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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Pappa

From Maanavan · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Maanavan1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………………..
Female
Ahaaa….aaa….aa…Ahaaa... aaa... aa...
Ahaa….aa…..aaa…aa…Ahaa... aa... aaa... aa...
Female
Chinna chinna papa vaa paaCome, little child, come!
Saedhiyai kaelappaaListen to this message!
Sonna padi nadandhaaIf you act according to good counsel,
Naattin kannae nee dhaampaaYou will be the precious eye of the nation, my child!
Female
Chinna chinna papa vaa paaCome, little child, come!
Saedhiyai kaelappaaListen to this message!
Sonna padi nadandhaaIf you act according to good counsel,
Naattin kannae nee dhaampaaYou will be the precious eye of the nation, my child!
Female
Thandhaiyum thaaiyum deivam aagumParents are equivalent to divine gods;
Thannalam vandhaal anbae maarumIf selfishness creeps in, true love fades.
Female
Thandhaiyum thaaiyumParents...
Chorus :Deivam aagumChorus: ...are equivalent to divine gods.
Female :Thannalam vandhaalFemale: If selfishness creeps in...
Chorus :Anbae maarumChorus: ...true love fades.
Female
Aamaa..Yes..
Chinna chinna papa vaa paaCome, little child, come!
Saedhiyai kaelappaaListen to this message!
Sonna padi nadandhaaIf you act according to good counsel,
Naattin kannae nee dhaampaaYou will be the precious eye of the nation, my child!
Female
Kaalaiyilae saevalai pol ezhundhida vendumYou must wake up early in the morning like a rooster;
Kaakkai pol otrumaiyaai irundhida vendumYou must live in unity and harmony like crows.
Kaalaiyilae saevalai pol ezhundhida vendumYou must wake up early in the morning like a rooster;
Kaakkai pol otrumaiyaai irundhida vendumYou must live in unity and harmony like crows.
Velaiyilae thaeneeyin vegam vendumIn your work, you need the industrious speed of a honeybee;
Velaiyilae thaeneeyin vegam vendumIn your work, you need the industrious speed of a honeybee;
Vettukkili polae thulli aadavum vendumYou should also bounce and play joyfully like a grasshopper.
Aadavum vendum..purinjudhaa…You should dance... understood?
Female
Chinna chinna papa vaa paaCome, little child, come!
Saedhiyai kaelappaaListen to this message!
Sonna padi nadandhaaIf you act according to good counsel,
Naattin kannae nee dhaampaaYou will be the precious eye of the nation, my child!
Chorus
………………………..
Female
Aandhaiyaaga pagalellaam thoonga koodaadhuYou shouldn't sleep all day like an owl;
Aamaiyaaga nadandhu vandhaa kaalam podhaadhuIf you move sluggishly like a tortoise, time will run out.
Aandhaiyaaga pagalellaam thoonga koodaadhuYou shouldn't sleep all day like an owl;
Aamaiyaaga nadandhu vandhaa kaalam podhaadhuIf you move sluggishly like a tortoise, time will run out.
Nandu pola pidivaadham pidikka koodaadhuYou shouldn't hold on stubbornly like a crab's grip;
Nandu pola pidivaadham pidikka koodaadhuYou shouldn't hold on stubbornly like a crab's grip;
Thondu seiyum ennaththai marakkavum koodaadhuYou must never forget the noble spirit of service.
Marakkavum koodaadhu..purinjudhaa…Never forget... understood?
Female
Chinna chinna papa vaa paaCome, little child, come!
Saedhiyai kaelappaaListen to this message!
Sonna padi nadandhaaIf you act according to good counsel,
Naattin kannae nee dhaampaaYou will be the precious eye of the nation, my child!
Chorus
………………………………

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Chinna Chinna Papa Vaa Paa' from the 1971 Tamil film 'Maanavan' is an uplifting educational nursery-style moral song aimed at guiding young children toward positive habits and strong values. The speaker addresses young children, advising them on how to live a disciplined and noble life so that they become valued citizens and the pride of the nation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kaalaiyilae saevalai pol ezhundhida vendum / Kaakkai pol otrumaiyaai irundhida vendum

Compares waking up early to a rooster ('saevalai pol') and living unitedly to crows sharing food ('kaakkai pol').

Metaphor & Imagery

Aandhaiyaaga pagalellaam thoonga koodaadhu / Aamaiyaaga nadandhu vandhaa kaalam podhaadhu

Uses animal traits as metaphors for behavior—bee's speed for industriousness, owl's sleep for laziness, tortoise's slowness, and crab's grip for stubbornness.

Emoni / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Aandhaiyaaga pagalellaam thoonga koodaadhu / Aamaiyaaga nadandhu vandhaa kaalam podhaadhu

Standard Tamil poetic rhyming scheme where initial or secondary consonants align ('Aandhaiyaaga', 'Aamaiyaaga').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Maanavan' (1971) features music composed by the famous duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics penned by Vaali. The film starred Jaishankar and Lakshmi in key roles, and this song serves as a popular didactic children's track in Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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