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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Mazhai Thuligal

From En Swasa Kaatre · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
M. G. Sreekumar
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
En Swasa Kaatre1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kann kannEye, eye
Oru thuli vizhudhuA drop falls
Oru thuli vizhudhuA drop falls
Kann kann kann kannEye, eye, eye, eye
Oru thuli vizhudhuA drop falls
Oru thuli vizhudhuA drop falls
Male
Oru thuli…. iru thuliOne drop... two drops
Sila thuli… pala thuliA few drops... many drops
Padapada thadathadaPatter and clatter
Sadasadavena sidharudhuSplattering continuously everywhere
Male
{Chinna chinna mazhai thuligalTiny rain drops
Serthu vaippenoShall I collect and save them?
Minnal oliyil nool eduthuTaking thread from the light of lightning
Korthu vaippeno} (2)Shall I string them together?
Male
ChakkaravagamoTiny rain drops
Mazhayai arundhumamShall I collect and save them?
Naan sakkaravaga paravai aavenoTaking thread from the light of lightning
Mazhayin thaaraigalShall I string them together?
Vaira vizhidhugalIs it the Chakravaka bird?
Vizhudhu pidithu vinnil servenoThat drinks the rain drops
Male
Chinna chinna mazhai thuligalWill I become that Chakravaka bird?
Serthu vaippenoThe streams of rain
Minnal oliyil nool eduthuAre diamond aerial roots
Korthu vaippenoHolding onto these roots, shall I reach the sky?
Male
Siru poovinilae vizhundhalTiny rain drops
Oru thaen thuliyai varuvaiShall I collect and save them?
Siru sippiyilae vizhundhalTaking thread from the light of lightning
Oru muthu-enavae mudhirvaiShall I string them together?
Male
Payir verinilae vizhundhalIf falling upon a tiny flower
Navadhaniyamai vilaivaaiYou become a drop of honey
En kan vizhikkul vizhundhadhanalIf falling inside a small seashell
Kavidhayaga malarndhaiYou mature into a pearl
Male
Andha iyarkai annai padaithaIf falling at the roots of crops
Oru periya shower idhuYou yield as nine types of grains
Ada indha vayadhu kazhindhalBecause you fell into my eyes
Piragengu nanaivadhuYou bloomed as a poem
Ival kanniyenbadhai indha mazhaiCreated by mother nature
Kandu arindhu solliyadhuThis is a grand shower
Male
ChakkaravagamoOh, once this youth passes
Mazhayai arundhumamWhere else can one get drenched?
Naan sakkaravaga paravai aavenoThat she is a maiden, this rain
Mazhayin thaaraigalRealized and announced to all
Vaira vizhidhugalIs it the Chakravaka bird?
Vizhudhu pidithu vinnil servenoThat drinks the rain drops
Male
Ohooo…oooooooooooooWill I become that Chakravaka bird?
Ohoo..oo hoo..ohoo..ooohoooThe streams of rain
Ohooo…hoo…oooooAre diamond aerial roots
Male
Mazhai kavidhai kondu varudhuHolding onto these roots, shall I reach the sky?
Yaarum kadavadaikka vendamOhooo...
Oru karuppu kodi kaati yaarumOhoo...oo hoo...
Kudai pidikka vendamOhooo...
Male
Idhu devadhayin parisuRain brings poetry with it
Yaarum thirumbi kolla vendamLet no one shut their doors
Nedun-chalayilae nanaiya oruvarShowing a black flag, let no one
Sammadhamum vendamOpen an umbrella
Male
Andha megam surandha paalilThis is a gift from the angel
Yen nanaiya marukkiraiLet no one turn away from it
Nee vaazha vandha vaazhvilTo get drenched on the highway
Oru pagudhi izakkiraiOne does not need anyone's permission
{Nee kangal moodi karaiyum podhuIn the milk secreted by those clouds
Mannil sorgam eeidhuvaai} (2)Why do you refuse to get drenched?
Male
Ohoo..oo hoo..ohoo..ooohoooIn this life you came to live
Ohoo..oo hoo..ohoo..ooohoooYou are losing a whole part of it
Ohoo..oo hoo..ohoo..ooohoooWhen you close your eyes and dissolve
Male
ChakkaravagamoYou will attain heaven on earth
Mazhayai arundhumamWhen you close your eyes and dissolve
Naan sakkaravaga paravai aavenoYou will attain heaven on earth
Mazhayin thaaraigalOhoo...oo hoo...
Vaira vizhidhugalOhoo...oo hoo...
Vizhudhu pidithu vinnil servenoOhoo...oo hoo...
Male
{Chinna chinna mazhai thuligalIs it the Chakravaka bird?
Serthu vaippenoThat drinks the rain drops
Minnal oliyil nool eduthuWill I become that Chakravaka bird?
Korthu vaippeno} (2)The streams of rain

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chinna Chinna Mazhai Thuligal from the 1999 film En Swasa Kaatre is an exuberant celebration of rain, youth, and emotional awakening. Lyricist Vairamuthu personifies rain drops as life-giving drops of nectar that transform depending on where they land—becoming honey on flowers, pearls inside seashells, food crops in soil, and pure poetry when falling into human eyes. The song urges everyone to cast aside umbrellas and enjoy nature's divine gift freely without hesitation. The song encourages living in the moment, reminding the listener that youth is fleeting and getting drenched in nature's rain is a heavenly experience on earth. Through imagery of lightning threads and diamond aerial roots, the song expresses a deep spiritual and playful connection between humanity and nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi / Sound Symbolism)

Padapada thadathada / Sadasadavena sidharudhu

Rhythmic sound words 'Padapada thadathada sadasadavena' mimic the sudden patter and splattering sound of heavy rain falling.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Mazhayin thaaraigal / Vaira vizhidhugal

Streams of rain drops are poetically compared to shimmering diamond aerial roots (banyan roots) hanging down from the sky.

Mythological Allusion

Chakkaravagamo / Mazhayai arundhumam

Refers to the classical Indian avian mythology of the Chakravaka (or Chataka) bird, which is believed to survive solely by drinking falling rain drops directly from the sky.

Personification & Metaphor

En kan vizhikkul vizhundhadhanal / Kavidhayaga malarndhai

Rain drops are described as changing state dynamically based on contact—turning to honey, pearls, crops, and blooming as poetry when entering the eyes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for the film En Swasa Kaatre (1999), this track features rich vocal harmonies and percussive instrumentation designed to replicate the rhythm of rainfall. The lyrics by Vairamuthu draw inspiration from classical Sangam literature motifs regarding monsoon rain and nature's transformative power.

Keep listening

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