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Isaimozhi
Shankar Guru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Poove Sad

From Shankar Guru · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Shankar Guru
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
1 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chinna chinna poovae
Nee kannaal paaru podhum
Thottu thottu pesu
En thunbam ellaam theerum
Kannae un kai pattaal
Kaanja kodi pinju vidum
Patta maram paaloorum
Paagarkaa thenoorum.. oh..oh..oho
Chinna chinna poovae
Nee kannaal paaru podhum
Thottu thottu pesu
En thunbam ellaam theerum
Odugira megangalae
Oru nimisham nillunga
Appava paathakka
Azhudhennu sollunga
Thaai vecha mai ellaam
Kannodu karaigiradhae
Kanneeru ippodu
Karuppaaga irukkiradhae
Nee mutham thandha
Kannil indru ratham vandhadhu
Nee solli thandha paadal mattum
Nenjil nindradhu
Chinna chinna poovae
Nee kannaal paaru podhum
Thottu thottu pesu
En thunbam ellaam theerum
Appa nee illamal
Pasi thookkam vaaradhu
Puyalodu mazhai vandha
Poo mottu thaaladhu
Yen innum varavilla
En nenju thaangadhu
Mul mela thala vechu
Mullapoo thoongaadhu
Iva aalillama noolillama
Aadum pattamaa
Naan kanneer vittu paadum pattu
Kaadhil ettumaa
Chinna chinna poovae
Nee kannaal paaru podhum
Thottu thottu pesu
En thunbam ellaam theerum
Kannae un kai pattaal
Kaanja kodi pinju vidum
Patta maram paaloorum
Paagarkaa thenoorum.. oh..oh..oho
Chinna chinna poovae
Nee kannaal paaru podhum
Thottu thottu pesu
En thunbam ellaam theerum
En thunbam ellaam theerum
Little, little flower,
just look at me, that is enough.
Touch me and speak to me,
all my sorrow will disappear.
My dear, if your hand touches it,
a withered vine will bear tender fruit,
a dried-up tree will flow with sweet sap,
and bitter gourd will fill with honey... oh... oh... oho...
Little, little flower,
just look at me, that is enough.
Touch me and speak to me,
all my sorrow will disappear.
O drifting clouds,
please stop for a moment.
If you see my father,
tell him that I have been crying.
All the kohl mother applied
is melting away in my eyes.
The tears I shed right now
have turned completely black.
Where you once gave me kisses,
blood has filled my eyes today.
Only the song you taught me
still stays in my heart.
Little, little flower,
just look at me, that is enough.
Touch me and speak to me,
all my sorrow will disappear.
Father, without you,
neither hunger nor sleep comes to me.
If a storm brings heavy rain,
a tender flower bud cannot bear it.
Why haven't you come back yet?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Resting its head on thorns,
a jasmine flower cannot sleep.
With no one around and no string to hold it,
is she just a drifting kite?
Will the song I sing through my tears
ever reach your ears?
Little, little flower,
just look at me, that is enough.
Touch me and speak to me,
all my sorrow will disappear.
My dear, if your hand touches it,
a withered vine will bear tender fruit,
a dried-up tree will flow with sweet sap,
and bitter gourd will fill with honey... oh... oh... oho...
Little, little flower,
just look at me, that is enough.
Touch me and speak to me,
all my sorrow will disappear.
All my sorrow will disappear....
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song from Shankar Guru (1987) depicts the intense longing, sorrow, and innocence of a child separated from her loving father. Addressing her father with tender endearments, she expresses that a single touch or glance from him could perform miracles—turning a withered vine fruitful or bitter gourd into honey—and heal all her deep anguish.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Chinna chinna poovae

The words 'Chinna chinna' and 'Thottu thottu' are repeated consecutively to evoke sweetness, tenderness, and strong emotional warmth.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Patta maram paaloorum / Paagarkaa thenoorum

The lyricist exaggerates the touch of the loved one to perform impossible natural miracles, such as making dead wood bleed sweet milk and bitter gourd yield honey.

Apostrophe / Personification

Odugira megangalae / Oru nimisham nillunga

Addressing non-human element (passing clouds) as if they were messengers who can hear, carry a message, and talk to the father.

Metaphor

Iva aalillama noolillama / Aadum pattamaa

The helpless child without guidance or protection is metaphorically compared to a kite flying wildly without a guiding thread or owner.

Did you know?

Trivia

This emotional song from the 1987 action-drama film 'Shankar Guru' (starring Arjun Sarja and Baby Shalini) features music composed by Chandrabose with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song captures the heartfelt father-daughter bond that forms a central emotional core of the film.

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