Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Ponnu Naanum

From Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu · 1990

Lyricist
Karaikudi Venkatesh
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Suja Radhakrishnan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chinna ponnu naanumAs a young girl, I
Thaniyae nikkiraenaeAm standing all alone
Thannanth thaniyaaga thavichchu nikkiraenaeStanding alone and suffering in distress
Kuppurasu mama un kooda varattumaaUncle Kuppurasu, shall I come with you?
Kooda vanthu naanum sodi serattumaaShall I join you and become your pair?
Female
Kuppurasu mama un kooda varattumaaUncle Kuppurasu, shall I come with you?
Kooda vanthu naanum sodi serattumaaShall I join you and become your pair?
Male
Chinna ponnu neeyumAs a young girl, you
Thaniyae nikkanumaaShould you be standing all alone?
Thannaththaniyaaga thavichchu nikkanumaaShould you stand alone and suffer in distress?
Kuppurasu naanum unkooda varattumaaShall I, Kuppurasu, come with you?
Kooda vanthu onnaa sodi serattumaaShall I join you so we pair up as one?
Male
Aang…kuppurasu naanum unkooda varattumaaAh... Shall I, Kuppurasu, come with you?
Kooda vanthu onnaa sodi serattumaaShall I join you so we pair up as one?
Female
Neththu pazhaiya roadlathaanYesterday on the old road
Mudhal mudhalaa paarthaenI saw you for the very first time
Vaalakkaattu paruva ponnuA youthful girl from the banana fields
Manasukulla yaekkamA deep longing inside my heart
Male
Ooty mala urulaikezhanguLike an Ooty hill potato
Enna thedi vanthaeYou came searching for me
Vaattamenna un manasilWhat is this sadness in your heart?
Vayasu pulla solluTell me, young girl!
Female
Ennavo thonuthuI feel something strange inside
Ennaannu theriyalaI don't know what it is
Ennavo thonuthuI feel something strange inside
Ennaannu theriyalaI don't know what it is
Male
Therinjaa santhosamthaanIf we understand it, it's pure happiness
Dhenamum kummaalamthaanEvery day will be a celebration
Therinjaa santhosamthaanIf we understand it, it's pure happiness
Dhenamum kummaalamthaanEvery day will be a celebration
Female
Chinna ponnu naanumAs a young girl, I
Thaniyae nikkiraenaeAm standing all alone
Thannanth thaniyaaga thavichchu nikkiraenaeStanding alone and suffering in distress
Male
Kuppurasu naanum unkooda varattumaaShall I, Kuppurasu, come with you?
Kooda vanthu onnaa sodi serattumaaShall I join you so we pair up as one?
Kuppurasu mama un kooda varattumaaUncle Kuppurasu, shall I come with you?
Kooda vanthu naanum sodi serattumaaShall I join you and become your pair?
Male
Annakkili un nenaippuOh Annakkili (my sweet bird), the thought of you
Aaruthalaa irukkuBrings me great comfort
Sonnappadi naan nadappaenI will act as promised
Kavalai ini edhukkuSo why worry anymore?
Female
Pombalainga manasukkullaInside a woman's heart
Podhaiyal rompa irukkuThere is a great treasure hidden
Purinjaa adhu pothumIf you understand that, it is enough
Kavalai illai enakkuI have no worries left
Male
Aduththathu aavaniThe auspicious month of Aavani is next
Iniyaendu thaavaniWhy wear a half-saree anymore?
Aduththathu aavaniThe auspicious month of Aavani is next
Iniyaendu thaavaniWhy wear a half-saree anymore?
Female
Podunga maala onnuPut on a garland
Male :AangMale: Yeah!
Female :Kattunga thaali onnuFemale: Tie the sacred thread (Thaali)
Male :AangMale: Yeah!
Female :Podunga maala onnuFemale: Put on a garland
Kattunga thaali onnuTie the sacred thread
Male
Chinna ponnu neeyumAs a young girl, you
Thaniyae nikkanumaaShould you be standing all alone?
Thannaththaniyaaga thavichchu nikkanumaaShould you stand alone and suffer in distress?
Female
Kuppurasu mama un kooda varattumaaUncle Kuppurasu, shall I come with you?
Kooda vanthu naanum sodi serattumaaShall I join you and become your pair?
Male :Podu…kuppurasu naanum unkooda varattumaaMale: Play on... Shall I, Kuppurasu, come with you?
Kooda vanthu onnaa sodi serattumaaShall I join you so we pair up as one?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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.

Keep listening

More from Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu