம்மை
சிங்கார பொம்மை
Cute little doll
Beautiful doll
வெண்தாடி வேந்தரான இவர்தான்
ஜாதி வெறியை விரட்ட வந்த பெரியார்
அன்பே உருவான இவர்தான்
நம் நெஞ்சிலே நிறைந்திருக்கும் காந்தியார்
இவர் பெரியார் இவர் காந்தியார் .....
He became a king with a white beard
Periyar who came to eradicate caste hatred
He is the personification of love
Gandhiji who fills our hearts
This is Periyar, this is Gandhiji
சின்னச் சின்ன பொம்மை
சிங்கார பொம்மை
Cute little doll
Beautiful doll
தம்பியரே தங்கையரே வாங்க
நம் தலைவர்கள் பொம்மைகளைப் பாருங்க
இவர்கள் அறிவுரையை மனதில் கொள்ளுங்க
அனைவருமே நல்ல பாதையிலே செல்லுங்க
Come, younger brothers and sisters
Look at the dolls of our leaders
Take their advice to heart
May everyone walk on the good path
சின்னச் சின்ன பொம்மை
சிங்கார பொம்மை
முன்னழகும் பின்னழகும் பாருங்க
இதில் கண்ணை வைக்காப் பேர்வழிங்க யாருங்க
Cute little doll
Beautiful doll
Look at its front beauty and back beauty
Who are the people who wouldn't cast an eye on this?
Chinna chinna bommai
Cute little doll
Singara bommai
Beautiful doll
Munazhagum pinnazhagum paarunga
Look at its front beauty and back beauty
Idhil kannai veikkaa pervazhinga yaarunga
Who are the people who wouldn't cast an eye on this?
Chinna chinna bommai
Cute little doll
Singara bommai
Beautiful doll
Andai veetukkri mel aasai vecha aalu
A fellow who coveted his neighbor's wife
Adhanala kaliyaachu munpallunaalu
Because of that, his four front teeth fell out
Andai veetukkri mel aasai vecha aalu
A fellow who coveted his neighbor's wife
Adhanala kaliyaachu munpallunaalu
Because of that, his four front teeth fell out
Iva kondavanai madhikkadha vaayadi sandi
She is a loud-mouthed shrew who disrespected her husband
Adhanaal kand palan kaalu onnu nondi
As a result, her leg became lame
Iva kondavanai madhikkadha vaayadi sandi
She is a loud-mouthed shrew who disrespected her husband
Adhanaal kand palan kaalu onnu nondi
As a result, her leg became lame
Chinna chinna bommai
Cute little doll
Singara bommai
Beautiful doll
Uzhikkamal undu oodhi pona dhegam
A body bloated from eating without hard work
Ulagil idhippol ullavar anaegam
There are many people like this in the world
Uzhikkamal undu oodhi pona dhegam
A body bloated from eating without hard work
Ulagil idhippol ullavar anaegam
There are many people like this in the world
Pirar uyarvukku ennaalum yaeni maram aagum
Always acting like a wooden ladder for others' rise
Unmai thozhilaali bommai idhuvagum
This doll represents the true hard worker
Pirar uyarvukku ennaalum yaeni maram aagum
Always acting like a wooden ladder for others' rise
Unmai thozhilaali bommai idhuvagum
This doll represents the true hard worker
Chinna chinna bommai
Cute little doll
Singara bommai
Beautiful doll
Venthaadi vaendharaana ivarthaan
He became a king with a white beard
Jaadhi veriyai viratta vandha periyaar
Periyar who came to eradicate caste hatred
Anbae uruvaana ivarthaan
He is the personification of love
Nam nenjilae niraindhirukkum gaandhiyaar
Gandhiji who fills our hearts
Ivar periyaar ivar gaandhiyaar
This is Periyar, this is Gandhiji
Chinna chinna bommai
Cute little doll
Singara bommai
Beautiful doll
Thambhiyaare thangaiyaare vaanga
Come, younger brothers and sisters
Nam thalaivargal bommaigalai parunga
Look at the dolls of our leaders
Ivargal arivuraiyai manadhil kollunga
Take their advice to heart
Anaivarum nalla paadhaiyilae sellunga
May everyone walk on the good path
Chinna chinna bommai
Cute little doll
Singara bommai
Beautiful doll
Munazhagum pinnazhagum paarunga
Look at its front beauty and back beauty
Idhil kannai veikkaa pervazhinga yaarunga
Who are the people who wouldn't cast an eye on this?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a street doll-seller using various hand-crafted dolls to convey moral, social, and political lessons to the audience. Through humorous caricatures, the lyrics poke fun at moral vices such as coveting a neighbor's spouse, disrespecting one's partner, and living off unearned food without physical labor. In contrast, it praises the selfless working class who serve as a wooden ladder for society's elevation. In its final movement, the song transitions into political reform by showcasing dolls of revered icons—Thanthai Periyar, who fought against caste oppression, and Mahatma Gandhi, who embodied universal love. The seller urges children and youngsters to internalize the teachings of these noble leaders and choose a righteous life path.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar / Anaphora
“Chinna chinna bommai”
Repetition of the word 'Chinna' consecutively for poetic rhythm and emphasis on smallness/cuteness.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Pirar uyarvukku ennaalum yaeni maram aagum”
Comparing the selfless worker to a 'yaeni maram' (wooden ladder) that enables others to climb higher.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Ivar periyaar ivar gaandhiyaar”
Rhyming phrase endings with 'yaar' ('Periyaar' and 'Gaandhiyaar').
Edhukai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Thambhiyaare thangaiyaare vaanga / Nam thalaivargal bommaigalai parunga”
Matching second letter sound ('m' sound: 'Thambhiyaare' / 'Nam') across adjacent lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Edhaiyum Thangum Ithayam' (1962) was written by C. N. Annadurai (former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and founder of DMK). Lyricist A. Maruthakasi skillfully blended Dravidian social reform ideology—referencing both Thanthai Periyar and Mahatma Gandhi—into a lively doll-vendor song composed by T. R. Pappa and rendered by S. Janaki.
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