Chinna Chinna Kanni
From Kattu Roja · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kattu Roja1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna kanni | As a small young maiden, |
| Enakkenna vendum | What do I need? |
| Dhevan avan thiruvadi | The shadow beneath the sacred feet |
| Nizhal vendum | Of the Almighty Lord is what I need. |
| Chinna chinna kanni | As a small young maiden, |
| Enakkenna vendum | What do I need? |
| Dhevan avan thiruvadi | The shadow beneath the sacred feet |
| Nizhal vendum | Of the Almighty Lord is what I need. |
| Female | |
| Vanna vanna kanni | As a vibrant young maiden, |
| Enakkenna vendum | What do I need? |
| Avan vaasalukku sella oru | To reach His divine doorstep, a |
| Vazhi vendum | Way forward is what I need. |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna kanni | As a small young maiden, |
| Enakkenna vendum | What do I need? |
| Dhevan avan thiruvadi | The shadow beneath the sacred feet |
| Nizhal vendum | Of the Almighty Lord is what I need. |
| Female | |
| {Manjalukku vanji andru | {For marital sacred turmeric, back then, I, |
| Vaadi nindren | Stood withering away, |
| Manamangalathai kangalilae | Hoping for matrimonial joy in my eyes, |
| Thaedi nindren} (2) | I stood searching in hope} (2) |
| Female | |
| Thanjamendru nenjamondril | Seeking solace in a loving heart, |
| Aadi nindren | I danced with joy, |
| Indru thannanthaniyaaga | Today, utterly alone, |
| Nindru vaadugindren | I stand and wither in pain. |
| Ammammaa ammammaa ammammaa | Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna kanni | As a small young maiden, |
| Enakkenna vendum | What do I need? |
| Dhevan avan thiruvadi | The shadow beneath the sacred feet |
| Nizhal vendum | Of the Almighty Lord is what I need. |
| Female | |
| {Kaattu magal veedu vittu | {Leaving her forest abode, the wild girl |
| Naadu sendren | Traveled to the country, |
| Dheiva kaadhalukku paatteduthu | Singing praises of divine love, |
| Paadi nindren} (2) | I stood singing} (2) |
| Female | |
| Naattu makkal vaasal thannai | Hoping at the doorways of the country folk, |
| Naadi nindren | I stood yearning, |
| Indru naadum illai kaadum illai | Today I have neither country nor forest, |
| Vaadugindren | I languish in despair. |
| Ammammaa ammammaa ammammaa | Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! |
| Female | |
| {Naalai varum paavaiyarkku | {To the young women of tomorrow, |
| Oru vaarthai | A single word of advice: |
| Kaadhal naadagathil neengal | In this tragedy called love's drama, you |
| Pangupera vendaam} | Should not participate} |
| Female | |
| Kaalaiyarkku kaadhal mozhi | To young men, words of romance |
| Thara vendaam | Do not offer, |
| Iru kan kalangi vaazhvizhandhu | Do not let both eyes tear up, lose life, |
| Keda vendaam | And end up ruined. |
| Ammammaa ammammaa ammammaa | Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna kanni | As a small young maiden, |
| Enakkenna vendum | What do I need? |
| Dhevan avan thiruvadi | The shadow beneath the sacred feet |
| Nizhal vendum | Of the Almighty Lord is what I need. |
| Vanna vanna kanni | As a vibrant young maiden, |
| Enakkenna vendum… | What do I need... |
| Avan vaasalukku sella oru vazhi vendum… | To reach His divine doorstep, a way forward is needed... |
| Oru vazhi vendum… | A way forward is needed... |
சின்ன சின்னக் கன்னி
எனக்கென்ன வேண்டும்
தேவனவன் திருவடி
நிழல் வேண்டும்
As a small young maiden,
What do I need?
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
As a small young maiden,
What do I need?
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
சின்ன சின்னக் கன்னி
எனக்கென்ன வேண்டும்
தேவனவன் திருவடி
நிழல் வேண்டும்
As a vibrant young maiden,
What do I need?
To reach His divine doorstep, a
Way forward is what I need.
வண்ண வண்ணக் கன்னி
எனக்கென்ன வேண்டும்
அவன் வாசலுக்குச் செல்ல
ஒரு வழி வேண்டும்
As a small young maiden,
What do I need?
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
சின்ன சின்னக் கன்னி
எனக்கென்ன வேண்டும்
தேவனவன் திருவடி
நிழல் வேண்டும்
{For marital sacred turmeric, back then, I,
Stood withering away,
Hoping for matrimonial joy in my eyes,
I stood searching in hope} (2)
{மஞ்சளுக்கு வஞ்சியன்று
வாடி நின்றேன்
மண மங்கலத்தை கண்களிலே
தேடி நின்றேன்} (2)
Seeking solace in a loving heart,
I danced with joy,
Today, utterly alone,
I stand and wither in pain.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
தஞ்சமென்று நெஞ்சமொன்றில்
ஆடி நின்றேன்
இன்று தன்னந்தனியாக
நின்று வாடுகின்றேன்
அம்மமம்மா அம்மமம்மா அம்மமம்மா
As a small young maiden,
What do I need?
