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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Roja Poove

From Poovizhi Vasalile · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Poovizhi Vasalile1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Chinna chinna roja poovaeOh little rose flower
Chella kanane nee yaaruMy darling Krishna, who are you?
Thappi vanthi sippi muththaeOh pearl of the shell that strayed here
Unnai peththa thaai yaaruWho is the mother that gave birth to you?
Male
Solli kolla vaayumillaiYou have no voice to speak for yourself
Alli kolla thaayumillaiYou have no mother to embrace you
Yaeno sodhanai ila nenjil vedhanaiWhy this ordeal? Pain fills this tender heart
Male
Chinna chinna roja poovaeOh little rose flower
Chella kanane nee yaaruMy darling Krishna, who are you?
Male
Chinna pinju nenjukkulleInside this tiny little heart
Enna enna aasaiyundoWhat desires might there be?
Ullam thannai moodi vaiththaIf the God who concealed his heart
Dheivam vanthaal sollum ingaeComes down here, He will tell
Male
Oorum illai perum illaiYou have no town, you have no name
Unmai solla yaarum illaiThere is no one to tell the truth
Neeyum ini naanum oru jeevanthaanadaaFrom now on, you and I are a single soul, my child
Solai kili polae en tholil aadadaaDance on my shoulders like a grove parrot
Idhu pesaa oviyam idhil sogam aayiramThis is a silent painting, holding a thousand sorrows inside
Male
Chinna chinna roja poovaeOh little rose flower
Chella kanane nee yaaruMy darling Krishna, who are you?
Thappi vanthi sippi muththaeOh pearl of the shell that strayed here
Unnai peththa thaai yaaruWho is the mother that gave birth to you?
Male
Kannil unnai kaanumpothuWhen I look at you with my eyes
Ennam engo poguthaiyyaaMy thoughts wander somewhere far away
Ennai vittu pona pillaiMy child who left me long ago
Ingae unthan kolam konduHas taken your form here
Male
Vanthathendru ennugindrenI feel that you have come back to me
Vaazhththu solli paadugindrenI sing to you with blessings
Gangai nee endraal karai ingu naanadaaIf you are the river Ganges, I am the bank here, my child
Vaanam naan endraal vidi velli neeyadaaIf I am the vast sky, you are the morning star, my child
En vaazhvil nimmathi athu unthan sannathiThe peace in my life is found in your presence
Male
Chinna chinna roja poovaeOh little rose flower
Chella kanane nee yaaruMy darling Krishna, who are you?
Thappi vanthi sippi muththaeOh pearl of the shell that strayed here
Unnai peththa thaai yaaruWho is the mother that gave birth to you?
Male
Solli kolla vaayumillaiYou have no voice to speak for yourself
Alli kolla thaayumillaiYou have no mother to embrace you
Yaeno sodhanai ila nenjil vedhanaiWhy this ordeal? Pain fills this tender heart
Male
Chinna chinna roja poovaeOh little rose flower
Chella kanane nee yaaruMy darling Krishna, who are you?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chinna Chinna Roja Poove is a soul-stirring paternal lullaby from the movie Poovizhi Vasalile. The protagonist addresses an orphaned mute child with immense grief and tenderness, wondering about the unknown mother and origin of this precious child who has no voice to tell his story or family to embrace him. As the song progresses, the singer finds deep solace in the child's presence, seeing a reflection of a lost child of his own. He vows to protect the child, declaring that from now on they share a single soul. Through rich poetic imagery comparing their bond to a river and its bank, or the sky and the morning star, the song beautifully encapsulates redemption, healing, and unconditional love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Chinna chinna roja poovae / Thappi vanthi sippi muththae

Comparing the innocent child to a delicate rose bud and a lost pearl from an oyster shell.

Etxai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Solli kolla vaayumillai / Alli kolla thaayumillai

Rhyming of the second syllable 'lli' in adjacent lines for rhythmic harmony.

Analogy

Gangai nee endraal karai ingu naanadaa / Vaanam naan endraal vidi velli neeyadaa

Using complementary natural dualities (river & bank, sky & star) to express an inseparable guardian-child relationship.

Did you know?

Trivia

Poovizhi Vasalile (1987) was directed by Fazil and starred Sathyaraj, Suhasini, and Master Sujitha. The plot revolves around a protagonist protecting a deaf-mute child who witnessed a murder. Sung emotionally by K. J. Yesudas with music by Ilaiyaraaja, this track remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous emotional lullabies.

Keep listening

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