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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Kanamma

From Bharathi Kannamma · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Febi Mani
Music director
Deva
Details
Bharathi Kannamma1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chinna chinna kannammaLittle beloved Kannamma
Enni rendu varushamaaCounting for two years now
Chinna chinna kannammaLittle beloved Kannamma
Enni rendu varushamaaCounting for two years now
Unna enni pooththirukkaaThinking of you, she has bloomed
Puththam pudhu poovaala niththam oru poomaalaiEvery day a flower garland made with brand new flowers
Katti vechchu kaaththirukkaShe has woven and waited with
Female
Thonda kuzhikkul nooru nenaippuA hundred thoughts trapped inside the throat
Naan solla thavippuI am struggling to express them
En ullasa kuyilae neeyaachchum vaai pesuMy cheerful cuckoo, at least you open your mouth and speak
Un ovvoru vaarthathikkum thaaraen thanga kaasuFor your every single word, I will give a gold coin
Female
Chinna chinna kannammaLittle beloved Kannamma
Female
Aaa…..aa….aa…..aah….aa…Aaa.....aa....aa.....aah....aa...
Female
Pallu theikka theriyaathu theichchu vittathum neethaanWhen I didn't know how to brush my teeth, you were the one who brushed them for me
Paavadaikku naadaava katti vittathum neethaanYou were the one who tied the drawstring for my skirt
Angangae maruthaani appi vittathum neethaanYou were the one who applied henna here and there
Naan aalaana annaeram pakkam ninnathum neethaanWhen I came of age, you were the one who stood by my side
Female
Manja thanni edhukku neethan neethaan neeyaethaanWhy do I need ritual turmeric water? You, you, it is only you
Maamankaaran edhukku neethaan neethaan neeyaethaanWhy do I need a maternal uncle? You, you, it is only you
Maarappu seri senja magarasan neeyaethaanYou are the noble man who adjusted my saree drape
En neththila pottu vechcha oththa veral neethaanYou are the single finger that placed the bindi on my forehead
Female
Chinna chinna kannammaLittle beloved Kannamma
Female
Ennaippola unmela aasai vechchava illaThere is no girl who loved you as much as I do
Unnaippola ullooril meesai vechchavan illaThere is no man with a mustache in this town like you
Aththanae unakkumthaan thaali kattaporaenThat is why I am going to tie the sacred thread around your neck
Ayyaezhu naalodu muzhugaama poraenWithin five times seven days, I will take the ceremonial bath
Female
Inbam tharavaa nee iravum pagalum niraivaagaShall I give you bliss, fulfilling both day and night?
Maadham yaezhu poga valavi poda varuvaagaWhen seven months pass, they will come to perform the bangle ceremony
Kannaala nam meedhu kan vaikka poraagaPeople will cast an evil eye on us out of envy
Unna naanum poththi vaippen mannukkulla vaeraagaI will cherish and protect you like a root buried deep in the earth
Female
Chinna chinna kannammaLittle beloved Kannamma
Enni rendu varushamaaCounting for two years now
Chinna chinna kannammaLittle beloved Kannamma
Enni rendu varushamaaCounting for two years now
Unna enni pooththirukkaaThinking of you, she has bloomed
Puththam pudhu poovaala niththam oru poomaalaiEvery day a flower garland made with brand new flowers
Katti vechchu kaaththirukkaShe has woven and waited with
Female
Thonda kuzhikkul nooru nenaippuA hundred thoughts trapped inside the throat
Naan solla thavippuI am struggling to express them
En ullasa kuyilae neeyaachchum vaai pesuMy cheerful cuckoo, at least you open your mouth and speak
Un ovvoru vaarthathikkum thaaraen thanga kaasu…..For your every single word, I will give a gold coin.....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a deeply romantic folk duet expressing intense longing, devotion, and shared childhood memories between two lovers who have been separated or waiting for two years. The female protagonist reflects on how her lover cared for her since her childhood—brushing her teeth, tying her skirt string, applying henna, and standing by her when she came of age, making him everything to her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Unna enni pooththirukkaa / Unna naanum poththi vaippen mannukkulla vaeraaga

Comparing her devotion to a flower blooming in wait for her lover, and promising to protect him like roots deep inside the earth.

Monai (Alliteration)

Puththam pudhu poovaala niththam oru poomaalai

Repetition of the 'P' sound at the beginning of adjacent words in 'Puththam pudhu poovaala'.

Ethirakai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Chinna chinna kannamma / Enni rendu varushamaa

Rhyming of second letters across consecutive lines like 'Thonda' and 'Naan' / 'Chinna' and 'Enni'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Bharathi Kannamma (1997) was directed by Cheran and featured a popular soundtrack composed by Deva. The film explores themes of caste barriers and unconditional love in a rural Tamil Nadu setting.

Keep listening

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