Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Mookuthiyaam

From Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar · 1960

Lyricist
K. C. S. Arunachalam
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. B. Sreenivas
Details
Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Chinna chinna mookuthiyaamIt is a tiny little nose stud
Segappukallu mookuthiyaamA nose stud set with a red stone
Chinna chinna mookuthiyaamIt is a tiny little nose stud
Segappukallu mookuthiyaamA nose stud set with a red stone
Kanni ponnae un oiyaarang kanduOh maiden, seeing your graceful elegance
Kannai simittura mookuthiyaamThe nose stud seems to wink its eye
Kannai simittura mookuthiyaamThe nose stud seems to wink its eye
Kannai simittura mookuthiyaamThe nose stud seems to wink its eye
Male
Vethila potta un vaai sevakkumChewing betel leaves turns your mouth red
Kannam vekkathinalae sevanthirukkumYour cheeks turn red out of shyness
Vethila potta un vaai sevakkumChewing betel leaves turns your mouth red
Kannam vekkathinalae sevanthirukkumYour cheeks turn red out of shyness
Male
Muthum sirippil maranjirukkumPearls are hidden in your smile
HoiiiHoiii
Muthum sirippil maranjirukkumPearls are hidden in your smile
Un mugathil thaamarai poothirukkumA lotus blooms on your face
Male
Chinna chinna mookuthiyaamIt is a tiny little nose stud
Segappukallu mookuthiyaamA nose stud set with a red stone
Male
Alli sorugiya kondaiyilaeIn the bun loosely gathered and tied
Endhan aavi siraiundirukkudhadiMy soul lies imprisoned, my dear
Alli sorugiya kondaiyilaeIn the bun loosely gathered and tied
Endhan aavi siraiundirukkudhadiMy soul lies imprisoned, my dear
Male
Thulli thirigira rendu kannuThe two playful, dancing eyes
Adhai solli sirikkudhu onnukkonnuTalk to each other and laugh aloud
Male
Chinna chinna mookuthiyaamIt is a tiny little nose stud
Segappukallu mookuthiyaamA nose stud set with a red stone
Kanni ponnae un oiyaarang kanduOh maiden, seeing your graceful elegance
Kannai simittura mookuthiyaamThe nose stud seems to wink its eye
Kannai simittura mookuthiyaamThe nose stud seems to wink its eye
Kannai simittura mookuthiyaamThe nose stud seems to wink its eye
Male
Kazhuthai suthiyoor attiyalaamAround her neck sits a close-fitting necklace
Un kattazhagae oru pattiyalaamYour sculpted beauty is a catalog of marvels
Kazhuthai suthiyoor attiyalaamAround her neck sits a close-fitting necklace
Un kattazhagae oru pattiyalaamYour sculpted beauty is a catalog of marvels
Male
Uzhaikkum maeni karuthirukkumThe hardworking body has turned dark
HoiiiHoiii
Uzhaikkum maeni karuthirukkumThe hardworking body has turned dark
Paechu ovvovonnum thaena inichirukkumEvery word spoken tastes as sweet as honey
Male
Chinna chinna mookuthiyaamIt is a tiny little nose stud
Segappukallu mookuthiyaamA nose stud set with a red stone
Male
Nethiyil pottu palapalakkumThe bindi on her forehead sparkles brightly
Kannu nenjai izhuthu ennai mayakkumHer eyes tug at my heart and entrance me
Nethiyil pottu palapalakkumThe bindi on her forehead sparkles brightly
Kannu nenjai izhuthu ennai mayakkumHer eyes tug at my heart and entrance me
Male
Pithu pidichavan endru soliCalling me a man driven mad with passion
Ennai pesi pesi indha oor sirikkumThis whole town gossips and laughs at me
Male
Chinna chinna mookuthiyaamIt is a tiny little nose stud
Segappukallu mookuthiyaamA nose stud set with a red stone
Kanni ponnae un oiyaarang kanduOh maiden, seeing your graceful elegance
Kannai simittura mookuthiyaamThe nose stud seems to wink its eye
Kannai simittura mookuthiyaamThe nose stud seems to wink its eye
Ponnae kannai simittura mookuthiyaamGolden girl, the nose stud seems to wink its eye

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil folk-inspired song expresses a lover's deep admiration for a working-class woman's natural charm and traditional ornaments. He marvels at her tiny red-gemmed nose stud, which seems to playfully wink at him whenever she moves with grace. He vividly describes her beauty—her blushing cheeks, lotus-like face, pearly smile, and her dark, sun-kissed skin honed by hard labor. He confesses that his heart and soul feel captivated by her presence, to the point where the villagers tease him for being hopelessly infatuated with her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagimathal)

Kannai simittura mookuthiyaam

Attributing human traits like winking ('Kannai simittura') to an inanimate object, the nose stud.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvam)

Un mugathil thaamarai poothirukkum

Comparing her teeth to pearls ('Muthum sirippil') and her face to a blooming lotus ('Mugathil thaamarai poothirukkum').

Repetition / Monorime (Anupirasam / Edugai)

Chinna chinna mookuthiyaam

Repetition of words like 'Chinna chinna' and rhyming end structures across verses for musical rhythm.

Simile / Hyperbole (Uvamana)

Paechu ovvovonnum thaena inichirukkum

Describing her sweet speech as honey ('thaena inichirukkum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar (1960) is an iconic Tamil movie produced by the left-leaning Kovai Azaad group, featuring music composed by M. B. Sreenivasan. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and is renowned for introducing realistic portrayals of working-class people and folk musical sensibilities to Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar