Chinna Ponna Irukkaiyile
From Manamara Vaazhthungal · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Manamara Vaazhthungal1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa…..nnaa | Aa... (the letter 'A') |
| Male :Adhu enna | Male: What is that? |
| Female :Aavannaa | Female: Aa... (the long letter 'Aa') |
| Male :Aagattum | Male: Let it be. |
| Female :Ee….nnaa | Female: Ee... (the short letter 'I') |
| Male :Idhu enna | Male: What is this? |
| Female :Eeyannaa | Female: Eeya... (the long letter 'Ee') |
| Male :Irukattum | Male: Let it remain. |
| Female | |
| Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa | When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'... |
| Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa | Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'... |
| Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa | When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'... |
| Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa | Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'... |
| Male | |
| Ilam paruvam vanthathunnaa iyi…nnaa….aa…. | When youth arrives, it becomes 'Innaa'... |
| Avan idhayam konjam perisaanaa eeyannaa….eeyannaa…. | If his heart grows a bit bigger, it becomes 'Eeyannaa'... |
| Female | |
| Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa | When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'... |
| Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa | Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'... |
| Female | |
| Annaiyendrum thanthaiyendrum iruvarundu | There are two parents called mother and father. |
| Avar anbu vaiththa kaaranaththaal irandum ondru | Because of the love they shower, the two become one. |
| Male :Vandi endrum maadu endrum irandum undu | Male: There are two separate things called the cart and the bullock. |
| Athai vandiyilae poottiyathaal irandum ondru | Because they are hitched together, the two become one. |
| Female | |
| Vayathu vantha pinnaethaan valargirathu anbe | Love grows only after coming of age, my dear. |
| Vayathu vantha pinnaethaan valargirathu anbe | Love grows only after coming of age, my dear. |
| Male :Maadu vaangi vanthapinnae vandi nagargirathu | Male: Only after buying the bullock does the cart move forward. |
| Maadu vaangi vanthapinnae vandi nagargirathu munnae | Male: Only after buying the bullock does the cart move forward. |
| Female | |
| Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa | When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'... |
| Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa | Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'... |
| Female | |
| Valluvarin vaazhkkaiyai nee padikka venum | You should read about the life of Valluvar. |
| Adhil vaasugiyin kadhaiyum nee ketkka vendum | You should also listen to the story of Vasugi. |
| Male : Enga ooru valluvaru paaduvaaru | Male: The Valluvar in our village sings. |
| Avaru yaerukeththa kalappaiyum sedhukkuvaaru | He also carves a plough suited for tilling. |
| Female | |
| Paavai enthan ulagam appaavi unthan idhayam | Mine is a young woman's world; yours is an innocent heart. |
| Paavai enthan ulagam appaavi unthan idhayam | Mine is a young woman's world; yours is an innocent heart. |
| Male : Paavigalin kalagam appaavigalaal vilagum | Male: The conflicts caused by sinners will be resolved by innocent people. |
| Paavigalin kalagam appaavigalaal vilagum | The conflicts caused by sinners will be resolved by innocent people. |
| Female | |
| Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa | When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'... |
| Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa | Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'... |
அ..ன்னா...
அது என்ன
ஆவன்னா.....
ஆகட்டும்
இ..ன்னா....
இது என்ன
ஈயன்னா.....
இருக்கட்டும்...
Aa... (the letter 'A')
Male: What is that?
Female: Aa... (the long letter 'Aa')
Male: Let it be.
Female: Ee... (the short letter 'I')
Male: What is this?
Female: Eeya... (the long letter 'Ee')
Male: Let it remain.
சின்னப் பொண்ணா இருக்கையிலே அ..ன்னா
அவ கன்னிப் பொண்ணா ஆனவுடன் ஆவன்னா
சின்னப் பொண்ணா இருக்கையிலே அ..ன்னா
அவ கன்னிப் பொண்ணா ஆனவுடன் ஆவன்னா
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
இளம் பருவம் வந்ததுன்னா இ...ன்னா....ஆ.....
அவன் இதயம் கொஞ்சம் பெரிசானா ஈயன்னா.......ஈயன்னா
When youth arrives, it becomes 'Innaa'...
If his heart grows a bit bigger, it becomes 'Eeyannaa'...
சின்னப் பொண்ணா இருக்கையிலே அ..ன்னா
அவ கன்னிப் பொண்ணா ஆனவுடன் ஆவன்னா
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
அன்னையென்றும் தந்தையென்றும் இருவருண்டு
அவர் அன்பு வைத்த காரணத்தால் இரண்டும் ஒன்று
வண்டி என்றும் மாடு என்றும் இரண்டும் உண்டு
அதை வண்டியிலே பூட்டியதால் இரண்டும் ஒன்று
There are two parents called mother and father.
Because of the love they shower, the two become one.
Male: There are two separate things called the cart and the bullock.
Because they are hitched together, the two become one.
வயது வந்த பின்னேதான் வளர்கிறது அன்பே
வயது வந்த பின்னேதான் வளர்கிறது அன்பே
மாடு வாங்கி வந்தபின்னே வண்டி நகர்கிறது
மாடு வாங்கி வந்தபின்னே வண்டி நகர்கிறது முன்னே..
Love grows only after coming of age, my dear.
Love grows only after coming of age, my dear.
Male: Only after buying the bullock does the cart move forward.
Male: Only after buying the bullock does the cart move forward.
