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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Kannile

From Then Nilavu · 1961

Lyricist: Kannadasan
Singers: A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela
Music director: A. M. Rajah
Movie name: Then Nilavu
Movie release year: 1961
Lyrics added on: 4 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Chinna

Chinna kannilae

Vanna vanna oviyam

Angum

Ingum yaar varavai

Theduthu thunai

Ingiruka yaarai

Enni paaduthu

Chinna

Chinna kannilae

Vanna vanna oviyam

Angum

Ingum yaar varavai

Theduthu thunai

Ingiruka yaarai

Enni paaduthu

{ Alli thandu

Polavae thulliyaadum

Meniyai velli nila alli

Kondadho adhil pulli

Mayil palli kondadho } (2)

Pulli

Podum thogaiyai

Velli vanna paavaiyai

Alli kondu pogalaagumo

Neeyum kalvanaaga maaralaguma

Chinna

Chinna kannilae

Vanna vanna oviyam

Angum

Ingum yaar varavai

Theduthu thunai

Ingiruka yaarai

Enni paaduthu

Chinna

Chinna kannilae

Vanna vanna oviyam

Angum

Ingum yaar varavai

Theduthu thunai

Ingiruka yaarai

Enni paaduthu

{ Pinni vaitha

Koondhalil mullai

Poovai soodinaal alli

Nadai pinnal poduma

Siru minnal idai poovai thaanguma } (2)

Minnal

Idai vaadinaal kanni

Undhan kaiyilae annam

Polae saaindhu kolluven

Adhil andhi pagal palli kolluven

Chinna

Chinna kannilae

Vanna vanna oviyam

Angum

Ingum yaar varavai

Theduthu thunai

Ingiruka yaarai

Enni paaduthu

Chinna

Chinna kannilae

Vanna vanna oviyam

Angum

Ingum yaar varavai

Theduthu thunai

Ingiruka yaarai

Enni paaduthu

In those little,

little eyes,

a colorful painting.

Here and

there, whose arrival

is it searching for? With your companion

right here, who

is it thinking of as it sings?

In those little,

little eyes,

a colorful painting.

Here and

there, whose arrival

is it searching for? With your companion

right here, who

is it thinking of as it sings?

{ Like a tender water lily stem,

dancing and swaying,

did the silver moon embrace this form,

and did a spotted

peacock come to rest on it? }

The one with patterned,

beautiful peacock feathers,

this doll with a silver glow—

can you simply sweep her away?

Should you really turn into a thief?

In those little,

little eyes,

a colorful painting.

Here and

there, whose arrival

is it searching for? With your companion

right here, who

is it thinking of as it sings?

In those little,

little eyes,

a colorful painting.

Here and

there, whose arrival

is it searching for? With your companion

right here, who

is it thinking of as it sings?

{ In your braided

hair, if you wear

wild jasmine flowers, will your graceful

footsteps begin to stumble?

Can your lightning-slender waist bear a flower's weight? }

If this lightning-slender

waist gets tired, I

will rest in your arms

just like a swan,

and sleep there night and day.

In those little,

little eyes,

a colorful painting.

Here and

there, whose arrival

is it searching for? With your companion

right here, who

is it thinking of as it sings?

In those little,

little eyes,

a colorful painting.

Here and

there, whose arrival

is it searching for? With your companion

right here, who

is it thinking of as it sings?

Male

Male

Female

Female

Male

Female

Female

Female

Male

Male

Male

Female

Female

Female

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful romance duet from 'Then Nilavu' expresses the sweet tease and tender intimacy between lovers. The song opens by admiring the vibrant expressions in the heroine's small eyes, describing them as colorful paintings searching eagerly for her beloved's arrival. The lovers exchange poetic metaphors comparing her body to a supple lotus stem dancing under silver moonlight and her grace to a resting peacock.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Reduplication / Repetition)

“Chinna Chinna kannilae / Vanna vanna oviyam”

Words like 'Chinna Chinna' and 'Vanna vanna' are repeated sequentially to emphasize delicacy and beauty.

Uvamai (Simile)

“Alli thandu Polavae thulliyaadum”

Comparing the heroine's supple, dancing body to a flexible lotus stem using the comparative word 'polavae'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Siru minnal idai poovai thaanguma”

Describing the woman's extremely slender waist directly as a flash of lightning ('minnal idai').

Monai and Edhugai (Tamil Rhyme Schemes)

“Angum / Ingum yaar varavai”

Use of matching initial consonants ('Angum' / 'Ingum') and secondary letter rhyming ('Minnal' / 'Annam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Released in 1961, 'Then Nilavu' was directed by C. V. Sridhar and was notable for being one of the earliest Tamil feature films extensively shot on location in Kashmir. The soundtrack was composed by singer-composer A. M. Rajah with iconic lyrics by Kannadasan, starring Gemini Ganesan and Vyjayanthimala.

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