Chinna Thambi Chinna Thambi
From Pooncholai · 1997
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pooncholai1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Chinna thambi chinna thambi | Little brother, little brother |
| Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae | If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion |
| Chinna thambi chinna thambi | Little brother, little brother |
| Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae | If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion |
| Chinna thambi | Little brother |
| Unnai dhinam mirattidum | That threatens you every day |
| Kanda padi virattidum | That chases you around recklessly |
| Ellaa vaedikkaiyum nallaa paathukko | Watch all these spectacles carefully |
| Male | |
| Chinna thambi chinna thambi | Little brother, little brother |
| Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae | If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion |
| Chinna thambi | Little brother |
| Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa | Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa |
| Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa | Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa |
| Hmm mm mm …hmm mm mmm | Hmm mm mm …hmm mm mmm |
| Chorus | |
| …………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Vayithu pozhappukku kashta pattu | Struggling hard just to earn a daily meal |
| Than maanam izhappadhu ennathukku | Why lose self-respect for that? |
| Vaazhvu muzhuvadhum kuttu pattu | Getting knocked down throughout life |
| Nee valainju koduppadhu ennathukku | Why do you keep bending and giving in? |
| Male | |
| Bhaarathi pattukkotta paavalaru | Poets like Bharathi and Pattukkottai |
| Avar paadiya paattugala kettu puttu | Even after hearing the songs they sang |
| Maaravum illa namma thozharu | Our comrades have not changed at all |
| Namma makkalum nikkudhaiyaa vekka pattu | Our people stand feeling ashamed |
| Ellorum ingae mannavaru | Everyone here is a king |
| Endru yaemaandhom yaaru nallavaru | We were fooled into believing so; who is truly good? |
| Male | |
| Chinna thambi chinna thambi | Little brother, little brother |
| Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae | If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion |
| Chinna thambi | Little brother |
| Male | |
| Kottaikkul theettugira thittam ellaam | All the welfare schemes devised inside the fort |
| Ezhai veettukkul vandhadhillae chinna thambi | Have never reached the poor man's house, little brother |
| Aattiyae vaikkum indha kashtam ellaam | All these hardships that shake up our lives |
| Vandhu maatrida yaarum illae chinna thambi | There is no one coming to change them, little brother |
| Male | |
| Ezhaiyin vaazhkkai sandhu moolaiyila | The life of the poor is pushed into a narrow alley |
| Ingu ezhaikku ezhai kooda thunai illae | Here, even one poor person offers no support to another poor person |
| Velaikku velai unna unavillae | There is no food available for every mealtime |
| Enga sugam ellaam andha kanavilae | All our happiness exists only in those dreams |
| Namakkena oru thalaivanai | A leader meant for us |
| Andha cinema vil thaan dhinam paakkanum | Can only be seen daily in the movies |
| Male | |
| Chinna thambi chinna thambi | Little brother, little brother |
| Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae | If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion |
| Chinna thambi | Little brother |
| Unnai dhinam mirattidum | That threatens you every day |
| Kanda padi virattidum | That chases you around recklessly |
| Ellaa vaedikkaiyum nallaa paathukko | Watch all these spectacles carefully |
| Male | |
| Chinna thambi chinna thambi | Little brother, little brother |
| Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae | If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion |
| Chinna thambi | Little brother |
சின்னத் தம்பி சின்னத் தம்பி
முழிச்சுப் பாத்தா கலக்கம் இல்லே
சின்னத் தம்பி சின்னத் தம்பி
முழிச்சுப் பாத்தா கலக்கம் இல்லே
சின்னத் தம்பி
உன்னை தினம் மிரட்டிடும்
கண்ட படி விரட்டிடும்
எல்லா வேடிக்கையும் நல்லா பாத்துக்கோ
Little brother, little brother
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Little brother, little brother
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Little brother
That threatens you every day
That chases you around recklessly
Watch all these spectacles carefully
சின்னத் தம்பி சின்னத் தம்பி
முழிச்சுப் பாத்தா கலக்கம் இல்லே
சின்னத் தம்பி
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
ம்... ம்... ம்... ம்... ம்... ம்...
Little brother, little brother
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Little brother
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Hmm mm mm …hmm mm mmm
..................................
...
வயித்துப் பொழப்புக்குக் கஷ்டப் பட்டு
தன்மானம் இழப்பது என்னத்துக்கு
வாழ்வு முழுவதும் குட்டுப் பட்டு
நீ வளைஞ்சு கொடுப்பது என்னத்துக்கு
Struggling hard just to earn a daily meal
Why lose self-respect for that?
Getting knocked down throughout life
Why do you keep bending and giving in?
பாரதி பட்டுக்கோட்ட பாவலரு
அவர் பாடிய பாட்டுக்கள கேட்டுப்புட்டு
மாறவும் இல்ல நம்ம தோழரு
நம்ம மக்களும் நிக்குதையா வெக்கப்பட்டு
எல்லோரும் இங்கே மன்னவரு
என்று ஏமாந்தோம் யாரு நல்லவரு
Poets like Bharathi and Pattukkottai
Even after hearing the songs they sang
Our comrades have not changed at all
Our people stand feeling ashamed
Everyone here is a king
We were fooled into believing so; who is truly good?
ஆண் குழு :
என்று ஏமாந்தோம் யாரு நல்லவரு
Little brother, little brother
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Little brother
சின்னத் தம்பி சின்னத் தம்பி
முழிச்சுப் பாத்தா கலக்கம் இல்லே
சின்னத் தம்பி
All the welfare schemes devised inside the fort
Have never reached the poor man's house, little brother
All these hardships that shake up our lives
There is no one coming to change them, little brother
.....................................
