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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Kannakukku

From Kattu Roja · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Jamuna Rani, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kattu Roja1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chinna chinna kannanukkuFor the sweet little Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Singaara mozhi sollum ponnu vendumMale: He desires a girl who speaks beautiful, romantic words.
Female
Chinna chinna kannanukkuFor the sweet little Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Singaara mozhi sollum ponnu vendumMale: He desires a girl who speaks beautiful, romantic words.
Female
Vanna vanna kannanukkuFor the colorful, vibrant Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Vattamittu paadidum kanni vendumMale: He desires a maiden who dances and sings around him in circles.
Female
Vanna vanna kannanukkuFor the colorful, vibrant Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Vattamittu paadidum kanni vendumMale: He desires a maiden who dances and sings around him in circles.
Female
Chinna chinna kannanukkuFor the sweet little Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Singaara mozhi sollum ponnu vendumMale: He desires a girl who speaks beautiful, romantic words.
Female
Panjavarna kili enna naan illaiyaaAm I not a colorful parrot-like maiden?
Male :Pasum paal thiratti poosi vaithaMale: Do you not have a face that looks like condensed fresh cow milk applied?
Mugam illaiyaaDo you not have such a face?
Female
Panjavarna kili enna naan illaiyaaAm I not a colorful parrot-like maiden?
Male :Pasum paal thiratti poosi vaithaMale: Do you not have a face that looks like condensed fresh cow milk applied?
Mugam illaiyaaDo you not have such a face?
Female
Nenjuruga paadi varum kural illaiyaaDon't I have a heart-melting singing voice?
Nenjuruga paadi varum kural illaiyaaDon't I have a heart-melting singing voice?
Male
Naru nei vaasam thaangi varumCarrying the aroma of fragrant ghee,
Kuzhal illaiyaaDon't I have sweet tresses?
Naru nei vaasam thaangi varum kuzhal illaiyaaDon't I have hair that carries the aroma of fragrant ghee?
Illaiyaa illaiyaa illaiyaaIs it not? Is it not? Is it not?
Female
Chinna chinna kannanukkuFor the sweet little Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Singaara mozhi sollum ponnu vendumMale: He desires a girl who speaks beautiful, romantic words.
Male
Pacharisi pol sirikkum sirippillaiyaaDon't I have a smile as bright and white as raw rice?
Female :Panai vellam pol inikkumFemale: Sweet like palm jaggery,
Mozhi illaiyaaDon't you have sweet speech?
Male
Pacharisi pol sirikkum sirippillaiyaaDon't I have a smile as bright and white as raw rice?
Female :Panai vellam pol inikkumFemale: Sweet like palm jaggery,
Mozhi illaiyaaDon't you have sweet speech?
Male
Hmmm…Hmmm...
Female
Chinna chinna kannanukkuFor the sweet little Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Singaara mozhi sollum ponnu vendumMale: He desires a girl who speaks beautiful, romantic words.
Female :Vanna vanna kannanukkuFemale: For the colorful, vibrant Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Vattamittu paadidum kanni vendumMale: He desires a maiden who dances and sings around him in circles.
Female :Chinna chinna kannanukkuFemale: For the sweet little Kannan,
Enna vendumWhat does he desire?
Male :Singaara mozhi sollum ponnu vendumMale: He desires a girl who speaks beautiful, romantic words.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a loving exchange between a man (referred to playfully as Kannan) and a woman. The female singer asks what her 'Kannan' desires, to which he playfully answers that he wants a girl who speaks charming words and dances around him. She then flirtatiously asks whether she herself fits this ideal description, citing her parrot-like charm, heart-melting voice, and fragrant hair. The male suitor enthusiastically agrees, praising her fair complexion like condensed milk and sweet nature. Together, they celebrate their mutual romantic admiration through poetic similes comparing beauty to raw rice, palm jaggery, and fragrant ghee, concluding with an affectionate reaffirmation of their love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moni / Repetition (Sol Noki)

Chinna chinna kannanukku

Repetition of 'Chinna chinna' and 'Vanna vanna' adds a playful, rhythmic, and childlike melodic charm to the opening refrain.

Simile (Upamanam)

Pacharisi pol sirikkum sirippillaiyaa

Compares her bright, glistening smile to raw white rice grains ('Pacharisi pol sirikkum sirippillaiyaa').

Simile (Upamanam)

Female :Panai vellam pol inikkum

Compares her sweet speech to natural palm jaggery ('Panai vellam pol inikkum').

Metaphor / Imagery

Male :Pasum paal thiratti poosi vaitha

Uses rich visual imagery comparing smooth skin to condensed cow's milk ('Pasum paal thiratti poosi vaitha mugam').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kattu Roja' (1963) featured music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics by Kavinar Kannadasan. This playful romantic track stands out for its traditional village-style banter and rich rustic metaphors.

Keep listening

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