Chinna Chinna Kannanukku
From Vaazhkai Padagu · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Vaazhkai Padagu1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna kannanukku | For the little Krishna, little child, |
| Enna thaan punnagaiyo | What a beautiful smile he has! |
| Chinna chinna kannanukku | For the little Krishna, little child, |
| Enna thaan punnagaiyo | What a beautiful smile he has! |
| Kannirandum thaamaraiyo | Are both your eyes lotus flowers? |
| Kannam minnum endhan kannaa | Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine! |
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna kannanukku | For the little Krishna, little child, |
| Enna thaan punnagaiyo | What a beautiful smile he has! |
| Chinna chinna kannanukku | For the little Krishna, little child, |
| Enna thaan punnagaiyo | What a beautiful smile he has! |
| Male | |
| Paal manakkum paruvathilae | In the tender age smelling of milk, |
| Unnai pol naan irundhen | I was just like you. |
| Pattaadai thottililae | In a silk-draped cradle, |
| Chittu pol paduthirundhen | I lay sleeping like a little sparrow. |
| An naalai ninaikkaiyilae | When thinking of those days, |
| En vayadhu maarudhadaa | My age seems to turn back, my dear. |
| Unnudan aadi vara ullamae thaavudhadaa | My heart leaps to dance alongside you! |
| Male | |
| Kannirandum thaamaraiyo | Are both your eyes lotus flowers? |
| Kannam minnum endhan kannaa | Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine! |
| Chinna chinna kannanukku | For the little Krishna, little child, |
| Enna thaan punnagaiyo | What a beautiful smile he has! |
| Male | |
| Oruvarin thudippinilae | From the throbbing heart of one person, |
| Vilaivadhu kavidhaiyadaa | What blossoms is poetry, my dear. |
| Iruvarin thudippinilae | From the shared throb of two hearts, |
| Vilaivadhu mazhalaiyadaa | What blossoms is an innocent child, my dear. |
| Eer ezhu mozhighalilae | Among all the fourteen languages, |
| Enna mozhi pillai mozhi | What language compares to a child's speech? |
| Kallamatra vellai mozhi | It is a pure, innocent language, |
| Dhevan thandha dheiva mozhi | A divine language granted by God. |
| Male | |
| Kannirandum thaamaraiyo | Are both your eyes lotus flowers? |
| Kannam minnum endhan kannaa | Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine! |
| Chinna chinna kannanukku | For the little Krishna, little child, |
| Enna thaan punnagaiyo | What a beautiful smile he has! |
| Male | |
| Poo pondra nenjinilum | Even in a heart as soft as a flower, |
| Mullirukkum boomiyadaa… | This earth holds thorns, my dear... |
| Pollaadha kangaladaa | These eyes can be wicked, |
| Punnagaiyum veshamadaa | Even a smile can be a disguise. |
| Male | |
| Nandri ketta maandharadaa | Mankind is ungrateful, |
| Naanarindha paadamadaa | That is the lesson I have learned. |
| Nandri ketta maandharadaa | Mankind is ungrateful, |
| Naanarindha paadamadaa | That is the lesson I have learned. |
| Pillaiyaai irundhu vittaal | If one could remain a child forever, |
| Illai oru thunbamadaa | There would be no sorrow at all, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Kannirandum thaamaraiyo | Are both your eyes lotus flowers? |
| Kannam minnum endhan kannaa | Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine! |
| Chinna chinna kannanukku | For the little Krishna, little child, |
| Enna thaan punnagaiyo | What a beautiful smile he has! |
சின்னச் சின்ன கண்ணனுக்கு
என்னதான் புன்னகையோ
சின்னச் சின்ன கண்ணனுக்கு
என்னதான் புன்னகையோ
கண்ணிரண்டும் தாமரையோ
கன்னம் மின்னும் எந்தன் கண்ணா
For the little Krishna, little child,
What a beautiful smile he has!
For the little Krishna, little child,
What a beautiful smile he has!
Are both your eyes lotus flowers?
Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine!