The life of the poor is pushed into a narrow alley
Here, even one poor person offers no support to another poor person
There is no food available for every mealtime
All our happiness exists only in those dreams
A leader meant for us
Can only be seen daily in the movies
கோட்டைக்குள் தீட்டுகிற திட்டம் எல்லாம்
ஏழை வீட்டுக்குள் வந்ததில்லே சின்னத் தம்பி
ஆட்டியே வைக்கும் இந்தக் கஷ்டம் எல்லாம்
வந்து மாற்றிட யாரும் இல்லே சின்னத் தம்பி
Little brother, little brother
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Little brother
That threatens you every day
That chases you around recklessly
Watch all these spectacles carefully
ஏழையின் வாழ்க்கை சந்து மூலையில
இங்கு ஏழைக்கு ஏழை கூட துணை இல்லே
வேளைக்கு வேளை உண்ண உணவில்லே
எங்க சுகம் எல்லாம் அந்தக் கனவிலே
நமக்கென ஒரு தலைவனை
அந்த சினிமாவில் தான் தினம் பாக்கணும்
Little brother, little brother
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Little brother
ஆண் குழு :
அந்த சினிமாவில் தான் தினம் பாக்கணும்
சின்னத் தம்பி சின்னத் தம்பி
முழிச்சுப் பாத்தா கலக்கம் இல்லே
சின்னத் தம்பி
உன்னை தினம் மிரட்டிடும்
கண்ட படி விரட்டிடும்
எல்லா வேடிக்கையும் நல்லா பாத்துக்கோ
சின்னத் தம்பி சின்னத் தம்பி
முழிச்சுப் பாத்தா கலக்கம் இல்லே
சின்னத் தம்பி
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Little brother, little brother
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Little brother, little brother
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Chinna thambi
Little brother
Unnai dhinam mirattidum
That threatens you every day
Kanda padi virattidum
That chases you around recklessly
Ellaa vaedikkaiyum nallaa paathukko
Watch all these spectacles carefully
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Little brother, little brother
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Chinna thambi
Little brother
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Hmm mm mm …hmm mm mmm
Hmm mm mm …hmm mm mmm
……………………
...
Vayithu pozhappukku kashta pattu
Struggling hard just to earn a daily meal
Than maanam izhappadhu ennathukku
Why lose self-respect for that?
Vaazhvu muzhuvadhum kuttu pattu
Getting knocked down throughout life
Nee valainju koduppadhu ennathukku
Why do you keep bending and giving in?
Bhaarathi pattukkotta paavalaru
Poets like Bharathi and Pattukkottai
Avar paadiya paattugala kettu puttu
Even after hearing the songs they sang
Maaravum illa namma thozharu
Our comrades have not changed at all
Namma makkalum nikkudhaiyaa vekka pattu
Our people stand feeling ashamed
Ellorum ingae mannavaru
Everyone here is a king
Endru yaemaandhom yaaru nallavaru
We were fooled into believing so; who is truly good?
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Little brother, little brother
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Chinna thambi
Little brother
Kottaikkul theettugira thittam ellaam
All the welfare schemes devised inside the fort
Ezhai veettukkul vandhadhillae chinna thambi
Have never reached the poor man's house, little brother
Aattiyae vaikkum indha kashtam ellaam
All these hardships that shake up our lives
Vandhu maatrida yaarum illae chinna thambi
There is no one coming to change them, little brother
Ezhaiyin vaazhkkai sandhu moolaiyila
The life of the poor is pushed into a narrow alley
Ingu ezhaikku ezhai kooda thunai illae
Here, even one poor person offers no support to another poor person
Velaikku velai unna unavillae
There is no food available for every mealtime
Enga sugam ellaam andha kanavilae
All our happiness exists only in those dreams
Namakkena oru thalaivanai
A leader meant for us
Andha cinema vil thaan dhinam paakkanum
Can only be seen daily in the movies
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Little brother, little brother
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Chinna thambi
Little brother
Unnai dhinam mirattidum
That threatens you every day
Kanda padi virattidum
That chases you around recklessly
Ellaa vaedikkaiyum nallaa paathukko
Watch all these spectacles carefully
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Little brother, little brother
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
If you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion
Chinna thambi
Little brother
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a social commentary and awakening call addressed to the common working-class man ('Chinna Thambi'). Written by Ilaiyaraaja, the lyrics highlight the disillusionment of the poor, who endure daily struggles, lose their dignity, and face social neglect despite government schemes remaining inside political strongholds ('kottai'). It criticizes society's apathy and points out how reformist songs by revolutionary poets like Subramania Bharati and Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram failed to bring actual systemic change in the minds of the masses.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emonai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Vayithu pozhappukku kashta pattu / Vaazhvu muzhuvadhum kuttu pattu”
The second consonant 'ya' matches across both lines ('Vayithu' and 'Vaazhvu' / 'kashta pattu' and 'kuttu pattu'), establishing rhythmic rhyme.
Alliteration (Modhai)
“Chinna thambi chinna thambi”
Repetition of the initial letter 'ch' across the phrase.
Allusion
“Bhaarathi pattukkotta paavalaru”
Refers directly to historical Tamil revolutionary poets Bharati and Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram to highlight social commentary.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pooncholai' was a 1997 unreleased/shelved Tamil movie directed by Venkatesh, featuring music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, who also penned the lyrics for this socio-political track.
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