Chinna Chinna Varthaiyile
From Themmangu Paattukaaran · 1997
- Lyricist
- Pavalar Varadarajan
- Singer
- Gangai Amaran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Themmangu Paattukaaran1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thandhaanana pottu vechu | Putting a rhythm of 'Thandhaanana' |
| Manasu konjam urasa konjam | Rubbing softly against the heart |
| Kaikulla pudichu vechu | Holding it tightly within hands |
| Adi ammamammammaaa | Oh my goodness! |
| Adi ammamammammaaa | Oh my goodness! |
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna vaarthaiyilae | In simple, tiny words |
| Enna enna solli vechaan | Oh, what deep truths he embedded! |
| Thangam pola vairam pola | Like gold, like diamonds |
| Intha themaangu paattu | This folk song (Themmangu) |
| Male | |
| Kastathilae vaadi ninna | If you stand withered in hardship |
| Thottu unna thokki vidum | It will touch you and lift you up |
| Ezhudhunavan yaarum illa | There is no single author who wrote it |
| Idhu themaangu paattu | This is an authentic folk song |
| Male | |
| Kaadha konjam kodudi | Lend your ear a little |
| En thangachi ponnumani | My dear golden sister |
| Kaiyai thatti padidaa | Clap your hands and sing |
| En thambiyae vairamani | My dear diamond brother |
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna vaarthaiyilae | In simple, tiny words |
| Enna enna solli vechaan | Oh, what deep truths he embedded! |
| Thangam pola vairam pola | Like gold, like diamonds |
| Intha themaangu paattu | This folk song (Themmangu) |
| Male | |
| Kastathilae vaadi ninna | If you stand withered in hardship |
| Thottu unna thokki vidum | It will touch you and lift you up |
| Ezhudhunavan yaarum illa | There is no single author who wrote it |
| Idhu themaangu paattu | This is an authentic folk song |
| Male | |
| Aatta katti maatta katti | Tying the goat, tying the cow |
| Veetakatti kaattakatti | Building a house, managing the farmland |
| Natta kooda katti izhupavan | The hardworking laborer who pulls and builds the country |
| Paatta sonnavan thaan | Is the true creator of the song |
| Nalla paatta sonnavan thaan | Yes, he is the one who sang the good song |
| Male | |
| Paattan poottan selvam ellaam | All the cultural treasures of our ancestors |
| Thotti katti iruttukullae | Trapped in darkness and bound in a cradle |
| Pooti vecha potta udachathu | The one who broke open the locks and freed them |
| Paatta sonnavan thaan | Is the true creator of the song |
| Nalla paatta sonnavan thaan | Yes, he is the one who sang the good song |
| Male | |
| Valluvan avvaiyum kambanum | If poets like Valluvar, Avvai, and Kamban |
| Bharathi illaama poyirundhaa | And Bharathi had not existed |
| Sol kondu arivodu porul thantha | Giving wisdom and meaning through words |
| Selvangal illaama poyirukkum | Those treasures of knowledge would have been lost |
| Male | |
| Antha paattu mattum | If not for those songs and poetry |
| Ilaiyina kaattu mirandinga thaan | We would just be wild barbarians |
| Naama ellam kaattu mirandinga thaan | We all would have remained barbarians |
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna vaarthaiyilae | In simple, tiny words |
| Enna enna solli vechaan | Oh, what deep truths he embedded! |
| Thangam pola vairam pola | Like gold, like diamonds |
| Intha themaangu paattu | This folk song (Themmangu) |
| Male | |
| Nee kastathilae vaadi ninna | If you stand withered in hardship |
| Thottu unna thokki vidum | It will touch you and lift you up |
| Ezhudhunavan yaarum illa | There is no single author who wrote it |
| Idhu themaangu paattu | This is an authentic folk song |
தந்தானானா போட்டு வச்சு
மனச கொஞ்சம் உசுர கொஞ்சம்
கைக்குள்ள புடிச்சு வச்சு
அடி அம்மம்மாமம்மா.....
அடி அம்மம்மம்மம்மா.....
Putting a rhythm of 'Thandhaanana'
Rubbing softly against the heart
Holding it tightly within hands
Oh my goodness!