சின்னச் சின்ன கண்ணனுக்கு
என்னதான் புன்னகையோ
சின்னச் சின்ன கண்ணனுக்கு
என்னதான் புன்னகையோ
For the little Krishna, little child,
What a beautiful smile he has!
For the little Krishna, little child,
What a beautiful smile he has!
பால் மணக்கும் பருவத்திலே
உன்னைப் போல் நானிருந்தேன்
பட்டாடை தொட்டிலிலே
சிட்டு போல் படுத்திருந்தேன்
அந்நாளை நினைக்கையிலே
என் வயது மாறுதடா
உன்னுடன் ஆடி வர உள்ளமே தாவுதடா
In the tender age smelling of milk,
I was just like you.
In a silk-draped cradle,
I lay sleeping like a little sparrow.
When thinking of those days,
My age seems to turn back, my dear.
My heart leaps to dance alongside you!
கண்ணிரண்டும் தாமரையோ
கன்னம் மின்னும் எந்தன் கண்ணா
சின்னச் சின்ன கண்ணனுக்கு
என்னதான் புன்னகையோ
Are both your eyes lotus flowers?
Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine!
For the little Krishna, little child,
What a beautiful smile he has!
ஒருவரின் துடிப்பினிலே
விளைவது கவிதையடா
இருவரின் துடிப்பினிலே
விளைவது மழலையடா
From the throbbing heart of one person,
What blossoms is poetry, my dear.
From the shared throb of two hearts,
What blossoms is an innocent child, my dear.
Among all the fourteen languages,
What language compares to a child's speech?
It is a pure, innocent language,
A divine language granted by God.
ஒருவரின் துடிப்பினிலே
விளைவது கவிதையடா
இருவரின் துடிப்பினிலே
விளைவது மழலையடா
ஈரேழு மொழிகளிலே
என்ன மொழி பிள்ளை மொழி
கள்ளமற்ற வெள்ளை மொழி
தேவன் தந்த தெய்வ மொழி
Are both your eyes lotus flowers?
Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine!
For the little Krishna, little child,
What a beautiful smile he has!
கண்ணிரண்டும் தாமரையோ
கன்னம் மின்னும் எந்தன் கண்ணா
சின்னச் சின்ன கண்ணனுக்கு
என்னதான் புன்னகையோ
Even in a heart as soft as a flower,
This earth holds thorns, my dear...
These eyes can be wicked,
Even a smile can be a disguise.
பூ போன்ற நெஞ்சினிலும்
முள்ளிருக்கும் பூமியடா...
பொல்லாத கண்களடா
புன்னகையும் வேஷமடா......ஆ
Mankind is ungrateful,
That is the lesson I have learned.
Mankind is ungrateful,
That is the lesson I have learned.
If one could remain a child forever,
There would be no sorrow at all, my dear.
பூ போன்ற நெஞ்சினிலும்
முள்ளிருக்கும் பூமியடா...
பொல்லாத கண்களடா
புன்னகையும் வேஷமடா......ஆ
Are both your eyes lotus flowers?
Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine!
For the little Krishna, little child,
What a beautiful smile he has!
நன்றி கெட்ட மாந்தரடா
நானறிந்த பாடமடா
நன்றி கெட்ட மாந்தரடா
நானறிந்த பாடமடா
பிள்ளையாய் இருந்து விட்டால்
இல்லை ஒரு துன்பமடா
கண்ணிரண்டும் தாமரையோ
கன்னம் மின்னும் எந்தன் கண்ணா
சின்னச் சின்ன கண்ணனுக்கு
என்னதான் புன்னகையோ
Chinna chinna kannanukku
For the little Krishna, little child,
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
What a beautiful smile he has!
Chinna chinna kannanukku
For the little Krishna, little child,
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
What a beautiful smile he has!
Kannirandum thaamaraiyo
Are both your eyes lotus flowers?
Kannam minnum endhan kannaa
Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine!
Chinna chinna kannanukku
For the little Krishna, little child,
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
What a beautiful smile he has!
Chinna chinna kannanukku
For the little Krishna, little child,
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
What a beautiful smile he has!
Paal manakkum paruvathilae
In the tender age smelling of milk,
Unnai pol naan irundhen
I was just like you.
