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Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Ponnu Naanum

From Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu · 1990

Lyricist
Karaikudi Venkatesh
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Suja Radhakrishnan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
30 Dec 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chinna ponnu naanum
Thaniyae nikkiraenae
Thannanth thaniyaaga thavichchu nikkiraenae
Kuppurasu mama un kooda varattumaa
Kooda vanthu naanum sodi serattumaa
Kuppurasu mama un kooda varattumaa
Kooda vanthu naanum sodi serattumaa
Chinna ponnu neeyum
Thaniyae nikkanumaa
Thannaththaniyaaga thavichchu nikkanumaa
Kuppurasu naanum unkooda varattumaa
Kooda vanthu onnaa sodi serattumaa
Aang…kuppurasu naanum unkooda varattumaa
Kooda vanthu onnaa sodi serattumaa
Neththu pazhaiya roadlathaan
Mudhal mudhalaa paarthaen
Vaalakkaattu paruva ponnu
Manasukulla yaekkam
Ooty mala urulaikezhangu
Enna thedi vanthae
Vaattamenna un manasil
Vayasu pulla sollu
Ennavo thonuthu
Ennaannu theriyala
Ennavo thonuthu
Ennaannu theriyala
Therinjaa santhosamthaan
Dhenamum kummaalamthaan
Therinjaa santhosamthaan
Dhenamum kummaalamthaan
Chinna ponnu naanum
Thaniyae nikkiraenae
Thannanth thaniyaaga thavichchu nikkiraenae
Kuppurasu naanum unkooda varattumaa
Kooda vanthu onnaa sodi serattumaa
Kuppurasu mama un kooda varattumaa
Kooda vanthu naanum sodi serattumaa
Annakkili un nenaippu
Aaruthalaa irukku
Sonnappadi naan nadappaen
Kavalai ini edhukku
Pombalainga manasukkulla
Podhaiyal rompa irukku
Purinjaa adhu pothum
Kavalai illai enakku
Aduththathu aavani
Iniyaendu thaavani
Aduththathu aavani
Iniyaendu thaavani
Podunga maala onnu
Male :Aang
Female :Kattunga thaali onnu
Male :Aang
Female :Podunga maala onnu
Kattunga thaali onnu
Chinna ponnu neeyum
Thaniyae nikkanumaa
Thannaththaniyaaga thavichchu nikkanumaa
Kuppurasu mama un kooda varattumaa
Kooda vanthu naanum sodi serattumaa
Male :Podu…kuppurasu naanum unkooda varattumaa
Kooda vanthu onnaa sodi serattumaa
I'm just a young girl,
standing all alone,
standing all by myself, longing with an aching heart.
Kuppurasu mama, can I come along with you?
Can I come with you and become your pair?
Kuppurasu mama, can I come along with you?
Can I come with you and become your pair?
You're just a young girl,
should you be standing all alone?
Should you be standing all by yourself, pining away?
Can I, Kuppurasu, come along with you?
Can I come with you and become your partner?
Aah... Can I, Kuppurasu, come along with you?
Can I come with you and become your partner?
Just yesterday, on the old road,
I saw you for the very first time.
A lovely young girl from the banana groves,
with a secret longing in her heart.
Plump and fair like an Ooty potato,
you came looking for me!
What is troubling your heart,
tell me, my sweet young girl?
I feel something stirring inside,
but I don't know what it is.
I feel something stirring inside,
but I don't know what it is.
If you understand it, there'll be only joy,
and every single day will be a celebration!
If you understand it, there'll be only joy,
and every single day will be a celebration!
I'm just a young girl,
standing all alone,
standing all by myself, longing with an aching heart.
Can I, Kuppurasu, come along with you?
Can I come with you and become your partner?
Kuppurasu mama, can I come along with you?
Can I come with you and become your pair?
My sweet Annakili, thoughts of you
bring such comfort to my heart.
I will do whatever you ask,
so why worry anymore?
Deep inside a woman's heart,
there is a great treasure hidden.
If you understand that, that is enough,
I won't have any worries left.
Next comes the month of Aavani (the wedding season),
why should I wear this half-sari anymore?
Next comes the month of Aavani (the wedding season),
why should I wear this half-sari anymore?
Place a wedding garland around my neck,
Male: Aah!
Female: Tie the thaali (sacred wedding thread),
Male: Aah!
Female: Place a wedding garland around my neck,
tie the thaali (sacred wedding thread) around me!
You're just a young girl,
should you be standing all alone?
Should you be standing all by yourself, pining away?
Kuppurasu mama, can I come along with you?
Can I come with you and become your pair?
Male: Play it! Can I, Kuppurasu, come along with you?
Can I come with you and become your partner?
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Chinna Ponnu Naanum' from 'Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu' (1990) is a playful, upbeat rural duet between a young woman and her lover, Kuppurasu. The song captures their playful banter, romantic longing, and mutual desire to get married. The heroine expresses her loneliness and desire to pair up with Kuppurasu, while he affectionately responds, reassuring her of his love and commitment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorhyme / Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Chinna ponnu naanum / Thaniyae nikkiraenae

The second consonant sound 'n' is repeated in 'Chinna' and 'Thaniyae', providing a rhythmic flow characteristic of traditional folk Tamil lyrics.

Anaphora / Alliteration (Iyaebu / Mohnai)

Thaniyae nikkiraenae / Thannanth thaniyaaga thavichchu nikkiraenae

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound ('Thaniyae', 'Thannanth thaniyaaga', 'thavichchu') emphasizes her loneliness and anxiety.

Folk Simile / Metaphor

Ooty mala urulaikezhangu / Enna thedi vanthae

Humorous rural imagery comparing the sweetheart to an Ooty hill potato ('Ooty mala urulaikezhangu'), typical of folk music lyricism.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu' features music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh. Sung by S. P. Balasubramaniam and Suja Radhakrishnan, this song exemplifies the energetic 1990s Tamil village folk-pop style, characterized by lively rhythm patterns and playful duet interplay.

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