Oh my goodness!
சின்ன சின்ன வார்த்தையிலே
என்ன என்ன சொல்லி வச்சான்
தங்கம் போல வைரம் போல
இந்த தெம்மாங்கு பாட்டு
In simple, tiny words
Oh, what deep truths he embedded!
Like gold, like diamonds
This folk song (Themmangu)
கஷ்டத்திலே வாடி நின்னா
தொட்டு உன்ன தூக்கி விடும்
எழுதினவ யாருமில்ல
இது தெம்மாங்கு பாட்டு
If you stand withered in hardship
It will touch you and lift you up
There is no single author who wrote it
This is an authentic folk song
காத கொஞ்சம் கொடுடி என்
தங்கச்சி பொன்னுமணி
கையைத் தட்டி படிடா என்
தம்பியே வைரமணி
Lend your ear a little
My dear golden sister
Clap your hands and sing
My dear diamond brother
சின்ன சின்ன வார்த்தையிலே
என்ன என்ன சொல்லி வச்சான்
தங்கம் போல வைரம் போல
இந்த தெம்மாங்கு பாட்டு
In simple, tiny words
Oh, what deep truths he embedded!
Like gold, like diamonds
This folk song (Themmangu)
கஷ்டத்திலே வாடி நின்னா
தொட்டு உன்ன தூக்கி விடும்
எழுதினவ யாருமில்ல
இது தெம்மாங்கு பாட்டு
If you stand withered in hardship
It will touch you and lift you up
There is no single author who wrote it
This is an authentic folk song
ஆட்டக்கட்டி மாட்டக்கட்டி
வீட்டக்கட்டி காட்டக்கட்டி
நாட்டக் கூட கட்டி இழுப்பது
பாட்ட சொன்னவதான் நல்ல
பாட்ட சொன்னவதான்
Tying the goat, tying the cow
Building a house, managing the farmland
The hardworking laborer who pulls and builds the country
Is the true creator of the song
Yes, he is the one who sang the good song
பாட்டன் பூட்டன் செல்வம் எல்லாம்
தொட்டிக் கட்டி இருட்டுக்குள்ளே
பூட்டி வச்ச பூட்ட ஒடச்சது
பாட்டு சொன்னவதான்
நல்ல பாட்டு சொன்னவதான்
All the cultural treasures of our ancestors
Trapped in darkness and bound in a cradle
The one who broke open the locks and freed them
Is the true creator of the song
Yes, he is the one who sang the good song
வள்ளுவன் ஒளவையும்
கம்பனும் பாரதி
இல்லாம போயிருந்தா
சொல் கொண்டு
அறிவோடு பொருள் தந்த
செல்வங்கள் இல்லாம போயிருக்கும்
If poets like Valluvar, Avvai, and Kamban
And Bharathi had not existed
Giving wisdom and meaning through words
Those treasures of knowledge would have been lost
அந்த பாட்டு மட்டும் இல்லையின்னா
காட்டு மிராண்டிங்கதான்
நாம எல்லாம் காட்டு மிராண்டிங்கதான்
If not for those songs and poetry
We would just be wild barbarians
We all would have remained barbarians
சின்ன சின்ன வார்த்தையிலே
என்ன என்ன சொல்லி வச்சான்
தங்கம் போல வைரம் போல
இந்த தெம்மாங்கு பாட்டு
In simple, tiny words
Oh, what deep truths he embedded!
Like gold, like diamonds
This folk song (Themmangu)
நீ கஷ்டத்திலே வாடி நின்னா
தொட்டு உன்ன தூக்கி விடும்
எழுதினவ யாருமில்ல
இது தெம்மாங்கு பாட்டு
If you stand withered in hardship
It will touch you and lift you up
There is no single author who wrote it
This is an authentic folk song
Thandhaanana pottu vechu
Putting a rhythm of 'Thandhaanana'
Manasu konjam urasa konjam
Rubbing softly against the heart
Kaikulla pudichu vechu
Holding it tightly within hands
Adi ammamammammaaa
Oh my goodness!
Adi ammamammammaaa
Oh my goodness!