சின்னப் பொண்ணா இருக்கையிலே அ..ன்னா
அவ கன்னிப் பொண்ணா ஆனவுடன் ஆவன்னா
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
வள்ளுவரின் வாழ்க்கையை நீ படிக்க வேணும்
அதில் வாசுகியின் கதையும் நீ கேட்க வேண்டும்
எங்க ஊரு வள்ளுவரு பாடுவாரு
அவரு ஏருக்கேத்த கலப்பையையும் செதுக்குவாரு
You should read about the life of Valluvar.
You should also listen to the story of Vasugi.
Male: The Valluvar in our village sings.
He also carves a plough suited for tilling.
பாவை எந்தன் உலகம் அப்பாவி உந்தன் இதயம்
பாவை எந்தன் உலகம் அப்பாவி உந்தன் இதயம்
பாவிகளின் கலகம் அப்பாவிகளால் விலகும்.....
பாவிகளின் கலகம் அப்பாவிகளால் விலகும்.....
Mine is a young woman's world; yours is an innocent heart.
Mine is a young woman's world; yours is an innocent heart.
Male: The conflicts caused by sinners will be resolved by innocent people.
The conflicts caused by sinners will be resolved by innocent people.
சின்னப் பொண்ணா இருக்கையிலே அ..ன்னா
அவ கன்னிப் பொண்ணா ஆனவுடன் ஆவன்னா
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
Aa…..nnaa
Aa... (the letter 'A')
Male :Adhu enna
Male: What is that?
Female :Aavannaa
Female: Aa... (the long letter 'Aa')
Male :Aagattum
Male: Let it be.
Female :Ee….nnaa
Female: Ee... (the short letter 'I')
Male :Idhu enna
Male: What is this?
Female :Eeyannaa
Female: Eeya... (the long letter 'Ee')
Male :Irukattum
Male: Let it remain.
Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
Ilam paruvam vanthathunnaa iyi…nnaa….aa….
When youth arrives, it becomes 'Innaa'...
Avan idhayam konjam perisaanaa eeyannaa….eeyannaa….
If his heart grows a bit bigger, it becomes 'Eeyannaa'...
Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
Annaiyendrum thanthaiyendrum iruvarundu
There are two parents called mother and father.
Avar anbu vaiththa kaaranaththaal irandum ondru
Because of the love they shower, the two become one.
Male :Vandi endrum maadu endrum irandum undu
Male: There are two separate things called the cart and the bullock.
Athai vandiyilae poottiyathaal irandum ondru
Because they are hitched together, the two become one.
Vayathu vantha pinnaethaan valargirathu anbe
Love grows only after coming of age, my dear.
Vayathu vantha pinnaethaan valargirathu anbe
Love grows only after coming of age, my dear.
Male :Maadu vaangi vanthapinnae vandi nagargirathu
Male: Only after buying the bullock does the cart move forward.
Maadu vaangi vanthapinnae vandi nagargirathu munnae
Male: Only after buying the bullock does the cart move forward.
Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
Valluvarin vaazhkkaiyai nee padikka venum
You should read about the life of Valluvar.
Adhil vaasugiyin kadhaiyum nee ketkka vendum
You should also listen to the story of Vasugi.
Male : Enga ooru valluvaru paaduvaaru
Male: The Valluvar in our village sings.
Avaru yaerukeththa kalappaiyum sedhukkuvaaru
He also carves a plough suited for tilling.
Paavai enthan ulagam appaavi unthan idhayam
Mine is a young woman's world; yours is an innocent heart.
Paavai enthan ulagam appaavi unthan idhayam
Mine is a young woman's world; yours is an innocent heart.
Male : Paavigalin kalagam appaavigalaal vilagum
Male: The conflicts caused by sinners will be resolved by innocent people.
Paavigalin kalagam appaavigalaal vilagum
The conflicts caused by sinners will be resolved by innocent people.
Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa
When she is a little girl, she is 'Aa'...
Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa
Once she becomes a maiden, she becomes 'Aavannaa'...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful and philosophical duet uses the learning of basic Tamil vowels ('Aa', 'Aavannaa', 'Iinaa', 'Eeyannaa') as a metaphor for the stages of growing up, falling in love, and reaching maturity. The song highlights how childhood innocence evolves into youthful affection and eventual togetherness through mutual understanding. Through simple yet clever imagery—such as combining mother and father into one unit through love, or hitching a bullock to a cart to make it move forward—Kannadasan emphasizes unity and partnership. The lyrics also invoke the exemplary devotion of Thiruvalluvar and his wife Vasugi, presenting love and innocence as forces capable of overcoming life's troubles.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Alphabetical Allegory / Metaphor
“Chinna ponnaa irukkaiyilae aa…nnaa / Ava kanni ponnaa aanavudan aavannaa”
Uses the sequential Tamil vowel sounds (Aa, Aavannaa, Innaa, Eeyannaa) to symbolize human growth stages from childhood to womanhood and romantic maturity.
Analogy (Uvamai)
“Vandi endrum maadu endrum irandum undu / Athai vandiyilae poottiyathaal irandum ondru”
Compares the partnership of a married couple to a bullock hitched to a cart, showing how two separate entities unite to move life forward.
Edhukai and Wordplay (Polyptoton/Alliteration)
“Paavigalin kalagam appaavigalaal vilagum”
Plays on phonetically similar words (Paavai, Appaavi, Paavigalin, Appaavigalaal) to build rhythm and contrast innocence with wrongdoing.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is notable for Lyricist Kannadasan's playful usage of Tamil alphabetic recitation ('Uyir Ezhuthukkal') taught to beginners, cleverly adapting it into a romantic song structure to depict human maturity.
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