Chinna Kanniley
From Dhoni · 2012
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singers
- Shreya Ghoshal, Naresh Iyer
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Dhoni2012
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chinna kannillae | In those tiny eyes, |
| Enna ketkkuraai | what are you asking? |
| Un nenjin kadhaigalai | The stories in your heart, |
| Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai | you have woven and cast like nets. |
| Indha punnagai engu vaanginaai | Where did you buy this smile? |
| Nee dhinamum poopadhal | Because you blossom every day, |
| Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai | you transcend yesterday and tomorrow. |
| Female | |
| Iru kai neeti siru thalaiyaatti | Extending both hands, nodding your small head, |
| Iru vizhiyaalae pudhu oli kooti | adding new light with both your eyes, |
| Naan vaazha vanthathin | the meaning of why I came to live, |
| Artham solgiraai kanmani | you explain to me, my dear child. |
| Chorus | |
| Vairamanigalai sirippil thelikkiraai | You scatter diamonds in your laughter, |
| Mazhalai poovae vaa | come, flower of innocent babyhood. |
| Female | |
| Chinna kannillae | In those tiny eyes, |
| Enna ketkkuraai | what are you asking? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………… | [Instrumental Interlude] |
| Female | |
| Pudhiyathu kulandhai ulagam | The world of a child is new, |
| Nuzhainthida vazhigal vendum | one needs pathways to enter it. |
| Kuzhandhaiyin vayadhum manadhum | A child's age and mind, |
| Kidaithida varangal vendum | require boons to attain. |
| Female | |
| Oru theevil pookum | Like a little flower |
| Siru poovai polae | blooming on an island, |
| Idhazhai thiranthu pesum | opening its petals to speak, |
| Unadhu mazhalai podhum | your baby babble is enough. |
| Un mozhi thaen mozhi | Your language is sweet as honey, |
| En mozhi vaen mozhi | my language is sharp as a bamboo spear. |
| Unnidam ulladhu dheivathin thaimozhi | What you possess is God's mother tongue. |
| Andha aagaayam indha boologam | That sky and this Earth, |
| Adhai pinju viralgalaal thaangi pidikkiraai eppadi | how do you hold them up with your tiny fingers? |
| Male | |
| Chinna kannillae | In those tiny eyes, |
| Enna ketkkuraai | what are you asking? |
| Un nenjin kadhaigalai | The stories in your heart, |
| Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai | you have woven and cast like nets. |
| Female | |
| Indha punnagai | This smile, |
| Engu vaanginaai | where did you buy it? |
| Nee dhinamum poopadhal | Because you blossom every day, |
| Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai | you transcend yesterday and tomorrow. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………… | [Instrumental Interlude] |
| Male | |
| Nadai vandi palagum vayadhil | At the age of learning to walk with a walker, |
| Nadanthida naanum muyandren | I too tried to walk. |
| Nadanthida kadantha thooram | The distance I covered while walking, |
| Unakkadhu thodara vendaam | need not continue for you. |
| Female | |
| Indha ulagin azhagai | The beauty of this world, |
| Nee azhagu seidhaai | you made even more beautiful. |
| Unadhu sirippin oliyil | In the light of your smile, |
| Iravai velicham seidhaai | you turned the night into light. |
| Male | |
| Unnidam paadangal | Lessons with you, |
| Ethanai ulladhu | how many are there! |
| Ennidam kelvigal mattumae ulladhu | While I possess only questions. |
| Female | |
| Siru kai theendi | Touching me with tiny hands, |
| En mei theendi | touching my body, |
| En karvam yaavaiyum theerthu pogiraai eppadi | how do you wipe away all my ego? |
| Male | |
| Chinna kannillae | In those tiny eyes, |
| Enna ketkkuraai | what are you asking? |
| Un nenjin kadhaigalai | The stories in your heart, |
| Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai | you have woven and cast like nets. |
| Female | |
| Indha punnagai | This smile, |
| Engu vaanginaai | where did you buy it? |
| Nee dhinamum poopadhal | Because you blossom every day, |
| Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai | you transcend yesterday and tomorrow. |
| Female | |
| Iru kai neeti siru thalaiyaatti | Extending both hands, nodding your small head, |
| Iru vizhiyaalae pudhu oli kooti | adding new light with both your eyes, |
| Naan vaazha vanthathin | the meaning of why I came to live, |
| Artham solgiraai kanmani | you explain to me, my dear child. |
| Chorus | |
| Vairamanigalai sirippil thelikkiraai | You scatter diamonds in your laughter, |
| Mazhalai poovae vaa | come, flower of innocent babyhood. |
சின்னக் கண்ணிலே என்ன கேட்கிறாய்
உன் நெஞ்சின் கதைகளைப்
பிண்ணி வலைகளாய் வீசினாய்
இந்த புன்னகை எங்கு வாங்கினாய்
நீ தினமும் பூப்பதால்
நேற்று நாளையைத் தாண்டினாய்
In those tiny eyes,
what are you asking?
The stories in your heart,
you have woven and cast like nets.
Where did you buy this smile?