Chinna chinna vaarthaiyilae
In simple, tiny words
Enna enna solli vechaan
Oh, what deep truths he embedded!
Thangam pola vairam pola
Like gold, like diamonds
Intha themaangu paattu
This folk song (Themmangu)
Kastathilae vaadi ninna
If you stand withered in hardship
Thottu unna thokki vidum
It will touch you and lift you up
Ezhudhunavan yaarum illa
There is no single author who wrote it
Idhu themaangu paattu
This is an authentic folk song
Kaadha konjam kodudi
Lend your ear a little
En thangachi ponnumani
My dear golden sister
Kaiyai thatti padidaa
Clap your hands and sing
En thambiyae vairamani
My dear diamond brother
Chinna chinna vaarthaiyilae
In simple, tiny words
Enna enna solli vechaan
Oh, what deep truths he embedded!
Thangam pola vairam pola
Like gold, like diamonds
Intha themaangu paattu
This folk song (Themmangu)
Kastathilae vaadi ninna
If you stand withered in hardship
Thottu unna thokki vidum
It will touch you and lift you up
Ezhudhunavan yaarum illa
There is no single author who wrote it
Idhu themaangu paattu
This is an authentic folk song
Aatta katti maatta katti
Tying the goat, tying the cow
Veetakatti kaattakatti
Building a house, managing the farmland
Natta kooda katti izhupavan
The hardworking laborer who pulls and builds the country
Paatta sonnavan thaan
Is the true creator of the song
Nalla paatta sonnavan thaan
Yes, he is the one who sang the good song
Paattan poottan selvam ellaam
All the cultural treasures of our ancestors
Thotti katti iruttukullae
Trapped in darkness and bound in a cradle
Pooti vecha potta udachathu
The one who broke open the locks and freed them
Paatta sonnavan thaan
Is the true creator of the song
Nalla paatta sonnavan thaan
Yes, he is the one who sang the good song
Valluvan avvaiyum kambanum
If poets like Valluvar, Avvai, and Kamban
Bharathi illaama poyirundhaa
And Bharathi had not existed
Sol kondu arivodu porul thantha
Giving wisdom and meaning through words
Selvangal illaama poyirukkum
Those treasures of knowledge would have been lost
Antha paattu mattum
If not for those songs and poetry
Ilaiyina kaattu mirandinga thaan
We would just be wild barbarians
Naama ellam kaattu mirandinga thaan
We all would have remained barbarians
Chinna chinna vaarthaiyilae
In simple, tiny words
Enna enna solli vechaan
Oh, what deep truths he embedded!
Thangam pola vairam pola
Like gold, like diamonds
Intha themaangu paattu
This folk song (Themmangu)
Nee kastathilae vaadi ninna
If you stand withered in hardship
Thottu unna thokki vidum
It will touch you and lift you up
Ezhudhunavan yaarum illa
There is no single author who wrote it
Idhu themaangu paattu
This is an authentic folk song
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a grand celebration of oral folk traditions (Themmangu Paattu) and the rich literary heritage of Tamil Nadu. It emphasizes that traditional folk songs do not have a single known author; instead, they originate organically from working-class people—farmers, laborers, and rural folk who toil on the land. The song highlights how music acts as a comforting companion during times of distress, lifting people out of sorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Thangam pola vairam pola”
Compares the timeless value and brilliance of the folk lyrics to gold and diamonds.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Aatta katti maatta katti / Veetakatti kaattakatti”
Use of matching second consonants 'tta' across consecutive short phrases creating a rhythmic folk beat.
Allusion (Historical/Literary Reference)
“Valluvan avvaiyum kambanum / Bharathi illaama poyirundhaa”
Directly refers to legendary Tamil poets Thiruvalluvar, Avvaiyar, Kambar, and Subramania Bharati to showcase how poetry elevates civilization.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist credited for this track, Pavalar Varadarajan, was the legendary eldest brother of music maestro Ilaiyaraaja, Gangai Amaran, and R.D. Bhaskar. He was a pioneering communist folk singer and activist whose grassroots songwriting profoundly influenced Ilaiyaraaja's musical ethos.
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