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Vaazhkai Padagu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Kannanukku

From Vaazhkai Padagu · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Vaazhkai Padagu
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
3 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chinna chinna kannanukku
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
Chinna chinna kannanukku
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
Kannirandum thaamaraiyo
Kannam minnum endhan kannaa
Chinna chinna kannanukku
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
Chinna chinna kannanukku
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
Paal manakkum paruvathilae
Unnai pol naan irundhen
Pattaadai thottililae
Chittu pol paduthirundhen
An naalai ninaikkaiyilae
En vayadhu maarudhadaa
Unnudan aadi vara ullamae thaavudhadaa
Kannirandum thaamaraiyo
Kannam minnum endhan kannaa
Chinna chinna kannanukku
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
Oruvarin thudippinilae
Vilaivadhu kavidhaiyadaa
Iruvarin thudippinilae
Vilaivadhu mazhalaiyadaa
Eer ezhu mozhighalilae
Enna mozhi pillai mozhi
Kallamatra vellai mozhi
Dhevan thandha dheiva mozhi
Kannirandum thaamaraiyo
Kannam minnum endhan kannaa
Chinna chinna kannanukku
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
Poo pondra nenjinilum
Mullirukkum boomiyadaa…
Pollaadha kangaladaa
Punnagaiyum veshamadaa
Nandri ketta maandharadaa
Naanarindha paadamadaa
Nandri ketta maandharadaa
Naanarindha paadamadaa
Pillaiyaai irundhu vittaal
Illai oru thunbamadaa
Kannirandum thaamaraiyo
Kannam minnum endhan kannaa
Chinna chinna kannanukku
Enna thaan punnagaiyo
For my sweet little Kannan,
what a wondrous smile you have!
For my sweet little Kannan,
what a wondrous smile you have!
Are both your eyes lotus blossoms?
My Kannan whose cheeks glow so bright!
For my sweet little Kannan,
what a wondrous smile you have!
For my sweet little Kannan,
what a wondrous smile you have!
In babyhood smelling sweet of milk,
I was once just like you.
Lying in a silk cradle,
I rested like a little bird.
When I think of those days,
my age seems to roll back.
My heart leaps to dance and play with you!
Are both your eyes lotus blossoms?
My Kannan whose cheeks glow so bright!
For my sweet little Kannan,
what a wondrous smile you have!
From the beating of one heart,
poetry is born.
From the beating of two hearts together,
a child's sweet babble is born.
Among all the languages in the world,
what language compares to a child's speech?
It is an innocent, pure language,
a divine gift from God.
Are both your eyes lotus blossoms?
My Kannan whose cheeks glow so bright!
For my sweet little Kannan,
what a wondrous smile you have!
Even inside a heart as gentle as a flower,
this earth keeps hidden thorns...
Cruel eyes are watching everywhere,
and smiles are only masks.
People here are ungrateful,
that is the lesson I have learned.
People here are ungrateful,
that is the lesson I have learned.
If only one could remain a child,
there would never be any sorrow.
Are both your eyes lotus blossoms?
My Kannan whose cheeks glow so bright!
For my sweet little Kannan,
what a wondrous smile you have!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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