Chinna Chinna Vanna Kuyil
From Mouna Ragam · 1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Laa laa la la laaa laa la la | Laa laa la la laaa laa la la |
| Laa laa la la laaa laa la la | Laa laa la la laaa laa la la |
| Laa la laaaa la la laaaa | Laa la laaaa la la laaaa |
| Laa la laaaa la la laaaa | Laa la laaaa la la laaaa |
| Laa la laaaa la la laaaa la la la l a laaa la aaa…. | Laa la laaaa la la laaaa la la la l a laaa la aaa…. |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna vanna kuyil | A small, colorful cuckoo bird |
| Konji konji koovudhamma | Is cooing affectionately! |
| Puriyaadha aanandam | An inexplicable joy |
| Pudhidhaaga aarambam | A fresh new beginning |
| Puriyaadha aanandam | An inexplicable joy |
| Pudhidhaaga aarambam | A fresh new beginning |
| Pooththaadum thaen mottu | A blooming honey bud |
| Naana naana | Am I, yes am I! |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna vanna kuyil | A small, colorful cuckoo bird |
| Konji konji koovudhamma | Is cooing affectionately! |
| Chorus | |
| Mmmm..mmmm…mmm | Mmmm..mmmm…mmm |
| Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm… | Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm… |
| Female | |
| Mannavan perai cholli | Whispering my beloved lord's name |
| Malligai soodi konden | I adorned my hair with jasmine flowers |
| Manmadhan paadal ondru | A song of Cupid (Lord Manmadha) |
| Nenjukkul paadi konden | I sang inside my heart |
| Female | |
| Sollathaan enniyum | Even though I wished to express it |
| Illayae bhaasaigal | There are no words or languages |
| Ennavo aasaigal | Unexplainable desires |
| Ennathin osaigal | Sounds of my inner thoughts |
| Female | |
| {Maalai soodi.. | Wearing the wedding garland... |
| Chorus :Mmm….imm | Mmm...imm |
| Manjam thedi… | Seeking the marital bed... |
| Chorus :Mmm….imm} (2) | Mmm...imm |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal devan sannidhi | The sanctuary of the God of Love |
| Kaana..kaana…kaana | To see... to see... to see... |
| Kaana…. | To see... |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna vanna kuyil | A small, colorful cuckoo bird |
| Konji konji koovudhamma | Is cooing affectionately! |
| Chorus | |
| Mmmm..mmmm…mmm | Mmmm..mmmm…mmm |
| Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm… | Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm… |
| Female | |
| Menikkul kaatru vandhu | As the gentle breeze blew over my body |
| Mellaththaan aada kanden | I felt it softly swaying |
| Mangaikul kaadhal vellam | A flood of love within this young maiden |
| Gangai pol oda kanden | I saw flowing like the holy Ganges |
| Female | |
| Inbathtin ellaiyoo | Is there a limit to this bliss? |
| Illayae…. illayae… | No... there is none... |
| Andhiyum vandhadhaal | And as dusk arrived |
| Thollaiyae thollaiyae | It brings sweet restless trouble! |
| Female | |
| {Kaalamdhorum… | Throughout time... |
| Chorus :Mmm….imm | Mmm...imm |
| Ketkka vendum… | One must listen... |
| Chorus :Mmm….imm} (2) | Mmm...imm |
| Female | |
| Paruvam ennum keerthanam | This musical composition called youth |
| Paada..paada paada | To sing... to sing... to sing... |
| Paada | To sing... |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna vanna kuyil | A small, colorful cuckoo bird |
| Konji konji koovudhamma | Is cooing affectionately! |
| Puriyaadha aanandam | An inexplicable joy |
| Pudhidhaaga aarambam | A fresh new beginning |
| Puriyaadha aanandam | An inexplicable joy |
| Pudhidhaaga aarambam | A fresh new beginning |
| Pooththaadum thaen mottu | A blooming honey bud |
| Naana naana | Am I, yes am I! |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna vanna kuyil | A small, colorful cuckoo bird |
| Konji konji koovudhamma | Is cooing affectionately! |
...............................
Laa laa la la laaa laa la la
Laa laa la la laaa laa la la
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa la la la l a laaa la aaa….