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
சின்ன சின்னக் கன்னி
எனக்கென்ன வேண்டும்
தேவனவன் திருவடி
நிழல் வேண்டும்
{Leaving her forest abode, the wild girl
Traveled to the country,
Singing praises of divine love,
I stood singing} (2)
{காட்டு மகள் வீடு விட்டு
நாடு சென்றேன்
தெய்வ காதலுக்குப் பாட்டெடுத்துப்
பாடி நின்றேன்} (2)
Hoping at the doorways of the country folk,
I stood yearning,
Today I have neither country nor forest,
I languish in despair.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
நாட்டு மக்கள் வாசல் தன்னை
நாடி நின்றேன்
இன்று நாடுமில்லை காடுமில்லை
வாடுகின்றேன்
அம்மம்மா அம்மம்மா அம்மம்மா
{To the young women of tomorrow,
A single word of advice:
In this tragedy called love's drama, you
Should not participate}
{நாளை வரும் பாவையர்க்கு
ஒரு வார்த்தை
காதல் நாடகத்தில் நீங்கள்
பங்கு பெற வேண்டாம்} (2)
To young men, words of romance
Do not offer,
Do not let both eyes tear up, lose life,
And end up ruined.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
காளையர்க்கு காதல் மொழி
தர வேண்டாம்
இரு கண்கலங்கி வாழ்விழந்து
கெட வேண்டாம்
அம்மமம்மா அம்மமம்மா அம்மமம்மா
As a small young maiden,
What do I need?
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
As a vibrant young maiden,
What do I need...
To reach His divine doorstep, a way forward is needed...
A way forward is needed...
சின்ன சின்னக் கன்னி
எனக்கென்ன வேண்டும்
தேவனவன் திருவடி
நிழல் வேண்டும்
வண்ண வண்ணக் கன்னி
எனக்கென்ன வேண்டும்
அவன் வாசலுக்குச் செல்ல
ஒரு வழி வேண்டும்
ஒரு வழி வேண்டும்
Chinna chinna kanni
As a small young maiden,
Enakkenna vendum
What do I need?
Dhevan avan thiruvadi
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Nizhal vendum
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
Chinna chinna kanni
As a small young maiden,
Enakkenna vendum
What do I need?
Dhevan avan thiruvadi
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Nizhal vendum
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
Vanna vanna kanni
As a vibrant young maiden,
Enakkenna vendum
What do I need?
Avan vaasalukku sella oru
To reach His divine doorstep, a
Vazhi vendum
Way forward is what I need.
Chinna chinna kanni
As a small young maiden,
Enakkenna vendum
What do I need?
Dhevan avan thiruvadi
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Nizhal vendum
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
{Manjalukku vanji andru
{For marital sacred turmeric, back then, I,
Vaadi nindren
Stood withering away,
Manamangalathai kangalilae
Hoping for matrimonial joy in my eyes,
Thaedi nindren} (2)
I stood searching in hope} (2)
Thanjamendru nenjamondril
Seeking solace in a loving heart,
Aadi nindren
I danced with joy,
Indru thannanthaniyaaga
Today, utterly alone,
Nindru vaadugindren
I stand and wither in pain.
Ammammaa ammammaa ammammaa
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
Chinna chinna kanni
As a small young maiden,
Enakkenna vendum
What do I need?
Dhevan avan thiruvadi
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Nizhal vendum
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
{Kaattu magal veedu vittu
{Leaving her forest abode, the wild girl
Naadu sendren
Traveled to the country,
Dheiva kaadhalukku paatteduthu
Singing praises of divine love,
Paadi nindren} (2)
I stood singing} (2)
Naattu makkal vaasal thannai
Hoping at the doorways of the country folk,
Naadi nindren
I stood yearning,
Indru naadum illai kaadum illai
Today I have neither country nor forest,
Vaadugindren
I languish in despair.
Ammammaa ammammaa ammammaa
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
{Naalai varum paavaiyarkku
{To the young women of tomorrow,
Oru vaarthai
A single word of advice:
Kaadhal naadagathil neengal
In this tragedy called love's drama, you
Pangupera vendaam}
Should not participate}
Kaalaiyarkku kaadhal mozhi
To young men, words of romance
Thara vendaam
Do not offer,
Iru kan kalangi vaazhvizhandhu
Do not let both eyes tear up, lose life,
Keda vendaam
And end up ruined.
Ammammaa ammammaa ammammaa
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
Chinna chinna kanni
As a small young maiden,
Enakkenna vendum
What do I need?
Dhevan avan thiruvadi
The shadow beneath the sacred feet
Nizhal vendum
Of the Almighty Lord is what I need.
Vanna vanna kanni
As a vibrant young maiden,
Enakkenna vendum…
What do I need...
Avan vaasalukku sella oru vazhi vendum…
To reach His divine doorstep, a way forward is needed...
Oru vazhi vendum…
A way forward is needed...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Chinna Chinna Kanni' expresses the deep sorrow and heartbreak of a young maiden who gave up her forest home in search of love and marital bliss in the civilized world. After enduring deception and abandonment, she finds herself belonging neither to the country nor to the forest. Disillusioned with worldly romantic pursuits, she seeks shelter exclusively under God's divine grace and cautions future young women against falling into the tragic trap of romantic love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Chinna chinna kanni / Enakkenna vendum”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent lines or words, such as 'Chinna' and 'Enakkenna', or 'Kaattu' and 'Naattu'.
Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Manjalukku vanji andru / Manamangalathai kangalilae”
Matching second consonants across lines like 'Manjalukku', 'Manamangalathai', and 'Thanjamendru'.
Metaphor
“Kaadhal naadagathil neengal pangupera vendaam”
Comparing romantic love and its deceptions to a drama ('Kaadhal naadagam').
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from the 1963 film 'Kattu Roja' features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics written by Kannadasan, famously sung by P. Susheela. It poignantly captures the predicament of a tribal/forest girl coming into urban society and being betrayed.
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