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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Payale Chinna Payale

From Arasilangkumari · 1961

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Arasilangkumari
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
11 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chinna payalae chinna payalae
Sedhi keladaa
Chinna payalae chinna payalae
Sedhi keladaa
Naan solla pora vaarthaiyai
Nallaa yenni paaradaa
Nee yenni paaradaa
Chinna payalae chinna payalae
Sedhi keladaa
Aalum valaranum arivum valaranum
Adhu thaandaa valarchi
Aalum valaranum arivum valaranum
Adhu thaandaa valarchi
Unnai aasaiyodu eendravalukku
Adhuvae nee tharum maghizhchi
Aasaiyodu eendravalukku
Adhuvae nee tharum maghizhchi
Naalum ovvoru paadam koorum
Kaalam tharum payirchi
Un narambodu thaan pinni valaranum
Thanmaana unarchi
Un narambodu thaan pinni valaranum
Thanmaana unarchi
Chinna payalae chinna payalae
Sedhi keladaa
Manidhanaaga vaazhndhida venum
Manadhil vaiyadaa thambi
Manadhil vaiyadaa
Manidhanaaga vaazhndhida venum
Manadhil vaiyadaa thambi
Manadhil vaiyadaa
Valarndhu varum ulagathukkae
Nee valadhu kaiyadaa
Nee valadhu kaiyadaa
Valarndhu varum ulagathukkae
Nee valadhu kaiyadaa
Nee valadhu kaiyadaa
Thaniyudamai kodumaigal theera
Thondu seiyadaa
Nee thondu seiyadaa
Thaniyudamai kodumaigal theera
Thondu seiyadaa
Nee thondu seiyadaa
Thaanaa ellaam maarum enbadhu
Pazhaiya poiyadaa
Ellaam pazhaiya poiyadaa
Chinna payalae chinna payalae
Sedhi keladaa
Veppamara uchiyil ninnu
Pei onnu aadudhunnu…uuuu….
Veppamara uchiyil ninnu
Pei onnu aadudhunnu
Vilaiyaada pogum podhu
Solli vaippaanga
Undhan veerathai kozhundhileyae
Killi vaippaanga
Velaiyattra veenargalin
Moolaiyattra vaarthaigalai
Velaiyattra veenargalin
Moolaiyattra vaarthaigalai
Vedikkaiyaaga kooda
Nambi vidaadhae
Nee veettukkullae bayandhu kidandhu
Vembi vidaadhae
Nee vembi vidaadhae
Chinna payalae chinna payalae
Sedhi keladaa
Little boy, oh little boy,
listen to what I have to say!
Little boy, oh little boy,
listen to what I have to say!
The words that I am going to tell you,
think about them carefully!
You must think about them carefully!
Little boy, oh little boy,
listen to what I have to say!
Your body must grow, and your intellect must grow,
that alone is true growth!
Your body must grow, and your intellect must grow,
that alone is true growth!
To the mother who lovingly gave birth to you,
that is the joy you must give!
To the mother who lovingly gave birth to you,
that is the joy you must give!
Every day teaches a lesson,
it is a training given by time!
Woven into your very veins must grow
a strong sense of self-respect!
Woven into your very veins must grow
a strong sense of self-respect!
Little boy, oh little boy,
listen to what I have to say!
You must live as a true human being,
keep this in mind, little brother!
Keep this in your mind!
You must live as a true human being,
keep this in mind, little brother!
Keep this in your mind!
To this growing world,
you are the right hand!
You are the right hand!
To this growing world,
you are the right hand!
You are the right hand!
To wipe out the cruelties of private ownership,
dedicate yourself to service!
You must dedicate yourself to service!
To wipe out the cruelties of private ownership,
dedicate yourself to service!
You must dedicate yourself to service!
Believing that everything will change on its own
is an age-old lie!
It is all an age-old lie!
Little boy, oh little boy,
listen to what I have to say!
"Standing on top of the neem tree,
a ghost is dancing..." oooh...
"Standing on top of the neem tree,
a ghost is dancing,"
whenever you go out to play,
they will scare you with such words,
and nip your courage
right in the bud!
The senseless words of idle,
good-for-nothing people—
The senseless words of idle,
good-for-nothing people—
even for fun,
never believe them!
Do not stay trapped inside the house in fear
and wither away!
Do not wither away!
Little boy, oh little boy,
listen to what I have to say!
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from the film Arasilangkumari (1961), written by the celebrated poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, is an uplifting advice track aimed at young minds. It stresses the importance of holistic growth—emphasizing that physical development must be matched with intellectual maturity and deep-rooted self-respect. The lyrics encourage social awareness, calling upon the youth to act as the driving force ('right hand') of a progressive world and to stand up against social and economic inequalities such as private exploitation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Chinna payalae chinna payalae”

The phrase 'Chinna payalae chinna payalae' repeats words consecutively to capture the listener's attention and establish a rhythmic, affectionate tone.

Moonaidhu / Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Aalum valaranum arivum valaranum”

The repetition of the initial vowel sound 'A' ('Aalum' / 'Arivum') adds melodic structure and internal rhythm to the verse.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Valarndhu varum ulagathukkae / Nee valadhu kaiyadaa”

Describing the young boy as the 'right hand' (valadhu kai) of the growing world symbolically highlights youth as an indispensable strength for societal progress.

Ethirai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Velaiyattra veenargalin / Moolaiyattra vaarthaigalai”

The second consonant 'la' matches in 'Velaiyattra' and 'Moolaiyattra', showcasing Tamil prosodic meter (Ethirai).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, this song is renowned for embedding rationalist Dravidian ideology and Marxist socio-economic commentary into mainstream film music. It significantly contributed to building M. G. Ramachandran's (MGR) screen persona as a champion of the working class and moral guide to the youth.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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