சின்ன சின்ன
வண்ண குயில் கொஞ்சி
கொஞ்சி கூவுதம்மா
புரியாத ஆனந்தம் புதிதாக
ஆரம்பம் புரியாத ஆனந்தம்
புதிதாக ஆரம்பம் பூத்தாடும்
தேன் மொட்டு நானா நானா
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Is cooing affectionately!
An inexplicable joy
A fresh new beginning
An inexplicable joy
A fresh new beginning
A blooming honey bud
Am I, yes am I!
சின்ன சின்ன
வண்ண குயில் கொஞ்சி
கொஞ்சி கூவுதம்மா
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Is cooing affectionately!
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
Mmmm..mmmm…mmm
Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm…
மன்னவன் பேரை
சொல்லி மல்லிகை சூடி
கொண்டேன் மன்மதன்
பாடல் ஒன்று நெஞ்சுக்குள்
பாடி கொண்டேன்
Whispering my beloved lord's name
I adorned my hair with jasmine flowers
A song of Cupid (Lord Manmadha)
I sang inside my heart
சொல்ல தான்
எண்ணியும் இல்லயே
பாஷைகள் என்னவோ
ஆசைகள் எண்ணத்தின்
ஓசைகள்
Even though I wished to express it
There are no words or languages
Unexplainable desires
Sounds of my inner thoughts
{ மாலை சூடி
குழு :
ம்ம்ம்.. இம்ம்
மஞ்சம் தேடி
குழு :
ம்ம்ம்.. இம்ம் } (2)
Wearing the wedding garland...
Mmm...imm
Seeking the marital bed...
Mmm...imm
காதல் தேவன்
சன்னிதி காண காண
காண காண
The sanctuary of the God of Love
To see... to see... to see...
To see...
சின்ன சின்ன
வண்ண குயில் கொஞ்சி
கொஞ்சி கூவுதம்மா
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Is cooing affectionately!
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
Mmmm..mmmm…mmm
Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm…
மேனிக்குள்
காற்று வந்து மெல்ல
தான் ஆட கண்டேன்
மங்கைக்குள் காதல்
வெள்ளம் கங்கை
போல் ஓட கண்டேன்
As the gentle breeze blew over my body
I felt it softly swaying
A flood of love within this young maiden
I saw flowing like the holy Ganges
இன்பத்தின்
எல்லையோ இல்லயே
இல்லயே அந்தியும்
வந்ததால் தொல்லையே
தொல்லையே
Is there a limit to this bliss?
No... there is none...
And as dusk arrived
It brings sweet restless trouble!
{ காலம் தோறும்
குழு :
ம்ம்ம்.. இம்ம்
கேட்க வேண்டும்
குழு :
ம்ம்ம்.. இம்ம் } (2)
Throughout time...
Mmm...imm
One must listen...
Mmm...imm
பருவம் என்னும்
கீர்த்தனம் பாட பாட பாட
பாட
This musical composition called youth
To sing... to sing... to sing...
To sing...
சின்ன சின்ன
வண்ண குயில் கொஞ்சி
கொஞ்சி கூவுதம்மா
புரியாத ஆனந்தம் புதிதாக
ஆரம்பம் புரியாத ஆனந்தம்
புதிதாக ஆரம்பம் பூத்தாடும்
தேன் மொட்டு நானா நானா
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Is cooing affectionately!
An inexplicable joy
A fresh new beginning
An inexplicable joy
A fresh new beginning
A blooming honey bud
Am I, yes am I!
சின்ன சின்ன
வண்ண குயில் கொஞ்சி
கொஞ்சி கூவுதம்மா
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Is cooing affectionately!
Laa laa la la laaa laa la la
Laa laa la la laaa laa la la
Laa laa la la laaa laa la la
Laa laa la la laaa laa la la
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa la la la l a laaa la aaa….
Laa la laaaa la la laaaa la la la l a laaa la aaa….
Chinna chinna vanna kuyil
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Konji konji koovudhamma
Is cooing affectionately!
