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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Paiyyan Chinna Ponna

From Deva · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. N. Surendar, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Deva1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………....
Male
Chinna paiyyanWhen a young boy
Chinna ponna kadhalichchaaFalls in love with a young girl
Oru paattu varumA song springs forth
Kadhal paattu varumA song of love springs forth
Male
Kanni ponnuWhen a young maiden
Enna paarththu kann asaichchaaWinks at me as she looks at me
Oru kaaichal varumA fever comes
Mana kaaichal varumA fever of the mind comes
Female
Unna tholodu thol saernththuShoulder to shoulder with you
Dhinam naan paadum thaen paattuThe sweet honeyed song I sing every day
Chinnaiyaa ennaiyyaaMy young lord, what is it?
Innum enna venum sollaiyyaaTell me, what more do you want?
Female
Chinna paiyyanWhen a young boy
Chinna ponna kadhalichchaaFalls in love with a young girl
Oru paattu varumA song springs forth
Kadhal paattu varumA song of love springs forth
Female
Kanni paiyyanWhen a young bachelor
Enna paarththu kann asaichchaaWinks at me as he looks at me
Oru kaaichal varumA fever comes
Mana kaaichal varumA fever of the mind comes
Chorus
……………....
Female
Ennirendu vayathilAt sixteen years of age
Un kannirendil vizhunthaenI fell into your pair of eyes
Male :Muththirukkum kadalilMale: In the ocean rich with pearls
Naan mukkulichchu ezhunthaenI dived deep and surfaced
Female
Veligalai thaanda sollumIt is the speed of youth
Vaalipathin vegamthaanThat urges us to cross boundaries
Male :Veredhukku pooththathinthaMale: Why else did it bloom,
Perazhagu thegamthaanThis body of grand beauty?
Female
Un muththamazhaiyaeYour shower of kisses
Ingu niththam kulikkumBathes here every day
Chinna sirppam intha pattu kannamThis small sculpture, these silky cheeks,
Katti vellam allavaaAre they not solid jaggery?
Male
Chinna paiyyanWhen a young boy
Chinna ponna kadhalichchaaFalls in love with a young girl
Oru paattu varumA song springs forth
Kadhal paattu varumA song of love springs forth
Male
Kanni ponnuWhen a young maiden
Enna paarththu kann asaichchaaWinks at me as she looks at me
Oru kaaichal varumA fever comes
Mana kaaichal varumA fever of the mind comes
Male
Chinna chinna kavithaiSmall little poems
En kai ezhutha thudikkumMy hand longs to write
Female :Mella mella ezhuthuFemale: Write them slowly, slowly
En mellidaiyum thavikkumMy slender waist is yearning too
Male
Kanni malar kannil pattaalIf a virgin flower catches the eye,
Karpanaigal paayaathaaWon't imagination take flight?
Female :Karpanaigal paayaavittaalFemale: If imagination does not take flight,
Kanni malar kaayaathaaWon't the virgin flower wither away?
Female
En mullai vanamaeMy garden of jasmine,
Minnum muththu vadamaeMy sparkling string of pearls,
Unnai pakkam vanthu nikkumComing and standing beside you,
Inba sorkkam endru sollavaaShall I call it a heavenly paradise of bliss?
Female
Chinna paiyyanWhen a young boy
Chinna ponna kadhalichchaaFalls in love with a young girl
Oru paattu varumA song springs forth
Kadhal paattu varumA song of love springs forth
Female
Kanni paiyyanWhen a young bachelor
Enna paarththu kann asaichchaaWinks at me as he looks at me
Oru kaaichal varumA fever comes
Mana kaaichal varumA fever of the mind comes
Male
Unna tholodu thol saernththuShoulder to shoulder with you
Dhinam naan paadum thaen paattuThe sweet honeyed song I sing every day
Female :Chinnaiyaa ennaiyyaaFemale: My young lord, what is it?
Innum enna venum sollaiyyaaTell me, what more do you want?
Male
Chinna paiyyanWhen a young boy
Chinna ponna kadhalichchaaFalls in love with a young girl
Oru paattu varumA song springs forth
Kadhal paattu varumA song of love springs forth
Female
Oo…kanni paiyyanOh... when a young bachelor
Enna paarththu kann asaichchaaWinks at me as he looks at me
Oru kaaichal varumA fever comes
Mana kaaichal varumA fever of the mind comes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Chinna Paiyyan' is a playful and romantic duet depicting youthful romance and mutual affection between two lovers. The lyrics capture the sweet restlessness, playful teasing, and passionate desire that young love evokes, metaphorically comparing the excitement of romance to a gentle 'fever of the mind' and poetic inspiration.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorepetition / Anaphora

Chinna paiyyan / Chinna ponna kadhalichchaa

Repetition of 'Chinna' in consecutive lines for rhythmic accentuation and poetic playfulness.

Metaphor

Chinna sirppam intha pattu kannam / Katti vellam allavaa

Comparing the lover's sweet cheeks to block jaggery ('katti vellam').

Rhyme (Etukai)

Ennirendu vayathil / Un kannirendil vizhunthaen

Tamil second-letter rhyme in 'Ennirendu' and 'kannirendil'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features in the 1995 Vijay-starrer 'Deva'. Vaali's lyrics use lighthearted folk rhythms mixed with classic romantic imagery.

Keep listening

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