- Lyricist
- Viveka
- Singers
- Shankar Mahadevan, Arunraja Kamaraj, Naveen
- Music director
- S. S. Thaman
- Movie name
- Sivalinga
- Movie release year
- 2017
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Mar 2017
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Alluvutta appeat-u
Dillurundha repeat-u
Dalladikkum nerathila
Machan nippattu..
Allivitta getit-u
Thallivitta ticket-u
Jolluvitta mattikuvae
Machan wicket-u…
Gillikkuthaan salute-u
Solliadi rotate-u
Parapatcham pakka mattan
Chinna kabali..
Chinna kabali…
Hey pattali pattali
Yezhaikkellam kottali
Vellamanan ullavanda
Chinna kabali
Samali samali
Dhilirundha samali
Vandu ninna andha yedam
Double diwali..
Pazhagunaa uruguven
Pasathukku kalanguven
Pagaya valakka venam pangali..
Odambuthan karuppuda
Orasipparu neruppuda
Anjamattan chinna kabali..
{Ye gumma gumma
Gummanguthu kuttidalamaa…
Ye dappa dappa
Dappanguthu adidalamaa.. }(2)
Chinna kabali..
Chinna kabali..
Alluvutta appeat-u
Dillurundha repeat-u
Dalladikkum nerathila
Machan nippattu..
Hey pattali pattali
Yezhaikkellam kottali
Vellamanan ullavanda
Chinna kabali
Samali samali
Dhilirundha samali
Vandu ninna andha yedam
Double diwali..
Therasa pol ayulellam
Thyagiyaga vazhavendam
Sirusa orr orathula sevai seiyada..
Paaripol vaarithara
Budget anga pathalenna
Pasiaarum idam engae kaatividudda..
Sirurokkam koduthathum
Oru pakka vilambaram
Nazhithalil neeyum tharaathae..
Ezhaikagalin kannoram
Parkkindra santhosham
Pola oru inbam varathae..
{Ye gumma gumma
Gummanguthu kuttidalamaa…
Ye dappa dappa
Dappanguthu adidalamaa.. }(2)
Hey pattali pattali
Yezhaikkellam kottali
Vellamanan ullavanda
Chinna kabali
Samali samali
Dhilirundha samali
Vandu ninna andha yedam
Double diwali..
……………………………….
Alluvutta appeat-u
Dillurundha repeat-u
Dalladikkum nerathila
Machan nippattu..
Allivitta getit-u
Thallivitta ticket-u
Jolluvitta mattikuvae
Machan wicket-u…
Un vettu kettaithaanda
Nooru morai yosichittu
Bill gates-u agalennu
Feeling aagathae..
Palgova kadikkavae
Pallusettu venumunna
Barfiya vaangi
Vettil seththu vekkathae…
Yeraikkatha kenarellam
Sorakkathu solvaanga
Udhavi na odu munnadi..
Nee enna valakkura
Naan anba kodukkuren
Athuthaanda chinna kabali..
{Ye gumma gumma
Gummanguthu kuttidalamaa…
Ye dappa dappa
Dappanguthu adidalamaa.. }(2)
Hey pattali pattali
Yezhaikkellam kottali
Vellamanan ullavanda
Chinna kabali
Samali samali
Dhilirundha samali
Vandu ninna andha yedam
Double diwali..
If fear grips you, you are out!
If you have got guts, do it again!
When things get dull and boring,
Buddy, put a stop to it!
If you bluff big, you will get trapped,
If you get shoved, it is a one-way ticket,
If you drool over girls, you will get caught,
And buddy, you will lose your wicket!
A salute only to the real champion,
Call your shot and strike with a spin!
He never discriminates or plays favorites,
Chinna Kabali..
Chinna Kabali...
Hey, working-class brother!
A true friend to all the poor!
A man with a pure and honest heart,
Chinna Kabali!
Handle it, deal with it!
Try to handle him if you have got guts!
Wherever he comes and stands,
It turns into a double Diwali celebration!
If you bond with me, my heart melts,
I get deeply moved by true love,
Let us not breed hatred, brother..