Puriyaadha aanandam
An inexplicable joy
Pudhidhaaga aarambam
A fresh new beginning
Puriyaadha aanandam
An inexplicable joy
Pudhidhaaga aarambam
A fresh new beginning
Pooththaadum thaen mottu
A blooming honey bud
Naana naana
Am I, yes am I!
Chinna chinna vanna kuyil
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Konji konji koovudhamma
Is cooing affectionately!
Mmmm..mmmm…mmm
Mmmm..mmmm…mmm
Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm…
Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm…
Mannavan perai cholli
Whispering my beloved lord's name
Malligai soodi konden
I adorned my hair with jasmine flowers
Manmadhan paadal ondru
A song of Cupid (Lord Manmadha)
Nenjukkul paadi konden
I sang inside my heart
Sollathaan enniyum
Even though I wished to express it
Illayae bhaasaigal
There are no words or languages
Ennavo aasaigal
Unexplainable desires
Ennathin osaigal
Sounds of my inner thoughts
{Maalai soodi..
Wearing the wedding garland...
Chorus :Mmm….imm
Mmm...imm
Manjam thedi…
Seeking the marital bed...
Chorus :Mmm….imm} (2)
Mmm...imm
Kaadhal devan sannidhi
The sanctuary of the God of Love
Kaana..kaana…kaana
To see... to see... to see...
Kaana….
To see...
Chinna chinna vanna kuyil
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Konji konji koovudhamma
Is cooing affectionately!
Mmmm..mmmm…mmm
Mmmm..mmmm…mmm
Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm…
Mmmm..mmmm…mmmmm…
Menikkul kaatru vandhu
As the gentle breeze blew over my body
Mellaththaan aada kanden
I felt it softly swaying
Mangaikul kaadhal vellam
A flood of love within this young maiden
Gangai pol oda kanden
I saw flowing like the holy Ganges
Inbathtin ellaiyoo
Is there a limit to this bliss?
Illayae…. illayae…
No... there is none...
Andhiyum vandhadhaal
And as dusk arrived
Thollaiyae thollaiyae
It brings sweet restless trouble!
{Kaalamdhorum…
Throughout time...
Chorus :Mmm….imm
Mmm...imm
Ketkka vendum…
One must listen...
Chorus :Mmm….imm} (2)
Mmm...imm
Paruvam ennum keerthanam
This musical composition called youth
Paada..paada paada
To sing... to sing... to sing...
Paada
To sing...
Chinna chinna vanna kuyil
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Konji konji koovudhamma
Is cooing affectionately!
Puriyaadha aanandam
An inexplicable joy
Pudhidhaaga aarambam
A fresh new beginning
Puriyaadha aanandam
An inexplicable joy
Pudhidhaaga aarambam
A fresh new beginning
Pooththaadum thaen mottu
A blooming honey bud
Naana naana
Am I, yes am I!
Chinna chinna vanna kuyil
A small, colorful cuckoo bird
Konji konji koovudhamma
Is cooing affectionately!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Chinna Chinna Vanna Kuyil' is a joyful and euphoric song from the iconic 1986 Tamil film 'Mouna Ragam', directed by Mani Ratnam with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Sung by S. Janaki, the song captures the inner blossom of romantic awakening, joy, and innocent anticipation felt by a young woman reflecting on love and marriage. The colorful cuckoo serves as a metaphor for her vibrant heart, bursting with new sensations and musical thoughts that defy spoken language.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Chinna chinna vanna kuyil”
Comparing the protagonist's joyful inner self to a small colorful cuckoo singing affectionately.
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Mangaikul kaadhal vellam Gangai pol oda kanden”
Comparing the surge of love within the maiden to the vast flowing river Ganges.
Repetition/Anaphora (Adukku Thodar)
“Chinna chinna vanna kuyil / Konji konji koovudhamma”
Using repeated words ('Chinna chinna', 'Konji konji') to add rhythmic flavor and emphasize sweetness.
Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)
“Mannavan perai cholli / Malligai soodi konden”
Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines ('Mannavan' / 'Malligai' / 'Manmadhan').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Chinna Chinna Vanna Kuyil' is famous for S. Janaki's vocal agility and won her the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1986. Ilaiyaraaja's orchestration extensively utilizes joyful flute passages to mimic the bird's cooing.
Keep listening
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