Chinna Mani
From Mallu Vetti Minor · 1990
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra, Uma Ramanan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Mallu Vetti Minor1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chinnamani ponnumani | Little gem, golden gem, |
| Sirichakka koyil mani | When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell. |
| Unnai peththa raasavukku | For the king who fathered you, |
| Avathaandaa kanninmani | He is the apple of the eye. |
| Pethedutha thaai oruthi | One mother gave birth to you, |
| Nee thathedutha thaai oruthi | You adopted another mother. |
| Indha iruvarukkum | To both of these women, |
| Pillai nee oruthan | You are the only son. |
| Male | |
| Chinnamani ponnumani | Little gem, golden gem, |
| Sirichakka koyil mani | When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell. |
| Unnai peththa raasavukku | For the king who fathered you, |
| Nee thaandaa kanninmani | You are indeed the apple of his eye. |
| Pethedutha thaai oruthi | One mother gave birth to you, |
| Nee thathedukka vachupputtaa | She left you to be adopted, |
| Andha iruvarukkum | To both of those women, |
| Kelvi naan oruthan | I am the single lingering question. |
| Female | |
| Chinnamani ponnumani | Little gem, golden gem, |
| Sirichakka koyil mani | When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell. |
| Unnai peththa raasavukku | For the king who fathered you, |
| Avathaandaa kanninmani | He is the apple of the eye. |
| Male | |
| Ethanaiyo vaasalilae | At so many doorways, |
| Kaala vachen appodhu | I set my foot back then. |
| Vachchadhukku thandanaiya | As a punishment for stepping there, |
| Anubavichaen ippodhu | I am suffering now. |
| Male | |
| Ethanaiyo vaasalilae | At so many doorways, |
| Kaala vachen appodhu | I set my foot back then. |
| Vachchadhukku thandanaiya | As a punishment for stepping there, |
| Anubavichaen ippodhu | I am suffering now. |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga potta vidhai | The seed that I sowed myself, |
| Mulaichuthadaa naethu | Has sprouted yesterday. |
| Neeyenum thirundhi nada | At least now, mend your ways and walk upright, |
| En kathaiya paarthu | Seeing my life's story. |
| Male | |
| Poi maana pulli maanunnu nambikittaa | Believing a false deer to be a spotted deer, |
| Oru mullaala iva maalaiya katti vachaa | She wove a garland made of thorns. |
| Ithai tholil thaangum thuyaram | The grief of bearing this on my shoulders, |
| Nenju porukkaladaa | My heart cannot tolerate, my boy. |
| Male | |
| Chinnamani ponnumani | Little gem, golden gem, |
| Sirichakka koyil mani | When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell. |
| Unnai peththa raasavukku | For the king who fathered you, |
| Nee thaandaa kanninmani | You are indeed the apple of his eye. |
| Female | |
| Oorukkulla veethiyilae | In the streets of the town, |
| Vilaiyaata poyirukken | I went to play. |
| Unnudaiya vaazhkkaiyilae | But in your life, |
| Vilaiyaada naan varala | I did not come to play games. |
| Female | |
| Oorukkulla veethiyilae | In the streets of the town, |
| Vilaiyaata poyirukken | I went to play. |
| Unnudaiya vaazhkkaiyilae | But in your life, |
| Vilaiyaada naan varala | I did not come to play games. |
| Female | |
| Thee mela kaiya vachu | Placing my hand on the fire, |
| Suttukitta paavam | It was my own fault for getting burned. |
| Un mela kopappattaa | If I get angry with you, |
| Adhil ennaiyaa nyaayam | What justice is there in that? |
| Female | |
| Pon maana nee poiyinnu solluriyae | Calling me a golden deer, you say I am false, |
| En ammaanae ennai sollula kolluriyae | Oh my beloved, you are killing me with your words! |
| En vaazhvum thaazhvum | My rise and my fall, |
| Enadhu mannavan unnidamae | My lord, are entirely in your hands. |
| Female | |
| Aa aa chinnamani ponnumani | Ah ah, little gem, golden gem, |
| Sirichakka koyil mani | When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell. |
| Unnai peththa raasavukku | For the king who fathered you, |
| Avathaandaa kanninmani | He is the apple of the eye. |
| Female | |
| Pethedutha thaai oruthi | One mother gave birth to you, |
| Unna thatheduthen naan oruthi | I am the mother who adopted you. |
| Enga iruvarukkum | Between both of us, |
| Pillai nee oruthan | You are the only son. |
| Female | |
| Imhum imhum imhum imhum | Mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm |
| Female | |
| Imhum imhum imhum imhum | Mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm |
சின்னமணி பொண்ணுமணி
சிரிச்சாக்க கோயில் மணி
உன்னைப் பெத்த ராசவுக்கு
அவதான்டா கண்ணின்மணி
பெத்தெடுத்த தாய் ஒருத்தி
நீ தத்தெடுத்த தாய் ஒருத்தி
இந்த இருவருக்கும்
பிள்ளை நீ ஒருத்தன்
Little gem, golden gem,
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
For the king who fathered you,
He is the apple of the eye.