Pattaadai thottililae
In a silk-draped cradle,
Chittu pol paduthirundhen
I lay sleeping like a little sparrow.
An naalai ninaikkaiyilae
When thinking of those days,
En vayadhu maarudhadaa
My age seems to turn back, my dear.
Unnudan aadi vara ullamae thaavudhadaa
My heart leaps to dance alongside you!
Kannirandum thaamaraiyo
Are both your eyes lotus flowers?
Kannam minnum endhan kannaa
Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine!
Chinna chinna kannanukku
For the little Krishna, little child,
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
What a beautiful smile he has!
Oruvarin thudippinilae
From the throbbing heart of one person,
Vilaivadhu kavidhaiyadaa
What blossoms is poetry, my dear.
Iruvarin thudippinilae
From the shared throb of two hearts,
Vilaivadhu mazhalaiyadaa
What blossoms is an innocent child, my dear.
Eer ezhu mozhighalilae
Among all the fourteen languages,
Enna mozhi pillai mozhi
What language compares to a child's speech?
Kallamatra vellai mozhi
It is a pure, innocent language,
Dhevan thandha dheiva mozhi
A divine language granted by God.
Kannirandum thaamaraiyo
Are both your eyes lotus flowers?
Kannam minnum endhan kannaa
Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine!
Chinna chinna kannanukku
For the little Krishna, little child,
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
What a beautiful smile he has!
Poo pondra nenjinilum
Even in a heart as soft as a flower,
Mullirukkum boomiyadaa…
This earth holds thorns, my dear...
Pollaadha kangaladaa
These eyes can be wicked,
Punnagaiyum veshamadaa
Even a smile can be a disguise.
Nandri ketta maandharadaa
Mankind is ungrateful,
Naanarindha paadamadaa
That is the lesson I have learned.
Nandri ketta maandharadaa
Mankind is ungrateful,
Naanarindha paadamadaa
That is the lesson I have learned.
Pillaiyaai irundhu vittaal
If one could remain a child forever,
Illai oru thunbamadaa
There would be no sorrow at all, my dear.
Kannirandum thaamaraiyo
Are both your eyes lotus flowers?
Kannam minnum endhan kannaa
Oh my Kannaa, whose cheeks shine!
Chinna chinna kannanukku
For the little Krishna, little child,
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
What a beautiful smile he has!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Chinna Chinna Kannanukku from Vaazhkai Padagu (1965) is a soulful lullaby and reflective song centered on adoring a young child while contrasting the innocence of infancy with the deceptive, sorrowful realities of adult life. The narrator marvels at the baby's lotus-like eyes, golden cheeks, and innocent baby talk, calling it the purest divine language given by God. As the song transitions, the narrator reflects on their own lost childhood and laments the deceitfulness and ingratitude found in human relationships. The song concludes with a poignant philosophical takeaway that if human beings could remain children forever, the world would be free from sorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Endearment)
“Chinna chinna kannanukku”
The word 'Chinna' is repeated sequentially ('Chinna chinna') to emphasize extreme cuteness and affection toward the infant.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Chittu pol paduthirundhen”
The speaker compares sleeping in a silk cradle as a baby to a small sparrow ('Chittu pol').
Metaphor / Contrast
“Poo pondra nenjinilum / Mullirukkum boomiyadaa…”
Contrasts a tender, flower-like heart ('Poo pondra nenjinilum') with the harsh thorns of life ('Mullirukkum boomiyadaa').
Parallelism / Rhyme (Ethirai & Emonai)
“Oruvarin thudippinilae Vilaivadhu kavidhaiyadaa / Iruvarin thudippinilae Vilaivadhu mazhalaiyadaa”
Structured rhythmic parallelism comparing how a single heart's beat yields poetry while two hearts beating together yield a child.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Chinna Chinna Kannanukku' is from the 1965 Tamil movie 'Vaazhkai Padagu', directed by C. Srinivasan and starring Gemini Ganesan and Devika. The iconic music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with lyrics written by Kannadasan and sung timelessly by P. Susheela.
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