Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Dhoni album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Kanniley

From Dhoni · 2012

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Shreya Ghoshal, Naresh Iyer
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Dhoni
Movie release year
2012
Lyrics added on
25 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chinna kannillae
Enna ketkkuraai
Un nenjin kadhaigalai
Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai
Indha punnagai engu vaanginaai
Nee dhinamum poopadhal
Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai
Iru kai neeti siru thalaiyaatti
Iru vizhiyaalae pudhu oli kooti
Naan vaazha vanthathin
Artham solgiraai kanmani
Vairamanigalai sirippil thelikkiraai
Mazhalai poovae vaa
Chinna kannillae
Enna ketkkuraai
………………
Pudhiyathu kulandhai ulagam
Nuzhainthida vazhigal vendum
Kuzhandhaiyin vayadhum manadhum
Kidaithida varangal vendum
Oru theevil pookum
Siru poovai polae
Idhazhai thiranthu pesum
Unadhu mazhalai podhum
Un mozhi thaen mozhi
En mozhi vaen mozhi
Unnidam ulladhu dheivathin thaimozhi
Andha aagaayam indha boologam
Adhai pinju viralgalaal thaangi pidikkiraai eppadi
Chinna kannillae
Enna ketkkuraai
Un nenjin kadhaigalai
Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai
Indha punnagai
Engu vaanginaai
Nee dhinamum poopadhal
Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai
………………………
Nadai vandi palagum vayadhil
Nadanthida naanum muyandren
Nadanthida kadantha thooram
Unakkadhu thodara vendaam
Indha ulagin azhagai
Nee azhagu seidhaai
Unadhu sirippin oliyil
Iravai velicham seidhaai
Unnidam paadangal
Ethanai ulladhu
Ennidam kelvigal mattumae ulladhu
Siru kai theendi
En mei theendi
En karvam yaavaiyum theerthu pogiraai eppadi
Chinna kannillae
Enna ketkkuraai
Un nenjin kadhaigalai
Pinni valaigalaai veesinaai
Indha punnagai
Engu vaanginaai
Nee dhinamum poopadhal
Naetru naalaiyai thaandinaai
Iru kai neeti siru thalaiyaatti
Iru vizhiyaalae pudhu oli kooti
Naan vaazha vanthathin
Artham solgiraai kanmani
Vairamanigalai sirippil thelikkiraai
Mazhalai poovae vaa
In those tiny eyes
What are you asking?
The stories of your heart
You wove into nets and cast them
Where did you buy this smile?
Because you blossom every day
You transcended yesterday and tomorrow
Reaching out both hands, nodding your tiny head
Gathering a new light through both your eyes
The meaning of why I came to live
You reveal to me, my darling child
You scatter diamonds in your laughter
Come, flower of innocent babble
In those tiny eyes
What are you asking?
………………
A child's world is brand new
Ways are needed to enter it
A child's age and mind
Boons are needed to attain them
Like a tiny flower
Blooming on a distant island
Opening its petals to speak
Your sweet babble is enough
Your tongue is a tongue of honey
My tongue is a harsh language
With you lies God's own mother tongue
That sky and this earth
How do you hold them up with your tender fingers?
In those tiny eyes
What are you asking?
The stories of your heart
You wove into nets and cast them
This smile
Where did you buy it?
Because you blossom every day
You transcended yesterday and tomorrow
……………………………………………
At the age of learning to walk with a play-cart
I too tried to walk
The distance I covered walking
May that path not continue for you
The beauty of this world
You made even more beautiful
In the light of your laughter
You illuminated the night
How many lessons
Do you possess?
I hold only endless questions
Touching me with your tiny hand
Touching my body and soul
How do you completely dissolve all my pride?
In those tiny eyes
What are you asking?
The stories of your heart
You wove into nets and cast them
This smile
Where did you buy it?
Because you blossom every day
You transcended yesterday and tomorrow
Reaching out both hands, nodding your tiny head
Gathering a new light through both your eyes
The meaning of why I came to live
You reveal to me, my darling child
You scatter diamonds in your laughter
Come, flower of innocent babble
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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

Songs with a similar feeling

Unnai Parthaal Podhum2016
Azhagu Kutti ChellamChildhoodTender
Thuru Thuru2026
Happy RajWonderTender
Aarariraro2005
RaamTenderDevotion
Kadha Solla Poren2011
Deiva ThirumagalChildhoodFamily
Thavamaa Thavamirunthu1990
Puthu PaatuChildhoodTender
Aararo Aararo1998
Veera ThalattuTenderDevotion

From the same album

More songs from Dhoni

View album
Thaavi Thaavi Pogum2012
DhoniComforting
Vilayaattaa Padagotty Male2012
DhoniContemplative
Vilayaattaa Padagotty Female2012
DhoniContemplative
Vaangum Panathukkum2012
DhoniContemplative

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.