One mother gave birth to you,
You adopted another mother.
To both of these women,
You are the only son.
சின்னமணி பொண்ணுமணி
சிரிச்சாக்க கோயில் மணி
உன்னைப் பெத்த ராசவுக்கு
நீதான்டா கண்ணின்மணி
பெத்தெடுத்த தாய் ஒருத்தி
நீ தத்தெடுக்க வச்சுப்புட்டா
அந்த இருவருக்கும்
கேள்வி நான் ஒருத்தன்
Little gem, golden gem,
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
For the king who fathered you,
You are indeed the apple of his eye.
One mother gave birth to you,
She left you to be adopted,
To both of those women,
I am the single lingering question.
சின்னமணி பொண்ணுமணி
சிரிச்சாக்க கோயில் மணி
உன்னைப் பெத்த ராசவுக்கு
அவதான்டா கண்ணின்மணி
Little gem, golden gem,
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
For the king who fathered you,
He is the apple of the eye.
எத்தனையோ வாசலிலே
கால வச்சேன் அப்போது
வச்சதுக்கு தண்டனைய
அனுபவிச்சேன் இப்போது
At so many doorways,
I set my foot back then.
As a punishment for stepping there,
I am suffering now.
எத்தனையோ வாசலிலே
கால வச்சேன் அப்போது
வச்சதுக்கு தண்டனைய
அனுபவிச்சேன் இப்போது
At so many doorways,
I set my foot back then.
As a punishment for stepping there,
I am suffering now.
நானாக போட்ட விதை
முளைச்சுதடா நேத்து
நீயேனும் திருந்தி நட
என் கதையப் பார்த்து
The seed that I sowed myself,
Has sprouted yesterday.
At least now, mend your ways and walk upright,
Seeing my life's story.
பொய் மான
புள்ளி மானுன்னு நம்பிகிட்டா
ஒரு முள்ளால இவ மாலைய கட்டி வச்சா
இதைத் தோளில் தாங்கும் துயரம்
நெஞ்சு பொறுக்கலடா
Believing a false deer to be a spotted deer,
She wove a garland made of thorns.
The grief of bearing this on my shoulders,
My heart cannot tolerate, my boy.
சின்னமணி பொண்ணுமணி
சிரிச்சாக்க கோயில் மணி
உன்னைப் பெத்த ராசவுக்கு
நீதான்டா கண்ணின்மணி
Little gem, golden gem,
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
For the king who fathered you,
You are indeed the apple of his eye.
ஊருக்குள்ள வீதியில
விளையாடப் போயிருக்கேன்
உன்னுடைய வாழ்க்கையில
விளையாட நான் வரல
In the streets of the town,
I went to play.
But in your life,
I did not come to play games.
ஊருக்குள்ள வீதியில
விளையாடப் போயிருக்கேன்
உன்னுடைய வாழ்க்கையில
விளையாட நான் வரல
In the streets of the town,
I went to play.
But in your life,
I did not come to play games.
தீ மேல கைய வச்சு
சுட்டுகிட்ட பாவம்
உன் மேல கோபப்பட்டா
அதில் என்னய்யா நியாயம்
Placing my hand on the fire,
It was my own fault for getting burned.
If I get angry with you,
What justice is there in that?
பொன் மான நீ
பொய்யின்னு சொல்லுறியே
என் அம்மானே என்னை
சொல்லுல கொல்லுறியே
என் வாழ்வும் தாழ்வும்
எனது மன்னவன் உன்னிடமே
Calling me a golden deer, you say I am false,
Oh my beloved, you are killing me with your words!
My rise and my fall,
My lord, are entirely in your hands.
ஆ ஆ சின்னமணி பொண்ணுமணி
சிரிச்சாக்க கோயில் மணி
உன்னைப் பெத்த ராசவுக்கு
அவதான்டா கண்ணின்மணி
Ah ah, little gem, golden gem,
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
For the king who fathered you,
He is the apple of the eye.
பெத்தெடுத்த தாய் ஒருத்தி
உன்ன தத்தெடுத்தேன் நான் ஒருத்தி
எங்க இருவருக்கும்
பிள்ளை நீ ஒருத்தன்
One mother gave birth to you,
I am the mother who adopted you.
Between both of us,
You are the only son.
ம்ஹும் ம்ஹும் ம்ஹும் ம்ஹும்
Mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm
ம்ஹும் ம்ஹும் ம்ஹும் ம்ஹும்
Mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm
Chinnamani ponnumani
Little gem, golden gem,
Sirichakka koyil mani
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
Unnai peththa raasavukku
For the king who fathered you,
Avathaandaa kanninmani
He is the apple of the eye.
