Chinna Chinna Nadai
From Kaveriyin Kanavan · 1959
- Lyricist
- P. K. Muthusami
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kaveriyin Kanavan1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu | Walking with small, tiny steps, |
| Sembavala vaai thirandhu | Opening your red coral-like mouth, |
| Amma endru nee azhaithaal | When you call out "Mother", |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu | Walking with small, tiny steps, |
| Sembavala vaai thirandhu | Opening your red coral-like mouth, |
| Amma endru nee azhaithaal | When you call out "Mother", |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
| Female | |
| Vinnilaadum vennilavae | O white moon dancing in the sky, |
| Veetil aadum mani vilakke | O jewel lamp shining in the house, |
| Vinnilaadum vennilavae | O white moon dancing in the sky, |
| Veetil aadum mani vilakke | O jewel lamp shining in the house, |
| Unnil uyarndhavar ulagil yaaru | Who in this world is greater than you? |
| Kannilaadum kaaviyamae | O epic poem dancing in my eyes! |
| Unnil uyarndhavar ulagil yaaru | Who in this world is greater than you? |
| Kannilaadum kaaviyamae | O epic poem dancing in my eyes! |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu | Walking with small, tiny steps, |
| Sembavala vaai thirandhu | Opening your red coral-like mouth, |
| Amma endru nee azhaithaal | When you call out "Mother", |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
| Female | |
| Aadi varum thendral enbaar | They speak of the dancing gentle breeze, |
| Paadi varum aruvi enbaar | They speak of the singing waterfall, |
| Aadi varum thendral enbaar | They speak of the dancing gentle breeze, |
| Paadi varum aruvi enbaar | They speak of the singing waterfall, |
| Thedi varum selvam un pol | But like you, a treasure that comes seeking us, |
| Deivam veru illaiyada | There is no other god, my child! |
| Thedi varum selvam un pol | But like you, a treasure that comes seeking us, |
| Deivam veru illaiyada | There is no other god, my child! |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu | Walking with small, tiny steps, |
| Sembavala vaai thirandhu | Opening your red coral-like mouth, |
| Amma endru nee azhaithaal | When you call out "Mother", |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
| Female | |
| Konjum mazhalai ketkaiyilae | When listening to your lisping, babbling speech, |
| Kuzhalum yaazhum poiyandro | Aren't the flute and the harp false in comparison? |
| Konjum mazhalai ketkaiyilae | When listening to your lisping, babbling speech, |
| Kuzhalum yaazhum poiyandro | Aren't the flute and the harp false in comparison? |
| Maevum thamizhae unnai yandri | O cherished Tamil, except for you, |
| Veru sondham illaiyada | I have no other relation, my child! |
| Maevum thamizhae unnai yandri | O cherished Tamil, except for you, |
| Veru sondham illaiyada | I have no other relation, my child! |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu | Walking with small, tiny steps, |
| Sembavala vaai thirandhu | Opening your red coral-like mouth, |
| Amma endru nee azhaithaal | When you call out "Mother", |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
| Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada | A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth! |
சின்னச் சின்ன நடை நடந்து
செம்பவள வாய் திறந்து
அம்மா என்று நீ அழைத்தால்
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா.....
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
When you call out "Mother",
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
சின்னச் சின்ன நடை நடந்து
செம்பவள வாய் திறந்து
அம்மா என்று நீ அழைத்தால்
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா....
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா....
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
When you call out "Mother",
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
விண்ணிலாடும் வெண்ணிலவே
வீட்டிலாடும் மணிவிளக்கே
விண்ணிலாடும் வெண்ணிலவே
வீட்டிலாடும் மணிவிளக்கே
உன்னில் உயர்ந்தவர் உலகில் யாரோ
கண்ணிலாடும் காவியமே.....
உன்னில் உயர்ந்தவர் உலகில் யாரோ
கண்ணிலாடும் காவியமே.....
O white moon dancing in the sky,
O jewel lamp shining in the house,
O white moon dancing in the sky,
O jewel lamp shining in the house,
Who in this world is greater than you?
O epic poem dancing in my eyes!
Who in this world is greater than you?
O epic poem dancing in my eyes!
சின்னச் சின்ன நடை நடந்து
செம்பவள வாய் திறந்து
அம்மா என்று நீ அழைத்தால்
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா....
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா....
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
When you call out "Mother",
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
ஆடி வரும் தென்றலென்பார்
பாடி வரும் அருவி என்பார்
ஆடி வரும் தென்றலென்பார்
பாடி வரும் அருவி என்பார்
தேடி வரும் செல்வம் உன்போல்
தெய்வம் வேறு இல்லையடா...
தேடி வரும் செல்வம் உன்போல்
தெய்வம் வேறு இல்லையடா.....
They speak of the dancing gentle breeze,
They speak of the singing waterfall,
They speak of the dancing gentle breeze,
They speak of the singing waterfall,
But like you, a treasure that comes seeking us,
There is no other god, my child!
But like you, a treasure that comes seeking us,
There is no other god, my child!
சின்னச் சின்ன நடை நடந்து
செம்பவள வாய் திறந்து
அம்மா என்று நீ அழைத்தால்
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா....
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா....
