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Isaimozhi
Pooncholai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Thambi Chinna Thambi

From Pooncholai · 1997

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pooncholai
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
28 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
Chinna thambi
Unnai dhinam mirattidum
Kanda padi virattidum
Ellaa vaedikkaiyum nallaa paathukko
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
Chinna thambi
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Hmm mm mm …hmm mm mmm
……………………
Vayithu pozhappukku kashta pattu
Than maanam izhappadhu ennathukku
Vaazhvu muzhuvadhum kuttu pattu
Nee valainju koduppadhu ennathukku
Bhaarathi pattukkotta paavalaru
Avar paadiya paattugala kettu puttu
Maaravum illa namma thozharu
Namma makkalum nikkudhaiyaa vekka pattu
Ellorum ingae mannavaru
Endru yaemaandhom yaaru nallavaru
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
Chinna thambi
Kottaikkul theettugira thittam ellaam
Ezhai veettukkul vandhadhillae chinna thambi
Aattiyae vaikkum indha kashtam ellaam
Vandhu maatrida yaarum illae chinna thambi
Ezhaiyin vaazhkkai sandhu moolaiyila
Ingu ezhaikku ezhai kooda thunai illae
Velaikku velai unna unavillae
Enga sugam ellaam andha kanavilae
Namakkena oru thalaivanai
Andha cinema vil thaan dhinam paakkanum
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
Chinna thambi
Unnai dhinam mirattidum
Kanda padi virattidum
Ellaa vaedikkaiyum nallaa paathukko
Chinna thambi chinna thambi
Muzhichu paathaa kalakkam illae
Chinna thambi
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!
Threatening you every day,
and chasing you all around,
take a good look at all this strange drama!
Little brother, little brother,
if you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion.
Little brother!
Aa... aa... haa... aa... aaaa
Aa... aa... haa... aa... aaaa
Hmmm mm mm... hmmm mm mmm
...
Struggling hard just to earn a living,
why should you lose your self-respect?
Getting beaten down all through your life,
why do you keep bowing and giving in?
Great poets like Bharathi and Pattukkottai—
even after listening to the songs they sang,
our comrades have not changed at all,
and our people just stand around in shame.
Thinking that everyone here is noble,
we were deceived; who among them is truly good?
Little brother, little brother,
if you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion.
Little brother!
All the schemes planned inside the halls of power
have never reached a poor person's home, little brother.
All these hardships that torment us,
there is no one to come and change them, little brother.
A poor man's life is trapped in dark alleys;
here, not even one poor person supports another.
There is no food to eat from meal to meal,
and all our comfort exists only in our dreams.
A leader who truly cares for us,
we can only watch in the movies every day.
Little brother, little brother,
if you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion.
Little brother!
Threatening you every day,
and chasing you all around,
take a good look at all this strange drama!
Little brother, little brother,
if you open your eyes and see, there is no confusion.
Little brother!
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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