Chinna Ponnu
From Mambattiyan · 2011
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Harish Raghavendra, Shaila
- Music director
- S. Thaman
- Details
- Mambattiyan2011
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Chinnapponnu saela | The young girl's saree |
| Senbagappoo pola | Is like a Shenbagam flower |
| Chinnapponnu saela | The young girl's saree |
| Senbagappoo pola | Is like a Shenbagam flower |
| Engae maaraappu mayilae poo | Where is the pallu? Oh peacock, go away |
| Nee venaam veeraappu | Don't show your pride |
| Female | |
| Chinnapponnu saela | The young girl's saree |
| Senbagappoo pola | Is like a Shenbagam flower |
| Chinnapponnu saela | The young girl's saree |
| Senbagappoo pola | Is like a Shenbagam flower |
| Kaiyae maaraappu arugae | My hand itself acts as the pallu, come close |
| Nee vaa venaam veeraappu | You come close, drop your pride |
| Female | |
| Nee pogum vazhiyodu | Along the path you walk |
| Thaan pogum en sela | My saree itself will follow |
| Nee pogum vazhithedi | Searching for the path you take |
| Varuvenae pinnaala | I will come following right behind |
| Male | |
| Vazhitheriyaadha aaru idhu | This is a river that knows no defined path |
| Idha nambiththaanaa oduvadhu | Is it wise to run trusting such a stream? |
| Female | |
| Pudhu vellam serum bodhu | When the fresh flood merges in full force |
| Vazhiyenna paadhai enna | What is path or what is route? |
| Kaatraagi veesum bodhu | When blowing freely like the wind |
| Dhisai enna dhesam enna | What is direction or what is land? |
| Male | |
| Manasa thaal pottu | Lock up your heart inside |
| Mayilae nee poo | Oh peacock, please go away |
| Venaam velaiyaattu | Don't play these games with me |
| Female | |
| Chinnapponnu saela | The young girl's saree |
| Senbagappoo pola | Is like a Shenbagam flower |
| Kaiyae maaraappu | My hand itself acts as the pallu |
| Male : Mayilae poo | Male: Oh peacock, go away |
| Nee venaam veeraappu | Don't show your pride |
| Female | |
| Aaaa……aaa…..aaa…. | Ah... ah... ah... |
| Haa….aaa…aaa…. | Ha... ah... ah... |
| Male | |
| En mela nee aasai | You having desire for me |
| Kondaalum thappilla | Even if so, is not a fault |
| Ennaalum kuyilukku | Yet forever for a cuckoo |
| Nindraada kokkilla | There is no fixed branch to perch on |
| Female | |
| Nee thandha thaali | The sacred mangalsutra you gave |
| Mudinji vachen | I have tied and kept securely |
| Onna nambithaanae | Believing only in you |
| Olichi vachen | I have hidden it away safely |
| Male | |
| Pollaappu venaam pulla | Don't invite unnecessary trouble, girl |
| Poochoodum kaalam valla | The auspicious time to wear flowers hasn't come |
| Naan thoonga paayum illa | I do not even have a mat to sleep on |
| Nee vandhaa gnyaayam illa | It is not right if you come to me now |
| Female | |
| Venaam pooppaadu arugae | No need for sorrow, come near me |
| Nee vaa rosaa poochoodu | Come my rose, wear these flowers |
| Male | |
| Chinnapponnu saela | The young girl's saree |
| Senbagappoo pola | Is like a Shenbagam flower |
| Female :Lalaa lalaa laa | Female: Lalaa lalaa laa |
| Laa laaa | Laa laaa |
| Lalaa lalaa laa | Lalaa lalaa laa |
சின்ன பொண்ணு சேலை
செண்பகப்பூ போல
சின்ன பொண்ணு சேலை
செண்பகப்பூ போல
எங்கே மாராப்பு.....
மயிலே நீ போ வேணாம் வீராப்பு....
The young girl's saree
Is like a Shenbagam flower
The young girl's saree
Is like a Shenbagam flower
Where is the pallu? Oh peacock, go away
Don't show your pride
சின்ன பொண்ணு சேலை
செண்பகப்பூ போல
சின்ன பொண்ணு சேலை
செண்பகப்பூ போல
கையே மாராப்பு......
வருவேன் நீ வா வேணா வீராப்பு......
The young girl's saree
Is like a Shenbagam flower
The young girl's saree
Is like a Shenbagam flower
My hand itself acts as the pallu, come close
You come close, drop your pride
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஆ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
Along the path you walk
My saree itself will follow
Searching for the path you take
I will come following right behind
நீர் போகும் வழியோடு
தான் போகும் என் சேலை
நீ போகும் வழி தேடி
வருவேனே பின்னால
This is a river that knows no defined path
Is it wise to run trusting such a stream?
வழி தெரியாத ஆறு இது
இதை நம்பித்தானா ஓடுவது
When the fresh flood merges in full force
What is path or what is route?
When blowing freely like the wind
What is direction or what is land?
புது வெள்ளம் சேரும்போது
வழி என்ன பாதை என்ன
காற்றாகி வீசும் போது
தசை என்ன தேசம் என்ன
Lock up your heart inside
Oh peacock, please go away
Don't play these games with me
மனச தாழ் போட்டு
மயிலே நீ போ
வேணாம் விளையாட்டு......
The young girl's saree
Is like a Shenbagam flower
My hand itself acts as the pallu
Male: Oh peacock, go away
Don't show your pride
சின்ன பொண்ணு சேலை
செண்பகப்பூ போல
கையே மாராப்பு......
மயிலே நீ போ
வேணாம் வீராப்பு....