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
When you call out "Mother",
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
கொஞ்சும் மழலை கேட்கையிலே
குழலும் யாழும் பொய்யன்றோ
கொஞ்சும் மழலை கேட்கையிலே
குழலும் யாழும் பொய்யன்றோ
மேவும் தமிழே உன்னையன்றி
வேறு சொந்தம் இல்லையடா...
மேவும் தமிழே உன்னையன்றி
வேறு சொந்தம் இல்லையடா...
When listening to your lisping, babbling speech,
Aren't the flute and the harp false in comparison?
When listening to your lisping, babbling speech,
Aren't the flute and the harp false in comparison?
O cherished Tamil, except for you,
I have no other relation, my child!
O cherished Tamil, except for you,
I have no other relation, my child!
சின்னச் சின்ன நடை நடந்து
செம்பவள வாய் திறந்து
அம்மா என்று நீ அழைத்தால்
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா....
அமுத கானம் பொழியுதடா....
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
When you call out "Mother",
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Sembavala vaai thirandhu
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
Amma endru nee azhaithaal
When you call out "Mother",
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Sembavala vaai thirandhu
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
Amma endru nee azhaithaal
When you call out "Mother",
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Vinnilaadum vennilavae
O white moon dancing in the sky,
Veetil aadum mani vilakke
O jewel lamp shining in the house,
Vinnilaadum vennilavae
O white moon dancing in the sky,
Veetil aadum mani vilakke
O jewel lamp shining in the house,
Unnil uyarndhavar ulagil yaaru
Who in this world is greater than you?
Kannilaadum kaaviyamae
O epic poem dancing in my eyes!
Unnil uyarndhavar ulagil yaaru
Who in this world is greater than you?
Kannilaadum kaaviyamae
O epic poem dancing in my eyes!
Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Sembavala vaai thirandhu
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
Amma endru nee azhaithaal
When you call out "Mother",
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Aadi varum thendral enbaar
They speak of the dancing gentle breeze,
Paadi varum aruvi enbaar
They speak of the singing waterfall,
Aadi varum thendral enbaar
They speak of the dancing gentle breeze,
Paadi varum aruvi enbaar
They speak of the singing waterfall,
Thedi varum selvam un pol
But like you, a treasure that comes seeking us,
Deivam veru illaiyada
There is no other god, my child!
Thedi varum selvam un pol
But like you, a treasure that comes seeking us,
Deivam veru illaiyada
There is no other god, my child!
Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Sembavala vaai thirandhu
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
Amma endru nee azhaithaal
When you call out "Mother",
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Konjum mazhalai ketkaiyilae
When listening to your lisping, babbling speech,
Kuzhalum yaazhum poiyandro
Aren't the flute and the harp false in comparison?
Konjum mazhalai ketkaiyilae
When listening to your lisping, babbling speech,
Kuzhalum yaazhum poiyandro
Aren't the flute and the harp false in comparison?
Maevum thamizhae unnai yandri
O cherished Tamil, except for you,
Veru sondham illaiyada
I have no other relation, my child!
Maevum thamizhae unnai yandri
O cherished Tamil, except for you,
Veru sondham illaiyada
I have no other relation, my child!
Chinna chinna nadai nadanthu
Walking with small, tiny steps,
Sembavala vaai thirandhu
Opening your red coral-like mouth,
Amma endru nee azhaithaal
When you call out "Mother",
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Amudha gaanam pozhiyudhada
A sweet, nectar-like song pours forth!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic Tamil lullaby/maternal song from the movie Kaveriyin Kanavan (1959) captures the immense joy and divine love a mother feels when watching her child grow. The mother describes the child's tiny steps, coral-red lips, and sweet voice calling out 'Amma' as equivalent to a shower of divine nectar. She admires her child as the moon in the sky, a glowing lamp in the household, and a living poem dancing before her eyes. The lyricist elevates the child's existence above all natural wonders, describing the child as a divine gift. The song famously draws upon classical Tamil literary wisdom, stating that the sweet babbling of a child far surpasses the heavenly music of flutes and harps, declaring the child to be her ultimate treasure and bond in life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Metaphor)
“Sembavala vaai thirandhu”
'Sembavala vaai' metaphors the child's soft red lips to precious red coral.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vinnilaadum vennilavae / Veetil aadum mani vilakke”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Vinnilaadum' and 'Veetil' (Vinnilaadum / Veetil aadum).
Allusion (Thirukkural Reference)
“Kuzhalum yaazhum poiyandro”
Direct allusion to Thirukkural 66 ('Kuzhalinidhu yaazhinidhu...'), asserting child's babble is sweeter than flute or lute music.
Did you know?
Trivia
The line 'Kuzhalum yaazhum poiyandro' is a direct literary reference to Thirukkural Couplet 66 ('Kuzhalinidhu yaazhinidhu enbadham makkal mazhalaichol kelaadhavar'), which states that those who claim flutes and harps make the sweetest sound have never heard the babbling speech of their own children.
Keep listening
More from Kaveriyin Kanavan
Kaveriyin Kanavan
Kaveriyin Kanavan
Kaveriyin Kanavan
Kaveriyin Kanavan
Kaveriyin Kanavan
Kaveriyin Kanavan