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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Poongkodi

From Chinna Kannamma · 1993

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singers
Minmini, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Kannamma1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chinna chinna poongodi…A tiny little flowering vine…
Ennai chutri paadudhae…Sings surrounding me…
Chinna chinna poongodiA tiny little flowering vine
Ennai chutri paadudhaeSings surrounding me
Female
Chinna chinna poongodiA tiny little flowering vine
Ennai chutri paadudhaeSings surrounding me
Female
Kanmani ponmani kannaeOh precious eye, precious gem, my darling child
Nee oo ..oo…You... oh... oh...
Anbu chinnam thandhadhaeGave a symbol of love
Alli thandhu nindradhaeStood giving generously
En uyir unnidam kannae oo…oooMy life is with you, my darling, oh...
Vilaiyaadum maano alaiyodum meenoIs it a playful deer or a fish in the waves?
Madi meedhil vandhae seraadho ooo…Will it not come and rest upon my lap? Oh...
Female
Kan vannamaeThe beauty of the eyes
Kandaal adhuIf one beholds it
Paurnamiyaai kaanumIt appears like a full moon
Kai vannamae kandaal adhuIf one beholds the elegance of the hands
Thaamaraiyaai thonumIt feels like a blooming lotus
Female
Pon idhazh thandhadhuWhat the golden lips gave
Poo idhazhoAre they flower petals?
Punnagai sindhiya maanthaliroIs it a tender mango leaf scattering smiles?
Un kural thandhadhu vaenguzhalaIs your voice the melody of a bamboo flute?
Un manam vaanathu kaarmugilaIs your heart like a dark raincloud in the sky?
Arumbu thottam polae azhagaana veechilIn the beautiful breeze like a garden of buds
Kurumbu kelvi ketkum karumbu pola pechilIn the speech sweet like sugarcane asking mischievous questions
Kavi paadum chinna kannammaa aaa…The little Kannamma who sings poetry...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a tender and affectionate lullaby praising a young child named Kannamma. The speaker affectionately compares the child to various enchanting elements of nature, expressing boundless parental love and joy. The lyrics celebrate the child's playful presence, innocence, and charming chatter. Throughout the song, the speaker marvels at the child's beauty—comparing her eyes to a glowing full moon, her hands to delicate lotus blossoms, her voice to a bamboo flute, and her sweet speech to sugarcane. The song captures the profound emotional bond between parent and child, portraying the child as a divine gift of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Vilaiyaadum maano alaiyodum meeno

Compares the innocent child to a delicate flowering vine ('poongodi'), a playful deer ('maano'), and a fish gliding in waves ('meeno').

Simile (Uvamaani)

Kurumbu kelvi ketkum karumbu pola pechil

Uses 'pola' (like) to explicitly compare the child's sweet, questioning voice to sugarcane ('karumbu').

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Arumbu thottam polae... / Kurumbu kelvi ketkum...

The second consonant sound 'ru' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Arumbu' and 'Kurumbu').

Imagery & Natural Personification

Un manam vaanathu kaarmugila

Uses vivid sensory imagery connecting human features with natural phenomena like full moons, lotus flowers, tender mango leaves, and rainclouds.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is featured in the 1993 Tamil movie 'Chinna Kannamma' starring Karthik and Gautami. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Piraisoodan, the song is well known for its deeply emotional depiction of fatherly affection and sweet classical melody.

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