Chinna Thayaval
From Thalapathi · 1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chinna thayaval thantha rasavae | Oh prince given by a young mother, |
| Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae | Oh little rose born among thorns, |
| Sollava aararo nam sonthangal yaararo | Shall I sing a lullaby? Who are our real relatives? |
| Unthan kannil aenthaan neeroo | Why are there tears in your eyes? |
| Female | |
| Chinna thayaval thantha rasavae | Oh prince given by a young mother, |
| Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae | Oh little rose born among thorns, |
| Female | |
| Paal manam veesum poomugam | Your flower-like face smelling of milk, |
| Paarkaiyil pongum thaai manam | Seeing it makes a mother's heart overflow with love, |
| Aayiram kaalam oorvalam | A floral garland that came to seek, |
| Vendida vantha poocharam | A grand procession lasting a thousand years, |
| Female | |
| Veyil veethiyil vaada koodumo | Should it wither away on the hot sunny street? |
| Theiva koyilai sendru serumo | Or will it reach and rest in a divine temple? |
| Enthan theanaarae | Oh my stream of sweet honey, |
| Female | |
| { Chinna thayaval thantha rasavae | Oh prince given by a young mother, |
| Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae } (2) | Oh little rose born among thorns, |
| Female | |
| Sollava aararo nam sonthangal yaararo | Shall I sing a lullaby? Who are our real relatives? |
| Unthan kannil aenthaan neeroo | Why are there tears in your eyes? |
| Chinna thayaval thantha rasavae | Oh prince given by a young mother, |
| Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae | Oh little rose born among thorns. |
சின்னத் தாயவள்
தந்த ராசாவே முள்ளில்
தோன்றிய சின்ன ரோசாவே
சொல்லவா ஆராரோ
நம் சொந்தங்கள் யாராரோ
உந்தன் கண்ணில் ஏன்
தான் நீரோ
Oh prince given by a young mother,
Oh little rose born among thorns,
Shall I sing a lullaby? Who are our real relatives?
Why are there tears in your eyes?
சின்னத் தாயவள்
தந்த ராசாவே முள்ளில்
தோன்றிய சின்ன ரோசாவே
Oh prince given by a young mother,
Oh little rose born among thorns,
பால் மணம்
வீசும் பூமுகம்
பார்க்கையில் பொங்கும்
தாய் மனம் ஆயிரம் காலம்
ஊர்வலம் வேண்டிட வந்த
பூச்சரம்
Your flower-like face smelling of milk,
Seeing it makes a mother's heart overflow with love,
A floral garland that came to seek,
A grand procession lasting a thousand years,
வெய்யில்
வீதியில் வாடக்
கூடுமோ தெய்வக்
கோயிலை சென்று
சேருமோ எந்தன்
தேனாறே
Should it wither away on the hot sunny street?
Or will it reach and rest in a divine temple?
Oh my stream of sweet honey,
{ சின்னத் தாயவள்
தந்த ராசாவே முள்ளில்
தோன்றிய சின்ன
ரோசாவே } (2)
Oh prince given by a young mother,
Oh little rose born among thorns,
சொல்லவா ஆராரோ
நம் சொந்தங்கள் யாராரோ
உந்தன் கண்ணில் ஏன்
தான் நீரோ சின்னத் தாயவள்
தந்த ராசாவே முள்ளில்
தோன்றிய சின்ன
ரோசாவே
Shall I sing a lullaby? Who are our real relatives?
Why are there tears in your eyes?
Oh prince given by a young mother,
Oh little rose born among thorns.
Chinna thayaval thantha rasavae
Oh prince given by a young mother,
Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae
Oh little rose born among thorns,
Sollava aararo nam sonthangal yaararo
Shall I sing a lullaby? Who are our real relatives?
Unthan kannil aenthaan neeroo
Why are there tears in your eyes?
Chinna thayaval thantha rasavae
Oh prince given by a young mother,
Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae
Oh little rose born among thorns,
Paal manam veesum poomugam
Your flower-like face smelling of milk,
Paarkaiyil pongum thaai manam
Seeing it makes a mother's heart overflow with love,
Aayiram kaalam oorvalam
A floral garland that came to seek,
Vendida vantha poocharam
A grand procession lasting a thousand years,
Veyil veethiyil vaada koodumo
Should it wither away on the hot sunny street?
Theiva koyilai sendru serumo
Or will it reach and rest in a divine temple?
Enthan theanaarae
Oh my stream of sweet honey,
{ Chinna thayaval thantha rasavae
Oh prince given by a young mother,
Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae } (2)
Oh little rose born among thorns,
Sollava aararo nam sonthangal yaararo
Shall I sing a lullaby? Who are our real relatives?
Unthan kannil aenthaan neeroo
Why are there tears in your eyes?
Chinna thayaval thantha rasavae
Oh prince given by a young mother,
Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae
Oh little rose born among thorns.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional lullaby from the movie Thalapathi is sung to an abandoned infant found inside a train container. The woman who discovers the child marvels at his innocence while deeply sympathizing with the young mother who was forced by circumstances to abandon her newborn. She pours out pure maternal affection, comforting the crying baby while pondering his uncertain future. Throughout the song, the child is poetically described as a sweet rose born amid painful thorns and a stream of honey. The singer questions whether life will treat this innocent soul harshly like the scorching heat of the street or lead him safely to a sacred, blessed destination.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Mullil thondriya chinna rosavae”
Compares the innocent baby born out of tragic circumstances to a sweet rose blooming among sharp thorns.
Metaphor / Imagery
“Enthan theanaarae”
Compares the child to a flowing stream of honey, symbolizing sweetness and pure preciousness.
Rhetorical Question
“Veyil veethiyil vaada koodumo / Theiva koyilai sendru serumo”
Expresses anxious despair by questioning whether the helpless baby will wither away on the harsh streets or find shelter in a divine home.
Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை - Edhugai)
“Veyil veethiyil vaada koodumo / Theiva koyilai sendru serumo”
The second consonant sound 'il' repeats across consecutive lines ('Veyil' / 'Koyil'), creating poetic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali and vocals by S. Janaki, this track underscores the central Karna-Kunti theme adapted by director Mani Ratnam in Thalapathi (1991). The song beautifully sets up the tragedy of the protagonist Surya's abandonment at birth.
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