Because you blossom every day,
you transcend yesterday and tomorrow.
இரு கை நீட்டி சிறு தலையாட்டி
இரு விழியாலே புது ஒளி கூட்டி
நான் வாழ வந்ததின்
அர்த்தம் சொல்கிறாய் கண்மணி
Extending both hands, nodding your small head,
adding new light with both your eyes,
the meaning of why I came to live,
you explain to me, my dear child.
வைரமணிகளை சிரிப்பில் தெளிக்கிறாய்
மழலைப் பூவே வா........
You scatter diamonds in your laughter,
come, flower of innocent babyhood.
சின்னக் கண்ணிலே என்ன கேட்கிறாய்
In those tiny eyes,
what are you asking?
....................
[Instrumental Interlude]
புதியது குழந்தை உலகம்
நுழைந்திட வழிகள் வேண்டும்
குழந்தையின் வயதும் மனதும்
கிடைத்திட வரங்கள் வேண்டும்
The world of a child is new,
one needs pathways to enter it.
A child's age and mind,
require boons to attain.
ஒரு தீவில் பூக்கும் சிறு பூவைப் போலே
இதழை திறந்து பேசும் உனது மழலை போதும்
உன் மொழி தேன்மொழி என் மொழி வீண்மொழி
உன்னிடம் உள்ளது தெய்வத்தின் தாய்மொழி
அந்த ஆகாயம் இந்த பூலோகம்
அதைப் பிஞ்சுவிரல்களால் தாங்கிப் பிடிக்கிறாய் எப்படி...
Like a little flower
blooming on an island,
opening its petals to speak,
your baby babble is enough.
Your language is sweet as honey,
my language is sharp as a bamboo spear.
What you possess is God's mother tongue.
That sky and this Earth,
how do you hold them up with your tiny fingers?
சின்னக் கண்ணிலே என்ன கேட்கிறாய்
உன் நெஞ்சின் கதைகளைப்
பிண்ணி வலைகளாய் வீசினாய்
In those tiny eyes,
what are you asking?
The stories in your heart,
you have woven and cast like nets.
இந்த புன்னகை எங்கு வாங்கினாய்
நீ தினமும் பூப்பதால்
நேற்று நாளையைத் தாண்டினாய்
This smile,
where did you buy it?
Because you blossom every day,
you transcend yesterday and tomorrow.
...............................
[Instrumental Interlude]
நடைவண்டி பழகும் வயதில்
நடந்திட நானும் முயன்றேன்
நடந்திட கடந்த தூரம்
உனக்கது தொடர வேண்டாம்
இந்த உலகின் அழகை
நீ அழகு செய்தாய்
உன் சிரிப்பின் ஒளியில்
இரவை வெளிச்சம் செய்தாய்
At the age of learning to walk with a walker,
I too tried to walk.
The distance I covered while walking,
need not continue for you.
உன்னிடம் பாடங்கள்
எத்தனை உள்ளது
என்னிடம் கேள்விகள் மட்டுமே உள்ளது
The beauty of this world,
you made even more beautiful.
In the light of your smile,
you turned the night into light.
சிறுகை தீண்டி என் மெய் தீண்டி
என் கர்வம் யாவையும் தீர்த்துப் போகிறாய் எப்படி ...
Lessons with you,
how many are there!
While I possess only questions.
சின்னக் கண்ணிலே என்ன கேட்கிறாய்
உன் நெஞ்சின் கதைகளைப்
பிண்ணி வலைகளாய் வீசினாய்
Touching me with tiny hands,
touching my body,
how do you wipe away all my ego?
இந்த புன்னகை எங்கு வாங்கினாய்
நீ தினமும் பூப்பதால்
நேற்று நாளையைத் தாண்டினாய்
In those tiny eyes,
what are you asking?
The stories in your heart,
you have woven and cast like nets.
இரு கை நீட்டி சிறு தலையாட்டி
இரு விழியாலே புது ஒளி கூட்டி
நான் வாழ வந்ததின்
அர்த்தம் சொல்கிறாய் கண்மணி
This smile,
where did you buy it?
Because you blossom every day,
you transcend yesterday and tomorrow.
வைரமணிகளை சிரிப்பில் தெளிக்கிறாய்
மழலைப் பூவே வா........
Extending both hands, nodding your small head,
adding new light with both your eyes,
the meaning of why I came to live,
you explain to me, my dear child.
You scatter diamonds in your laughter,
come, flower of innocent babyhood.
Chinna kannillae
In those tiny eyes,
Enna ketkkuraai
what are you asking?
Un nenjin kadhaigalai
The stories in your heart,
Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai
you have woven and cast like nets.
Indha punnagai engu vaanginaai
Where did you buy this smile?
Nee dhinamum poopadhal
Because you blossom every day,
Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai
you transcend yesterday and tomorrow.
Iru kai neeti siru thalaiyaatti
Extending both hands, nodding your small head,
Iru vizhiyaalae pudhu oli kooti
adding new light with both your eyes,
Naan vaazha vanthathin
the meaning of why I came to live,
Artham solgiraai kanmani
you explain to me, my dear child.