Pethedutha thaai oruthi
One mother gave birth to you,
Nee thathedutha thaai oruthi
You adopted another mother.
Indha iruvarukkum
To both of these women,
Pillai nee oruthan
You are the only son.
Chinnamani ponnumani
Little gem, golden gem,
Sirichakka koyil mani
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
Unnai peththa raasavukku
For the king who fathered you,
Nee thaandaa kanninmani
You are indeed the apple of his eye.
Pethedutha thaai oruthi
One mother gave birth to you,
Nee thathedukka vachupputtaa
She left you to be adopted,
Andha iruvarukkum
To both of those women,
Kelvi naan oruthan
I am the single lingering question.
Chinnamani ponnumani
Little gem, golden gem,
Sirichakka koyil mani
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
Unnai peththa raasavukku
For the king who fathered you,
Avathaandaa kanninmani
He is the apple of the eye.
Ethanaiyo vaasalilae
At so many doorways,
Kaala vachen appodhu
I set my foot back then.
Vachchadhukku thandanaiya
As a punishment for stepping there,
Anubavichaen ippodhu
I am suffering now.
Ethanaiyo vaasalilae
At so many doorways,
Kaala vachen appodhu
I set my foot back then.
Vachchadhukku thandanaiya
As a punishment for stepping there,
Anubavichaen ippodhu
I am suffering now.
Naanaaga potta vidhai
The seed that I sowed myself,
Mulaichuthadaa naethu
Has sprouted yesterday.
Neeyenum thirundhi nada
At least now, mend your ways and walk upright,
En kathaiya paarthu
Seeing my life's story.
Poi maana pulli maanunnu nambikittaa
Believing a false deer to be a spotted deer,
Oru mullaala iva maalaiya katti vachaa
She wove a garland made of thorns.
Ithai tholil thaangum thuyaram
The grief of bearing this on my shoulders,
Nenju porukkaladaa
My heart cannot tolerate, my boy.
Chinnamani ponnumani
Little gem, golden gem,
Sirichakka koyil mani
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
Unnai peththa raasavukku
For the king who fathered you,
Nee thaandaa kanninmani
You are indeed the apple of his eye.
Oorukkulla veethiyilae
In the streets of the town,
Vilaiyaata poyirukken
I went to play.
Unnudaiya vaazhkkaiyilae
But in your life,
Vilaiyaada naan varala
I did not come to play games.
Oorukkulla veethiyilae
In the streets of the town,
Vilaiyaata poyirukken
I went to play.
Unnudaiya vaazhkkaiyilae
But in your life,
Vilaiyaada naan varala
I did not come to play games.
Thee mela kaiya vachu
Placing my hand on the fire,
Suttukitta paavam
It was my own fault for getting burned.
Un mela kopappattaa
If I get angry with you,
Adhil ennaiyaa nyaayam
What justice is there in that?
Pon maana nee poiyinnu solluriyae
Calling me a golden deer, you say I am false,
En ammaanae ennai sollula kolluriyae
Oh my beloved, you are killing me with your words!
En vaazhvum thaazhvum
My rise and my fall,
Enadhu mannavan unnidamae
My lord, are entirely in your hands.
Aa aa chinnamani ponnumani
Ah ah, little gem, golden gem,
Sirichakka koyil mani
When you laugh, it sounds like a temple bell.
Unnai peththa raasavukku
For the king who fathered you,
Avathaandaa kanninmani
He is the apple of the eye.
Pethedutha thaai oruthi
One mother gave birth to you,
Unna thatheduthen naan oruthi
I am the mother who adopted you.
Enga iruvarukkum
Between both of us,
Pillai nee oruthan
You are the only son.
Imhum imhum imhum imhum
Mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm
Imhum imhum imhum imhum
Mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm mmm-hmm
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Chinnamani Ponnumani' is an emotional tender lullaby and reflective track from the film Mallu Vetti Minor (1990). The song depicts a complex dynamic of familial love, highlighting the contrast between a child's biological mother and adoptive mother, while the father reflects deeply upon his past mistakes, indiscretions, and hard-earned wisdom. Through gentle folk-based melodies, the characters express their devotion to the child who serves as the central anchor unifying their broken world. The lyrics seamlessly blend affection with feelings of guilt, longing for redemption, and unconditional maternal and paternal protection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Sirichakka koyil mani”
Compares the child's innocent laugh directly to the pleasant chime of a temple bell.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Chinnamani ponnumani / Sirichakka koyil mani”
The end of consecutive lines rhyme using 'mani' (Chinnamani, Ponnumani, Koyil mani, Kanninmani).
Contrast (Antithesis)
“Pethedutha thaai oruthi / Nee thathedutha thaai oruthi”
Juxtaposes the biological mother who gave birth with the foster mother who raised the child.
Did you know?
Trivia
Mallu Vetti Minor (1990) features Sathyaraj in a double role. Though credited as Unknown in some metadata sources, the iconic music for this film was composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran.
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