My skin may be dark,
But rub against me, and you will see fire!
Chinna Kabali will never back down in fear..
Hey, kumma kumma,
Shall we throw some wild folk beats?
Hey, dappa dappa,
Shall we dance the dappangkuthu (energetic Tamil street dance)?
Chinna Kabali..
Chinna Kabali..
If fear grips you, you are out!
If you have got guts, do it again!
When things get dull and boring,
Buddy, put a stop to it..
Hey, working-class brother!
A true friend to all the poor!
A man with a pure and honest heart,
Chinna Kabali!
Handle it, deal with it!
Try to handle him if you have got guts!
Wherever he comes and stands,
It turns into a double Diwali celebration..
Like Mother Teresa all your life,
You do not need to live as a saint;
Just do a little good in your own small corner, brother!
To give lavishly like King Paari (ancient benevolent king),
If your budget falls short,
At least guide someone to where they can eat and fill their belly!
Right after donating a little cash,
Do not go putting up a full-page advertisement
In the daily newspaper..
In the corners of the poor's eyes,
The pure happiness that you see blooming,
No other joy can ever match that!
Hey, kumma kumma,
Shall we throw some wild folk beats?
Hey, dappa dappa,
Shall we dance the dappangkuthu (energetic Tamil street dance)?
Hey, working-class brother!
A true friend to all the poor!
A man with a pure and honest heart,
Chinna Kabali!
Handle it, deal with it!
Try to handle him if you have got guts!
Wherever he comes and stands,
It turns into a double Diwali celebration..
...
If fear grips you, you are out!
If you have got guts, do it again!
When things get dull and boring,
Buddy, put a stop to it..
If you bluff big, you will get trapped,
If you get shoved, it is a one-way ticket,
If you drool over girls, you will get caught,
And buddy, you will lose your wicket!
Staying locked up inside your own home,
Overthinking a hundred times,
Do not sit around feeling miserable
That you did not become Bill Gates..
If to bite even into a milk sweet,
You need a set of dentures,
Then why buy boxes of sweets
And hoard them at home?
A well that is never drawn from
Will never yield fresh water, they say;
If someone needs a helping hand, run right to the front!
You take good care of me,
And I pour out my love in return;
That is who Chinna Kabali is, brother!
Hey, kumma kumma,
Shall we throw some wild folk beats?
Hey, dappa dappa,
Shall we dance the dappangkuthu (energetic Tamil street dance)?
Hey, working-class brother!
A true friend to all the poor!
A man with a pure and honest heart,
Chinna Kabali!
Handle it, deal with it!
Try to handle him if you have got guts!
Wherever he comes and stands,
It turns into a double Diwali celebration..
Male
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Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Chinna Kabali' is a high-energy Tamil folk dance song (dappanguthu) from the 2017 film Sivalinga. The song celebrates the character of a local, working-class hero who possesses a heart of gold despite his rugged exterior. Through vibrant slang and local metaphors, the song encourages living courageously, standing up for the underprivileged, and helping others without seeking fame or grand public displays of charity. It emphasizes that happiness comes from small, genuine acts of kindness rather than excessive wealth or self-glorification.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhyme (Monnai / Ethirai)
“Hey pattali pattali / Yezhaikkellam kottali”
Repetition of rhyming syllable sounds across words like Pattali and Kottali to add rhythmic bounce.
Metaphor
“Odambuthan karuppuda / Orasipparu neruppuda”
Comparing the hero's dark-complexioned physical appearance to fire when rubbed, signifying hidden strength and righteousness.
Allusion
“Therasa pol ayulellam / Thyagiyaga vazhavendam”
References to historical and public figures such as Mother Teresa, King Paari, and Bill Gates to convey lessons on humble charity and contentment.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Sivalinga' (2017) starred R. Raghava Lawrence and P. Vasu directed the film, which was a remake of his own successful 2016 Kannada film of the same name. Music for the Tamil version was composed by S. Thaman, and the track 'Chinna Kabali' incorporates popular Chennai slang and high-energy folk beats tailored to Lawrence's signature fast-paced dance choreography.
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