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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
Details
Arasilangkumari1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Chinna payalae chinna payalaeLittle boy, little boy,
Sedhi keladaaListen to the message!
Chinna payalae chinna payalaeLittle boy, little boy,
Sedhi keladaaListen to the message!
Male
Naan solla pora vaarthaiyaiThe words I am about to tell you,
Nallaa yenni paaradaaThink about them well!
Nee yenni paaradaaYou think about them!
Male
Chinna payalae chinna payalaeLittle boy, little boy,
Sedhi keladaaListen to the message!
Male
Aalum valaranum arivum valaranumBoth physical stature and intellect must grow,
Adhu thaandaa valarchiThat alone is true growth!
Aalum valaranum arivum valaranumBoth physical stature and intellect must grow,
Adhu thaandaa valarchiThat alone is true growth!
Male
Unnai aasaiyodu eendravalukkuTo the mother who birthed you with love,
Adhuvae nee tharum maghizhchiThat is the true joy you give!
Aasaiyodu eendravalukkuTo the mother who birthed you with love,
Adhuvae nee tharum maghizhchiThat is the true joy you give!
Male
Naalum ovvoru paadam koorumEvery day imparts a new lesson,
Kaalam tharum payirchiTraining provided by time itself!
Un narambodu thaan pinni valaranumIntertwined with your very nerves must grow
Thanmaana unarchiThe feeling of self-respect!
Un narambodu thaan pinni valaranumIntertwined with your very nerves must grow
Thanmaana unarchiThe feeling of self-respect!
Male
Chinna payalae chinna payalaeLittle boy, little boy,
Sedhi keladaaListen to the message!
Male
Manidhanaaga vaazhndhida venumYou must live as a true human being,
Manadhil vaiyadaa thambiKeep this in mind, younger brother,
Manadhil vaiyadaaKeep it in mind!
Manidhanaaga vaazhndhida venumYou must live as a true human being,
Manadhil vaiyadaa thambiKeep this in mind, younger brother,
Manadhil vaiyadaaKeep it in mind!
Male
Valarndhu varum ulagathukkaeTo the developing world,
Nee valadhu kaiyadaaYou are the right hand!
Nee valadhu kaiyadaaYou are the right hand!
Valarndhu varum ulagathukkaeTo the developing world,
Nee valadhu kaiyadaaYou are the right hand!
Nee valadhu kaiyadaaYou are the right hand!
Male
Thaniyudamai kodumaigal theeraTo end the cruelties of private ownership,
Thondu seiyadaaServe the society!
Nee thondu seiyadaaYou serve the society!
Thaniyudamai kodumaigal theeraTo end the cruelties of private ownership,
Thondu seiyadaaServe the society!
Nee thondu seiyadaaYou serve the society!
Male
Thaanaa ellaam maarum enbadhuThe idea that everything will change on its own
Pazhaiya poiyadaaIs an old lie!
Ellaam pazhaiya poiyadaaIt is all an old lie!
Male
Chinna payalae chinna payalaeLittle boy, little boy,
Sedhi keladaaListen to the message!
Male
Veppamara uchiyil ninnuStanding at the top of the neem tree,
Pei onnu aadudhunnu…uuuu….A ghost is dancing... uuuu...
Veppamara uchiyil ninnuStanding at the top of the neem tree,
Pei onnu aadudhunnuA ghost is dancing,
Male
Vilaiyaada pogum podhuWhen you go out to play,
Solli vaippaangaThey will tell you such things!
Undhan veerathai kozhundhileyaeYour bravery right at its bud,
Killi vaippaangaThey will nip it!
Male
Velaiyattra veenargalinOf idle, worthless people,
Moolaiyattra vaarthaigalaiThe brainless words,
Velaiyattra veenargalinOf idle, worthless people,
Moolaiyattra vaarthaigalaiThe brainless words,
Male
Vedikkaiyaaga koodaEven for fun,
Nambi vidaadhaeDo not believe them!
Nee veettukkullae bayandhu kidandhuStaying afraid inside the house,
Vembi vidaadhaeDo not wither away!
Nee vembi vidaadhaeYou do not wither away!
Male
Chinna payalae chinna payalaeLittle boy, little boy,
Sedhi keladaaListen to the message!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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