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Pathi Bakthi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chinnachiru Kanmalar

From Pathi Bakthi · 1958

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Pathi Bakthi
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
29 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hmm mm mm hmm mm mm
Chinnanjiru kann malar
Sembavala vaai malar
Sindhidum malarae aaraaroo
Vanna tamil solaiyae
Maanikka maalaiyae
Aarirooo anbae aaraaroo aariroo aaraaroo
Chinnanjiru kann malar
Sembavala vaai malar
Sindhidum malarae aaraaroo
Vanna tamil solaiyae
Maanikka maalaiyae
Aarirooo anbae aaraaroo aariroo aaraaroo
Paappaa un appaavai
Paarkaatha yaekkamo
Paaindhae madithanil
Saaindhaal thaan thukkamoo
Thappaamal vandhunnai alliyae anaippaar
Thaamarai kannathil muthangal vidhaippaar
Kuppai thanil vaazhum gundu mani saramae
Kunguma simizhae aaraaooo
Vanna tamil solaiyae
Maanikka maalaiyae
Aarirooo anbae aaraaroo aariroo aaraaroo
Ezhai namm nilaiyai enni nondhaayoo
Edhir kaala vaazhvil kavanam kondaayoo
Naalai ulagam nalloorin kaiyil
Naamum adhailae uyarvom unmaiyil
Maadi manai vendaam
Kodi selvam vendaam
Valarum piraiyae nee pothum
Vanna tamil solaiyae
Maanikka maalaiyae
Aarirooo anbae aaraaroo aariroo aaraaroo
Chinnanjiru kann malar
Sembavala vaai malar
Sindhidum malarae aaraaroo
Vanna tamil solaiyae
Maanikka maalaiyae
Aarirooo anbae aaraaroo aariroo aaraaroo
Aariroo aaraaroo
Aariroo aaraaroo
Aariroo aaraaroo
Hmm mm mm, hmm mm mm
Tiny flower-like eyes,
Red coral flower-like lips,
O blossom who showers sweet smiles, lullaby and sleep.
O colorful garden of Tamil,
O garland of rubies,
Lullaby, my darling, lullaby and sleep.
Tiny flower-like eyes,
Red coral flower-like lips,
O blossom who showers sweet smiles, lullaby and sleep.
O colorful garden of Tamil,
O garland of rubies,
Lullaby, my darling, lullaby and sleep.
Little one, is this longing
because you have not seen your father?
Will your sorrow fade away
only when you rest in his lap?
Without fail, he will come, gather you in his arms, and hold you close,
He will shower kisses upon your lotus-soft cheeks.
O string of bright red beads shining amid our poverty,
O little casket of red kumkum, lullaby and sleep.
O colorful garden of Tamil,
O garland of rubies,
Lullaby, my darling, lullaby and sleep.
Did your little heart ache thinking of our poverty?
Are you anxious about what the future holds?
Tomorrow's world will belong to good people,
And in that world, we too will surely rise.
I do not need grand mansions or houses,
I do not need vast fortunes of wealth,
My growing crescent moon, you alone are enough for me.
O colorful garden of Tamil,
O garland of rubies,
Lullaby, my darling, lullaby and sleep.
Tiny flower-like eyes,
Red coral flower-like lips,
O blossom who showers sweet smiles, lullaby and sleep.
O colorful garden of Tamil,
O garland of rubies,
Lullaby, my darling, lullaby and sleep.
Lullaby, sleep soundly,
Lullaby, sleep soundly,
Lullaby, sleep soundly.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Chinnanjiru Kann Malar' from the film Pathi Bakthi (1958) is a tender Tamil lullaby written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram and set to music by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. The song depicts a mother soothing her young child to sleep while reflecting on their life's hardship, the father's absence, and their humble living conditions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Imagery)

“Chinnanjiru kann malar / Sembavala vaai malar”

Compares the child's features to nature and precious items like flowers, coral, garden of Tamil, and a ruby necklace.

Metaphor

“Thaamarai kannathil muthangal vidhaippaar”

Compares kissing the child's lotus-like cheeks to sowing seeds ('vidhaippaar').

Socialist Imagery / Contrast

“Maadi manai vendaam / Kodi selvam vendaam / Valarum piraiyae nee pothum”

Contrasts immense material wealth (mansions and millions) with the simple joy of having a child like a growing crescent moon.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pathi Bakthi (1958) featured music composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for seamlessly blending socialist philosophy and hope for working-class people even into gentle lullabies like this one.

Keep listening

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Aasaikku Pillaiyendru1970
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