Vairamanigalai sirippil thelikkiraai
You scatter diamonds in your laughter,
Mazhalai poovae vaa
come, flower of innocent babyhood.
Chinna kannillae
In those tiny eyes,
Enna ketkkuraai
what are you asking?
………………
[Instrumental Interlude]
Pudhiyathu kulandhai ulagam
The world of a child is new,
Nuzhainthida vazhigal vendum
one needs pathways to enter it.
Kuzhandhaiyin vayadhum manadhum
A child's age and mind,
Kidaithida varangal vendum
require boons to attain.
Oru theevil pookum
Like a little flower
Siru poovai polae
blooming on an island,
Idhazhai thiranthu pesum
opening its petals to speak,
Unadhu mazhalai podhum
your baby babble is enough.
Un mozhi thaen mozhi
Your language is sweet as honey,
En mozhi vaen mozhi
my language is sharp as a bamboo spear.
Unnidam ulladhu dheivathin thaimozhi
What you possess is God's mother tongue.
Andha aagaayam indha boologam
That sky and this Earth,
Adhai pinju viralgalaal thaangi pidikkiraai eppadi
how do you hold them up with your tiny fingers?
Chinna kannillae
In those tiny eyes,
Enna ketkkuraai
what are you asking?
Un nenjin kadhaigalai
The stories in your heart,
Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai
you have woven and cast like nets.
Indha punnagai
This smile,
Engu vaanginaai
where did you buy it?
Nee dhinamum poopadhal
Because you blossom every day,
Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai
you transcend yesterday and tomorrow.
………………………
[Instrumental Interlude]
Nadai vandi palagum vayadhil
At the age of learning to walk with a walker,
Nadanthida naanum muyandren
I too tried to walk.
Nadanthida kadantha thooram
The distance I covered while walking,
Unakkadhu thodara vendaam
need not continue for you.
Indha ulagin azhagai
The beauty of this world,
Nee azhagu seidhaai
you made even more beautiful.
Unadhu sirippin oliyil
In the light of your smile,
Iravai velicham seidhaai
you turned the night into light.
Unnidam paadangal
Lessons with you,
Ethanai ulladhu
how many are there!
Ennidam kelvigal mattumae ulladhu
While I possess only questions.
Siru kai theendi
Touching me with tiny hands,
En mei theendi
touching my body,
En karvam yaavaiyum theerthu pogiraai eppadi
how do you wipe away all my ego?
Chinna kannillae
In those tiny eyes,
Enna ketkkuraai
what are you asking?
Un nenjin kadhaigalai
The stories in your heart,
Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai
you have woven and cast like nets.
Indha punnagai
This smile,
Engu vaanginaai
where did you buy it?
Nee dhinamum poopadhal
Because you blossom every day,
Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai
you transcend yesterday and tomorrow.
Iru kai neeti siru thalaiyaatti
Extending both hands, nodding your small head,
Iru vizhiyaalae pudhu oli kooti
adding new light with both your eyes,
Naan vaazha vanthathin
the meaning of why I came to live,
Artham solgiraai kanmani
you explain to me, my dear child.
Vairamanigalai sirippil thelikkiraai
You scatter diamonds in your laughter,
Mazhalai poovae vaa
come, flower of innocent babyhood.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Chinna Kannillae from the movie Dhoni (2012) is a heartwarming tender song reflecting a parent's profound love and wonder for their child. Written by Na. Muthukumar and set to music by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, the song illustrates how a child's innocent gaze, laughter, and presence can bring purpose, wipe away adult arrogance, and illuminate life. The lyrics contrast the innocent, divine world of a child with the burdened, question-filled realm of an adult. The parent expresses hope that the child will not have to endure the same tedious distances and hardships they walked, praying that the child's pure spirit remains untainted. Through vivid imagery, the song portrays the child as a master teacher of life's true meaning.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vairamanigalai sirippil thelikkiraai”
The baby's laughter is metaphorically equated to scattering diamonds.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Siru poovai polae”
The child's delicate act of speaking baby talk is compared to a small flower blooming on a quiet island.
Metaphor & Antithesis
“Un mozhi thaen mozhi / En mozhi vaen mozhi”
Contrasts the child's speech (sweet honey) with the adult's speech (sharp bamboo spear).
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Andha aagaayam indha boologam / Adhai pinju viralgalaal thaangi pidikkiraai eppadi”
Poetically exaggerates the baby's divine power as holding up the sky and earth using tiny fingers.
Rhyme & Alliteration (Edhugai and Monai)
“Un mozhi thaen mozhi / En mozhi vaen mozhi”
Matching initial consonants ('Un' and 'En') and second-letter consonant sounds creating rhythmic symmetry.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the bilingual film Dhoni (2012), directed by Prakash Raj. Lyricist Na. Muthukumar was renowned for his deep sensitivity in writing songs centered on parental love and childhood innocence, earning widespread critical acclaim for capturing subtle emotional nuances.
Keep listening
More from Dhoni
Dhoni
Dhoni
Dhoni
Dhoni