Ah... ah... ah...
Ha... ah... ah...
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஆ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ......
You having desire for me
Even if so, is not a fault
Yet forever for a cuckoo
There is no fixed branch to perch on
என் மேல நீ ஆசை
கொண்டாலும் தப்பில்லை....
என்றாலும் குயிலுக்கு
நின்றாட கொப்பில்லை
The sacred mangalsutra you gave
I have tied and kept securely
Believing only in you
I have hidden it away safely
நீ தந்த தாலி
முடிஞ்சுவச்சேன்
உன்ன நம்பி தானே
ஒளிச்சுவச்சேன்
Don't invite unnecessary trouble, girl
The auspicious time to wear flowers hasn't come
I do not even have a mat to sleep on
It is not right if you come to me now
பொல்லாப்பு வேணா புள்ள
பூச்சூடும் காலம் வல்ல
நான் தூங்க பாயும் இல்ல
நீ வந்த நியாயம் இல்ல
No need for sorrow, come near me
Come my rose, wear these flowers
வீணா கூப்பாடு
வருவேன் நீ வா ரோசா பூ சூடு.....
The young girl's saree
Is like a Shenbagam flower
Female: Lalaa lalaa laa
Laa laaa
Lalaa lalaa laa
சின்ன பொண்ணு சேலை
செண்பகப்பூ போல
லாலா லாலாலா....
லாலா லா லா.....
லாலா லாலாலா.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஆ....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஆ......
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஆ....
Chinnapponnu saela
The young girl's saree
Senbagappoo pola
Is like a Shenbagam flower
Chinnapponnu saela
The young girl's saree
Senbagappoo pola
Is like a Shenbagam flower
Engae maaraappu mayilae poo
Where is the pallu? Oh peacock, go away
Nee venaam veeraappu
Don't show your pride
Chinnapponnu saela
The young girl's saree
Senbagappoo pola
Is like a Shenbagam flower
Chinnapponnu saela
The young girl's saree
Senbagappoo pola
Is like a Shenbagam flower
Kaiyae maaraappu arugae
My hand itself acts as the pallu, come close
Nee vaa venaam veeraappu
You come close, drop your pride
Nee pogum vazhiyodu
Along the path you walk
Thaan pogum en sela
My saree itself will follow
Nee pogum vazhithedi
Searching for the path you take
Varuvenae pinnaala
I will come following right behind
Vazhitheriyaadha aaru idhu
This is a river that knows no defined path
Idha nambiththaanaa oduvadhu
Is it wise to run trusting such a stream?
Pudhu vellam serum bodhu
When the fresh flood merges in full force
Vazhiyenna paadhai enna
What is path or what is route?
Kaatraagi veesum bodhu
When blowing freely like the wind
Dhisai enna dhesam enna
What is direction or what is land?
Manasa thaal pottu
Lock up your heart inside
Mayilae nee poo
Oh peacock, please go away
Venaam velaiyaattu
Don't play these games with me
Chinnapponnu saela
The young girl's saree
Senbagappoo pola
Is like a Shenbagam flower
Kaiyae maaraappu
My hand itself acts as the pallu
Male : Mayilae poo
Male: Oh peacock, go away
Nee venaam veeraappu
Don't show your pride
Aaaa……aaa…..aaa….
Ah... ah... ah...
Haa….aaa…aaa….
Ha... ah... ah...
En mela nee aasai
You having desire for me
Kondaalum thappilla
Even if so, is not a fault
Ennaalum kuyilukku
Yet forever for a cuckoo
Nindraada kokkilla
There is no fixed branch to perch on
Nee thandha thaali
The sacred mangalsutra you gave
Mudinji vachen
I have tied and kept securely
Onna nambithaanae
Believing only in you
Olichi vachen
I have hidden it away safely
Pollaappu venaam pulla
Don't invite unnecessary trouble, girl
Poochoodum kaalam valla
The auspicious time to wear flowers hasn't come
Naan thoonga paayum illa
I do not even have a mat to sleep on
Nee vandhaa gnyaayam illa
It is not right if you come to me now
Venaam pooppaadu arugae
No need for sorrow, come near me
Nee vaa rosaa poochoodu
Come my rose, wear these flowers
Chinnapponnu saela
The young girl's saree
Senbagappoo pola
Is like a Shenbagam flower
Female :Lalaa lalaa laa
Female: Lalaa lalaa laa
Laa laaa
Laa laaa
Lalaa lalaa laa
Lalaa lalaa laa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Chinnapponnu Saela is a playful and romantic folk duet between a young woman expressively pursuing her lover and a man who is hesitant due to his restless, uncertain life conditions. The female protagonist expresses her deep affection, willingness to follow him wherever he goes, and how she cherishes the sacred bond they share. The male protagonist cautions her about his nomadic lifestyle, comparing himself to a river with no set path or a cuckoo without a permanent branch, urging her not to risk trouble, yet ultimately yielding to her devotion and affection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Senbagappoo pola”
Compares the softness and beauty of the young girl's saree to a fragrant Shenbagam flower using 'pola'.
Alliteration / Assonance (Monai)
“Chinnapponnu saela / Senbagappoo pola”
Repetition of initial phonetic sounds creating musical cadence across lines.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vazhitheriyaadha aaru idhu”
Metaphorically compares a chaotic, unpredictable life journey to an uncharted river.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic track is a modernized version of the original folk hit composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1983 classic Malaiyoor Mambattiyan. In the 2011 remake starring Prashanth, composer S. Thaman rearranged the track while retaining its original nostalgic melody and rustic lyrical essence.
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