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En Swasa Kaatre album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Mazhai Thuligal

From En Swasa Kaatre · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
M. G. Sreekumar
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
En Swasa Kaatre
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
12 Jul 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kann kann
Oru thuli vizhudhu
Oru thuli vizhudhu
Kann kann kann kann
Oru thuli vizhudhu
Oru thuli vizhudhu
Oru thuli…. iru thuli
Sila thuli… pala thuli
Padapada thadathada
Sadasadavena sidharudhu
{Chinna chinna mazhai thuligal
Serthu vaippeno
Minnal oliyil nool eduthu
Korthu vaippeno} (2)
Chakkaravagamo
Mazhayai arundhumam
Naan sakkaravaga paravai aaveno
Mazhayin thaaraigal
Vaira vizhidhugal
Vizhudhu pidithu vinnil serveno
Chinna chinna mazhai thuligal
Serthu vaippeno
Minnal oliyil nool eduthu
Korthu vaippeno
Siru poovinilae vizhundhal
Oru thaen thuliyai varuvai
Siru sippiyilae vizhundhal
Oru muthu-enavae mudhirvai
Payir verinilae vizhundhal
Navadhaniyamai vilaivaai
En kan vizhikkul vizhundhadhanal
Kavidhayaga malarndhai
Andha iyarkai annai padaitha
Oru periya shower idhu
Ada indha vayadhu kazhindhal
Piragengu nanaivadhu
Ival kanniyenbadhai indha mazhai
Kandu arindhu solliyadhu
Chakkaravagamo
Mazhayai arundhumam
Naan sakkaravaga paravai aaveno
Mazhayin thaaraigal
Vaira vizhidhugal
Vizhudhu pidithu vinnil serveno
Ohooo…ooooooooooooo
Ohoo..oo hoo..ohoo..ooohooo
Ohooo…hoo…ooooo
Mazhai kavidhai kondu varudhu
Yaarum kadavadaikka vendam
Oru karuppu kodi kaati yaarum
Kudai pidikka vendam
Idhu devadhayin parisu
Yaarum thirumbi kolla vendam
Nedun-chalayilae nanaiya oruvar
Sammadhamum vendam
Andha megam surandha paalil
Yen nanaiya marukkirai
Nee vaazha vandha vaazhvil
Oru pagudhi izakkirai
{Nee kangal moodi karaiyum podhu
Mannil sorgam eeidhuvaai} (2)
Ohoo..oo hoo..ohoo..ooohooo
Ohoo..oo hoo..ohoo..ooohooo
Ohoo..oo hoo..ohoo..ooohooo
Chakkaravagamo
Mazhayai arundhumam
Naan sakkaravaga paravai aaveno
Mazhayin thaaraigal
Vaira vizhidhugal
Vizhudhu pidithu vinnil serveno
{Chinna chinna mazhai thuligal
Serthu vaippeno
Minnal oliyil nool eduthu
Korthu vaippeno} (2)
Kan, kan...
A single drop falls,
A single drop falls,
Kan, kan, kan, kan...
A single drop falls,
A single drop falls,
One drop... two drops...
A few drops... many drops...
Pitter-patter, clatter-clatter,
Splattering in a sudden rush!
Will I gather all these tiny raindrops,
And save them up?
Will I make a thread from lightning,
And string them into a garland?
The Chakravaka (mythical rain bird),
Drinks only the rain, they say;
Will I too become a Chakravaka bird?
The streams of falling rain,
Are hanging roots of diamond;
Will I hold those roots and climb to the sky?
Will I gather all these tiny raindrops,
And save them up?
Will I make a thread from lightning,
And string them into a garland?
If you fall upon a little flower,
You become a drop of honey;
If you fall into a small oyster shell,
You mature into a pearl;
If you fall at the roots of crops,
You grow into harvest grains;
Because you fell into my eyes,
You blossomed into poetry!
This is a giant shower,
Created by Mother Nature herself!
Ah, once this youthful age passes,
Where else can we get drenched like this?
That she is an innocent girl,
This rain discovered and told the world!
The Chakravaka (mythical rain bird),
Drinks only the rain, they say;
Will I too become a Chakravaka bird?
The streams of falling rain,
Are hanging roots of diamond;
Will I hold those roots and climb to the sky?
Oh-hoo... oh-oh-oh...
Oh-hoo... oo-hoo... oh-hoo... oh-oo-hoo...
Oh-hoo... hoo... oh-oh-oh...
The rain brings poetry with it,
No one should shut their doors!
Like raising a black flag of protest,
No one should open an umbrella!
This is an angel's gift,
No one should turn away!
To get drenched on the open highway,
You don't need anyone's permission!
In this milk showered by the clouds,
Why do you refuse to get soaked?
In the life you were given to live,
You are missing out on a precious part!
When you close your eyes and lose yourself,
You will find heaven right here on earth!
Oh-hoo... oo-hoo... oh-hoo... oh-oo-hoo...
Oh-hoo... oo-hoo... oh-hoo... oh-oo-hoo...
Oh-hoo... oo-hoo... oh-hoo... oh-oo-hoo...
The Chakravaka (mythical rain bird),
Drinks only the rain, they say;
Will I too become a Chakravaka bird?
The streams of falling rain,
Are hanging roots of diamond;
Will I hold those roots and climb to the sky?
Will I gather all these tiny raindrops,
And save them up?
Will I make a thread from lightning,
And string them into a garland?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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