Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Kanna

From Karotti Kannan · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Karotti Kannan1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Chinna kannaa chella kannaaLittle Kannan, beloved Kannan,
Chinna kannaa chella kannaaLittle Kannan, beloved Kannan,
Innaadu un kaiyilaeThis country is in your hands.
Sirikkum thaenmozhi manakkum poongodiSmiling honey-like speech, fragrant flowering creeper,
En veedu un kannilaeMy home is reflected in your eyes.
Male
Chinna kannaa chella kannaaLittle Kannan, beloved Kannan,
Innaadu un kaiyilaeThis country is in your hands.
Sirikkum thaenmozhi manakkum poongodiSmiling honey-like speech, fragrant flowering creeper,
En veedu un kannilaeMy home is reflected in your eyes.
Male
Gandhiyum annaavum kaattiya paathaiThe path shown by Gandhi and Anna,
Nee sellum paathaiyadaaIs the path you shall walk, my dear.
Kallam ilaamal vanjam illaamalWithout deceit and without malice,
Neraaga nee solladaaSpeak straight and truthfully, my dear.
Male
Bharathi paattai padiththuRead the poetry of Bharathi,
Nee bharatha naattai nadaththuAnd lead this land of Bharath.
Bharathi paattai padiththuRead the poetry of Bharathi,
Nee bharatha naattai nadaththuAnd lead this land of Bharath.
Deivam ondrae endrey nambBelieve that God is only one,
Un ullam koyiladaaYour heart itself is a temple, my dear.
Male
Chinna kannaa chella kannaaLittle Kannan, beloved Kannan,
Innaadu un kaiyilaeThis country is in your hands.
Sirikkum thaenmozhi manakkum poongodiSmiling honey-like speech, fragrant flowering creeper,
En veedu un kannilaeMy home is reflected in your eyes.
Male
Aadhikararkal yaar vantha pothumNo matter which authoritarian rulers come,
Anjaamal por seiyaadaaFight fearlessly, my dear.
Allal vanthaalum innal vanthaalumEven if tribulations or hardships come,
Thoosaaga nee ennadaaTreat them like mere dust, my dear.
Male
Aadhikararkal yaar vantha pothumNo matter which authoritarian rulers come,
Anjaamal por seiyaadaaFight fearlessly, my dear.
Allal vanthaalum innal vanthaalumEven if tribulations or hardships come,
Thoosaaga nee ennadaaTreat them like mere dust, my dear.
Male
Ariyaa paruvaththu pinjuTender child of innocent age,
Nee avanukku mattum anjuFear Him (God) alone.
Ariyaa paruvaththu pinjuTender child of innocent age,
Nee avanukku mattum anjuFear Him (God) alone.
Jadhiyum ondrey needhiyum ondreuyCaste is one, justice is one,
Ellorum sonthamadaaEveryone is your kin, my dear.
Male
Chinna kannaa chella kannaaLittle Kannan, beloved Kannan,
Innaadu un kaiyilaeThis country is in your hands.
Sirikkum thaenmozhi manakkum poongodiSmiling honey-like speech, fragrant flowering creeper,
En veedu un kannilae hae haeiMy home is reflected in your eyes, hey hey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chinna Kannaa Chella Kannaa is an uplifting, values-driven lullaby and anthem from Karotti Kannan (1975). Sung by T. M. Soundararajan with lyricist Kannadasan's profound penmanship, the song addresses a young child who represents the future of the nation. It encourages the child to walk the moral path shown by visionary leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and C. N. Annadurai (Anna), to gain strength from the inspiring poetry of Mahakavi Bharathiyar, and to lead the country with truthfulness and courage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Un ullam koyiladaa

Compares the child's heart directly to a temple ('Un ullam koyiladaa').

Polyptoton / Wordplay (Yamakam / Siledai)

Bharathi paattai padiththu / Nee bharatha naattai nadaththu

Plays with the homonym/etymological connection between poet Bharathi and the nation Bharatha.

Hyperbole & Simile

Thoosaaga nee ennadaa

Urges the child to view massive hardships as insignificant as dust ('Thoosaaga').

Ethirai (Second letter rhyming)

Allal vanthaalum innal vanthaalum

Matching second consonants in 'Allal' and 'Innal' for rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song seamlessly blends nationalistic ideals with regional political reverence by invoking both Mahatma Gandhi and C. N. Annadurai (Anna) alongside Tamil nationalist poet Subramania Bharathi, reflecting Kannadasan's signature style of social commentary in film lyrics.

Keep listening

More from Karotti Kannan