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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Chinna Veedu Katti

From Manakanakku · 1986

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
P. Jayachandran
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Manakanakku1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Chinna chinna veedu kattiBuilding tiny little toy houses,
Suththi suththi odi vanthuRunning around in circles,
Chinna pillai kaalam thottuEver since childhood,
Vanthathintha sontha ammaaThis motherly affection arrived.
Male
Kollaiyilae vachcha kodiLike a vine planted in the backyard,
Komba suththi valarnthaarpolaThat grows winding around a branch,
Male
Enna suththi nee valarnthaeYou grew up wrapped around me,
Unna suththi naan valarnthaenI grew up wrapped around you.
Enna suththi nee valarnthaeYou grew up wrapped around me,
Unna suththi naan valarnthaenI grew up wrapped around you.
Male
Epothum unna kann pola kappenI will always protect you like my own eye,
Mamana marakkaathaeDo not forget your uncle.
En mana koottukullaeInside the cage of my heart,
Oru kiliyai valarththaeneI raised a parrot,
Male
Adhan azagai rasichenaeI admired its beauty,
Naan ennai maranthaenaeAnd lost myself in joy.
Naan ennai maranthaenaeAnd lost myself in joy.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful song reflects the pure, deep affection of a maternal uncle (Maaman) towards his young niece as she grows up. He nostalgically recalls her childhood days, playing together and building toy houses. Using poetic imagery, he describes their intertwined bond as similar to a creeper vine growing supportively around a sturdy branch. He promises to protect her like his own eyes and fondly expresses how raising her inside his heart was like caring for a beautiful parrot, bringing him complete self-forgetting bliss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Chinna chinna veedu katti

Repetition of words like 'Chinna chinna' (tiny) and 'Suththi suththi' (around and around) emphasizes innocent childhood activities and enthusiasm.

Uvamai (Simile)

Kollaiyilae vachcha kodi Komba suththi valarnthaarpola

Compares their codependent growth to a backyard creeper vine growing wrapped around a supporting branch.

Uvamai (Simile)

Epothum unna kann pola kappen

Compares the act of protecting his beloved niece to safeguarding one's own eyesight/pupil ('kann pola kappen').

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

En mana koottukullae Oru kiliyai valarththaene

Refers to his heart as a cage ('mana koottukullae') and the cherished girl as a parrot ('kili') being raised inside it.

Did you know?

Trivia

Manakanakku (1986) is notable for featuring actor Kamal Haasan in a friendly guest appearance as a film director alongside Vijayakanth in the lead role. The soundtrack was composed by legendary music director M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Panchu Arunachalam.

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